The Amazing Grace Family

The Amazing Grace Family this is the best family ever met, I love being part of this big family

Have a wonderful week๐Ÿ…!
02/02/2026

Have a wonderful week๐Ÿ…!

Happy Sabbath to you!
31/01/2026

Happy Sabbath to you!

Not by Strive, but by His strength. Philippians 4:13
27/01/2026

Not by Strive, but by His strength. Philippians 4:13

๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐˜† ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽโ€”๐ƒ๐Ž ๐๐Ž๐“ ๐‹๐„๐€๐ƒ ๐”๐’ ๐ˆ๐๐“๐Ž ๐“๐„๐Œ๐๐“๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐๐‘ซ๐’๐’†๐’” ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’… ๐‘น๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’๐’š ๐‘ซ๐’ ๐‘ป๐’‰๐’‚๐’•?God is Holy, He is love. He tempts no ...
17/01/2025

๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐˜† ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†
๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽโ€”๐ƒ๐Ž ๐๐Ž๐“ ๐‹๐„๐€๐ƒ ๐”๐’ ๐ˆ๐๐“๐Ž ๐“๐„๐Œ๐๐“๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐
๐‘ซ๐’๐’†๐’” ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’… ๐‘น๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’๐’š ๐‘ซ๐’ ๐‘ป๐’‰๐’‚๐’•?

God is Holy, He is love. He tempts no one, we tempt ourselves (James 1:14, 15). So then, have you ever wondered whatJesus meant when He said in the Lordโ€™s Prayer, โ€œDo not lead us into temptationโ€? Jesus was not implying that God tempts us into sin and we must beg Him not to push us there.
So, what does it mean? As in most, if not all, languages, words can have more than one meaning in Greek. So you must look at the original word and its context. The Greek word for โ€œleadโ€ is eisphero. This verse can be translated as โ€œdo not
let us go, do not abandon us there, do not permit us to go.โ€ It doesnโ€™t mean to โ€œentice.โ€

The Greek word for โ€œtemptationโ€ is peirasmon. It can be translated as โ€œtrial, test, adversity,โ€ etc. So the phrase โ€œdo not lead us into temptationโ€ can mean, โ€œPlease do not abandon me because alone I will slip into sin, or stay in the sin I have
already gotten intoโ€ or โ€œIf you test me, do not leave me alone or let me stay there for too long for fear of my slipping into sin.โ€

At times God allows or puts you in specific situations to help you understand your heart and spiritual condition, to open your eyes to see how you are and what you need. The Bible says that you โ€œdo not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and nakedโ€ (Rev. 3:17, NKJV). When you know you are sick, you go to a doctor, but how can you address something that you donโ€™t know about?

When we see how we are, we realize how sinful we are and know we need Jesus. โ€œThose who live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of humanity, and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen
Saviorโ€ (The Great Controversy, p. 471).

God tested King Zedekiah (2 Chron. 32:31). Proverbs 17:3 says that God is testing our hearts. David prayed, โ€œTest me, Lord, and try meโ€ (Ps. 26:2, NIV). Peter says that the fiery trials are sometimes meant to test us (1 Peter 4:12).

โ€œA view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in powerโ€ (Steps to Christ, p. 65). Therefore, โ€œOur great adversary is constantly seeking to keep the troubled soul away from Godโ€ (Prayer, p. 270). He knows that if we separate from God, we will slip into sin.

In the last part of the Lordโ€™s Prayer, Jesus is trying to underline the secret of power and victory. He says that our single hope is to always be in Jesus and have Jesus in us, to never separate, never depart. โ€œChrist in you, the hope of gloryโ€
(Col. 1:27, NKJV).

Alone we donโ€™t have the power to change and develop a new heart. But the promise is clear and secure: โ€œ[He who is in Christ] is a new creationโ€ (2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV).
So how do you check yourself to see where you are in your spiritual journey? Jesus says we can know by our fruit (Matt. 7:16). How do you produce fruit? By being continually connected with Christ (John 15:1โ€“5) and being filled with His Spirit
(Gal. 5:22, 23).

