First African Baptist Church Monroe

06/17/2026

Good morning family! Be blessed, safe and encouraged!

The Greatest of These Is Love

1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

Faith enables us to trust God, and hope gives us confidence in His promises, but love is the greatest because it reflects the very nature of God. Love is the foundation upon which every Christian virtue stands. It is not merely something we do, it is who God is and who He calls us to be.

Love is the distinguishing mark of a true believer. We may have impressive gifts, profound knowledge, and unwavering faith, but without love, our actions lose their eternal value. Love forgives when offended, serves without seeking recognition, and remains steadfast through trials.
Jesus demonstrated this perfect love on the cross. While humanity was still in sin, He willingly gave His life so that we might live. His love was sacrificial, unconditional, and transformative.

When we choose to love as Christ loved us, we become living testimonies of God's grace in a world that desperately needs compassion and hope.

Love has the power to heal broken relationships, restore wounded hearts, and unite divided people. It is the language that everyone understands and the evidence that Christ lives within us.

Today, let love guide your words, shape your actions, and direct your decisions. Choose patience over anger, kindness over criticism, and forgiveness over resentment. The greatest legacy you can leave is not what you own or achieve, but how faithfully you loved God and loved others.
Remember, when faith becomes sight and hope is fulfilled in eternity, love will remain forever.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Help me to reflect Your heart in everything I say and do. Fill me with a love that is patient, kind, forgiving, and selfless. Teach me to love those who are easy to love and those who challenge me, just as Christ has loved me. May my life be a testimony of Your grace, and may others see Your presence through the love I extend. Let my faith be strengthened, my hope remain steadfast, and above all, let love be the defining characteristic of my life. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

06/15/2026

Good morning family! Be blessed, safe, and encouraged!

Praise Him Through It!

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Anyone can praise God when life is going well, but true faith praises Him through the storm. Praising God through the trial is a declaration that your confidence is not in your circumstances but in the unchanging character of God. It says, "I may not understand what I'm going through, but I know Who is bringing me through."

The prophet Habakkuk looked around and saw empty fields, barren trees, and failing crops, a picture of loss and uncertainty. Yet he made a powerful decision: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord."
Praise through the struggle is not denial; it is confidence. It acknowledges the pain while proclaiming God's sovereignty.
Job praised God through unimaginable loss, saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Paul and Silas praised God through imprisonment, and their worship turned a prison into a place of deliverance.

When you praise God through your trial, you are declaring that your faith is stronger than your fear and that God's promises are greater than your present pain.

You may be walking through a difficult season today, but don't allow hardship to silence your worship. Keep praising Him through the tears, through the waiting, through the uncertainty, and through the disappointment.

Your praise is evidence that you trust God even when the outcome is not yet visible. The same God who walks with you in the valley is the God who will lead you to the mountaintop.
Don't stop praising because you're still in the middle of it. Praise Him through it, and trust Him to bring you through it.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are with me in every season of life. When I don't understand what You are doing, help me to trust Your heart. Give me the strength to praise You through every trial, every delay, and every challenge. Let my worship be a testimony of my faith and my confidence in Your unfailing love. Fill me with peace, strengthen my spirit, and remind me that You are working all things together for my good. In Jesus' name, Amen.

06/14/2026

06/14/2026

FAB WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

06/13/2026

A Grand 100th Birthday Celebration for Mother Olia “Dell” Pitts! 🎂🎉

Today, we pause to celebrate an extraordinary woman whose life has been a blessing to countless people. Happy 100th Birthday, Mother O. Pitts!

For a century, you have embodied grace, wisdom, faith, strength, and unwavering love. As an educator for more than 50 years, you have shaped minds, inspired generations, and left an indelible mark on the lives of your students. As a Church Mother, you have nurtured souls, offered godly counsel, and faithfully demonstrated what it means to walk with the Lord. As a community mother, you have extended kindness and compassion beyond your own household, touching the lives of all who have had the privilege of knowing you.

