Guidelines for living.
August 21st, 2026

Here’s The Only Way to Begin to Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11



The greatest rivers in the world usually begin on the cold, frozen slopes of high mountains as the sun begins to melt snow and ice, and from the trickle of crystal-clear water a steam begins to flow and eventually a cascade of water plummets down the mountain. In the valley far below, the stream becomes a river, then a great river which we call the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges, the Rhine, or whatever. By the time these massive bodies of water reach the ocean, they may be kilometers wide, and they are muddy and polluted.

Now, apply that same concept to the biblical truth that God is love. John tells us this in the New Testament, and the farther we are from Him, seemingly the more polluted love becomes. By the time it has been filtered through human lust, what we call love is a far cry from the compelling love which caused God to send His Son long ago.

Love is not a platitude, it is an action, an unconditional commitment to care, a decision of your heart. True, love is what the world needs. The words of a song popular a generation ago said it all: “The world is dying, dying for a little bit of love,” says one verse.

If you’ve been following this series based on Paul’s great chapter on love, found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13, you have focused on love’s characteristics, but any discussion of the subject would be incomplete without a few words of encouragement for you whose river of love has either evaporated in the desert of life, or else become so polluted you hardly know what the real thing is.

When God touches your heart, your life will change. God takes up residence in your life, and the mud of sin is washed away. When pollution is eliminated, you start loving. This is the miracle of conversion. This is the answer to the lovelessness and the selfishness which destroys relationships.

Joining a church, turning over a new leaf, going to confession, just “being religious,” is not the solution. A relationship with God through His son is the only way you will really begin to love.

I will give you three simple guidelines that will help.

Guideline #1: Acknowledge you need a relationship with God and confess that sin has stopped the flow of love in your life. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “Well, it was his fault; her fault.” The solution is saying, “God, I need you. Forgive me. Touch my life.”

Guideline #2: Ask God’s forgiveness for your failure—not the other person’s—and ask Him to be Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us a promise. He said, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). That promise has your name on it, friend.

Guideline #3: Begin loving in simple steps, one day at a time. When you fail and fall back into those old habits and a loveless way, quickly admit your wrong; ask God’s help to overcome it.

Friend, you can talk about love until you have calluses on your vocal cords, but until you get back to the fountain and the source of love, who is God Himself, you’ll never lay hold of the real thing: the God kind of love that changes the world. So, go back to the source. It’s the only way to fill your cup and have enough left over for someone else in your life. Love is not a pious platitude. It’s the answer.



Resource Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

Did you know?
No parent is supposed to bury their child.
Mary stood at that cross for hours. Not for a moment, not glancing away for hours, watching her son suffocate slowly in public execution, surrounded by people who came to watch. The Gospels don't soften it, and they don't explain her pain. They just say she was there.
She'd been warned. Thirty years earlier, when Jesus was still a newborn in her arms, a man named Simeon looked at her and said a sword would pierce her own soul. Not metaphorically. She carried that sentence for three decades, never knowing when it would land, until this exact afternoon.
Even dying, Jesus used his last breaths to make sure she wouldn't be left alone.
Then the part no parent recovers from. The body taken down. Wrapped. Carried. Sealed behind a stone, in a tomb that wasn't even his borrowed, because there wasn't time to build one of his own.
A mother, walking away from a sealed grave, leaving her child behind in the ground.
There is no version of that walk that doesn't break something in a person.

My Daily Witness.
Jesus loves you so much that HE died for you, and Rose from the dead for you, and now desperately longs to have a personal relationship with you, will you accept Him into your heart and life today, as your Savior, and King? Repent of sin in your life, and live for HIM, and let Him live through you.

For God so loved the world, that HE gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

After accepting Jesus as your Savior, show your love for HIM by keeping His Commandments.

"If you love me keep my commandments". John 14:15.

ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, REPENT OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, INCLUDING THE 4TH COMMANDMENT (THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH).