โ€œA profession of religion places men in the church, but the character and conduct show whether they are in continual connection with Christโ€ (The Desire of Ages, p. 676). And if you remain continually in Him, you donโ€™t need to understand
how He works; you just need to trust Him. He saves all those who come to Him (Heb. 7:25).

โ€œThe only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heartโ€ (The Desire of Ages, p. 324).

God is calling you to pray without ceasing, to constantly call on the Name of the Lord, to walk with Him, and, in continual awareness of His presence and total dependance on Him, to never separate from Him. That is your only strength. And He
promises that if you draw near to God, โ€œHe will draw near to youโ€ (James 4:8, NKJV).

Letโ€™s pray together.
Lord, please keep us far from temptations that could separate us from You. Teach us to flee from the selfish desires that entice us, and turn our eyes to Your spotless character. Help us to hate what you hate and love what you love.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ—โ€”๐…๐Ž๐‘๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐”๐’ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐„๐๐“๐’ ๐€๐’ ๐–๐„ ๐…๐Ž๐‘๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐„๐๐“๐Ž๐‘๐’.โ€œ๐‘ฐ ๐‘ซ๐’Š๐’…๐’'๐’• ๐‘ญ๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐’Š๐’•โ€She was old and had been an elder in my church fo...
16/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ—โ€”๐…๐Ž๐‘๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐”๐’ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐„๐๐“๐’ ๐€๐’ ๐–๐„ ๐…๐Ž๐‘๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐„๐๐“๐Ž๐‘๐’.
โ€œ๐‘ฐ ๐‘ซ๐’Š๐’…๐’'๐’• ๐‘ญ๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐’Š๐’•โ€
She was old and had been an elder in my church for many years. She was now in the hospital. When I visited her, she told me, โ€œDo not pray for me, for I am lost.โ€ โ€œWhy would you say that?โ€ I responded. โ€œPastor, I have sinned. I committed a big sin when I was young.โ€ โ€œDid you ask God for forgiveness?โ€ โ€œOh, every day of my life, but He never forgave me.โ€ โ€œHow do you know?โ€ โ€œWell,โ€ she said, โ€œI didnโ€™t feel it.โ€ We talked it through, and at the end of our conversation she had peace and joy.

How do you โ€œfeelโ€ forgiveness? Is it a warm feeling in your body, or something cold on your right hand, or a tickling behind your neck? Do you smell it?

The Bible is clear. โ€œIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnessโ€ (1 John 1:9, NKJV). It doesnโ€™t say He forgives only small sins or a limited number of sins. It plainly says that if we confess our sins, He forgives them ALL. The condition: you must confess. The promise: God forgives. Do your part, and God will do His.

Forgiveness is not something that you can feel or prove scientifically. It is by faith. You take Godโ€™s Word for it and believe that God doesnโ€™t lie. You cannot explain it, you donโ€™t deserve it, but you know that God promised and His promises are 100 percent secure because they are based on His character and Word. Nothing is more secure than Godโ€™s Word.

When you confess, in that instant you are forgiven. Jesus already paid the price for your sin at the cross. He is โ€œthe Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the worldโ€ (John 1:29, NKJV). His blood is sufficient, and in His blood you have redemption for all your sins (Eph. 1:7).

After you confess you need to exercise faith, to choose to believe that God does what He promised. โ€œAbraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousnessโ€ (Rom. 4:3, NIV). Remember, โ€œthe righteous will live by faithโ€ (Rom. 1:17, NIV). As you believe, God works, and you are forgiven. Donโ€™t try to explain it or deserve it. โ€œFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faithโ€”and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godโ€ (Eph. 2:8, NIV).

โ€œThrough this simple act of believing God, the Holy Spirit has begotten a new life in your heart. You are as a child born into the family of God, and He loves you as He loves His Sonโ€ (Steps to Christ, p. 52). Forgiveness, righteousness, salvationโ€”they are all received as a gift by faith.

