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Daily Christian Devotion

No Good Thing Will Be Withheld

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Psalm 84:11 ESV

Cornelius was a man from Caesarea, serving as part of the Roman regime. The Bible describes him as a God-fearing and generous man, along with his household. Though he seemed open to worshiping any god that was introduced to him, the title God-fearing points to his belief in a supreme power above everything.

The Roman army was always hated and feared by the Jewish people. Yet Cornelius stood out as a man who was kind, helpful, and good to both his own people and the Jewish community. He was one of the most respected Roman soldiers among those who were otherwise seen as oppressors.

In Acts 10, we read that Cornelius had a devoted time of prayer, and one day an angel appeared to him in a vision, calling him by name: “Cornelius.”

“And he stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.’”

Acts 10:4 ESV

The angel gave Cornelius instructions to send for Peter. When Peter arrived, he shared the message of salvation with Cornelius and his household. Their search for the true God ended that day. The message of the cross and the love of Christ led them all to give their lives to Jesus, and they were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The great message revealed through Cornelius is that God does not show favoritism. When your ways are upright, God finds His way into your life.

Many people today have a deep search for God. They know there is a supreme power above them. Their hearts naturally desire to do good, help others, and live uprightly. Yet, even while searching, they never cease to do good for those around them.

God honors such hearts. The Bible says that He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. The greatest gift of all—salvation through Jesus Christ—was given to Cornelius and his household because of his sincere search for God and his generous heart.

Having Jesus Christ as your portion is the greatest gift heaven can release to you. Cornelius did not resist the message Peter preached. His heart immediately recognized that the emptiness inside could only be filled by Jesus. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were gathered—whether they had believed in Christ before or not.

The same God who sent an angel to guide Cornelius toward salvation will also meet you and your household. You may know someone—or perhaps you are the one—who walks uprightly and is God-fearing. Take courage: God will find His place in a heart that is humble and honorable.

Without God’s hand, no one can truly do good. Being good and doing good reflect the nature of God, but your life only finds true meaning when you allow Jesus into your heart. Christ completes your life and satisfies the longing inside.

To all who walk uprightly, the Word of God promises: “No good thing will He withhold.” You will receive every good portion from heaven, with Jesus Christ as the greatest treasure.

Keep praying. God will find His way into the hearts of upright people, and salvation will come to their household.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us through Cornelius that You do not show favoritism but look at the heart. Teach us to walk uprightly, to live generously, and to keep our hearts open to You. May our prayers and good works rise before You as a memorial. Bless our households with salvation, and let Your Spirit fall afresh on us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

Choose The Good Portion

“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 ESV

Mary and Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus from Bethany—Lazarus being a very close friend of Jesus—welcomed Him into their home. When Jesus was invited to their house, it was a joyful celebration for them. Martha, known for her hospitality, was busy moving around, preparing food, and cooking. She wanted to impress Jesus and make Him feel special. She gave her very best through physical effort, serving with all her heart and joyfully performing her duties.

On the other hand, Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, gazing at His beauty and eagerly listening to His words. Martha became frustrated and complained to Jesus, saying that Mary was doing nothing but sitting there. She even asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her.

But Jesus gently answered Martha, pointing out that she was anxious and worried about many things, while Mary had chosen the better part—one that would not be taken away from her. Jesus acknowledged that what Mary chose was greater than what Martha was doing. Martha wanted to give her best to Jesus, but Mary wanted to receive the best from Him.

Jesus showed that Martha was caught up in worldly activities, while Mary laid aside distractions to enjoy His presence. Mary understood that this moment was precious—every minute spent at His feet was worth more than anything else.

God desires the same from us. Honoring and serving Him through actions is good, but what He truly longs for is our heart and our devotion. The Bible reminds us that God does not ultimately delight in sacrifices or offerings but in a heart fully surrendered to Him.

Anything that takes us away from devotion is a mere distraction. Serving God with all our strength can bring us joy, but being still and worshiping Jesus will give us peace.