FOR JESUS CHRIST IS SOON RETURNING, AND HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE, SOME TO EVERLASTING DEATH!!!!!
Revelation 12:14
Revelation 22:12
Daniel 12:2

WHEN GOD WRITES ON THE WALL
A Call to Examine Your Heart Before God

KEY SCRIPTURE
“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
— Daniel 5:27 (KJV)

Thought Of The Day...
There are times when God whispers to our hearts. There are times when He sends warnings through His Word, through circumstances, and through people. And then there are moments when God makes His message so unmistakably clear that it can no longer be ignored.
Daniel 5 gives us one of the most powerful and sobering examples in all of Scripture.
King Belshazzar was surrounded by celebration. The palace was filled with people, food, wine, wealth, music, power, and prestige. To everyone looking from the outside, it appeared that the king had everything under control. But while Belshazzar was celebrating on earth, Heaven was examining his heart.
While people were honoring the king, God was weighing the king.
While Belshazzar was looking at what he possessed, God was looking at what he had become.
Suddenly everything changed.
“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”
— Daniel 5:5 (KJV)
The celebration stopped. The king's confidence disappeared. The man who commanded others suddenly had no control over himself.
Scripture says:
“Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him... and his knees smote one against another.”
— Daniel 5:6 (KJV)
Belshazzar discovered something that we must never forget: when God speaks, earthly power cannot silence Him. When God exposes something, money cannot cover it. When God pronounces judgment, human influence cannot reverse it.
Belshazzar called for the astrologers, Chaldeans, soothsayers, and wise men of Babylon, but none of them could interpret the writing. All the intelligence of Babylon was powerless before a message that came from God.
Eventually Daniel was summoned.
Daniel had lived faithfully before God for years. Kings had changed. Governments had changed. Circumstances had changed. Daniel had grown older, but his commitment to God had remained.
What a testimony!
The queen said concerning Daniel:
“...there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods... light and understanding and wisdom... was found in him.”
— Daniel 5:11 (KJV)
Daniel had developed a reputation that when everybody else was confused, Daniel knew how to seek God.
May that become our testimony.
When people around us are confused, may they know that we know God. When families experience trouble, may they know there is somebody who knows how to pray. When darkness enters a situation, may our lives carry the light of Christ.
Jesus declared:
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
— Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Belshazzar offered Daniel wealth, clothing, jewelry, and political promotion if he could interpret the message. But Daniel answered:
“Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another...”
— Daniel 5:17 (KJV)
Daniel's integrity was not for sale.
He didn't need the king's money to tell the king God's truth. He wasn't seeking popularity. He wasn't chasing another title. Daniel understood that pleasing God was greater than pleasing people.
That same conviction must live within us.
There will be times when standing upon God's Word will not make us popular. There will be times when truth will challenge people. There will be times when obedience may cost us opportunities, relationships, applause, or acceptance.
But we must be able to say:
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?...”
— Galatians 1:10 (KJV)
Daniel reminded Belshazzar about Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had once become lifted up in pride, and God humbled him until he understood:
“...that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.”
— Daniel 5:21 (KJV)
Then Daniel spoke words that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart:
“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.”
— Daniel 5:22 (KJV)
Though thou knewest all this.
Belshazzar had been given an example. He knew what pride had done before him, but he refused to learn from it.
There is a dangerous difference between not knowing God's will and knowing God's will but refusing to obey it.
The Bible says:
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
— James 4:17 (KJV)
God's patience should never be mistaken for God's approval.
Just because judgment has not come does not mean God approves of what we are doing. Sometimes God's delay is actually God's mercy giving us time to repent.
“The Lord is... longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
Belshazzar had also taken the sacred vessels from God's temple and used them during his celebration. He treated what belonged to God as though it were common.
Daniel told him:
“...thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven...”
— Daniel 5:23 (KJV)
This should cause us to ask ourselves: Have we become too casual with the things of God?
Have we become casual about prayer?
Casual about worship?
Casual about God's Word?
Casual about holiness?
Casual about our calling?
Casual about the gifts God placed inside us?
Casual about gathering with other believers?
God is loving, gracious, merciful, and compassionate, but He is still holy.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”
— 1 Peter 1:15 (KJV)
Belshazzar praised gods made from silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone. Yet when trouble entered the palace, none of those gods could answer him.
How often do people still place their confidence in things that cannot save them?
Money cannot save the soul.
A career cannot save the soul.
A title cannot save the soul.
Popularity cannot save the soul.
Possessions cannot save the soul.
Human relationships cannot take God's place.
Jesus asked:
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
— Mark 8:36 (KJV)
Then Daniel revealed the handwriting:
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
— Daniel 5:25 (KJV)
MENE meant:
“God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.”
— Daniel 5:26 (KJV)
Belshazzar thought he had more time.
God said his time had been numbered.
That should remind us that every day is a gift from God.
Every morning is mercy.
Every breath is grace.
Every opportunity to pray is precious.
Every opportunity to forgive matters.
Every opportunity to tell someone about Jesus matters.
Every opportunity to obey God matters.
David prayed:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
— Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
Then came TEKEL:
“Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
— Daniel 5:27 (KJV)
What a frightening statement.
Belshazzar had been weighed—not by public opinion, not by his friends, not by his servants, and not by the standards of Babylon.
He had been weighed by God.
People may celebrate what God is correcting.
People may applaud what God is examining.
People may be impressed by our gifts while God is concerned about our character.
People may see our appearance while God sees our hearts.
Scripture declares:
“...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
That brings us to a serious question:
If God examined my heart today, what would He find?
Would He find humility or pride?
Would He find obedience or rebellion?
Would He find forgiveness or bitterness?
Would He find love or hatred?
Would He find integrity when nobody is watching?
Would He find genuine faith?
Would He find someone seeking His glory—or someone seeking his or her own?
This is not about earning salvation. We cannot save ourselves through our works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works...”
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
Our hope is Jesus Christ. But when Christ truly transforms our hearts, our lives should produce evidence of that transformation.
Finally came PERES:
“Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
— Daniel 5:28 (KJV)
Then Scripture delivers the sobering conclusion:
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.”
— Daniel 5:30 (KJV)
That night.
Belshazzar started the evening sitting on a throne and ended it having lost everything.
He thought he had tomorrow.
He didn't.
This is why Scripture says:
“...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
Don't wait for tomorrow to surrender what God is asking for today.
Don't wait until tomorrow to forgive.
Don't wait until tomorrow to repent.
Don't wait until tomorrow to pray.
Don't wait until tomorrow to make things right.
Don't wait until tomorrow to answer God's call.
And above all, don't wait until tomorrow to come to Jesus.
Daniel 5 is not merely about handwriting appearing on a wall. It is about a God who sees beyond appearances and examines the heart.
Belshazzar's kingdom is gone. Babylon's glory faded. Its wealth could not last. Its power could not last. Its king could not last.
But our God remains.
“For I am the LORD, I change not...”
— Malachi 3:6 (KJV)
Before God ever has to write something on the wall, allow Him to write His Word upon your heart.
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
— Psalm 119:11 (KJV)
Let His Word correct you.
Let His Word convict you.
Let His Word humble you.
Let His Word guide you.
Let His Word transform you.
And when God reveals something in your heart that needs to change, don't run from Him.
Run to Him.
Because through Jesus Christ there is forgiveness, mercy, restoration, and new life.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

