Rise First Pray Gladly Believe Faithfully Received Gratefully

 So before we take another step into this day, let us do what matters most. 

Let's enter into God presence.

 Let's pray.

🙏 

 Our heavenly Father, we come before you this morning with a heart full of gratitude. 

I thank you for the precious gift of life, for the breath in my lungs and for the opportunity to see another day.

 You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. 

l exalt your name above all names. 

For you alone are worthy of all praise and honour.

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed. For your compassions never fail. They are new every morning .

Great is your faithfulness. 

Today I receive your mercies with thanksgiving. Despite my imperfections  Your Love Remains steadfast. 

Thank you for forgiving my sins and for cleansing me from all unrighteousness. 

Let my heart be pure before you so that I may walk in alignment with your perfect will .

Help me to reflect your mercy and kindness to those around me. 

Showing the same grace that you have poured out on me.

 Father, as I begin this day, I stand in confidence knowing that you hear our prayers.

 I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly trusting that you are the faithful God who never fails. 

For you see every challenge I will face today and I trust that you have already made a way for me.

 Let your wisdom be my guide, your peace be my comfort and your joy be my strength.

 I surrender every plan decision and action into your hands 

For you have said , "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him and he will make your path straight."

Lord, I acknowledge you in all my ways and I ask that you direct my paths, you guide my steps today.

 Lord, let every decision I make be aligned with your will.

 Let my words, thoughts and actions reflect your love and wisdom. 

If l am uncertain, let me seek you first before taking any step forward. 

Teach me, Lord, to rely on your guidance and not my own understanding.

 I declare and decree that no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

 Every tongue that rises against me in judgment shall be condemned.

 I take authority over every plan of the enemy that seeks to bring confusion, destruction or fear into my life.

 I nullify every every scheme of darkness in the mighty name of Lord Jesus Christ.

 No attack of the enemy shall succeed.

 For l am covered by the blood of Jesus Christ .

My household is covered, my mind is covered, my health is covered and my future is covered by Your Divine protection.

 Lord, I ask for your Divine covering over me and my loved ones.

May your angels encamp around my home, around my workplace, around my travels and every place my feet shall tread. 

It is written, for he will command his angels   concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

 No harm shall befall us. No plague shall come near our dwelling. 

For you are our Refuge and Fortress.

 Lord, I trust that you will shield me from dangers seen and unseen.

 May your holy presence be a fortress around me, a strong tower that no enemy can breach,  your holy presence be a wall of fire around me.

 Oh Lord, let your divine presence surround me like a shield, keeping me safe from seen and unseen dangers.

You guard my heart and mind against fear, anxiety and worry.

You fill me with peace that surpasses all understanding. 

For you are the God of Peace.

 When Storms arise, I will stand firm knowing that my Foundation is in you.

 l choose Faith over fear, I choose trust over doubt and I choose joy over despair.

 Holy Spirit, I invite you to fill me afresh. 

You Empower me to walk in boldness, wisdom and discernment.

 Let my thoughts be governed by the mind of Christ. 

Let my Words bring life, encouragement and   edification to those around me.

 Help me to resist temptation and to flee from sin.

 Let the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control be evident in my life today. 

May my life reflect the beauty of Christ so that   others may see your glory in me.

 Father, I commit my work, my endeavours and my responsibilities into your hands.

Let everything I do bring glory to your name.

May my hands be diligent and my mind be focused.

 I pray for Supernatural favour and divine opportunities.

You open doors that no man can shut and you shut doors that are not meant for me. 

 Let my labour be fruitful and may I walk in abundance.

 I trust that you will supply all my needs according to your riches and glory.

 Lord, I lift up my family before you. Bless my household with unity, love and joy.

 Let your peace reign in our home.

 I pray for my loved ones who may be struggling with sickness, fear or uncertainty.

You be their healer, be their comforter and be their provider.

 Let them experience your tangible presence today. 

Strengthen their faith, encourage their hearts, and draw them closer to you. 

 May our home be filled with love and laughter, free from division and strife.

Lord, I intercede for those who are lost, hurting and broken.

 Lord let your light shine upon them, draw them closer to you.

 Let them know that you are the way, the truth and the life.

 I pray for divine restoration in broken relationships, for healing in wounded hearts and for deliverance for those bound by addiction, depression or anxiety.

You bring freedom to those who are in bondage.

 Lord, let the chains of oppression be broken in Jesus' name. 

 Father, I stand on your promises.

 Your plans are to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope in a future.

 l embrace that truth today. 

I reject every lie of the enemy that seeks to instill doubt, fear or  discouragement in my heart.

 I choose to believe in your goodness and faithfulness.

 Your plans for me are greater than anything I can imagine and I will walk boldly in my Divine Purpose.

 I pray for wisdom and discernment in my  interactions with others.

 Help me to be a light in the midst of darkness.

 Let my speech be seasoned with grace.

 Let my actions reflect the love of Christ.

 Use me as an instrument of peace and   encouragement. 

Let my presence bring hope and joy to those around me.

 Give me patience with those who need it, compassion for those who are struggling and kindness toward those who cross my path.

 Lord, I lift up the leaders of my country, my community and my church. 

Grant them wisdom, integrity and discernment.  

Let them lead with righteousness, humility and justice.

 l pray for peace over my nation and for unity among her people.

 Let your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

 Raise up Godly leaders who will seek your guidance and lead with humility and strength.

 As I go through this day I hold on to the truth that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 I refuse to be discouraged.

 I refuse to be afraid.

 I walk in victory knowing that greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world.

Father, for you are the greater One who is in me than the devil who is in the world. 

 No challenge I face today is greater than The God Who Walks with me.

 I will trust you in every moment knowing that you are faithful.

 Father, I call upon your name knowing that you hear the cries of your children.

 Your word declares, the righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. 

Today I cry out to you Lord. 