When we are busy with God’s outward service, we are working for Him, but when we seek Jesus, we are communing with Him. The Bible says it is better to listen than to speak. Listening is a complete surrender of oneself, honoring the presence of someone greater. It shows respect for the one speaking and a willingness to receive. Above all, when Jesus is speaking, it is like drinking wisdom directly from the source itself.

King David beautifully declared:

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11 ESV

David, though he was a mighty king with wealth, strength, and wisdom, knew that nothing compared to the presence of God.

The world and its cares often leave us anxious, fearful, and uncertain. But when our focus shifts to God, His Word strengthens us, His love drives out fear, and His fellowship fills every lack. The enemy constantly seeks to distract us from focusing on God, but we must examine our lives, remove worldly distractions, and devote time to fellowship with Him.

Balance your life—serve God, but also sit at His feet and seek His presence. This is the “good portion” that God acknowledges, and it will never be taken away from you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to lay aside my distractions and worries, and choose the better portion—time in Your presence. May my heart always delight in Your Word, and may I never lose the peace and fullness that comes from Your presence. Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

Change Your ‘Name Tag’ Through Prayer

“Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked.”1 Chronicles 4:10 (ESV)

Jabez was not a prominent king or a famous person. He was just a common, modest man, but the Bible has listed his name as one of the descendants of Judah.

The Bible describes him as more honorable than his brothers, His mother named him Jabez because of the sorrow she experienced during childbirth.It seems that his birth was not a joyful occasion, but one filled with deep emotional and physical pain.

In those days, a person was often named to represent a present situation or even to foreshadow the future of the child. It may seem that Jabez’s mother delivered him in pain, and she might have foreseen that his future would also be a painful one for him and those around him.

Yet Jabez must have lived an exceptionally noteworthy life, for the genealogy of Judah paused to give details about him in Scripture so that future generations would know about him.

His relationship with God could have been very intimate, and knowing who God is and what He is able to do, Jabez prayed a bold prayer—breaking the identity of “pain” spoken over his life. The Scripture says, “God granted the prayer of Jabez.”

God granted Jabez’s request because he lived a humble, honorable, and faith-filled life. The life of Jabez encourages us that a common person like you and me can transform the lives of people living with us and around us. When we live a life pleasing to God, our story will not end the way it started, nor as others may have foreseen. The Lord answers the prayers of the righteous.

In order for God to grant our requests, we must desire to live a life of righteousness, which can only be obtained by having an intimate relationship with God. The Bible describes our righteousness as filthy rags, but the righteousness that God desires is accomplished only through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ displayed an exemplary life by living humbly and honorably. As we walk in the fullness of Christ, we put on Christ and carry the image of God, leading a righteous life. A life in Jesus will change your “name tag.” The perceptions of others over your life will be erased, and in Christ, there is always a new beginning.

With Jesus at your side, declare the prayer of Jabez over yourself and your household: Yes, God will bless you. He will enlarge your territory. His hand will be with you. He will keep you from evil. And He will keep you from pain.

Jabez’s life may have started in pain and agony, but it ended in increase and expansion. This man, once marked by sorrow, had a small part to play in the kingdom of God—and so do we.

So desire to live a life of legacy with Christ at your side.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for the example of Jabez. Help me to live a life that is honorable before You. May my life be a testimony of Your blessing and grace, leaving a legacy that honors Your name. Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

God Will Separate you to fulfill His Promise

“Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

Genesis 13:17 NLT

Abraham—whose name was Abram before God called him returned back to Canaan from Egypt after he sinned. The first thing he did after moving back to Canaan was build an altar and call on the name of the Lord. Abram also brought his nephew Lot with him.

Abram and Lot grew so wealthy that their riches became uncontrollable, and the land could not sustain their blessings. There was strife between Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen. Along with them dwelled dominant, cultural, and rural people in that land. The conflict between Abram and Lot was also watched by the local people.

The strife grew so strong that Abram made a wise decision he asked Lot to separate from him, generously letting Lot choose the land of his desire. Abram was determined to go in the opposite direction of whatever Lot selected. Lot chose the fertile, well-watered plain of Jordan for himself.