โ€œYou are a sinner. You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy. But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. You believe that promise. . . . If you believe the promise . . . God supplies the fact. . . Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, โ€œI believe it; it is so, not because I feel it, but because God has promisedโ€ (Steps to Christ, p. 51).
As you fix your eyes on Jesusโ€™ cross, you get a glimpse of that extreme manifestation of love: Jesus, Creator, the One who speaks and it happens, the One that the angels cover themselves before, the God of the Universe who came down and took human form. He, the Holy One, took your sins, and died for you personally. God died for you.

Fix your eyes on His cross. You will then notice that those who experience grace also share grace generously. Those who experience forgiveness, forgive. โ€œThe ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude
toward others we show whether we have made that love our ownโ€ (Christโ€™s Object Lessons, p. 251).

Letโ€™s pray together.
Father, we confess that sometimes we donโ€™t want to forgive. Release us from bitterness and resentment. Change our hearts and let Your grace flow through us to others. Transform our enemies into friends and unite our hearts in service for
Your kingdom. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ–โ€”๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐”๐’ ๐“๐‡๐ˆ๐’ ๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐€๐ˆ๐‹๐˜ ๐๐‘๐„๐€๐ƒ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’… ๐‘พ๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’๐’—๐’Š๐’…๐’†One day I spent some time doing finances. After setting aside our ...
16/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ–โ€”๐†๐ˆ๐•๐„ ๐”๐’ ๐“๐‡๐ˆ๐’ ๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐ƒ๐€๐ˆ๐‹๐˜ ๐๐‘๐„๐€๐ƒ
๐‘ฎ๐’๐’… ๐‘พ๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’๐’—๐’Š๐’…๐’†
One day I spent some time doing finances. After setting aside our tithe and a smaller percentage for missions and the needy, I paid all the bills, set aside some for our sonsโ€™ school tuition, and had a small portion left over for the rest of the month for food and other expenses. I got into our van to drive the tuition money over to the school and left. It was raining heavily.

Right before entering the school driveway, I saw a young lady visibly distressed. I stopped the van and noticed it was a young woman I had just baptized a few months before. She was crying.
โ€œWhatโ€™s the issue?โ€ I inquired. She finally shared that she, together with many others, had lost her job when a nearby factory closed. Then she, with her two small children, was evicted from her apartment since she couldnโ€™t pay the rent. And now they had no more food.

I took her to a grocery store and filled the cart with food, paying for it with part of the school tuition. In driving her back to school, I called the apartment landlord and barely managed to negotiate an agreement where I used the leftover tuition money to pay half of what she owed, while the landlord forgave the other half. I called church board members and they paid the electrical bill. โ€œAlso,โ€ I said, โ€œafter you get back on your feet, help someone else in need.โ€ She was so grateful.
When I got home and told my wife that I was concerned about how we would pay tuition, she joyfully said, โ€œGod will provide.โ€ That afternoon when I checked the mailbox, I found an envelope with a check in it. It was the same amount that I spent helping the young lady.

God cares for us more than we care for our own children. He promises that our bread will be supplied (Isa. 33:16). But notice the word us in the verse: โ€œGive us this day our daily bread.โ€ Jesus clearly implies that we should not only ask for ourselves but also for those around us. In fact, the Bible is clear that we must love others just as much as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31), and we must pray for others (James 5:16). โ€œBear one anotherโ€™s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christโ€ (Gal. 6:2, NKJV). The first-century disciples did that. They were one in everything they did (Acts 4:32).

โ€œOur prayers are not to be a selfish asking, merely for our own benefit. We are to ask that we may give. The principle of Christโ€™s life must be the principle of our lives. . . . We are to ask blessings from God that we may communicate to others. The capacity for receiving is preserved only by imparting. We cannot continue to receive heavenly treasure without communicating to those around usโ€ (Christโ€™s Object Lessons, pp. 142, 143).