 Asking for divine intervention in every area of my life.

 Step into my circumstances and turn them around For Your Glory.

 I pray for breakthroughs that only you can bring. 

Breakthroughs in my family, my finances, my health, and my spiritual journey.

 Lord, there are moments when I feel weary , when the battles of life drain my strength and I wonder if I have the endurance to press on.

 In those times, remind me that your grace is sufficient, that your strength is made perfect in my weakness.

 When I feel alone help me to remember that you will never leave me nor forsake me.

 When doubt creeps into my heart, remind me that your promises never fail.

 I ask for a fresh outpouring of your Holy Spirit.

 Fill me anew with your presence. 

 Let your spirit empower me, guide me and strengthen me to walk in alignment with your Divine will.

 Remove every spiritual hindrance that seeks to keep me from drawing closer to you.

 Purify my heart and sanctify my mind. So that my thoughts and actions are pleasing in your sight.

 I declare that today is a Day of Victory. No chain of oppression can hold me down. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

 I renounce every spirit of fear, doubt and discouragement. 

I take hold of your promise. For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Let that power manifest in my life today. 

Lord, you strengthen my faith and help me to stand firm on your word, regardless of the challenges I  face.

Father, there are moments when I feel lost, uncertain of my next step, unsure of what the future holds.

 In those times, let me find peace in knowing that you are already in my tomorrow. That you are ordering my steps and that your plans for me are good.

 When l am overwhelmed, you lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. 

l come against every plan of the enemy that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. 

I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over my life, over my household, over my career and my destiny. Every demonic assignment is canceled in Jesus' name.

 Every word curse spoken against me is nullified in Jesus' name.

I silence the voices of opposition that try to sew seeds of doubt in my heart.

 Let every weapon formed against me be broken in Jesus' name. 

Lord, for your word declares that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

 And you will refute every tongue that accuses us.

 I stand on this promise and claim Divine protection over my life.

 Lord, I seek your Supernatural favour.

You open doors that no man can shut.

You position me for opportunities that exceed my expectations.

 Let your favour go before me like a shield, cause people to see your light shining in me.

 Establish the work of my hands that I may prosper and be a blessing to others.

  I pray for divine connections and Kingdom relationships that will propel me into my purpose. 

Father, I release every burden that weighs heavy on my heart.

 I cast all my cares upon you for I know that you care for me.

You give me rest from the battles that have wearied my soul.

You replace my anxiety with your perfect peace.

For your word says , do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present our requests to you God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

 I claim that peace today.

 Lord, let it rain healthy wealth in my life. l ask for Divine Healing.

 Lord, heal every sickness, every affliction and every wound physical, emotional and spiritual.

 Restore my body to full strength, revive my spirit and renew my energy.

 I rebuke every diagnosis or prognosis that is not aligned with your will.

 I declare that by the stripes of Jesus Christ, I am healed. 

Let your healing virtue flow through me, restoring every broken place.

 Lord, there are days when my faith feels weak when the mountains before me seem immovable and when my prayers feel unheard.

In those moments, remind me that you are the God who moves mountains,you are the God who hears even the silent cries of my heart. 

You are The God Who works all things together for my good.

 Help me to trust you even when I cannot see the way.

 I intercede for my family, my friends and my loved ones.

  Surround them with your love, protect them from harm, draw those who do not know you into a deeper relationship with you.

 Bring restoration where there is brokenness, bring reconciliation where there is division,  and bring hope where there is despair.

Father, bless our homes with your peace and unity. 

Let our households be filled with your presence. 

 I pray for an increase in wisdom and discernment. 

Help me to make Godly decisions.

 Let me walk in righteousness and integrity.

 Keep me from distractions and deception.

 Let my earsand heart be attuned to your voice so that I may follow your leading. 

Order my steps, Lord, and direct my path.

 Father, I decree and declare that this is my season of elevation. I will not be stagnant. I will not be delayed. Every stronghold that has kept me bound is broken in Jesus's name. I step into Divine acceleration and divine promotion. I move forward in faith knowing that your plans for me are good.

 I come before you once again knowing that you are the source of my strength, my peace and my refuge. You are the God who sees me, the one who knows the deepest cries of my heart. Lord, I lift up my soul to you. For there are moments when I feel weary, burdened by the weight of my worries and unsure of the path ahead. But in those moments, I remind myself that you are my Rock and my Fortress, my ever present help in times of trouble. 

Father, there are days when I feel like I'm walking through a dry and barren land, where my soul thirsts for your presence. There are moments when my prayers feel unheard, when I wrestle with doubts and question if you are near. But your word says, "the Lord himself goes before you and wilI be with you he will never leave you nor forsake you do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." So even in my uncertainty, I choose to trust in you. Even in my weakness, I know that you are my strength. 

Lord, I lay before you every fear, every anxiety and every burden that has tried to consume me. I surrender my battles to you because I know that victory is found in your hands. When I feel overwhelmed by the struggles of life remind me that I do not fight alone. You are Jehovah Nissi, my banner of victory, the one who goes before me and makes a way where there  seems to be no way. You are Jehovah Nissi —The-Lord-Is-My-Banner— mean to us today God does not leave us to fight our battles in our own strength. 

Lord, I ask that you breathe new life into my spirit, renew my strength so that I may soar on wings like eagles. 

Let my heart be steadfast, unshaken by the storms of  life when the voices of doubt try to whisper lies into my ears.

 Let Your Truth drown them out as it is written , but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they wilI walk and not be faint.

 Lord, let that be my testimony today.

 Let me rise above every challenge, knowing that you are with me. 

Father, there are nights when I lay awake. My mind racing with thoughts of uncertainty, the enemy tries to fill my heart with fear.

 Fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of being alone.

 But you have not given me a spirit of fear.

 Lord, you have given me power, love and a sound mind.