Most importantly, you have been the rock of your own family, a pillar of strength, a source of wisdom, and a legacy of love that will continue for generations to come.

Your life is a testimony that faithfulness, perseverance, and a heart committed to serving God and others truly make a difference. The seeds you have planted through your love, sacrifice, and service have produced a harvest that will continue to bless this world for years to come.

Today, we honor not only your 100 years of life but also your 100 years of purpose, impact, and legacy.

Mother Pitts, we love you, we honor you, and we are beyond excited to celebrate this historic milestone with you! May God continue to surround you with His peace, joy, and abundant blessings. Your life has been a gift to us all, and your legacy will forever inspire those who follow in your footsteps.

Happy 100th Birthday! May this special day be filled with love, laughter, cherished memories, and the joy of knowing how deeply you are loved and appreciated.

🎉🎈 Here's to 100 incredible years and a legacy that will never be forgotten! We celebrate you today and always! 🎂❤️🎊

06/12/2026

Good morning family, be blessed, safe, and encouraged!

Praise Him, It's Friday!

Psalm 150:6 (NKJV)
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!"

It's Friday! As another week comes to a close, take a moment to reflect on the goodness of God. Some prayers have been answered, some battles are still being fought, and some blessings are still on the way. Yet, regardless of your circumstances, God remains worthy of your praise.

Praise is not reserved for perfect seasons; it is the language of faith. When you praise God before the breakthrough, you declare that you trust His character even when you cannot trace His hand.

Praise is one of the believer's greatest weapons. It lifts the burdened heart, strengthens weary hands, and shifts our focus from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God.
When King Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming enemy, he didn't lead the army with soldiers, he sent the worshipers first. As they sang, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever," God fought the battle for them (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).

Likewise, when Paul and Silas were chained in prison, they prayed and sang praises at midnight. Their worship shook the foundations of the prison, broke every chain, and opened every door (Acts 16:25-26).

Praise doesn't always change your circumstances immediately, but it changes you. It renews your faith, steadies your heart, and reminds you that the God who carried you this week will also carry you into the next.

Whatever this week has brought, joy or disappointment, victory or struggle end it with praise.

Praise God when the answer comes quickly.
Praise Him when the answer takes time.
Praise Him when you understand.
Praise Him when you don't.

Your praise is a declaration that God is still faithful, still sovereign, and still working all things together for your good.

Don't let Friday end with frustration when it can end with worship. Lift your hands, lift your voice, and lift your heart to the One who has never failed you.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for carrying me through this week. Thank You for every blessing I saw and every unseen mercy that protected me. I choose to praise You, not because everything is perfect, but because You are perfect in all Your ways. Fill my heart with gratitude, strengthen my faith, and remind me that You are working even when I cannot see it. As I enter this weekend, let my life be a testimony of Your goodness and my praise be a witness of my trust in You. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Praise Him because He's already in your tomorrow.

It's Friday, don't just finish the week. Finish it with praise, because when praise goes up, faith rises, hope is renewed, and the presence of God fills the heart of the believer. 🙌🏾✨

06/11/2026

Good morning family! Be blessed, safe, and encouraged!

The Power of Praise — Praise Reminds You That God Is Faithful to His Word

Psalm 119:89-90 (NKJV)
"Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations."

Praise is more than a song, it is a declaration that God always keeps His promises. When we praise God, we are reminding our hearts of His unchanging character and His unfailing Word. Circumstances may change, but God's promises remain steadfast forever.

There will be moments when God's promises seem delayed, but praise anchors us in the truth that delay is not denial. Every time you lift your voice in praise, you shift your focus from what you don't see to what God has already spoken.

Think about Abraham. Before Isaac was born, he chose to believe God's promise, giving glory to God and becoming fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform (Romans 4:20-21). Praise strengthens faith because it remembers God's track record. The God who fulfilled His Word yesterday is the same God who will fulfill it today.

When you praise, you are saying:
God said it.
God will do it.
God cannot lie.
His Word will not return void.