PRAYER...
Most Holy and Eternal God, our Father,
We come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, humbled by Your Word and grateful for Your mercy.
Father, search us today.
Your Word declares:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.”
— Psalm 139:23 (KJV)
Lord, shine Your light into every area of our lives. Reveal anything within us that does not please You.
If pride has entered our hearts, humble us.
If bitterness has entered our hearts, cleanse us.
If unforgiveness has taken root, help us forgive.
If compromise has entered our lives, give us courage to turn away from it.
If we have become casual concerning holy things, restore our reverence for You.
If anything has taken Your rightful place in our hearts, tear down every idol and draw us back to You.
Father, never allow us to become so comfortable with Your blessings that we forget the One who blessed us.
Help us remember that every breath comes from You, every opportunity comes from You, every gift comes from You, and every good thing comes from You.
Your Word says:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...”
— James 1:17 (KJV)
Give us the spirit of Daniel.
Give us wisdom when others are confused.
Give us courage when others compromise.
Give us integrity when temptation comes.
Give us faith when circumstances become difficult.
Give us boldness to speak Your truth with love.
May we never sell our convictions for acceptance, promotion, popularity, money, or position.
Father, teach us to number our days.
Help us understand that tomorrow is not promised and today is an opportunity to glorify You.
May our lives bring honor to Jesus Christ.
May our homes glorify You.
May our marriages and families glorify You.
May our ministries glorify You.
May our workplaces glorify You.
May our words glorify You.
May our decisions glorify You.
And when You examine our hearts, may You find people who sincerely love You, trust You, obey You, and desire to walk according to Your Word.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You that where we have fallen short, the blood of Jesus still cleanses.
Thank You that repentance is still available.
Thank You that grace is still available.
Thank You that mercy is still available.
Thank You that restoration is still available.
Create within us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
— Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
We surrender ourselves completely to You.
In the mighty, matchless, wonderful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen and Amen!