The Bible says Abram and Lot separated. After Lot parted from Abram, God revisited His promise to Abram that He would give him all the land he could see in every direction. Every length and breadth of it would belong to his descendants, and they would dwell there forever.

The Word of God encourages us that, like Abram, we also carry the promises of God. The promises of God always come with blessings along with challenges. Likewise, in the story of our lives, we face disputes and conflicts with the people we dwell among. At times, even our family and friends can become a great hindrance.

Like Abram, we must choose wisely to step away from disputes and arguments. If Abram had stayed in the place of conflict, he would still have been wealthy, but there would have been no peace. When peace is disrupted, it is a clear signal to move away from conflict, no matter how appealing the place or the blessing looks.

“After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, ‘Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.”

Genesis 13:14-15 NLT

There is a great breakthrough in separation. In this kind of separation, we can hear God’s instruction to move further and farther. Although we agree separation is painful. Separation causes anxiety. Separation brings insecurities. Separation brings loneliness. But when God is involved in separation that ends in constant dispute, we can count it all joy.

The next phase after separation from disputes, arguments, and conflicts is expansion. Your feet will step into places you never thought you would walk. The increase of God not only brings wealth, but also wisdom, favor, and, most importantly, the unfolding of His promises in your life.

Like Abraham, lift up your eyes now, and walk in the length and breadth of the promise of God. This breakthrough will not only impact you but also open the door for generations after you. Like Abram, be wise. Be willing to detach yourselves from disputes, so that you may unveil the promises of God.

Prayer:

Lord, give me the wisdom of Abraham to choose peace over strife. Help me to separate from conflicts that hinder Your blessings in my life. May Your peace and Your promises overflow not only in my life but also in the generations to come. Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

Learn To Hear The shepherd’s Voice

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 (NLT)

There was once an experiment to test whether sheep truly recognize and follow only their own shepherd’s voice. Three different shepherds were placed with three different flocks. Each shepherd was asked to call out to sheep that did not belong to him. No matter how skilled or trained the shepherds were, none of the sheep responded, because the voice was not their shepherd’s.

But when the rightful shepherd of each flock called out, something remarkable happened. The sheep immediately recognized the familiar sound and came running to him. They knew his voice, trusted him, and followed him because they had built that bond through daily care. Their shepherd was the one who fed them, gave them water, protected them from predators, and tended to them when they were sick.

This shows us a beautiful truth: sheep build trust with their shepherd because of relationship and consistency. A hired hand may abandon the sheep when danger comes, but the good shepherd stays and lays down his life for them. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He laid down His very life so that we might be saved from sin and death.

The Bible says His sheep hear His voice. Jesus invites us into fellowship with Him so that we may learn to recognize His voice and stay attentive to who is truly calling us. If sheep could follow the voice of anyone, they would be easily stolen. And even killed. In the same way, if we listen to voices other than Christ’s, we can be deceived or led astray.

God designed us as spiritual beings with the ability to hear His voice—far greater than sheep recognizing their shepherd. But to tune our ears to Him, we must cultivate a relationship with Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who leads us to green pastures, who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep, and who protects us with His rod and staff. With Him, we are safe, shielded, and provided for.

We must be aware of those who pretend to come as our shepherd. The voice of Jesus is unique, and it is heard clearly through the Word of God. Unlike other voices, His voice does not condemn. His voice does not abandon. His voice does not bring fear. Instead, it brings comfort, healing, peace, provision, and protection.

When we follow His voice, Jesus assures us that no one can snatch us from His hand:

“…no one can snatch them away from me.”

John 10:28 (NLT)

Is anyone or anything powerful enough to snatch us from His strong and able hands?

Choose the Shepherd.

Choose the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

If you do, you shall never be in want again.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, teach me to hear and follow only Your voice. Keep me safe in Your care, protect me from deception, and lead me daily into Your peace, provision, and love. Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

A Room For Peace And Prosperity

“I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”Genesis 26:3–4 ESV

Isaac, the firstborn of Abraham and Sarah, lived during a time of famine. God instructed him to stay in Gerar in Palestine as a foreigner. God promised to bless him, just as He had promised Abraham.

