DAILY DEVOTION…Thursday August 20, 2026 Colossians 2:6-7…"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Standing Firm in Christ Think about a massive, ancient oak tree. When a violent storm hits, the tree doesn’t topple over. Why? Because underneath the soil lies a hidden, sprawling network of roots that dig deep into the earth, anchoring it firmly to the ground. Paul uses this exact imagery to describe how we are meant to live out our Christian faith. He reminds us that the way we started our journey with Jesus—by simple, humble faith—is the exact same way we must continue it every single day. Spiritual growth isn’t about discovering hidden secrets or chasing after the latest cultural trends; it is about sinking our roots deeper into the person of Jesus Christ. When our roots are firmly planted in His Word, we find the stability we need to survive life's storms. We are "built up" and "established." This means our faith isn't fragile or easily shaken by doubt, unexpected trials, or deceptive philosophies (Ephesians 4:14). Instead, we become strong, steady, and secure in our identity. But Paul adds a beautiful indicator of a healthy, deeply-rooted faith: an overflow of gratitude. A complaining heart is often a sign of shallow roots. When we are constantly pulling nourishment from God's grace, love, and faithfulness, thankfulness naturally bubbles up and pours out of our lives. Gratitude becomes our default response, shifting our focus from what we think we lack to the immense riches we already possess in Christ. Stay grounded in Him today, and let His truth stabilize your soul. 4 Key Spiritual Truths Gleaned from Colossians 2:6-7… 1. The Daily Walk Mirrors the Beginning: The same simple faith and total dependence required for salvation is the exact standard required for daily Christian living (Galatians 3:3). 2. Roots Determine Stability: A believer's capacity to withstand the storms and deceptions of life is directly connected to how deeply they are anchored in Christ (Jeremiah 17:7-8). 3. Growth is Continuous and Structural: Being "built up" is an ongoing, lifelong process where the Holy Spirit aligns every area of our lives to the foundation of Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11). 4. Gratitude is the Ultimate Health Check: An overflowing heart of thankfulness is the natural, undeniable fruit of a spiritually mature and established faith (1 Thessalonians 5:18). THE BIBLE: God’s Compass For Our Daily Living

Steadfast in the Faith Your spiritual struggle is not an anomaly, a personal failure, or evidence that God has forgotten you. It is the common experience of every believer across every generation. You are not singled out; you are part of a global, cross-generational family pressing forward through the same refining process. Knowing that others have faced the same battles and remained steadfast is, in itself, a source of strength. The cloud of witnesses is not merely a historical gallery; it is a testament that the battle you are in is survivable, endurable, and ultimately victorious. Stand steadfast in the faith, press forward, and know with certainty that you are not alone in the pressing. PRAYER: Gracious Heavenly Father, let my resistance be rooted in steadfast faith rather than in anxious effort. Thank You for the fellowship of believers who understand this battle. Let us press forward together in strength. In Jesus' name! Hallelujah! Amen!

1. The process of reincarnation cannot cleanse us from our sins; only the person of the Lord Jesus Christ can do that! “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3, emphasis mine). 2. The process of reincarnation is not my hope for the future; the promises of God are. “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:22–23, emphasis mine). 3. The process of reincarnation is in direct opposition to the doctrine of Christ’s bodily resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee that we shall also be resurrected someday. “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (Acts: 24:15, emphasis mine). 4. The process of reincarnation does not do away with the judgment in the future. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27, emphasis mine). - DAVID JEREMIAH (Invasion of Other Gods)

I am an Indian Hindu on whom Lord Jesus Christ bestowed His mercy and now I am in the process of healing. ✝️

The Joy of Being Mentored. Human resource is an integral part of success. As you go up you need people to support your ladder of success. The saying goes, “Be good to people on your way up, because you will meet them on your way down.” No man has ever made it in his/her own however talented. God gives His servants people to support their endeavors because no single individual knows everything. One is an expert in this, and another an expert in that. You need to bring all their ideas on board to build your tower. Hence, the adage, “Together we are rock but singly you are sand”. Sand has never supported a foundation by itself. Christ Jesus taught, “Therefore whoever hears these words of mine and does them, I’ll liken him to a wise man that built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and floods came, and wind blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that hears not these words of mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Mathew 7:24-27). Almighty God puts this precious resource into your life to bless your life, and as you prosper you also bless other lives. And to lead a people you must be a leader. And to be a leader one must learn leadership skills from the leader. It takes following those who have gone before us to enter a city. This is called mentoring. The Scripture teaches, “That the heir, as long is a child, differs not from the servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father”(Galatians 4:1-2). This is also true of Father God: those whom He calls, He puts under the tutoring of men and the Holy Spirit until they fulfill His purpose on earth. Therefore, to ascend to greatness, mentoring is part and parcel of the process. A mentor is simply a guide or adviser. She/he is someone used by God to pull you up from a lowly life. You need someone who has been there to take hold of your hand and lead you to the top of the mountain. It takes following the King to enter the palace gates. In our calling, we are all called forth as little children but it takes tutoring and lessons from those who have gone before us to realize our dreams. Greatness is a product of growth. During our growth, we follow the leaders who have gone before us to be like them if not better. The Scripture reminds us that, “He that walks with the wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed”. (Proverbs 13:20). It takes following the wise to be wise. And the wise are also the great of the earth. They lead the way for others to follow onto their footsteps. The Scripture therefore warns that, “_____He that follows vain persons is void of understanding” (Proverbs 12:11). But cursed is everyone that follows after strong drinks. The Scripture laments, “Woe to them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow after strong drinks; that continue until night till wine inflame them” (Isaiah 5:11).