 So today, I rebuke every spirit of fear in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

 I choose God's Faith over fear.

I choose trust over worry and I choose God's peace over anxiety.

 Lord , I pray for restoration in every area of my life. 

Restore my faith where it has been shaken, restore my joy where it has been stolen, restore my hope where it has grown weak.

 If there are broken relationships in my life, mend them with your love.

 If there are areas of my heart that have been wounded, heal them with your touch.

 If there are dreams that I have buried because of past disappointments, you can revive them with fresh vision.

Lord God, I know that there are seasons when l must walk through the fire. But I also know that I will not be consumed because you are with me. It is written " when you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you, when you walk through the fire you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze."

 Lord help me to remember that even in the fire, you are refining me.  Even in the valley you are leading me. Even in the storm, You Are My Shelter.

 Father, I ask for breakthrough in every area where I have been waiting. I ask for open doors that no man can shut. I ask for divine opportunities that align with your will.

 If there are any obstacles standing in the way of my purpose, I remove them in Jesus' name. 

If there are delays, let them be for my protection and  preparation.

 If I have been waiting for an answer, give me the patience to trust in your perfect timing.

 Lord, when I feel unworthy, remind me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by you.

 When I feel unseen, remind me that you have called me by name.

 When I feel forgotten, remind me that you have inscribed me on the palms of your hands.

 Let me not seek validation from the world, but let me rest in the truth that l am loved, chosen and set apart for your glory.

 God, I pray for divine wisdom and  discernment in every decision I make.

 Let your Spirit guide me. Let me not lean on my own understanding but I acknowledge you in all my ways, trusting that you will make my path straight.

 If l am standing at a crossroads in life, show me which way to go.

 If l am unsure of my purpose, you reveal it to me.

 If l am in need of direction, you light my path with your truth.

 Father, I pray for peace that surpasses all understanding.

 Let my mind be at rest knowing that you are in control.

 Let my heart be still knowing that you fight for me. 

Let my soul find refuge in your presence knowing that nothing can separate me from your love.

 No matter what comes my way today, let me face it with unwavering Faith, anchored in the promise that you are always with me.

 Now Lord, I lift up those readers who are following and praying this prayer.

 For the one who feels alone wrap them in your love and remind them that you are near.

 For the one who feels weary, you renew their strength and fill them with fresh hope.

 For the one who is battling anxiety and fear, let your peace overwhelm their heart.

 For the one who is waiting for an answer, give them patience and reassurance that your timing is   perfect.

 For the one who is in need of provision, you open the storehouses of heaven and meet their needs according to your riches in glory.

 For the one who is struggling with doubt, let your truth be louder than the lies of the enemy.

 For the one who is seeking direction, illuminate their path and lead them in righteousness. 

Lord, you see every tear, you hear every silent prayer and you know every burden. 

Touch each reader here in a personal way today that they may experience your presence like never before. 

Lord, bless my hands to prosper in the work that I do.

 Let my labour not be in vain.

 Provide for my needs according to your riches in glory.

Surround me with people who will uplift and encourage me and remove every toxic relationship that seeks to pull me away from you.

 Let your goodness and  mercy follow me all the days of my life.

 I declare that today is blessed and anointed.

 I declare that joy will fill my heart, peace will fill my mind and favour will go before me.

 I declare that no weapon formed against me shall prosper and every plan of the enemy is dismantled in the name of Jesus.

I  declare that this is my season of growth, increase and divine alignment with your will.

 Thank you Lord for hearing my prayers.

Thank you for being my refuge and strength.

 Thank you for your faithfulness which never fails.

 I trust you completely and I give you all the glory, honour and praise. In Jesus's mighty name I pray, believe and received. 

Amen and amen. 

11 December ✅ 

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18 December 

Led A Swami To Christ

 The testimony of how this former Hindu priest came to Christ is absolutely fascinating. ( Click here )  He explains how he came to enter the Hindu priesthood, how he became disillusioned with it, and how he finally came to know Christ as his Savior and his Lord.

What played a large part in his disillusionment with Hinduism is that despite the ritualistic practices of his fellow Swamis and no matter how much time they spend meditating and studying their sacred texts, he saw no meaningful change in any of them and felt no meaningful change in himself no matter what he did:

All around me, I saw swamis who had worshiped and studied for decades without experiencing any meaningful change in their lives. Why, I wondered, after all this fasting, reading, and meditating, were they still given to anger, jealousy, or spite? I didn’t feel like I was changing, either.

A few years later, I was ordained into the Hindu priesthood and began wearing the saffron robes of sacrifice. With my shaved head and holy appearance, I embarked on a pilgrimage to sacred Hindu sites across India. I bathed in the Ganges and other rivers invested with spiritual significance, hoping to cleanse my sins and gain a sense of renewal. But again, nothing in my inner nature changed. [1]

What sets Christianity apart from other religions is that adherents of other religions rely on one’s own merit, the keeping of certain laws and ordinances, and the performing of a certain set of rituals on a regular basis to obtain and retain the favor of God or whatever power they credit for their existence and before whom they believe they will have to stand and give an account for the lives that they have lived but Christianity, unlike other religions, addresses not just the outward performance, but also the inward condition of our very nature.

All the theistic religions of the world may agree that there is a higher authority greater than that of any man that demands that we all abide within a certain set of moral standards and must be approached with utmost reverence, but what sets them apart from Christianity is that while adherents of every other religion believe and teach that they will only be judged by their outward performance, Christianity teaches that even the very thoughts, motives, and attitude of the heart will also be taken into account which is why unlike what other religions teach, we cannot rely on ritualistic practices and that adherence to certain ordinances and moral standards to obtain the favor of the Lord and escape judgment.