Praise becomes the language of faith before the promise becomes reality.
Encouragement
Whatever promise you're standing on today, healing, restoration, provision, or breakthrough, don't stop praising. Your praise is evidence that you trust

God's integrity more than your circumstances. His timing is perfect, and His Word never fails.
"If God made the promise, He has already made provision for its fulfillment."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You because You are faithful to every promise You have spoken. When doubt tries to overwhelm me, let praise rise from my heart and remind me that Your Word is true and everlasting. Strengthen my faith to trust You even when I cannot see the outcome. I declare that every promise You have spoken over my life will come to pass according to Your perfect will and timing. I will praise You while I wait because You are faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

06/10/2026

Good morning family! Be blessed, safe, and encouraged!

The Power of Praise Shifts Your Power

"And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing unto the Lord... and as they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir... and they were defeated."
— 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV)

Praise is a declaration of trust in God's power. When you praise Him before the victory, you acknowledge that the battle belongs to the Lord. King Jehoshaphat demonstrated this truth by sending the tribe of Judah the praisers ahead of the army. Instead of leading with weapons, they led with worship, and God fought the battle on their behalf.

Human strength has limits, but God's power has none. There are battles that wisdom cannot solve, money cannot fix, and personal effort cannot overcome. In those moments, praise becomes a weapon of faith.
Jehoshaphat's strategy seemed unusual, but it revealed a profound spiritual principle: when praise goes up, God's power goes to work. As the people lifted their voices, God confused the enemy, caused them to turn against one another, and gave Judah a victory without them having to fight.

Praise shifts the source of your strength. Instead of relying on your own ability, you rely on the Almighty God, who specializes in doing what is impossible for man.

If you are facing a battle today that feels too big for you, don't allow fear to have the final word. Lift your voice in praise. Worship reminds your heart that God is still sovereign, still faithful, and still fighting for His people. The battle you cannot win on your own is never too difficult for the God who goes before you.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You are my Defender and my Deliverer. Teach me to praise You before I see the victory, trusting that You are working on my behalf. When I am weak, remind me that Your power is made perfect in weakness. Fight the battles I cannot fight, strengthen my faith, and let my praise be a testimony of my confidence in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise shifts your power. When you choose worship over worry and faith over fear, you place the battle into God's hands. As Jehoshaphat discovered, when praise leads the way, the Lord fights for His people and brings victories that human strength could never achieve.

06/09/2026

Good morning family, be blessed, safe, and encouraged!

The Power of Praise Changes Your Position

"But You are holy, O You who inhabit the praises of Israel." — Psalm 22:3 (NKJV)

Praise is more than a song, it is a spiritual repositioning. When you choose to praise God in the middle of difficulty, you move from focusing on your circumstances to dwelling in His presence. The problem may still be there, but your position has changed because your heart is now centered on the One who is greater than every obstacle.

The enemy wants to keep you in a place of despair, fear, and discouragement. But praise lifts your eyes from the valley to the God who reigns above it all. Psalm 22:3 declares that God inhabits the praises of His people. Wherever sincere praise is offered, God's manifest presence is welcomed.

When Paul and Silas praised God in prison, they were no longer prisoners in spirit, they had positioned themselves in the presence of God. Their praise shifted the atmosphere, shook the foundations of the prison, and opened every door (Acts 16:25-26).

Your praise changes your position. You move from anxiety to assurance, from weakness to strength, from despair into the presence of God. In His presence there is fullness of joy, peace, and victory.

Whatever you're facing today, don't wait until the battle is over to praise God. Praise Him because He is faithful. Praise Him because He is worthy. Praise Him because His presence changes everything. When you praise, you are declaring that God is bigger than your circumstance, and in His presence, fear must give way to faith.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of praise. Help me to lift my voice even when life is difficult. As I praise You, draw me into Your presence and change my position from discouragement to hope, from fear to faith, and from defeat to victory. Let my praise invite Your power into every area of my life, and may my worship glorify Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise changes your position. When you choose to praise God, you leave the place of despair and step into the place of His presence, and where God's presence is, there is power, peace, and victory.