Note that the Lordโ€™s prayer doesnโ€™t talk about bread for tomorrow, only for today. Israel could collect manna only for one day at a time (Exod. 16:4). God doesnโ€™t want you to worry for tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). Ask for today. Ask to share. Seek to bless. Before Christโ€™s followers preach, they should demonstrate their love for God by being a blessing to those around them.

At the judgment Jesus will not ask if you went to church or did other good things, although we should not miss our assemblies (Heb. 10:25). He will say, โ€œI was naked and hungry and thirsty. The way you loved those around you shows the real way you loved Meโ€ (see Matt. 25:31โ€“45).
God is calling you to pray for your neighbor, love your neighbor, and be a blessing to all around you.
Letโ€™s pray together.
Father, sometimes ministry leaves us exhausted. We focus too much on plans and results and forget that You are the Source of all strength. Please turn our eyes toward You. Revive our spirits and fill us with Your inexhaustible love for a
needy world. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ•: ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐–๐ˆ๐‹๐‹ ๐๐„ ๐ƒ๐Ž๐๐„ ๐Ž๐ ๐„๐€๐‘๐“๐‡ ๐€๐’ ๐ˆ๐“ ๐ˆ๐’ ๐ˆ๐ ๐‡๐„๐€๐•๐„๐ ๐‘ฏ๐’† ๐’Š๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’”๐’•๐’†๐’“We all have plans, long-term plans and daily plans....
14/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ•: ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐–๐ˆ๐‹๐‹ ๐๐„ ๐ƒ๐Ž๐๐„ ๐Ž๐ ๐„๐€๐‘๐“๐‡ ๐€๐’ ๐ˆ๐“ ๐ˆ๐’ ๐ˆ๐ ๐‡๐„๐€๐•๐„๐

๐‘ฏ๐’† ๐’Š๐’” ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’”๐’•๐’†๐’“

We all have plans, long-term plans and daily plans. In prayer we usually seek Godโ€™s help and blessing for our plans instead of seeking Godโ€™s plans. God says, โ€œI know the plans I have for youโ€ (Jer. 29:11, NIV). To have Godโ€™s blessings and resources, you must follow His plan.
In prayer we tell God what to do as if we were the master and He the servant.

Remember, He is God, He is the Master. He should tell us what to do. โ€œEach morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of Godโ€ (Steps to Christ, p. 70).

Remember this phrase in the Lordโ€™s prayer: โ€œYour will be done on earth as it is in heaven.โ€ In heaven angels serve God. He gives them an assignment, and they do it. Their answer is, โ€œYes, Lord,โ€ and they are gone. None of them tell Him what to do; none negotiate or say, โ€œI am busyโ€ or โ€œI will do it later.โ€ None argue by saying, โ€œI donโ€™t have the resourcesโ€ or โ€œI have a better idea.โ€ When He tells an angel to do something, they act, knowing He makes all the necessary resources available.

One day my wife and I were on an eleven-hour drive. As usual, we had sought Godโ€™s plan for that day and asked Him to show us opportunities to serve. About five hours into the trip, a good pastor friend called. โ€œPray for me,โ€ he said. โ€œI am supposed to go to Cuba for evangelism, but my car broke down, and the bus didnโ€™t come.โ€

I knew he lived in the area we were driving through right at that moment, so I said, โ€œWhere exactly do you live?โ€ He gave me the exit number. Just as he was telling me, we approached that exact exit. โ€œWe are at your exit!โ€ I exclaimed. โ€œHow could that be?โ€ he responded. โ€œYou live five hours north of me!โ€ We took the exit, went to his place, picked him up, and drove him to airport. He caught the plane and went to Cuba!

Too often we stress continually and fail in our endeavors because we act on our own plans. Yet, we donโ€™t know the big picture. We donโ€™t know the future. God does, and He loves us.
โ€œToo many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. . . . God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Himโ€ (The Ministry of Healing, p. 479).

To do Godโ€™s will you must know it, so you should also listen in prayer. What He says to you is a lot more important than what you say to Him. We โ€œneed to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of Godโ€ (The Ministry of Healing, p. 58).

