Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. 1. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2O26. "DR. JAMES DOBSON ON PARENTING (3)" ‘…Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4 NIV WHEN ASKED, ‘How do you suggest parents handle their children’s activities on web sites like Facebook and Twitter?’ Dr. Dobson gave this advice: ‘Parents have to know what technology their kids are using. Sexting is a terrible thing. (‘Sexting’ is the new term for children exposing themselves to one another online, thinking they are safe because they are in the sanctuary of their own home.) Pornography is pervasive, and parents need to keep up with changes in technology and protect their kids. That’s a tough assignment, because kids are ahead of them. Parents often have extremely demanding careers and when they come home they have nothing left to give, so the culture will often take your kids to hell.’ One night a father and his daughter were out on a lake when their small boat was caught in a storm. As he rowed, Dad kept saying to his daughter, ‘Can you see the shore? Can you see the shore?’ After a terrifying hour the little girl pointed over her dad’s shoulder and said, ‘Yes, I see the light. Mum said if we were out after dark she would hang a light in the window.’ When they finally got home a tearful mother hugged her husband and daughter, and thanked God for their safe return. Looking at her, the little girl said, ‘Mum, you never had to worry. We steered by your light!’ Parent, your children are being caught in life’s storms. They are rowing in the dark with no sense of direction. Live for God, and give them a light they can steer by! Bible In A Year: Gen 6:9 – 8:4, Matt 24:37-51. Courtesy : Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* TUESDAY, 18TH AUGUST, 2026. *THIRSTING AFTER GOD* *TEXT:* PSALM 42:1-5. 1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. *Timeless Truth:*_"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"_ Psalm 63:1). *INTRODUCTION* When a man ceases to experience thirst, he is as good as dead. The same is true in the spiritual. In fact, one of the first experiences of a converted man is thirst for God and spiritual things. Spiritual thirst is a deep longing for God and His presence. Just as the body cannot survive without water, the soul cannot flourish without God. The psalmist expresses an intense desire for the living God despite the pain, tears, discouragement and difficult circumstances surrounding him. His experience teaches us that genuine faith does not mean the absence of trouble; rather, it means learning to seek God even in the midst of trouble. When everything else fails, God remains the only lasting satisfaction for the thirsty soul. *1. Thirsting After God Like a Hart* a. The psalmist declares, *“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”* A thirsty hart desperately seeks water because its survival depends upon it. Many are thirsty for wealth, pleasure, popularity, power and pride of life among others. The thirst makes them pay a heavy price to get what they are looking for. At times they pay the ultimate price. True thirst will always be demonstrated by desperate seeking for how to satisfy and quench the thirst. In the same vein, many commonly seek God's blessings without seeking for the God of the blessings. The psalmist case was different. *"So panteth my soul after thee"*. Who and what you are passionately and desperately seeking for is a reflection of the state of your heart. In the same manner, the believer should have an earnest and persistent longing for God. The psalmist does not merely desire God's gifts; he desires God Himself. b. His greatest hunger is to *“appear before God.”* He was thirsty to become closer to God. Jesus also echoed this when He said, *"seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness"*. Our ultimate purpose for seeking God was to see His glory, be conformed to His image and be always ready for the kingdom of God. Jesus further assured that *"all other things shall be added unto you"*. The psalmist demonstrated his thirst for God when he decided, *"early will I seek thee...to see thy power and thy glory as I have seen thee in the sanctuary"* (Psalm 63:1,2). Our spiritual lives become weak when our desire for God is replaced by the pursuit of worldly pleasures, possessions, recognition or human approval. Genuine revival begins when the soul cries out for God's presence, His Word, His holiness and fellowship with Him. *Question* Is my desire for God as deep and urgent as the thirst of a hart for water? *2. Tearful Afflictions Giving Loss of Hope* a. Incidentally, the psalmist did not prioritize seeking for heavenly blessings above seeking for God just because everything was going well with him. In fact, the psalmist's circumstances have become so painful that his tears have been his food day and night. He was not finding it rosy in life at that time. One would have expected him, as many worshippers do today, to concentrate on seeking God for release from pains and troubles as priority. Worse still, people around him mockingly asked, directly and indirectly, *“Where is thy God?”.