DECLARATION...
I DECLARE IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
My heart belongs to God!
My life belongs to God!
My family belongs to God!
My gifts belong to God!
My future belongs to God!
My worship belongs to God!
I will not allow pride to rule my heart.
I will not allow the things of this world to become idols in my life.
I will not compromise God's Word for popularity, acceptance, position, possessions, or applause.
Like Daniel, I will walk with an excellent spirit.
I will stand when others compromise.
I will pray when others panic.
I will trust God when others doubt.
I will speak truth with love.
I will honor God publicly and privately.
MENE! I understand that my days are numbered, therefore I will make my days count for the glory of God.
TEKEL! I understand that God examines the heart, therefore I will walk humbly and sincerely before Him.
PERES! I understand that earthly kingdoms, possessions, titles, and accomplishments will pass away, but the Kingdom of God will stand forever.
I declare that God's Word will be written upon my heart.
I will not wait for the handwriting on the wall before I obey God.
TODAY I CHOOSE JESUS!
TODAY I CHOOSE HUMILITY!
TODAY I CHOOSE OBEDIENCE!
TODAY I CHOOSE HOLINESS!
TODAY I CHOOSE FAITH!
TODAY I CHOOSE TO LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
— Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
This is my declaration, this is my commitment, and this is my prayer—in Jesus' mighty name. Amen and Amen!

The Kitchen Newsletter

Good day,
Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God.

Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word.

What does God look like?

It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise.

The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person.

John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him.

“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…”

And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God.

Revelation 1:12–17

This is why Scripture says:

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

Hebrews 1:3

And again:

“Christ, who is the image of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:4

So we can say:

The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God.

The Scriptures Reveal a Person

This changes the way we should read Scripture.

We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person.

Jesus said:

“These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

John 5:39

The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word.

Consider one example.

John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote:

“His eyes were like blazing fire.”

Revelation 1:14

That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word.

But Scripture also says:

“Our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:29

The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself.

The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father.

Paul writes:

“God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God.

Scripture Must Be Unfolded

This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge.

What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself?

Psalm 119:130 says:

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 119:130

The Word must be unfolded.

We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it.

We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals.

That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation.

The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father.

Paul describes this revelation as:

“the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information.

It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father.

The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow

Consider the description John gives:

“His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.”

Revelation 1:14

This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word.

But John is not alone in seeing this.

Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote:

“His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.”

Daniel 7:9

Then Song of Solomon gives another description:

“His appearance is like Lebanon.”

Song of Solomon 5:15

Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance.

The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture.

The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow.

And because Christ is:

“the exact representation of his being”

Hebrews 1:3

the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God.

This is why the details matter.

The head matters.

The hair matters.

The eyes matter.

The face matters.

The hands matter.

The feet matter.

The mouth matters.

The voice matters.

The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word.

The Body Is More Than a Description

Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word.

Jesus said:

“These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

John 5:39

Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation.

It is a testimony.

It is a Scripture.

It is a figure of speech.

It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded.

And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this:

“I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Matthew 13:35

God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities.

The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at.

It is something Scripture teaches us to understand.

The Father Is Speaking Through the Body

Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement:

“The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.”

Isaiah 66:14

Why the hand?

Because the hand is part of the body.

The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word.

And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word.

And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father.

Body → Person → Father.

This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body.

He is continually making the Father known.

Jesus said:

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

John 14:9

And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said:

“He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

John 16:14

The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known.

And Paul tells us:

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:10

So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals.

Scripture Is God's Script for His Work

There is another dimension to this revelation.

The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled.

Again and again, Jesus said:

“It is written…”

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

And concerning His ministry:

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:21

The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth.

When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention.

When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation.

When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed:

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 2:7

This makes the present question very important:

What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening?

And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention.

The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance

The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him.