Through prayer we speak to God, and through the Word He speaks to us. Prayer and study of the Word go always together; they should never be separated. โ€œThe Bible is Godโ€™s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our earsโ€ (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 393).

We can certainly tell Him our needs. We are told to cast all our needs upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). There is nothing wrong in asking Him for help. However, youโ€™re not informing God of something He doesnโ€™t already know; rather, youโ€™re giving Him your consent to help. God gave us freedom of choice, and He respects our choice. He will never intervene by imposing His will on us. He waits for us to ask, to choose His help, and then He can intervene.

Pray, study the Word, think on it. Present your needs and plans, and ask for Godโ€™s leading and guidance. Make Godโ€™s plans your priority. Seek God first, then trust that He will take care of all your needs as He promised (Matt. 6:33). Make yourself available to serve Him and follow His will. Say, โ€œHere I am Lord. Use me today. May Your will be done in my life today.โ€

Letโ€™s pray together.

God, our earthly plans will crumble and come to nothing, but Your plans stretch into eternity. Thank You that our failures are not permanent. Give us faith to glimpse Your kingdom today. Live out Your life in us. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ”โ€”๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐Š๐ˆ๐๐†๐ƒ๐Ž๐Œ ๐‚๐Ž๐Œ๐„Salvation Has Entered In Luke 19 Jesus offers to enter Zacchaeusโ€™ house. Then Jesus says, โ€œToday ...
13/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ”โ€”๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐Š๐ˆ๐๐†๐ƒ๐Ž๐Œ ๐‚๐Ž๐Œ๐„
Salvation Has Entered

In Luke 19 Jesus offers to enter Zacchaeusโ€™ house. Then Jesus says, โ€œToday salvation has come to this houseโ€ (verse 9). When Jesus lives in your place, heaven is there. And before you can enter Godโ€™s kingdom, Godโ€™s kingdom must enter your heart. In John 17 Jesus prayed not that His followers would be separated physically from the world but that they would not be of the world (John 17:15, 16).

We must get used to already living here as we would live in heaven. If we focus on the things of the world, we will become like the world. โ€œWhere your treasure is, there your heart will be alsoโ€ (Matt. 6:21, NKJV). But if we focus on God and on His kingdom, His kingdom will move in us and around us. โ€œThe faces of men and women who talk with God, to whom the invisible world is a reality, express the peace of God. They carry with them the soft and genial atmosphere of heavenโ€ (Medical Ministry, p. 252).

On one of my evangelistic trips to Cuba, many children and their parents came to listen. I found out from the pastor that all these visitors came because of one lady. I asked her what she said to get them to come. She replied, โ€œIt is not what I said to them,โ€ and then she invited us to visit her the next day and watch. So we went.
She had an extremely small house, like a tool shed. No furniture inside except two bunk beds, a small table, two small chairs, and a camping stove. Early in the afternoon she went out in front of her home. And then they cameโ€”almost two hundred children! She had them sit down on the dirt and show her a paper signed by their parents. Then the kids formed a line and she gave them all rice. They sat down and ate.

While they were eating, she explained to us that most of her neighbors didnโ€™t have a job, but she was blessed to have one. Her salary wasnโ€™t enough to buy a variety of food, but she could buy rice. And then she said, โ€œWe are called to be like Jesus, to show what Godโ€™s kingdom is like so people desire it. We are to use Jesusโ€™ method. To feed them and build friendships. If I live for myself, how am I like Jesus? And if I just give people physical bread, how does it really help them? So I am using rice to show these children love. Then I also give them spiritual bread. But kids often get distracted. To make sure that the kids listen, they must go home and, as proof that they have paid attention, tell their parents the story and the song they learned today. In this way I also reach the parents. Now that Iโ€™ve been doing this for a while, they all love me, trust me, and are willing to listen.โ€

As soon as the kids finished eating, she started to teach them about Jonah and then taught them a song. Afterward, they gave her hugs and thanked her. I heard them saying, โ€œWe love you, Auntie!โ€ She had a big grin on her face. She said, โ€œIt is not only that I am trying to show them Godโ€™s kingdom, but they also bless me and fill me with joy too. A greater joy is to see them coming to church and praying and learning about God. But my greatest joy will be to see them in heaven. So I want them to taste a little drop of heaven now.โ€