* His memories of former worship and joyful fellowship with God's people intensify his present sorrow. Yet that did not distract his affections towards God. b. At times, affliction can attack not only our circumstances, but also our emotions and confidence. Yet the psalmist's tears reveal that God's children may experience seasons of deep discouragement without being abandoned by God. His pain was real, but it did not have the final word. Even when circumstances seem to contradict God's promises, faith must continue to look toward Him. Seeking God and His righteousness, above all else, should not be diminished as a result of our pains, problems, persecutions and poverty among others. Whatever be our situations, the promises of God that *"all other blessings shall be added"* still stand as long as we keep seeking the face and the glory of God to be reflected in our lives above all else. We must have grace to be tougher than our tough challenges. It is our attitude and the content of our prayers in the time of distress and difficulties that reflect the genuineness of our love for God. Jesus Christ, while on the cross and under intense pains, was still consecrated to soulwinning and intercessory prayers for the sinners and the lost. The will of God and the glory of God was His priority. He has given us examples to follow. *Question* Am I consecrated to seek God and His glory as priority when affliction and tears surround me? *3. Trust in Abiding Grace with a Life of Holiness* When passing through tough times, we must maintain trust in God's abundant grace and continue to live the life that God approves. There is no challenge we pass through that God has not allowed and if God allowed it, then He will see us through as children. The act of faith is in mocking those challenges and still continues seeking the glory of God and heavenly readiness. We must learn how to feed our frustrations and fruitlessness with the word of hope and promises given by God. The psalmist speaks directly to his troubled soul: *“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God.”* He refuses to surrender permanently to despair. Instead, he deliberately redirects his heart toward God. Trusting God's abiding grace means choosing hope when feelings say there is no hope. It also means continuing to live faithfully, before God while waiting for His intervention. A thirsty soul must not only seek God's presence, but also remain committed to a holy life. God's grace sustains us, restores our joy and enables us to praise Him even before our circumstances change. For a child of God, no bad situation is permanent, but temporary and for a moment. *"weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning"*. *Question* Am I deliberately trusting God's abiding grace and maintaining a holy life even when my circumstances are discouraging? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, create within me an unquenchable thirst for Your presence and Your Word 🙏. 2.Lord, strengthen me when tears, afflictions and discouragement threaten my faith 🙏. 3.Father, make me tougher than my challenges and keep me on being engaged in Your service 🙏. 4.Lord, visit and help those brethren who are carrying heavy loads and sustain them by Your grace 🙏. *HYMN:* More of Jesus would I know *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 35-38. [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *DOUSING DESPONDENCY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️😩😢😭🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 42:1-5```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (PSALM 42:5).*_ *As German bombs fell on England during _World War II,_ the situation became desperate. Hearts were filled with discouragement and thoughts of defeat. Then Winston Churchill's voice echoed over the radio. It inspired the nation and boosted morale among a people on the verge of giving up. On a spiritual level, believers find hope in God too, as they hear the voice that resonates through the pages of His Word. In moments of discouragement, Christians serve as a testimony to those who have never met God or heard His voice.* *David exemplifies this in our devotional text as he expresses acute hunger and "thirst for God, the living God". In his hopelessness, he recalled the exhilarating moments he had in God's house and presence. Reminiscences of the voice of joy and praise filled his soul. Awakened by the testimonies of God's faithfulness and the certainty of blessedness that flows from trust in God, he gladly addresses his soul and jerks back from the abyss of despondency.* *Are you troubled about any ugly situation or setback? Cheer up and look up! Here are gems and clues for you as a Christian pilgrim, who could, at times, be discouraged and cast down. Don't stay down. David didn't. He queried and counselled his soul. First is to know that neither discouragement nor despondency is a sign of weakness. Elijah is one biblical character who fits this description. After defeating the prophets of Baal, he received a death threat from Jezebel. His hope was shattered, and despondency set in. He wanted to die! The Lord did not rebuke him for his feelings but sent an angel to provide for his physical needs. In our times of discouragement, suicide is no option; it only leads to a more serious, endless and interminable suffering in hell. The present challenge or problem has not diminished God's love for us. He desires to lead us to a place of a renewed vision of His power!* *The time to exit the discouragement mode is now! Take the verifiable steps that effectively log you out, which include a deep, interminable longing for God. This is what Isaiah calls "waiting upon the Lord". Second, you will do well to consciously recall and delight in God's past acts of mercy, divine interventions, and faithfulness. Finally, you must deliberately seek the remedy of praise to uplift your downcast, crestfallen, and discouraged heart. Beloved, don't give in to despair! God will certainly lead you in paths of love, light and joy, where you will find new hope.