He has given us Christ so that we can know Him.

The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually.

It is an inheritance.

It is a revelation.

It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail.

The Scriptures testify about Him.

The Holy Spirit reveals Him.

The Father is seen in Him.

And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father.

So perhaps the question is no longer simply:

“Do you read the Bible?”

The deeper question is:

“Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?”

Because the Bible is testifying.

The Spirit is speaking.

The Scriptures are being unfolded.

And behind the revelation stands a Person:

Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God.

Listen to The Kitchen Podcast

Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.

Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word.

celebrating the Body of the Word

#foodmoneyshow
#bodyoftheword
#marketplace
#worldwide
#moneymindset

Dear Father,

My big brother taught me something, and today, I came across it in Scripture. When Samson was about to be born, an angel appeared to his mother, saying, “Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.” It gets interesting when, after she narrated this to her husband, Manoah prayed, saying, “O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.” And He came.

This Scripture speaks to me because I often have dreams at night that later come to pass. However, I have noticed that they are often progressive; they reveal themselves in fragments and scenes, and sometimes, I am only able to make sense of a dream after it has recurred two or three times. I never knew there was more to this, even as it relates to dreams, until I was taught about relationship and interaction with You.

How aware are we that we can make requests and follow up on something we do not yet fully understand? Perhaps we often run with incomplete information because, when You say, “Go,” You are also interested in telling us “How?” and “When?” And an ongoing conversation with You becomes a pathway to a deeper relationship with You. Is this not also true of our relationships? A break in communication with someone we love may raise cause for concern. Except we do not believe in what we build with You.

How best can I communicate this? That scenes of dreams are pieced together and in reality they sometimes occur at once. That You reveal secrets to the ones who always come knocking.

Translations;
Slide 1: English
Slide 2: French
Slide 3: Bengali
Slide 4: Hindi
Slide 5: Urdu
Slide 6: Portuguese

#LettertoGod
#relationship
#interractions
#dreams
#vision

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Genesis 22:2

One thing that makes us rejoice is the answer to our prayers, or when we get that which we long expected. However, the blessing that we received from the Lord can become the very reason we will withdraw from God. Abraham got his promised son and that son became the object of his love. The love, time and attention he had for God was now given to his son. So, God being a jealous God, came to redirect the affection of Abraham.
Is the blessing of God in your life taking the place of God in your heart? Do you give more time to the blessings of God than God Himself? Do you love the blessing God had given you more than God who gave them to you? Is the blessing of God making you to forget God?
The blessings of God are good and needed in our lives, but may they never take the place of God in our hearts and lives.
SELAH

YAHWEH IS ON YOUR SIDE TODAY

PST EMAMUZO PETER

Friday, 21st August, 2026

TITLE: "A HEART AFTER GOD: LIVING WITH A CLEAN HEART"

ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S)

Acts 13:22 (KJV) "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."

Psalm 51:10 (KJV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

QUOTE TO REFLECT ON

"God is more interested in the condition of your heart than the appearance of your life."

DAY'S REFLECTION

God looks beyond outward appearance and examines the heart. Acts 13:22 records God's testimony concerning David: "a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." David was not a perfect man. He made serious mistakes and experienced painful failures. Yet he repeatedly turned back to God with humility, repentance, and a desire to obey Him.

To be "after God's own heart" does not mean being sinless. It means having a heart that genuinely desires God, responds to His correction, loves His ways, and seeks to fulfil His will. David's life teaches us that God can use imperfect people who are willing to surrender themselves to Him.

Psalm 51:10 reveals David's prayer after his failure: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." The word "create" is significant. David understood that he needed more than outward correction. He needed God to work deeply within him.

A clean heart speaks of inner purity—our motives, desires, attitudes, thoughts, and intentions. A right spirit speaks of an inner disposition that is steadfast, faithful, and aligned with God. We can sometimes correct our outward behaviour while leaving the heart unchanged, but genuine transformation begins inside.

Life experience teaches us that people can appear successful, religious, or respectable outwardly while struggling with hidden attitudes such as pride, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, dishonesty, or selfishness. God, however, sees what others cannot see.

Therefore, we should regularly invite God to examine and transform our hearts. When He reveals something wrong, we should not defend it; we should repent and ask Him for cleansing and renewal.