Isaac planted seeds during the famine, and he harvested a hundredfold because of the favor of God. He not only became rich but also exceedingly prosperous in livestock, herds, and servants. His blessings continued to grow.

The blessing upon him made no sense to others. He planted during famine—a dry time, with no water, no favorable condition to grow crops. To others, it looked like a waste of time and resources. Yet his livestock multiplied, his crops flourished, and his wealth grew. The Bible does not say God sent rain—his only resource was God’s promise and His faithfulness.

But as we know, when others see us blessed, jealousy often rises. The Philistines around Isaac became very jealous and asked him to leave. They even filled the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug. Isaac’s blessing made them fearful.

Yet Isaac did not contend with them. He moved away and restored the wells his father had dug, renaming them. On top of that, he discovered a fresh well. But the local herdsmen quarreled with Isaac’s men and claimed it. So Isaac’s men named the place Esek, which means argument or contention.

Isaac did not fight back. He moved on and dug another well. Again, the locals claimed it, and that place was named Sitnah, meaning enmity. Still, Isaac’s men did not argue. They moved on and dug yet another well—and this time no one contended for it. Isaac named it Rehoboth, meaning room, for the Lord had made space for them to flourish.

As the Bible says,

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”Proverbs 16:7 ESV

Then King Abimelech came to Isaac in peace, admitting that he could see the favor and blessing of the Lord upon him. He acknowledged that God was with Isaac, and together they made a peace treaty. That very day, Isaac’s men found water, and the well was named Shibah—the well of oath. The city has been called Beersheba to this day.

The Word of God encourages us today that even in days of famine and uncertainty, God’s unfailing promise and favor will remain with us. When people around us see the hand of God in our lives, jealousy will rise. They may compare their lives with ours, and jealousy can grow into contention and enmity. They may even claim what belongs to you—your friends, family, possessions, positions, and property.

Like Isaac carried God’s promise and kept moving forward, we too must press on. Like Isaac restored and renamed the wells of his father, we should also dig and restore the wells of gifts and talents that were once covered and hidden—re-creating our lives for His glory.

Instead of pouring our energy into arguments and enmity, let us use our time wisely to rebuild our lives and bless those around us. In God’s time, He will open for us a Rehoboth—a well of blessing—where we will flourish in the land of the living. Your Rehoboth will even attract your enemies to make peace with you. The favor of God will cause others to testify, “Surely, God is with you.”

Isaac began his journey in Gerar (the lodging place). Through jealousy (Esek) and enmity (Sitnah), he was pushed to discover Rehoboth (room), and finally, he arrived at Beersheba—close to the promised land.

Every challenge, every argument, every contention that rises against the blessing of God in our lives will only serve to push us closer to the fulfillment of His promises. May we receive our portion as we move forward in God’s favor, carrying His promise and walking in His call.

“Don’t settle in the place of contention—keep digging until you reach your Rehoboth.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your unfailing promises that sustain us even in times of famine and uncertainty. Help us to build, restore, and walk in peace as we carry Your promise.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

Believe and Be Free

When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. ‘Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,’ he said. ‘I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!’”

— Mark 9:25 NLT

One day, the Jewish leaders were arguing with the crowd. When they saw Jesus, they all ran up to Him and greeted Him. Jesus asked the crowd, “What is this argument about?” One man responded, saying that his son was possessed by a spirit that had made him mute since childhood. Whenever the spirit seized him, it tormented him physically, often throwing him into fire or water to destroy him. The father pleaded with Jesus to have compassion on them—“if you can.”

Jesus quickly replied, “Anything is possible if you believe.” The man cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” Then Jesus rebuked the spirit that made the boy unable to hear and speak, commanding it to come out and never enter him again. The spirit screamed, threw the boy into another violent convulsion, and left him. Jesus then took the boy by the hand and helped him stand on his feet.

Earlier, the boy had been brought to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cast out the demon. When they asked why, Jesus explained that certain kinds can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.

The Word of God encourages us that Jesus is here to cast out every spirit that has been tormenting us for a long time. The enemy works hard to keep us powerless by making us voiceless. He does not always appear in scary clothes with horns and sharp teeth—sometimes he comes dressed in designer clothes, looking beautiful /handsome, carrying a fancy job title, coming from a respected family, or even from our own family, appearing as a friend, a believer, or a neighbor.