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*God always opens the window of hope for His own in the darkest of times.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 35-38*📜📜 Dousing Despondency https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 1: ALL YOUR ANXIETY; GHS 3: IMPATIENT HEART, BE STILL; GHS 4: LEAVE IT THERE; GHS 5: NEVER GIVE UP; AND GHS 7: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *STAND IN CHRIST'S LIBERTY* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GALATIANS 5:1-13```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (GALATIANS 5:13).*_ *The Christian liberty is the freedom Christ has purchased for the children of God through His death on the Cross of Calvary. The devil fights this liberty in diverse ways. When young Christians fail to understand their liberty in Christ, the devil keeps reminding them about their past sins to create major stumbling blocks to their prayers.* *It is a common strategy of the devil to manipulate them and push them back into their shells. Once you are born again through genuine repentance, you have the liberty to serve God in truth and in Spirit because God does not give us the spirit of fear but He gives us the Spirit of power and of a sound mind.* *When God has forgiven you, you are justified by faith and no longer bound to the yoke of sin. However, this liberty is not a guarantee to continue in sins, believing the erroneous doctrine of eternal security. Apostle Paul warns: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You have the liberty.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Don't use the Christian liberty to sin.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to understand and enjoy my liberty in Christ.*_ Stand In Christ's Liberty https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS - 3* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👿❌🫷🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```MATTHEW 4:8-11```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Jesus has power and authority over Satan, and He always uses them at the appropriate time. In this situation, Jesus did not hesitate to command Satan to get behind Him. Satan knew that Jesus is over and above him, yet he tempted Christ to bow down in worship to him. Can the master bow to worship his servant? No! Jesus cannot, will not, and did not bow to Satan. As a friend of Jesus, you must know who you are in Christ. You are a joint-heir with Christ. What Jesus has is what you have because of the privilege of sonship. Do not throw your costly apparels (Christian experiences) to the dogs. The things of this world as stated in 1 John 2:15-17 will pass away. Let the love of God and the things of eternal value be uppermost in your heart. Do not yield to the enticement and allurement that your friends are using to deceive you. The fashions of the world may look attractive, but they will soon pass away. Do not follow them. Do not seek to please the world. Strive to please only God. *Jesus has set the example of refusing to bow to Satan in order to show us that we can be victorious. You can do likewise. Become His friend if you are not, follow Him faithfully and consistently, and He will give you the grace to overcome Satan.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, please help me to obey You only and not yield to pressure to obey, worship or serve Satan.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Luke 4:1-13* The Temptation Of Jesus - 3 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee. ⏤ Isaiah 26:3 Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love, and the future to God's providence. ⏤ St. Augustine Father, days come and go, bringing change and decay, but You remain the same forever. A thousand years in Your sight are like a single day. With You, there is no past or future; all time is present to You. Yet in our small lives, we need daily blessings. The memories of our past sorrows cast shadows on our present, and our fears for the future often cast shadows on our path. We are grateful that You see and know everything—past, present, and future—and that we can safely leave it all in Your hands. Help us to live faithfully in this little day that is ours, leaving the past and future with You, without worrying. So, we ask for Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, enabling us to be true and faithful in all our duties. We ask You, O Lord, to give us the strength and wisdom we need for today’s responsibilities and experiences. Let nothing surprise or dishearten us. Hold our hand through every situation. Give us wisdom to answer every question and make every decision in a way that pleases You. Strengthen us to resist temptation, no matter how subtly it approaches. Increase Your love within us so that we may be patient with everyone we meet, compassionate toward those who are sorrowful, cheerful with those who are discouraged, and helpful to those who are weak. Send us out to do Your work so that everything we do today is for You. Breathe upon us as we wait here in Your presence and give us Your blessing as our Father. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/44/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

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ANOTHER ANGRY CHRISTIAN PATRIOT ARTICLE Lest We Forget The Following Article Was First Intended for a Local Newspaper. It Has been Modified for a Larger Audience Including 8 more Photos and Images Please read by clicking below, consider, share, and follow my page. Thank you! https://pesterbrat.substack.com/p/lest-we-forget?r=2u8e73&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