A heart after God is not a heart that never fails—it is a heart that returns to God when it fails. It is willing to learn, change, forgive, obey, and pursue God's purpose.

Today, do not focus only on how others see you. Ask God to examine who you are on the inside. Let your private life agree with your public testimony.

Lord, create in me a clean heart and give me a spirit that desires to fulfil Your will.

MEDITATION SCRIPTURE(S)

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV) "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

LIFE LESSONS (IMPLICATIONS)

1. God looks at the heart, not merely outward appearance.

2. A heart after God desires to know, love, and obey Him.

3. Failure does not have to be the end when genuine repentance follows.

4. Inner transformation is more important than outward appearance.

5. We must continually guard our hearts against attitudes that separate us from God's will.

6. God can use imperfect people who sincerely surrender themselves to Him.

EVERYDAY ACTION

Examine your heart today, quickly repent of anything displeasing to God, and choose one action that reflects His character.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Remove everything that displeases You and help me live wholeheartedly according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DECLARATION

I have a heart that seeks after God. My thoughts, motives, words, and actions will honour Him. I will walk in repentance, obedience, purity, and humility, and my life will fulfil God's purpose. Amen.

Devotion by

Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo
+233 544 295 158

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST 2026

TOPIC: BREAKING COVENANTS, PART 1

MEMORIZE:
"But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?" Ezekiel 17:15 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: 1 SAMUEL 2:27-31
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

MESSAGE:
God is faithful; He never breaks His promises, nor does He go back on His word. James 1:17 says that there is no variableness nor shadow of turning with Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He never breaks His covenants. However, if a fellow breaks a covenant he or she has made with God, then God is under no obligation to keep His part of the covenant.

In Numbers 25:6-13, God made a covenant of eternal priesthood with Phinehas, Eleazar's son, because, in his zeal for the Lord, he struck a man and his concubine dead. However, in today's Bible reading, God told Eli, "I entered into a covenant that you and your father's house will stand before Me forever, but since you have broken the covenant, I am saying, let it be far from Me." Eli's carelessness annulled the covenant God made with his ancestor, Phinehas. As a result of the broken covenant, God's hedge of protection departed from Eli's household, and his two sons died on the same day. When Eli heard the news of their death, he also died that same day, along with the wife of one of his sons. This illustrates the importance of a covenant and that the consequence of breaking one is usually death.

The death of a person who is a party to a covenant typically releases such a person from fulfilling his or her part in the covenant; however, God remains faithful to His covenants, even after a person He is in covenant with dies. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments to the thousandth generation. Exodus 34:7 tells us that He keeps mercy for thousands. When you keep your covenant with God, it will extend to your descendants. When God promised Abraham that through his seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18), that promise found its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, who came 42 generations after Abraham, approximately 2,000 years later. When God promised David that he would always have a seed to sit on the throne (Psalm 89:3-4,29), He never broke His side of the covenant. That covenant was also fulfilled in Jesus.

Beloved, remain faithful to your covenant with God, for in doing so, you will release immeasurable blessings upon yourself and your descendants for generations to come.

KEY POINT:
God is faithful; He never breaks His covenants.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
JEREMIAH 51 - 52

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 11 - STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING
1. Standing on the promises of Christ our King, Thro' eternal ages



‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026
*BREAKING COVENANTS I*
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1.Father, You are the faithful God; the same yesterday, and today, and for ever, the covenant keeping God.

2.Father, thank You for Your faithfulness from generation to generation; You never break Your covenant because You are not a man that will lie or repent of his words.

3.Father, please help me not to break Your covenant or fail to fulfill my own part of Your covenant with me. Help me not to be careless in my walk with You, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please help me never to break Your covenant so that Your hedge of protection will not depart from my household, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please help me not to ignore the correction and discipline on the children You have given me so they won't miss Your covenant for their lives, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please help me to be faithful to Your covenant throughout my living, and never to compromise at any point in time, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please let my love for You be on the increase daily and help me to keep Your commandments for an extension of the blessings of Your covenant to my descendants, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please let the promises in Your covenant find fulfillment in my life and in the lives of my children's children, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please help me to remain faithful in your covenant; please release Your immense blessings upon my life and on my descendants, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, please show me Your mercy, and help me to repent in any area I have broken Your covenant, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
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Help him never to break Your covenant, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
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‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
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‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
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‎14.Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
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‎15.In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
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#GodBlessOurNation

*These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

Today's Readings are from the Book of 2 Kings 19–20 | Galatians 5

Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading)

2 Kings 19

The Victory That Comes Through Trust

2 Kings 19 continues the crisis that began in the previous chapter. Jerusalem remains surrounded by the mighty Assyrian army, and King Hezekiah faces an enemy far stronger than anything Judah can overcome through military strength alone. Humanly speaking, defeat appears certain. Yet the chapter demonstrates that faith flourishes precisely where human ability reaches its limits.