OBEY THE PROTOCOLS OF LIFE Obedience • Wisdom • Protection ANCHOR SCRIPTURE Proverbs 19:16 (KJV) “He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” 1. OBEDIENCE PROTECTS YOU Many troubles come from ignoring instructions. Don't break the rules and blame the consequences. 2. RESPECT THE PROTOCOL Every area of life has rules and procedures—family, marriage, church, work, business and society. Following the right process can save you: Time • Money • Relationships • Reputation 3. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT Proverbs 18:13 (KJV) “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Listen → Understand → Follow instructions → Act wisely. 4. RESPECT LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY Respecting authority brings order. But don't follow blindly. When human instructions conflict with God's Word: Obey God first. 5. FOLLOW GOD'S PROTOCOL Deuteronomy 10:12 (KJV) “...what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways...” God's Word should guide your decisions. KEY LESSON 1. Listen carefully. 2. Follow instructions. 3. Respect boundaries. 4. Honour legitimate authority. 5. Think before acting. 6. Learn from correction. 7. Put God first. FINAL CHARGE Life has protocols. Obedience is not weakness; it is wisdom in action. Respect the protocol. Follow the instruction. Avoid unnecessary trouble. SHORT PRAYER Father, give me wisdom to understand and obey Your instructions. Help me respect legitimate authority, follow wise counsel and avoid unnecessary trouble. Give me humility to accept correction and discipline to do what is right. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prepared by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo +233544295158

Guidelines for living. August 18th, 2026 3 Steps to Finding a New Direction. This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” But you said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16 Jeremiah the prophet was a man who needs to be rediscovered today. The circumstances surrounding his life and world have so many parallels to life today. How so? Well, for one thing, instability had gripped the world. Jeremiah’s beloved nation was about to be chewed up by the powerful tiger of Babylon. Social structures were failing too. Families were being torn apart; truth and morality had been sacrificed in the process. The priesthood had become politicized. No wonder Jeremiah seemed out of sync with his day—an old prophet who castigated the moral and spiritual decline. No wonder he was publicly scorned and privately castigated. There is a text in the book which bears his name which needs to be emblazoned on the conscience of every parent: God expects more, something more of His children, than that which satisfies the world. God spoke to Jeremiah, here’s what He said, “Stand at the crossroads and look; [and] ask for the old paths, [and] ask where the good way is, and walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16). There were three parts to that advice: First, go back to the crossroads, back to the place where you took the wrong path, and look. God is saying, “Hey, you’ve been down the wrong road. You’ve learned that it didn’t bring you the peace or contentment. Now stand there—mentally speaking—take a look down the narrow road, the one that seemed to be less exciting, and realize it was here you went wrong. Let’s stop for a moment. Is it ever too late to acknowledge that you went wrong? You may think so, but in reality, it is not. A thief on the cross, seeing his life ebb away minute by minute, came to that place; he cried out, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He went back to the crossroads and took the right path. Before you go back to the crossroads—that fork in the road where you went wrong—you must stop what you’re doing and mentally look back. Often, we think, “It’s too late for me.” Not so, friend. Coming to the end of the year is a time for reflection and to go back if you missed the right path. Step number two in this process is this: “Ask for the old paths where the good way is.” In reality, prayer is asking. It is saying, “God, I went wrong. You know that, and now I admit it. I don’t want the future to be a rerun of the mistakes of the past. Forgive me, show me the right way to go.” Israel had missed God, and in spite of their waywardness, God promised to help them if they would only come back to Him. He said, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). God will do the same for you as well. Step number three in this process of finding the right direction is this: When you have found the good way, “walk in it.” This is a matter of simple obedience, of putting your feet in a straight line in the direction you know God wants you to go. And with that simple step of obedience comes a great promise. God said, “you will find rest for your soul.” God did not force them, He invited them. Sadly, Israel rejected God’s invitation. Don’t do it, friend. Going back to the fork in the road requires courage and humility. Resource Reading: Jeremiah 6:1-30

Please pray for our family! President Trump has paused immigrant visas for Ethiopians, and the pause is currently set to be permanent. Pray with us that this delay is immediately lifted so we can go home and build our family, home, and ministry together. We know this is in God's will! We praise God for blessing us with marriage and a daughter. As missionaries—an American husband and an Ethiopian wife—we've seen God guide us through every step of the immigration process. Our daughter has her US passport and my wife's marriage visa is approved. Now we just need the path cleared so we can all return to the USA together. God bless all who pray for us in Jesus' name! Amen!

Please pray for our family! President Trump has paused immigrant visas for Ethiopians, and the pause is currently set to be permanent. Pray with us that this delay is immediately lifted so we can go home and build our family, home, and ministry together. We know this is in God's will! We praise God for blessing us with marriage and a daughter. As missionaries—an American husband and an Ethiopian wife—we've seen God guide us through every step of the immigration process. Our daughter has her US passport and my wife's marriage visa is approved. Now we just need the path cleared so we can all return to the USA together. God bless all who pray for us in Jesus' name! Amen!

Today I’m giving thanks to God for His blessing and healing, a simple surgery procedure that was made easier and low impact because of His grace and hand in the process, and the people He sent to move all necessary parts. Jeremiah 17:14 says: "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."