The first thing the oppressor seeks to do is to silence us, preventing us from speaking out. When we are muted, he overpowers us and throws us under his control. He uses weapons like shame, fear, and loss to keep us silent—so he can keep causing chaos in our lives. When we go through this silent torment, unable to express ourselves, our bad attitudes and behaviors often surface as the overflow of our emotional suffering.

Many times, we cannot help ourselves. To others, we may simply become a topic of gossip, a matter to talk about. That is why our inner circle matters most. When we cannot believe for our own deliverance, like the father believing for his son, God places people around us to believe, pray, and plead on our behalf. The Bible also calls us to do the same—to stand in the gap and intercede for those who are helpless and voiceless.

The father only complained that his son was mute, but Jesus not only opened his mouth—He also opened his ears. This shows us that Jesus knew being deaf to the Word of God leads to losing the power to speak. Therefore, in His deliverance, He restores us completely—spirit, soul, and body.

So be alert, be vigilant, and stay rooted in fasting and prayer. The enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy—but the Good News is this: Jesus has come to give us life, and life in abundance (John 10:10). He loves us so much that He willingly gave up His Spirit so we could walk in freedom.

May the Lord open deaf ears to hear His voice and loosen mute tongues to speak. Even in times of exhaustion and humiliation, Jesus will hold your hand, lift you up, and help you stand on your feet again.

Believe in Him and accept the free gift of freedom. God will turn the story of your muteness into a lasting memory of deliverance.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the One who silences the enemy and opens our mouths to speak. Where we have been muted by fear, shame, or oppression, set us free today. Hold our hand, lift us up, and let our lives become a testimony of Your deliverance. In Your mighty name, Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

Give It All To Him

8th Sep 2025

James 1:2–4 (ESV)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

In a time of severe famine, when food and water were scarcely available, God still had a plan to feed His people. He instructed the prophet Elijah to go and live in the village of Zarephath, assuring him that a widow there would provide for him.

As Elijah entered the city gate, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He asked her for some water, and as she went to get it, he also asked for a piece of bread. The widow explained her desperate condition—she had only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. She was preparing a final meal for herself and her son, after which they expected to die.

Elijah told her, “Make a small loaf for me first, and then make some for yourself and your son. For the Lord says: The flour will not be used up, and the jar of oil will not run dry until He sends rain on the earth.” She obeyed, and as God promised, the flour and oil never ran out. They ate and were satisfied for many days.

It is striking that God chose this particular widow to sustain Elijah during famine. The Lord could have sent him to a wealthy home with plenty stored away, but instead He went to a house where there was no man to provide, no field to work, and nothing left for tomorrow. In those days, widows often survived only on the kindness of others. Yet God chose her home to reveal His power.

This widow believed she and her son would die after their last meal. Yet God asked her to give to a stranger from her very little. Humanly speaking, it sounds unreasonable—almost impossible. But when she obeyed, she discovered that her little became endless in the hands of God.

This shows us something powerful: God often selects people for blessing long before they realize it. He saw this woman in her hopelessness, her affliction, and her insecurity, and He set her apart for a miracle. The same is true for us. God may send someone into your life with a genuine need—or someone who tests your patience, time, and resources—so that through the stretching, His goodness and provision are unveiled.

What Elijah asked of the widow may have sounded ruthless, but it was the doorway to her breakthrough. Not everyone who enters your life comes with bad intentions. Some are sent by God so that through the pressing and the breaking, you will begin to produce fresh oil. We are handpicked, tested, and tried so that we may be made complete in Him.

This widow, in her darkest moment, chose to believe the promise of God. She obeyed and gave her last portion, and in return, she saw an overflowing blessing. God delights in blessing those who surrender everything to Him. He asked for her “nothing” so He could give her “more than enough.”

Give to God—even the least you have—and you will see His faithfulness take its full course in your life.