When Hezekiah receives the threatening message from the Assyrian king, he does not respond with panic or political maneuvering. Instead, he enters the house of the Lord, spreads the letter before God, and prays. His response reveals the heart of genuine faith. Rather than focusing on the greatness of the enemy, he fixes his attention on the greatness of God.

Hezekiah's prayer is centered on God's glory. He asks the Lord to deliver Jerusalem so that all the nations will know that the Lord alone is God. His concern extends beyond personal survival to the honor of God's name. This becomes the foundation of true biblical prayer—seeking God's glory above personal comfort.
God answers through the prophet Isaiah with words of comfort and assurance. The Lord declares that He has heard the prayers of His servant and that Assyria's pride has not gone unnoticed. The enemy may boast of its military power, but it remains completely subject to God's sovereign authority. The Assyrian king is merely an instrument whom God has permitted to accomplish His purposes.

That very night, the Lord intervenes without Judah lifting a sword. The Assyrian army is defeated by God's direct action, and the invading king returns home in humiliation before eventually meeting his own end. The impossible victory belongs entirely to the Lord. Judah contributes nothing but trust.

The chapter reveals that God's power is never measured by visible circumstances. What appears impossible to people is easily accomplished by the sovereign Lord. Faith does not ignore reality but recognizes that God is greater than every circumstance.

Theologically, 2 Kings 19 teaches that prayer is an expression of dependence upon God. It reveals His sovereignty over every nation and demonstrates that His glory is the ultimate purpose behind His acts of deliverance. The chapter also confirms that God's promises are completely trustworthy.

This chapter points to Christ, who perfectly trusted the Father in every circumstance and invites believers to cast every burden upon Him. Jesus has already won the ultimate victory over every enemy through His death and resurrection. The battles we face today are approached not from fear but from confidence in the triumph of our risen King.

For believers today, 2 Kings 19 reminds us that our first response to overwhelming circumstances should always be prayer. We are called to bring every burden before the Lord, trusting that He remains sovereign over every situation. In Christ, we know that no earthly power can overcome God's eternal purposes. Our confidence rests not in our own strength but in the God who still delivers those who trust Him.

2 Kings 20

Receiving God's Gifts with Humility

2 Kings 20 shifts from a national crisis to a deeply personal one. After witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from Assyria, Hezekiah now faces a life-threatening illness. The chapter reminds us that even faithful believers experience seasons of personal suffering. Victory in one area of life does not exempt anyone from future trials.

When Isaiah informs Hezekiah that his life is coming to an end, the king immediately turns to the Lord in prayer. He pours out his heart honestly before God, demonstrating that faith is expressed through humble dependence rather than self-sufficiency. God graciously hears his prayer and extends his life, providing a miraculous sign to confirm His promise.

The Lord's compassion toward Hezekiah reveals His willingness to hear the prayers of His people. While God's sovereign purposes remain perfect, He graciously invites His children to bring their requests before Him. Prayer is not an attempt to manipulate God but a privilege of fellowship with Him.

Yet the chapter also reveals the subtle danger that often follows blessing. After recovering, Hezekiah receives visitors from Babylon. Instead of directing their attention to God's greatness, he proudly displays all the wealth and treasures of his kingdom. His heart shifts from gratitude to self-confidence. The very blessings God has given become occasions for pride.

Isaiah confronts the king and announces that a future generation will experience Babylonian captivity. The seeds of exile are already being planted through misplaced confidence and spiritual complacency. The chapter serves as a reminder that victories and blessings require just as much humility as seasons of hardship.

Hezekiah accepts God's word with humility, acknowledging the righteousness of the Lord's judgment. Even in correction, he recognizes God's justice and faithfulness.