The law of God was given for the purpose of restraining wickedness, establishing order in our lives, and for revealing sin which is the inherent inward corruption of our very nature which produces within us the very things that lead to the outward acts conduct that are identified as sinful or wicked behavior but the keeping of the law can never obtain the favor of God or grant us entry into His Kingdom because we are not able to keep it perfectly due to sin within us. In order to keep the law perfectly, we would have to keep it perfectly not just in our actions or speech, but we also must be able to keep it perfectly within our minds and within our hearts and if we fail at this even once, then we are guilty of sin and stand condemned before a Holy and Righteous God who is without sin. Even the least of all sins is subject to punishment and is enough to keep a man out of the Kingdom of Heaven and condemned to an eternity of unrelenting punishment and there are no amount of good works that will ever be able to atone for that sin and since God is perfect in every way, then so is His justice and perfect justice demands that a penalty be paid for any sin committed and no matter how good or pious of a person you think yourself to be, if you have failed to keep the law and commandments of God in any way, not even your best performance is going to be enough to obtain His favor or save from eternal damnation.

If God allows those who fall short of moral perfection into the Kingdom of Heaven, Heaven would then be as defiled as the earth has been defiled because sin affects more than we can comprehend and before it defiled the earth, it first defiled man but before sin entered into the world, the world was created to be a place of life, life, happiness, peace, joy and contentment and in which existed a perfect and uninterrupted harmony between God, man, and nature and in which man experienced an unhindered relationship with His Creator, and there was nothing withheld from man except for one thing and that was a fruit from a certain tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, having been warned that in the day that they ate thereof, they would surely die, (Gen. 2:16-17, 3:3) but sadly, that warning was not heeded and the first man Adam and his wife Eve being the first woman and from whom we all descend disobeyed that one command and ate of that forbidden fruit and it was in that moment that sin entered into them and when sin entered into them, the sentence of death came upon them (Gen. 3:19) to which they eventually succumbed but the sentence of death did not stop with them. It was then passed down to all of us because we are descended from them and in being descended from them, we have also inherited that inward corruption in ourselves that the Bible calls sin (Rom. 5:12) which is why we all sin and as a consequence, we all die because the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23) and not only are the wages of sin death, but its wages also are estrangement from our Creator and eternal damnation and since we are all born into sin and since sin lives within all of us, we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) which is moral perfection and if we are to be morally perfect, it isn’t just our outward performance that has to be made perfect, but our inward person also needs to be made perfect as well, for as it is written “cleanse first that which is within the cup and of the platter, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Mt. 23:26), for as it is also written that man is not defiled by that which is from without but that which is from within (Mt. 15:11, 17-20) which is why the Creator demands not cleanliness outwardly, but an inward cleanliness to; a cleanliness within the heart and within the mind and how many who have trusted in their own goodness find themselves shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven because they were still in their sin in spite of all of the good things they might have done and how religious they may have been as the righteousness that they trusted in was not enough to redeem them of their sins because the righteousness in which they trusted was also tainted by the sin within them and if men cannot be redeemed and cleansed of all sin by his own goodness and righteousness which falls short of what is demanded of our Creator, then by what means can we escape judgment except by a goodness and righteousness that is perfect and without sin and if our own righteousness falls short of perfection then how can we be reconciled to our Creator but by a righteousness that is perfect and sinless, which is not our own righteousness but the righteousness of another who is without sin and willing to take upon Himself the penalty of all of our sins so that we might be rescued from eternal damnation and reconciled to our Creator? And yet there is no man who has ever possessed or ever possesses such righteousness to be able to take the demanded penalty for all sins on all of our behalf. The only one that can do this is the one whose righteousness is without sin and there is not one who is without sin but God alone and just as He is perfect in His righteousness and in His justice and goodness, so is He also perfect in His love and in His mercy and it is because of His love for all of mankind that He offers mercy and reconciliation and it is because of His love that He is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9) and escape what would otherwise be an unrelenting and unimaginable eternity of torment and punishment beyond comprehension and it is out of His love for us that He came to us in the flesh (Jn. 1:1-14) and as a man who being God was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15) and because He was without sin He, being God the Son, was able to present Himself before God the Father as a perfect sacrifice; (Heb. 7:25-27) the sinless God offering Himself up on behalf of sinful man, which He did through the shedding of His own blood and the sinless man who did this on our behalf was none other than Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, King, and God who, on our behalf, offered Himself up to be put to death for our sins which He did when he surrendered Himself to be crucified upon a cross and by the shedding of His blood was redemption on our behalf purchased and after having purchased in His death our redemption, was raised again from the dead so that we by faith would be justified in Him (Rom. 4:25) if we will but by faith call upon His name for the forgiveness of all sins (Rom. 10:9, 13) and it is by calling upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins that we are reconciled to our Creator (2 Cor. 5:18) and with the cleansing of our souls from sin and reconciliation to our Creator comes an inward transformation and it is this inward cleansing of the soul and this regeneration which cause all who are willing to call upon Christ for it, submit to it, and embrace it to no longer desire to follow after selfish and worldly pursuits but after those things that pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven, (Mt. 6:33)

to no longer take pleasure in those things that are evil and displeasing in the sight of the Lord, but in that which is good, right, and pleasing in His sight,

to no longer desire to walk in the lies of this present world, but only in the truth that comes from Christ Almighty, (Jn. 14:6) no longer placing our hopes in the things of this present world, but looking forward to that new and better world to come, (Rev. 21-22)

to no longer rely on worldly resources, men, or even our own power, abilities, skills, and wisdom for our needs and provision but upon God who is able to meet all of our needs, (Mt. 6:25-33) recognizing that the resources of this world and even the people He brings into our lives are but instruments and vessels through which God meets our needs and that the skills, power, knowledge, and wisdom by which we might acquire our provision are provided and instilled in us by God,

to no longer fear what men can do to us, but rather fearing the God before whom we will have to one day give an account for how we lived our lives, (Mt. 10:28)

to no longer look to corruptible institutions within our society for direction and order in our lives but to God who, by His written Word has given us laws and precepts to be applied to our lives and which serve to produce and maintain an ordered life, and who, by His Holy Spirit which comes to dwell within us upon repentance, establishes in our lives a course and direction in our lives to pursue for His glory,

to no longer seek our own glory but the glory of God,

to no longer rally behind corruptible men, but instead behind the incorruptible God in Heaven bearing in mind that those men and women God raises up for our edification are but instruments and servants of His for that respective purpose to which He has called them,

to no longer seek to align ourselves with the things of darkness but only with the things of the light,

to no longer trust in the wisdom of the world but only on the wisdom and knowledge that comes from above, nor depend on corruptible earthly authorities to swiftly administer justice, but only in the power of God to deliver us from evil.