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*THE PEOPLE WHO ALMOST FOLLOWED JESUS · PART 01* > The Rich Young Ruler — When One Thing Is Too Much to Surrender > Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”” He ran to Jesus. He knelt before Jesus. He asked Jesus about eternal life. And then he walked away. That may be one of the most sobering encounters in the Gospels. The rich young ruler did not mock Jesus. He did not argue with Jesus. He did not reject Jesus from a distance. He ran to Him. He knelt before Him. He called Him “Good Teacher.” And he asked one of the most important questions anyone could ever ask: “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”, Mark 10:17 Everything about the encounter looked promising. This man seemed ready to become a disciple. Until Jesus touched the one thing he was unwilling to surrender. Jesus Put His Finger on the Rival Jesus told him: > ”Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor… and come, follow me.”, Mark 10:21 WEB Jesus was not merely asking for a donation. He was exposing a throne. Something possessed this man more deeply than he possessed it. His wealth had become the place where he found security, identity, comfort, and control. Then came the moment of decision. Jesus said: Follow Me. And the man had to decide which treasure he wanted more. Mark tells us: > “But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.”, Mark 10:22 WEB He came running. He left grieving. He wanted eternal life. He wanted Jesus. But apparently, he wanted his possessions more. Almost a Disciple Think about how close he came. He stood face-to-face with Jesus. Jesus personally invited him to follow. Mark even tells us something remarkable: Jesus looked at him and loved him. This was not rejection from Jesus. It was an invitation from Jesus. But love did not remove the cost of discipleship. Jesus loved him enough to confront the very thing keeping him from wholehearted surrender. And the man walked away. What Is Your “One Thing”? It is easy to read this story and think only about money. But the deeper question is much more dangerous. What would Jesus have to touch in your life before you began reconsidering whether you really wanted to follow Him? Your money? Your career? Your comfort? Your reputation? A relationship? Your plans for retirement? Your possessions? Your political identity? Your right to control your own future? Your unwillingness to forgive? Your unwillingness to go where Jesus sends you? We can sing, pray, attend church, read Scripture, give offerings, and speak passionately about Jesus, until Jesus asks for the one thing we have quietly decided He cannot have. And then we discover who is really Lord. Following Jesus Means an Open Hand The issue is not whether every Christian must sell everything. The issue is whether Jesus could ask anything of us and still receive our yes. A disciple does not hand Jesus a contract filled with exceptions. “Jesus, I will follow You, but not there.” “I will obey You, but not with my money.” “I will serve You, but don't interfere with my comfort.” “I will make disciples, but don't ask me to rearrange my life.” “I surrender everything, except this.” That is exactly where this story confronts us. The rich young ruler did not reject religion. He rejected surrender. And Jesus allowed him to walk away. The Question We Cannot Avoid Throughout this series, we will meet people who came astonishingly close to following Jesus, but something stopped them. For this man, it was possessions. For someone else, it will be fear. For another, reputation. For another, delay. For another, the approval of people. But every story forces us to ask the same question: What kept them from fully following Jesus, and could the same thing be keeping us? Today, make it even more personal: What would make you walk away if Jesus asked for it? And perhaps the harder question: Is there anything in your life you have already decided Jesus cannot have? Because the thing you refuse to surrender may reveal the thing you are actually following. Jesus is still saying: “Come, follow me.” The question is not whether we admire Him. The question is whether we will surrender everything to follow Him.

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The spirit of assumption: Lessons from the Life of King David 👑 We partner with this principality every day. We assume we know someone’s heart, we assume we know how a situation will end, or we assume our secrets are safe. But history shows that partnering with this principality is the quickest way to ruin relationships, leadership, and lives. Look at the web of toxic assumptions that surrounded King David in the Bible: ❌ What others assumed ABOUT David Samuel assumed Jesse’s oldest son Eliab was God's chosen king based entirely on his tall, noble appearance. Jesse assumed David was too young, insignificant, and unqualified to even be called from the fields to meet the prophet. Eliab (his brother) assumed David was an arrogant, vain thrill-seeker who only came to the battlefield out of malice, mockingly asking who was watching his "few sheep." King Saul assumed David was just an inexperienced kid who could not possibly survive a physical fight with a veteran giant like Goliath. Goliath assumed he could easily crush David, mocking his youth and his simple shepherd's staff. King Hanun of Ammon assumed David's comforting messengers were actually hostile spies sent to map out and overthrow his city. King Achish of Gath assumed David had become fiercely loyal