Jesus is coming soon! But for you to be ready to enter His kingdom when He comes, you must have His kingdom live within you now. You must daily pray, โ€œLord, please come with Your kingdom into my heart today.โ€ God is calling you to make His kingdom a reality today. Through daily prayer, study of the Word, and joyful service, live here as you would in heaven. Let heaven live in you. Be Godโ€™s hands here, just as people of faith were His hands in the past.

God wants to move His kingdom into your heart and home today and every day. He wants you to get used to living in His presence as citizens of heaven. Daily invite heaven into your heart and let His love spill over to others through your actions.
Letโ€™s pray together.

Lord, we know Your kingdom is not about worldly power or force. Give us wisdom to understand and live out Your humble kingdom in our lives today. Fit us to serve, to comfort, and to encourage Your earthly children. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ“โ€”๐‡๐€๐‹๐‹๐Ž๐–๐„๐ƒ ๐๐„ ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐๐€๐Œ๐„ We Are an Open LetterOne time the members of a church, together with the pastor, tried to in...
12/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ“โ€”๐‡๐€๐‹๐‹๐Ž๐–๐„๐ƒ ๐๐„ ๐˜๐Ž๐”๐‘ ๐๐€๐Œ๐„
We Are an Open Letter

One time the members of a church, together with the pastor, tried to invite the neighbors to some events. Several refused. The pastor asked a few families that he knew about why they did not want to come. In different words they all said, โ€œIf Mr. ____ is a member there, weโ€™d rather not come. Heโ€™s not kind or loving. He has no respect or sense of shame. He cheats, abuses his pets, and is always angry and rude.โ€ Most church members could commiserate.

The Lordโ€™s prayer starts with the words, โ€œOur Father in heaven.โ€ God is not only the God of the Universe but He also has a close, intimate relationship with us. Then it says, โ€œhallowed be Your name.โ€ The Greek word is not hagiosโ€”meaning โ€œholy, sacred, worthyโ€โ€”but hagiazoโ€”meaning โ€œto sanctify.โ€ How can we sanctity or make God holy when He is holy?

Paul says that we are an open letter read by all people (2 Cor. 3:2). In 1 Corinthians 4:9 he writes, โ€œFor we have been made a spectacle to the worldโ€ (NKJV).
People donโ€™t see God, they see us. Our daily behavior can glorify God and honor Him, or it can dishonor His name and misrepresent the church and negatively affect its work (Matt. 5:13โ€“16).

Enter Godโ€™s presence with praises and then acknowledge Him as your loving Father. Instead of focusing on you and your needs, first focus on God, His name, and His honor. โ€œGod would have us seek for those things that will honor His name. In no case are we to glorify ourselves; we should seek God for grace and spiritual blessings, that we may glorify His name in our characters. God is glorified, His name is hallowed, when His children give in their lives a representation of Christโ€™s characterโ€ (Manuscript 34, 1903, par. 15).

Pray something like this: โ€œFather, help me honor you in all I do today. Help me properly represent you and carry your Name so that when people see me they will praise You. Let me behave in a way that allows people to see Jesusโ€™ character through my every acIon and word.โ€

Also, in your prayer seek only things that would honor and serve God. 1 John 5:14 says that โ€œif we ask anything according to His will, He hears usโ€ (NKJV).
We must pray in Jesusโ€™ Name, but that means more than merely saying โ€œin Your Name.โ€ In Bible times, a name represented character. To pray in Jesusโ€™ name is to pray within His will, to ask the things that would represent Him and His character. James 4:3 says, โ€œYou ask and do not receive, because you ask amissโ€ (NKJV). โ€œTo pray in Christโ€™s name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His worksโ€ (The Desire of Ages, p. 668).