Theologically, 2 Kings 20 reveals both God's compassion and His holiness. He delights in answering prayer and extending mercy, yet He also opposes pride and calls His people to continual humility. Every blessing is intended to lead us into deeper worship rather than greater self-reliance.

This chapter points to Christ, who perfectly demonstrated humility despite possessing all authority and glory. Unlike Hezekiah, Jesus never sought His own honor but always glorified the Father. Through His life, death, and resurrection, believers receive the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and are called to steward that gift with humble gratitude.

For believers today, 2 Kings 20 reminds us that every answered prayer and every blessing should deepen our dependence upon God rather than our confidence in ourselves. We are called to receive God's gifts with grateful hearts and use them for His glory. In Christ, we have received blessings far greater than earthly treasures, and our greatest privilege is pointing others not to ourselves but to the Savior whose grace has transformed our lives.

Galatians 5 — Standing Firm in the Freedom of the Christ

Galatians chapter 5 is one of the clearest New Testament passages describing the freedom believers have in the Christ, the Son of God, and how that freedom is to be lived out. Paul moves from defending the doctrine of justification by faith to explaining its practical application. The redemptive plan does not free believers so they can live for themselves; it frees them to live by the Holy Spirit, reflecting the character of the Christ in every area of life.

The chapter begins with a powerful call to stand firm in the freedom that the Christ has secured. The Son of God has broken the chains of sin, legalism, and condemnation. Believers are warned not to return to any system that attempts to earn God's acceptance through human effort. Christian living begins with grace and continues by grace. The redemptive plan is complete in the Christ, leaving nothing for human works to add.

Paul explains that attempting to gain righteousness through religious performance separates a person from the very grace they seek to improve upon. Salvation is received entirely through faith in the Christ. Once believers understand this, they are free to serve God from love rather than obligation. The Son of God calls His people into a relationship marked by joyful obedience rather than fearful striving.

The chapter then emphasizes that Christian freedom is not permission for selfish living. Freedom has a purpose. Believers are called to serve one another in love because love fulfills the heart of God's commands. The redemptive plan transforms self-centered hearts into servant-hearted people who reflect the compassion and humility of the Christ. Christian living expresses itself through love because the love of the Son of God has first been poured into His people.

Paul warns that selfishness, conflict, and division destroy fellowship within the body of Christ. When believers focus on their own desires rather than on loving one another, the unity purchased by the Christ is weakened. The Son of God calls His church to pursue peace, humility, and mutual care as evidence of His transforming work.

The chapter then introduces the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit. These two influences are opposed to one another. The flesh naturally pursues selfish desires, while the Holy Spirit leads believers into lives that honor the Christ. Christian living is a continual choice to yield to the Spirit rather than to the old sinful nature. The redemptive plan not only forgives sin but empowers believers to live differently.

Paul identifies the works of the flesh as evidence of a life governed by sinful desires. These actions produce brokenness, division, and spiritual death because they flow from humanity apart from the Christ. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of the Son of God. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not human achievements but the natural result of a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

The image of fruit is significant because fruit grows naturally from a healthy relationship with its source. Believers do not manufacture Christlike character through determination alone. As they abide in the Christ and yield to His Spirit, His life becomes visible in them. The redemptive plan produces inward transformation that is demonstrated through outward character.

The chapter concludes by reminding believers that those who belong to the Christ have crucified the old way of life. Since they now live by the Spirit, they are called to walk by the Spirit every day. Christian living involves continual dependence upon the Son of God rather than self-reliance. Pride, rivalry, and envy have no place in the life of one who has been transformed by His grace.

Throughout Galatians chapter 5, the Christ remains the center of true freedom. He has delivered His people from both the bondage of sin and the burden of legalism. Through His Holy Spirit, He enables them to live lives that display His love and holiness. The redemptive plan is fulfilled as believers increasingly reflect the character of the Son of God.

For believers today, this chapter calls us to stand firmly in the freedom the Christ has purchased for us. Christian living is not about earning God's favor but about walking daily in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded to reject both legalism and selfishness, choosing instead to serve others in love and bear the fruit that reflects the life of the Son of God. As we walk by the Spirit, our lives become visible demonstrations of His grace, revealing the beauty of His redemptive plan to the world around us.

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