And it is this inward reformation and transformation that is missing from other religions for while the fear of eternal damnation and offending what they believe to be God may drive them away from doing evil or what is perceived to be evil, for those of us who follow Christ, it is not just the fear of God that drives us to avoid that which is evil and displeasing in the sight of the Lord but it is also our love for Him and our gratitude and appreciation for the forgiveness of sins that we receive in Him that not only causes us to avoid that which is evil and displeasing in His eyes but to also do that which is right and good in His sight and to faithfully obey and honor Him in all that we do and so this is what sets apart Christianity from all other faiths.

The other religions of the world demand that men earn the favor of God or what they believe to be a god or even a multitude of gods through the keeping of laws, ordinances, and the performance of certain rituals.

But Christianity preaches a God who has done for man what man could never do for himself and that is the offer of a redemption purchased on our behalf through the death of one who was without sin and then was made alive again so that, by our faith in Him will be justified in Him and by Him and the redemption that we receive in Him is offered to us and given to us by an act of grace, being a favor unmerited and unearned, but offered and given out of love for us, which is why it is written that by grace are we saved and not of ourselves lest any should boast (Eph. 2:8-9)

And just as we are made spiritually alive in Christ, so also we will one day be delivered from bodily death itself when our present bodies are changed from that which was born into corruption into that which is without corruption (1 Cor. 15:51-55, 1 Thess. 4:13-18) but not only will we also see our bodies redeemed from death, just as our souls have been redeemed from eternal damnation, we will also witness creation itself, which presently groans and travails in pain to this day because of sin (Rom. 8:19-22) being delivered from the curse of sin when it is made anew and in that new creation, there will be no sin, no evil, no darkness, nor any curse. There will be no death, no decay, nor any pain, nor any hardship, no oppression, no misery, no cruelty, no despair, or any grief for all of these things will have passed away with the old corrupted creation but instead, there will only be life, light, happiness, peace, and harmony before the Lord God Almighty.

If you reader, no matter how religious or spiritual you might consider yourself and no matter how good of a person you try to be should find yourself wondering whether or not your goodness and even piety may be enough to escape eternal damnation and still find yourself dreading the possibility that, despite your best efforts to live a life of godliness, holiness, and righteousness, that you still may find yourself falling short of what is required of you and may still find yourself standing condemned then I urge you reader, that if you have not done so already, call upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all sins so that you will have peace concerning your eternity. It is just a simple sincere prayer of repentance away:

"Lord Jesus I need you.

I realize that I am a sinner

who has fallen short of the glory of God

and that my goodness falls short

of your standard of Moral perfection.

Please forgive me of all of my sins.

Come into my heart and into my life

to be the Savior and Lord of my life.

Make me into the servant and follower

that you want me to be.

In your name Lord Jesus, I pray.

Amen."

Know that God is not concerned with the words that you use to call upon Him forgiveness, but with the attitude of your heart and if you have, with all sincerity, have asked Christ to forgive you of your sins, placing your trust in Him only for your salvation and in nothing else, then your sins are forgiven and your place in Heaven is certain.

End notes:

1. Rahil Patel, “I Wanted a Bigger God Than My Hindu Guru Offered,” Christianity Today, April, 2024 Issue

https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/03/rahil-patel-testimony-hindu-priest/

H O L Y  B I B L E 

Scripture references:

1. Genesis 2:16-17, 3:3. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

2. Genesis 3:19 . By the sweat of your brow

    you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

    since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

    and to dust you will return.”

3. Romans 5:12, Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned —

4. Romans 6:23,  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

6. Matthew 23:26, Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

7. Matthew 15:11, What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:17-20, ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

8. John 1:1-14, The Word Became Flesh

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

9. 2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him (Jesus Christ ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

10. Hebrews 7:25-27, ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

11. Romans 4:25,  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

12. Romans 10:9, 13  ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

13. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

14. 2 Corinthians 5:18, All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

15. Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

16. John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

17. Revelation 21-22, 

Chapter 21 here A New Heaven And A New Earth, 

Chapter 22 here Water of Life, Tree of Life, Book of Life

18. Matthew 6:25-33, Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

19. Matthew 10:28, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

20. Ephesians 2:8-9, ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

21. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words.

22. Romans 8:19-22, ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Swami Arjunananda's life testimony of encounter with Lord Jesus Christ.

 My name is Swami Arjunananda, a name given to me after I became a monk. Though I was born Arjun Sharma. I'm 44 years old. But I want to take you back to 2021, the year everything changed.

   A time when I was still a devoted Hindu monk, living a life I believed would lead me to moksha, the liberation from the cycle of rebirth. That life feels so far away now, but it's where my journey to Jesus began. 

   I lived in a small ashram in Bloomington, a quiet city in Indiana with green hills, wide streets, and the sound of church bells ringing on Sundays. I had come to the US from India ten years earlier at the age of thirty years old, to serve the Indian community here. 

   I was a sannyasi, a monk who had renounced the world, my family, my possessions, my desires to seek the divine.

An individual in Sanyasa is known as a sannyasi (male) or sannyasini (female) in Hinduism. 