Jesus promised to answer our prayers if we ask in His Name, within His will, and for something that will glorify and honor God (John 14:13, 14; 1 John 5:14).
And when God answers, make sure that you praise and honor Him. We must not take any credit for ourselves. Satan tries to take Godโ€™s glory for himself. In humility, thankfully acknowledge and glorify God through your words, actions, and prayers.

When we complain we give the wrong message about our God. In a way we say that God is not good, He doesnโ€™t care, He doesnโ€™t keep His promises. Rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4). Pray, talk, and behave in a way that would honor God. How can you inspire faith when you doubt? How can you ask others to praise God when you complain?

Our heartfelt prayer should be, โ€œMy heavenly, loving Father, help me today to talk and act in a way that properly represents You before others. Give me only those things that will honor You, and help me use them in a way that serves You. Let me glorify Your name today.โ€

Letโ€™s pray together.
God, sometimes we forget that others are watching everything we do. Help them to see love, not hate in our lives. Help them to see generosity, not selfishness. Work in our lives to bless our children, our neighbors, and even our enemies. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ’โ€”๐”๐๐€๐๐’๐–๐„๐‘๐„๐ƒ ๐๐‘๐€๐˜๐„๐‘๐’ (๐€๐๐ƒ ๐…๐€๐ˆ๐“๐‡)๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด Waiting is not fun. Who likes waiting? Waiting at the doctorโ€™s office, waiti...
11/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ’โ€”๐”๐๐€๐๐’๐–๐„๐‘๐„๐ƒ ๐๐‘๐€๐˜๐„๐‘๐’ (๐€๐๐ƒ ๐…๐€๐ˆ๐“๐‡)
๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด

Waiting is not fun. Who likes waiting? Waiting at the doctorโ€™s office, waiting in line, waiting for a delayed plane at the airport, waiting for someone who is late for a meeting.

Abraham had to wait 25 years to get an answer to his prayer. Moses waited 40 years for God to finally intervene. Joseph was a slave for several years and then sat in prison a few yearsโ€”not a fun place to wait for Godโ€™s intervention! There are many examples of waiting for help in the Bible.

Though waiting challenges our patience, the Bible says that one characteristic of Godโ€™s people is patience. The same in prayer. Often, we may have to wait for an answer.

โ€œTo every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your goodโ€ (Messages to Young People, p. 250).

When we humble ourselves and present our need, in a clear, specific way, acknowledging our total dependance on God, He answers. However, often we must wait. We often need to use up all our resources and options before God intervenes, so we can know with certainty that it was Him. If He answered instantly, we might take credit for ourselves.

When we see no possible way to solve a crisis, God says a word, and something that we never could have imagined happens. โ€œCall to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not knowโ€ (Jer. 33:3, NKJV).

However, if God doesnโ€™t answer at the time and in the way we ask, we may think He didnโ€™t answer at all. God answers honest, humble prayers, and His answer is the best possible answer.

You are called to know the love of God (Eph. 3:19). Thatโ€™s all you need. The more you know Him, the more you trust Him, the more peace you have, and the more you are willing to wait for His leading and intervention. Fix your eyes on Him, His love, His promises, and the way He has led in past challenges.
โ€œYou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Youโ€ (Isa. 26:3, NKJV).

God knows the future. He cares for you, but He also cares for others. He may not answer now because He has a better answer, or itโ€™s not the best time, or you are not ready for His plan. He may have a different answer that addresses other needs, things you may not think about. He may also allow something in your life as the single way to reach someone that otherwise would not be reached. Many things happen that we will understand only in heaven.

Keep in mind, Jesus didnโ€™t come and die to give us a comfortable life on earth. In fact, He said that in this world we will have trials (John 16:33). He often uses trials to teach us lessons necessary for character growth and salvation. โ€œFor our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of gloryโ€ (2 Cor.4:17).

So instead of asking God to remove challenges, ask Him to help you grow and learn through them. Our greatest need is not the needs that we pray for, though most of the time they are real needs. Our greatest need is to know our God. The
more you know Him, the more you trust Him, and the more you allow Him to work.
God is calling you to pray and seek Him, His presence, His plan, His leading. Seek to know Him before seeking answers and help, then cast upon Him all your worries and wait upon Him.