to him and hated Israel, completely unaware David was secretly raiding Philistine allies. The General Public assumed he was a lawless, desperate rebel when he fled Saul; assumed he ordered a political hit when Abner died; and assumed God had permanently cursed and abandoned him during Absalom's rebellion. Assumptions made by David's men The Quick Vengeance Assumption: In the cave of En Gedi, when King Saul entered alone, David's men instantly assumed God had delivered Saul to be killed (1 Samuel 24:4). They assumed David's path to the throne required assassination, and they were shocked when David chose mercy instead. The "All is Lost" Assumption at Ziklag: When the Amelakites burned their town and captured their families, the men assumed David was completely to blame for the tragedy (1 Samuel 30:6). In their grief, they assumed stoning David was the only logical response, momentarily forgetting his years of faithful leadership. The Spoils of War Assumption: After rescuing their families, the greedy men in David's army assumed that the 200 exhausted soldiers who stayed behind to guard the baggage didn't deserve a share of the recovered goods (1 Samuel 30:22). They assumed rewards belonged only to those who physically fought. Assumptions made by Michal (His First Wife) The "Vulgar Fellow" Assumption: When David danced dynamically before the Ark of the Covenant, Michal watched from a palace window [2 Samuel 6:16]. She assumed his ecstatic praise was not genuine worship, but rather cheap, vulgar exhibitionism meant to show off in front of young servant girls [2 Samuel 6:20]. The Status Assumption: Coming from royal blood as King Saul's daughter, she assumed a king should always maintain rigid, aloof, and majestic dignity. She assumed David was degrading the royal office by stripping down to a simple linen garment. Abigail (His Second Wife) The Imminent Bloodshed Assumption: When her first husband, Nabal, insulted David, Abigail immediately assumed David was on his way to slaughter every male in her household [1 Samuel 25:22]. She didn't wait around; she assumed David’s wrath was volatile and fast-moving, prompting her to intercept him with gifts to prevent a massacre. The Inevitable Royalty Assumption: While David was still a hunted fugitive living in caves, Abigail assumed his ultimate rise to the throne was an absolute certainty [1 Samuel 25:28-30]. She explicitly told him she knew God would build him a lasting dynasty, assuming his current hardship was just temporary. Bathsheba (His Most Famous Wife) The Absolute Monarchy Assumption: When David summoned her to the palace after watching her bathe, Bathsheba likely operated under the assumption that a king's command could not be refused or questioned [2 Samuel 11:4]. In the ancient Near East, challenging a king’s sexual summons often meant death or ruin for a woman and her family. The Protection Assumption: After her husband Uriah was killed, Bathsheba assumed marrying David would bring her security, legitimacy, and protection for her pregnancy. She later assumed she had to aggressively secure the throne for her son Solomon when David grew old and passive, knowing her life depended on it [1 Kings 1:15-21]. ⚠️ The dangerous assumptions David made HIMSELF: The Cover-Up Assumption: David assumed he could permanently hide his adultery with Bathsheba by engineering Uriah’s death, learning the hard way that death doesn't silence secrets. The Prideful Census Assumption: David presumed that taking a national military census—fueled by self-reliance—was a harmless administrative task, ignoring warnings and violating divine law. The Passive Parenting Assumption: He assumed family trauma and friction among his children (Amnon and Absalom) would just blow over, letting resentment brew until it exploded into a violent coup. The Political Trophy Assumption: David assumed pulling Michal away from her new husband to reclaim her as a wife would easily solidify his political claim, miscalculating her deep trauma and resentment. The Despair Assumption: For the first time, David assumed God’s protection had an expiration date, telling himself "Saul will destroy me," which drove him straight into enemy territory as a double agent. The Survival Assumption: In a moment of deep despair, David assumed God’s protection had an expiration date and told himself, "Saul will destroy me." This single assumption drove him straight into enemy territory. The Takeaway: We See how this principality wreaked havok in David's life. People will misjudge you based on your appearance, your past, or their own insecurities. But the real danger lies in the assumptions you make when you are desperate, prideful, or trying to hide a mistake. While we all been afflicted by this spirit at some point in our lives, if your life looks anything like David's, I urge you to seek deliverance. Stop guessing. Stop assuming. Check your heart, look at the facts, and trust the truth over your feelings, and God's Word over this spirit's deception.

Seek God First: From Problem-Solving Faith to Trusting Discipleship. BIBLE BRETHREN COMMISSION Read more 👇 https://bbcdevotional.substack.com/p/seek-god-first-from-problem-solving?r=74n4pi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Compiled By: Christian Church World News CCWN Television Network Presshouse Media

Christ, The Perfect Revelation of God BIBLE BRETHREN COMMISSION Read more 👇 https://bbcdevotional.substack.com/p/christ-the-perfect-revelation-of?r=74n4pi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Compiled By: Christian Church World News CCWN Television Network Presshouse Media