My ashram was a modest house painted white with a small garden where we grew tulsi plants sacred to Vishnu. Inside we had a prayer room with statues of Vishnu and Krishna, their faces serene, decorated with garlands of marigolds. 

The air was always heavy with the scent of sandalwood incense and the sound of mantras  filled the space as my disciples and  I chanted   together.

I led a group of  ten (10) disciples, mostly Indian immigrants who missed traditions of home and a few American converts curious about Hinduism. 

We'd wake up at 4:00 a.m. every day, the sky still dark, and gather in the prayer room for puja, our worship ritual. I'd light a ghee lamp, its flame flickering softly, and offer flowers and water to   Vishnu statue while chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama hymn of his 1,000 names. My voice would blend with my disciples, the words like a river flowing the room. Narayana, Govinda, Madhava. After puja, I'd teach them meditation and yoga, guiding them to meditation and yoga, guiding them to focus on their breath, to seek the divine   within. 

On special days like ekadashi, we'd fast, eating only fruits or nothing at all to purify our bodies and minds. 

I had taken my vows as a sannyasi when I was twenty-five (25) years old, back in India in a small village near Varanasi. Varanasi is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Ganges River. 

I left my family, my parents, my younger sister and gave up everything to follow the path of Vishnu.  I shaved my head, wore saffron robes and promised to live a life of discipline, meditation and devotion. 

My guru, a wise old man named Swami Ramanandanda told me,"Arjun, you are now Arjunananda. Bliss of Arjun, seek moksha. liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth and death. Vishnu will guide you." 

I believed him with all my heart. I spent years meditating by the Ganges river, its waters holy to us and studying the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, teaches about duty and devotion.

 I felt I was on the right path that I was close to the divine. But when I came to Indiana, things started to feel different. Bloomington was so far from the Ganges, from the temples of India, from the life I knew.

   Here I saw churches everywhere, their crosses shining in the sun, and heard Christmas carols in the winter, songs about a baby named Jesus. I'd see families walking to church on Sundays, their faces with joy, and  I'd wonder what they found there. But I dismissed it. 

   To me, Jesus was just another deity like Vishnu   or Shiva, one of many paths to the divine. I believed in the Hindu teaching all paths lead to Brahman, the Ultimate Reality. 

I'd tell my disciples,"Focus on Vishnu. He is our way to moksha." They'd nod, their hands folded in prayer, but I could see some of were curious about the Christian culture around us. 

One of my disciples, Ravi, was a 22-year-old who  had grown up in Indiana. His parents were Indian,  but he was born here, and he knew more about American life than I did. 

He'd sometimes talk about his Christian friends, how they prayed to Jesus,  and felt a peace he didn't understand. 

One day we were sitting in the garden after a yoga session,  the air cool with the scent of Tulsi, and Ravi said , " Swami Ji , my friend Jane invited me to her church for Easter. She said Jesus died and back to life. Is that true?" 

I smiled adjusting my saffron robe and said, "Every religion has its stories. We focus on Vishnu, focus on Krishna. They are our truth."

 But his question stayed with me  like a small seed in my mind and I started to wonder about this Jesus. 

Despite my devotion, I felt an emptiness growing inside me. I'd meditate for hours, sitting cross-legged on a mat in the prayer room, my eyes closed, chanting Om Namo Narayanaya, a mantra to Vishnu. I'd try to feel his presence, to see his divine form. Blue skin, four arms, holding a conch and a discus. But I felt nothing, just silence. I'd fast for days, my stomach empty, my body weak, hoping to purify myself, to get closer to moksha. But the peace I sought never came. 

  I'd lie on my mat at night, the ashram quiet, except for the sound of crickets outside, and I'd whisper, "Vishnu, why don't I feel you? Am I not pure enough? Am I not doing enough? I'd see my disciples looking to me for guidance, calling me SwamiJi , a title of respect, and I'd feel like a fraud. How could I lead them to moksha I couldn't find it   myself? 

  I started to feel like an outsider in Indiana. I'd walk through Bloomington, my saffron robes bright against the gray streets, and people would stare. Some people smiled, others whispered, "What's he doing here?" I'd go to the grocery store to buy rice and lentils for the ashram, and I'd hear Christian music playing, songs about Jesus's love. I'd see crosses on necklaces, on car stickers, on church signs. It was so different from India where temples and statues of Vishnu were everywhere. I felt alone even with my disciples around me. 

   I think about my family back in India, wondering if they were proud of me, if I was honouring their sacrifices by becoming a monk. But the emptiness in my heart grew, and I didn't know how to fill it.  I didn't know then that something was about to happen, something that would change everything I believed. 

It was a warm day in the summer of 2021, and I was leading a 7-day meditation retreat at the ashram. My disciples and I had been fasting, eating only a little fruit each day to purify our bodies and minds. We wanted to deepen our connection to Vishnu to seek his divine vision. The retreat was intense. Hours of meditation, chanting and silence with no distractions. By the seventh day, I felt weak, my body trembling from hunger and exhaustion. 

  But I was determined to push through. I wanted to see Vishnu, to feel his presence, to know I was on right path to moksha. 

We gathered in the prayer room that morning, the air thick with the scent of incense, the statues of Vishnu and Krishna glowing in the  light of the ghee lamps. My disciples sat in a around me, their eyes closed, their hands resting on their knees, palms up. Isat in the center, cross-legged on a mat, my saffron robe loose around me, my beads in my hand. I led them in a chant, Om namo naranaya. My voice steady at first, then growing softer as I felt my strength fading. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breath, trying to empty my mind  to reach the divine. I pictured Vishnu in in my heart. His blue skin, his gentle smile, his forearms holding the conch, the discus, the mace, and the lotus. 

I whispered, "Vishnu, show yourself to me,  Let me feel your peace." But as the hours passed, my body started to out. My head felt heavy, my mouth dry, my heart racing. 