Letโ€™s pray together.
Father, we donโ€™t like to wait. Waiting makes us anxious and fearful, so we rush ahead and look for our own solutions. Teach us to rest in You as a child rests in his fatherโ€™s arms. Give us faith to know that You hold tomorrow in Your powerful hands. May we live by faith, not by sight. Amen.

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ‘โ€”๐๐„ ๐’๐๐„๐‚๐ˆ๐…๐ˆ๐‚Pray SpecificallyOur son, Ovidiu, purchased a house at an extremely low price, but the house was in poo...
10/01/2025

๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ÿ‘โ€”๐๐„ ๐’๐๐„๐‚๐ˆ๐…๐ˆ๐‚
Pray Specifically

Our son, Ovidiu, purchased a house at an extremely low price, but the house was in poor shape and quite small. He had to remodel and expand it to accommodate his familyโ€™s needs. However, prices had gone up considerably. He mentioned
repeatedly that he would most likely not be able to complete the work due to lack of finances.

I asked Ovidiu to present his needs before God because He cares for them. He responded that he had prayed about the house, in general. I then asked him to be very specific in prayer, to present one need at a time, not to pray today for what he would need next month or tomorrow, but to pray today for the need of today. God answers specifically to specific requests. God does not answer generic prayers.

Do not go to God and say, โ€œLord, save my neighbors.โ€ Instead, you might say, โ€œMy Father, I intercede for my neighbor John. Please touch his heart. Also, please give me wisdom and opportunities to build a friendship with him and reach him with the good news of the gospel.โ€

Mark 10:47 presents Bartimaeus asking Jesus for help. He cries out, โ€œJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!โ€ That is a generic request. In verse 51 Jesus asks him to be specific: โ€œWhat do you want Me to do for you?โ€ Bartimaeus responds, โ€œRabboni, that I may receive my sightโ€.

Back to my storyโ€”our son started praying specifically. He asked God to help him find a team that would dig the hole for the foundation of the house. Then he began searching. However, all teams he contacted were scheduled months in
advance, and they all charged somewhere between $18,000 and $22,000.

Eventually he managed to negotiate with one team to lower the price to $16,000 and come the following week to dig. The leader of the team came, but the heavy machinery did not show up. After waiting all morning, the leader lost his
patience, said he couldnโ€™t come back for three months, and lee. Our son was devastated. He didnโ€™t have any solution.

Finally, Ovidiu asked God specifically for a team to dig a hole fast, and at a good price. As he finished his prayer, his next-door neighbor approached.
Neighbor: โ€œHow are you doing?โ€
Ovidiu: โ€œIโ€™m OK. Just looking for a team to dig the hole for my foundation.โ€
Neighbor: โ€œWell, I have a team digging the hole for my house right now. Ask them. Maybe they can do yours too.โ€ Ovidiu instantly ran next door and asked.
The team leader responded: โ€œWell, since weโ€™re already here with our heavy equipment, as soon as we finish here, we can come and do your job.โ€
Ovidiu: โ€œCan you come and give me an estimate?โ€

Upon looking, the team leader said, โ€œI will do it for $2,500.โ€
What joy! Ovidiu saw that God had already prepared an answer, and He was waiting for Ovidiu to ask for it.

โ€œPrayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friendโ€ (Steps to Christ pg. 93). God is calling you to have an open conversation with Him, to present your needs in a clear and specific way. He wants you to have faith in Him, to expect an answer based on His love, wisdom, and promises. He will answer in His time and way, but if you wait upon Him in faith, you will know that His answer is the best answer.
Letโ€™s pray together.

Dear Lord, You already know everything about us. You know our fears, our hopes, our strengths, and our weaknesses. We often ask for simple desires like food or money or success, but You know our deepest needs. Thank You that the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that our words cannot express. We trust You to answer in ways that we cannot imagine! Amen.

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