As promised, you will lack nothing:

1 Kings 17:14 (ESV)

“‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that even in seasons of famine, You are the God of abundance. Strengthen our faith to give, to serve, and to trust You fully, so that we may see Your overflowing provision and goodness in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

The Lord Will Fight For Your Beracah

“But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

— 2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT

King Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, walked upright before the eyes of the Lord. He loved the Lord and followed His commandments and also brought reformation in the land of Judah that placed God under his leadership. There was peace and justice in the land of Judah.

The military power was very strong, and he had many soldiers to fight, and he stationed them around the country of Judah. God was with him and the people of Judah, and this brought fear around the neighboring kingdoms. The enemies of Judah formed their alliance to bring down and capture the land. When the messenger informed Jehoshaphat about their plan, he was afraid.

A very successful king, with strong military force and positions effectively guarding his nation, was afraid of the message about enemies approaching. When fear crept in, the first thing the king did was send out an invitation for fasting to seek the face of the Lord. When the invitation was sent, people all over the cities of Judah came along with their wives and children, fasting and praying.

King Jehoshaphat, a leader who was adored and looked upon as a mighty man, stood humbly before God in front of the assembly for help. He prayed that when disasters, sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine came upon the land, the house of Judah would stand in the house of the Lord and cry in their affliction, for they knew that He would hear and save.

He revisited what God did for the ancestors and boldly declared that He would do it again for them. The strongest military people with the king admitted that they were powerless before these alliances, and that only God alone could give victory.

God sent a word after these people humbled themselves before Him. He said not to be afraid of this great alliance and told them they would not need to fight the battle: stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord.

God did not ask the army to go back to their houses just because He assured that the battle belonged to the Lord. Rather, He commanded the army to go out to the battlefield and they would see the hand of God.

When the word came, Jehoshaphat was encouraged. He bowed his head, and all the people bowed and worshiped, followed by a loud voice of praise. When the day of battle came, the soldiers of Judah arose early in the morning, and the worshippers went before the army in holy attire, thanking and praising God for His steadfast love.

The three alliances—the Moabites, Ammonites, and Mount Seir—invaded Judah by climbing up 3,400 feet from the Dead Sea to the wilderness of Tekoa. The Bible says that when Judah began to sing and praise, God set an ambush against these people, and they killed each other.

Meanwhile, the people of Judah were marching towards the wilderness of Tekoa. When they arrived, they saw only corpses and dead bodies in great number. The battle was already defeated because God was involved.

The story ends like this: they came for a battle, but they carried back blessings—good clothing and precious things. They even left some behind because they had more than enough to carry home. The army of God came back with shouts of joy, noise of victory, with happiness and instruments. The place is even now called the Valley of Beraca, which means the Valley of Blessing. The surrounding kingdoms were even more fearful of the land of Judah.

The Word of God brings encouragement today that the battle belongs to God. Like Jehoshaphat, what are we afraid of? We might be mighty people with power and possessions, but when messages like this come with fear, we lose our ground and yield to fear.

Our first defeat is when we yield to fear. When fear finds a place in our lives, there is no way we can think of overcoming the situation. Our minds are already defeated before even facing the actual battle. We only find solutions to handle the defeat and cope with failure. Success will not even cross our minds, and planning for victory will not even be part of our strategy.

But King Jehoshaphat understood that this fear was mightier than the actual army coming after him. He didn’t even have to be worried because he had a strong military force and positions around his country, and yet the enemy’s message shook the ground with fear.

One person bringing one negative word is enough to break us. King Jehoshaphat was no exception from fear. Instead of yielding to it, he dealt with it, not alone, but with a company of people.

We need more than one person to defeat this fear. It emphasizes the importance of being with people of faith to acknowledge and agree with the promises of God. The story tells us the importance of seeking God’s face in the time of crisis, irrespective of how powerful, mighty, and intelligent we are.

Like Jehoshaphat, let us go low before God and surrender to Him, acknowledging that we are powerless to handle situations alone, and that He is a faithful God—yesterday, today, and forever. When we put our confidence in God, we will deal with the situation like yet another battle, and of course, yet another victory.