 I tried to keep chanting, but my voice faltered and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. opened my eyes, my vision blurry, and saw my disciples still meditating, their faces calm. I didn't want to alarm them, so I stayed quiet, but the pain grew worse like a fire burning inside me. I tried to stand to get some water, but my legs wouldn't move.

I fell forward, my hands hitting the floor and  I heard Ravi shout, "SwamiJi shout," My disciples rushed to me, their voices full of panic, but I couldn't respond.

My heart stopped and everything went dark. I heard Ravi's voice far away saying, "Call 911! He's not breathing." 

Another disciple, an older woman named Priya, started chanting, "Vishnu, save him." 

I thought this is it. I'm dying. Vishnu, have I failed you? 

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the prayer room anymore. 

 I was standing on the banks of a polluted Ganges river. The water dark and murky, swirling with the stench of decay, like rotting leaves and dead fish. and I felt a chill run through me. Even though the ground beneath my feet was hot, like burning sand. All around me, I saw countless figures. Their faces twisted in agony, crying out in pain. They were suffering souls trapped in the cycle of samsara, the endless wheel of birth and death. I saw some reborn as animals, a dog with broken legs, a bird with torn wings, others as humans in poverty, their bodies thin, their eyes empty. Each life was more miserable than the last, weighed down by the invisible chains of their karma, the actions of their past lives. I felt my own karma pulling me down, a heavy weight on my chest, like a stone pressing me into the cycle, reborn over and over, suffering in each life, never reaching moksha. In one life, I was a starving child, my stomach swollen, crying for food that never came. In another, I was a lonely old man sitting in a dark hut, my body aching, my heart full of regret. In every life I was searching for liberation, chanting mantras, meditating, offering prayers  to Vishnu. But I never found it. I saw myself as a monk in this life. Sitting in the ashram, my face tired, my eyes empty, still trapped  in the same cycle. I realized my spiritual practices, my meditation, my fasting, my devotion to Vishnu hadn't freed me. They had only kept me in this endless cycle of pain. A wheel that never stopped turning.  I fell to my knees, the hot ground burning my skin, tears streaming down my face. I cried out, "Vishnu, why am I here? I've given my life to you.  I've renounced everything. My family, my desires, my world. Why am I still suffering?" But there was no answer. Just the sound of the suffering souls around me, their cries echoing in my ears. I saw my disciples at my funeral, their faces pale, chanting mantras over my body in the ashram. Ravi was there, his hands folded in prayer, whispering, "SwamiJi, may you find moksha. Priya was crying, her voice breaking as she chanted, "Om namo narayanaya. But I knew they were trapped too. Destined to suffer in the same cycle. Reborn again and again. Never finding the peace they sought. I felt a deep despair. A darkness I'd never known. Believing all my efforts had been for nothing. That I'd never escape samsara. That l'd never find the divine. I thought about my life. 

All the years I'd spent seeking Vishnu. I remembered my childhood in India running through the fields near my village. My mother calling me to the temple to pray. I remembered my guru Swami Ramanandanda his eyes kind but stern telling me to renounce the world to seek moksha. I remembered the Ganges river, its waters holy where I'd meditated for hours hoping to feel Vishnu's presence. 

But now standing on this polluted version of the Ganges, I felt only fear and emptiness. I saw my disciples faces, their trust in me, their hope that l'd lead them to liberation. And I felt like I'd failed them. I whispered, I'm sorry, Vishnu.  I'm sorry, my disciples. I don't know the way."

 I thought I'd be trapped in this cycle forever, suffering with no end. My soul lost in the darkness of samsara. 

But then something changed. A bright light appeared in the distance, cutting through the darkness like a star in the night sky.  It grew closer, pushing the murky water away, and the suffering souls grew quieter, fading into a soft hum. The air cleared, and I felt a warmth, not burning like the ground, but gentle like a mother's touch. Ilooked up, my heart racing, and felt a spark of hope. Something I hadn't felt in this terrible place. I didn't know what was coming, but I knew it was something different, something that might save me from this nightmare. I was still on the banks of that polluted Ganges River, my heart heavy with despair, the cries of the suffering souls echoing around me. I thought I'd be trapped in the cycle of samsara forever, reborn in endless lives of pain, never reaching moksha. 

But then that bright light in the distance grew closer, cutting through the darkness, and the murky water of the Ganges started to change.  It turned clear and pure, sparkling like a river of glass, reflecting the light in a thousand colors. The air cleared, the stench of decay replaced by a sweet scent like jasmine flowers, and the cries of the suffering souls faded into silence. I felt a warmth, gentle and loving, wrapping around me, making me feel safe for the first time in that terrible place. The light came closer and I saw a man walking across the Ganges, his feet touching the water but not sinking, the river glowing beneath him. He was glowing like the sun, his presence radiant and peaceful, and I felt a Warmth in my heart I'd never known. His clothes were white, shining like the purest light, and his face was full of love and power.  I thought he looked like Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu with his divine glow. But then I saw his hands.  There were scars, marks where nails had been, and a wound in his side like he'd been   pierced.  I knew then who he was, even though l'd never believed in him before. 

He was Jesus. 

I fell to my knees, trembling, feeling so small in his presence. I thought this can't be right. Jesus is just another deity, not the ultimate truth.  I'm supposed to see Vishnu. But Jesus spoke, his voice gentle but strong, like the sound of a river flowing over rocks.

He said,"I am the eternal one you've been seeking, Arjun. I am the way, the truth, and life. There is no cycle of rebirth, no endless suffering.  I am the one true God and I hold the keys to life and death. "

His words hit me like a wave, washing away my fear. And I couldn't look away from him. I felt like he saw everything, my emptiness, my struggles, my devotion, and he still loved me. Jesus stepped closer, the water rippling beneath him, and took my hand. The dark place disappeared, and we were in a beautiful realm. a heavenly place l'd never imagined. The ground was like gold, shining under a sky of endless light. 

Mark 14:26

 Mark 14:26 describes the moment after Jesus and His disciples finished the Passover meal, where they sang a hymn before going out to the Mount of Olives. This act of singing reflects a traditional Jewish practice during Passover, emphasizing worship even in times of impending trial.

Mark 14:26 describes a significant moment during the Last Supper, where Jesus and His disciples conclude their meal by singing a hymn before heading to the Mount of Olives.

Key Elements of the Verse MARK 14:26

Element: Description

Singing a Hymn: This act follows the Passover meal, reflecting Jewish tradition. The hymn likely includes the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), which praise God for His deliverance.

Going Out: The phrase indicates a transition from the intimate setting of the Last Supper to the events leading to Jesus' arrest. It symbolizes obedience to God's plan.

Mount of Olives:  This location is significant in biblical history, associated with Jesus' teachings and prayers. It sets the stage for His impending suffering and crucifixion.

Significance of the Actions

¶Worship in Trials: Jesus' act of singing a hymn demonstrates the importance of worship, even in difficult times.

¶Tradition and Faith: The singing reflects the continuity of Jewish worship practices, emphasizing the roots of Christian faith.

¶Preparation for Events: Moving to the Mount of Olives signifies preparation for the challenges ahead, including prayer and eventual betrayal.

Mark 14:26 encapsulates a moment of unity and faith among Jesus and His disciples, highlighting the importance of worship and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Listen to this entire here 

invite you to worship with us, to raise your voice wherever you are and declare:

“KADOSH, SHADDAI, HALLELUJAH… Holy is the Lord of Hosts.” here and now 

Real Short Story for us

 After this powerful prayer (here) we just spoke together, I want to share a short story with you. 

A story that may help shape how you see the rest of your morning. 

Years ago, a missionary told me about a small village in the mountains. 

Every morning before anyone touched their tools, before they fed their animals, before they even spoke to one another, they gathered outside and whispered one simple prayer. 

"Lord, go before me today." 

And they believed it. 

They believed God stepped into their day first.

They believed  Lord Jesus Christ walked into every room before they did. 

They believed heaven was already present in every step they would take. 

And because they believed it, they lived differently. 

They walked with peace. 

They worked with strength. 

They faced problems with confidence. 

They saw God's goodness everywhere. 

Not because their lives were easier, but because God was not an afterthought.

Jesus Christ was the first thought, the first name, the first priority. 

Turning to this prayer today right now means you have already made a different choice than many people in the world. God bless you richly, here and now.

While others rushed into worry, you waited in worship. In spirit and in truth. 

While others opened their phones, you opened your heart. 

While others turned on their gadgets, you turn to the Lord.

While others started their day alone, you invited the God of heaven to stand with you. Nice .

That is no small thing. 

That is a victory already. 

You may not realize it, but when you chose to continue reading, praying, believing all the way to this moment, you made a declaration louder than any spoken words. 

My morning belongs to God. 

And when the morning belongs to God, the whole day begins to shift under his authority. 

So here is the reflection for today. 

Who owns your first five minutes? 

Who shapes your first thoughts? 

Who leads your first steps? 

Because the first belongs to the Lord. 

When you give him the first, the rest becomes blessed. 

When you start your day with God, you step into a day that has already been touched by His hands. 

You are no longer reacting to what comes. 

You are walking into what God has already prepared. 

That is what inviting His presence does. 

It becomes a shield, a compass, and a covering of peace. 

Your handphone may try to get your attention first. 

Stress may try to wake up before you do. 

The enemy may try to plant fear or distraction, again. 

But today, you pushed all of that aside to say,"God, go before me today. I and heaven heard you. "

God is already out in front of you. 

God is preparing solutions before you face the problem. 

God is preparing strength before you feel the weakness. 

God is preparing favour before you walk into the meeting. 

His angels are already taking positions around you. 

His peace is already flowing ahead of you. 

His Spirit is already paving the path of blessing. 

So let me ask you from the depth of your heart, do you want to start your day alone or with the Almighty walking before you? 

Do you want anxiety to lead the way or Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace? 

Do you want the world to control your pace or the Holy Spirit to guide every step? 

Your answer is visible in what you did this very moment. 

You chose God first. 

You chose his presence over pressure. 

You chose his voice over the noise. 

And God will honor that decision. 

Now, before we close, I invite you to participate Healthy Wealth. 

Not just by listening but by declaring publicly your faith. 

When you comment, you are saying, "l am committed to walk with God today." 

When you share, you are saying, "Someone else I love deserves this blessing, too." 

You are choosing not to walk alone tomorrow either. "I care, I share."

Here and now,  is how you can take spiritual action right now. 

Comment these words below. 

God, go before me today. 

GOD GO BEFORE ME TODAY. 

When you write those words, you are putting a stake in the ground. 

A declaration the enemy can't silence, you are marking this day as a day covered by the Lord. 

And if you know someone who needs peace, someone who is overwhelmed, someone who is  facing decisions and doesn't know what to do, share this prayer ( here ) with them. 

Let them receive what you received today. 

Strength, clarity, and God's covering presence. 

Keep coming back here every morning, and we will keep seeking God first together. And His righteousness be with us. 

Every day, more peace, 

every day, more wisdom. 

Every day, more miracles because mornings with God lead to days with victory. 

Thank you for visiting and praying with us each   morning. 

We are honored to walk with you in faith of God. 

May God's presence surround your home, fill your heart, and lead your steps today. 

And may his blessing rest on everything you do. 

We bless your morning 🌅 and today  🌄 in the mighty name of Lord Jesus Christ. 

And we look forward to praying with you to our Father again tomorrow. 

If God is willing, we will do this . 

With love and peace. 

Glory to God in heaven.