Let us face our battle with praise and worship. We might walk towards the wilderness, but that is where our victory is. With our own eyes we will see the problem already dealt with, the situations already handled, and the enemy already defeated.

We might have walked in looking for a battle, but God will change our situation so that we will only carry His blessings back. Only God can make shouts of praise roar in the battleground.

May our valley of wilderness become our Valley of Beracah (blessing).

Prayer

Heavenly Father,Thank You for reminding us that the battle is not ours but Yours. We surrender our fears to You and trust that You will fight for us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Daily Christian Devotion

A Hot Water Bottle Prayer

Isaiah 65:24

“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.”

Helen Roseveare was a British doctor who gave her life to Jesus while studying medicine in college. She was part of a Bible study and involved in evangelical activities. After completing her master’s degree, she felt called to become a medical missionary and went to the Congo.

She served in many parts of Zaire, now the republic of Congo, helping build hospitals from the ground up. Along the way, she endured terrible suffering—beaten, raped, and imprisoned—but she was determined to fulfill her vision of establishing a fully constructed and functional medical school and hospital. She trained others faithfully until 1973, when she left behind a thriving medical center. Today, the rebuilt medical center continues to be a lifeline for healthcare. Her life of service, forgiveness, and faithfulness was portrayed in the 1989 film Mama Luka Comes Home. She went to be with the Lord at the age of 91.

I’d like to recall one of her remarkable stories about faith, prayer, and the power of God.

While serving as a medical missionary in Central Africa, Helen faced a heartbreaking situation. A single mother died shortly after prematurely delivering a baby girl, leaving behind a two-year-old sister. The newborn struggled to keep her body temperature up. Helen wrapped the baby in cotton wool but feared she would not survive the cold night.

She called the children in the orphanage to pray for the needs of the Orphanage and also for a hot water bottle. Among them, a ten-year-old girl named Ruth prayed boldly:

“Please, God, send us a hot water bottle this afternoon. The baby won’t survive till tomorrow without it. And would You also send a doll for her sister, so she knows You love her?”

Helen was deeply moved by the child’s faith. It seemed impossible—after all, they lived in the middle of the jungle where no package had ever been delivered. But to her surprise, a few hours later, she received word that a parcel had been dropped off at the front door by a car.

Inside the 22-pound package were medical supplies, clothes, food—and miraculously, a hot water bottle. The children rejoiced. Little Ruth exclaimed, “If God sent a hot water bottle, there must be a doll too!” She dug through the box and found a beautiful doll.

Later, Helen discovered that the package had been sent months earlier by a group of Christians in England. While packing, they had felt an unusual prompting from God to include a hot water bottle and a doll. Their obedience became the exact answer to a little girl’s prayer in the heart of Africa. That orphanage erupted with joy as the children witnessed God’s power to answer prayer.

This story reminds us that God not only answers prayer, but He also cares.

The Word of God encourages us to pray in all circumstances. Prayer is the love language between you and God. It is like a radio frequency—always available, always tuned in when you choose to connect.

The Bible teaches us to ask God the Father, through God the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit. When you do, the windows of heaven open. Asking in faith aligns you with His promises. Yes, God knows the desires of your heart—but He also commands us to ask and believe.

This same God, sovereign over everything and everyone, bends down to listen. He calls you His friend. That’s why I encourage you today: invite Jesus into your impossible situations through prayer.

Even if you don’t feel like praying—pray.

Even if you’re too tired—pray.

Even if you’ve lost faith—pray.

Even if you’re angry at God—pray.

Even if you keep failing—pray.

Even if you don’t believe He will answer—pray.

As you pray without ceasing, God will find His way into your life. You will begin to surrender, to wait on Him, to believe again, and you will begin to walk by faith and not by sight.

Prayer may not always change things the way you expect, but it will always bring peace. And remember—Your Father is the King, and you are His child and there is no protocol required to talk to your Daddy.

So what are you waiting for? Claim your birthright. Claim your inheritance.

Try Him in prayer. Try Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, I thank You for the gift of prayer. Even when we struggle to pray or don’t know what to say, give us the grace to seek You. Teach us to trust, to believe, and to find joy in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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