Category: Today’s Word

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

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Today’s Word comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian believers, written to strengthen and encourage them as they faced various crises in life:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

Paul reminds the believers that their struggles are temporary but that God is preparing for them an eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). He reassures them that God has already given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). Because of this promise, Paul urges them to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

God did not give us an incomplete, uncertain, or confusing gospel; from the very beginning, His plan of salvation has been perfect, complete, and unchanging. The message of the gospel comes with power, clarity, and absolute assurance because it is not based on human wisdom or effort but on the finished work of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins, died in our place, and rose again to give us eternal life. The moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit confirms this truth in our hearts, and as Paul declares in Today’s Word.

We were once children of the devil, living under sin and destined for eternal destruction. But Jesus changed our destiny forever through His death on the cross and His resurrection. In Him, our old identity is gone, and we are made new. Through His perfect sacrifice, we have been reconciled to God, adopted into His family, and given the privilege of living as His beloved children for all eternity. Now, instead of condemnation and separation, we have received forgiveness, freedom, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

When Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Deuteronomy 21:23), He removed every curse from our lives. In Christ, the sins and wounds of your past no longer define you. You are completely free from the power of original sin, generational sin, and personal sin (Ephesians 2:1). Through His blood, you have been fully forgiven, completely restored, and permanently set apart as a new creation in God’s kingdom. Now you can live in the freedom and authority that come from belonging to Christ, no longer bound by guilt, shame, or the power of the enemy.

For our sins to be forgiven, a sinless person had to die in our place (1 Peter 3:18). That is why the Son of Man gave His life as a ransom for us (Mark 10:45). Jesus, our True Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all—not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own precious blood—to obtain eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). By this sacrifice, He liberated us from the law of sin and death, setting us free forever.

So, do not dwell on your past mistakes or regrets. Instead, believe in the One who declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Rest in the peace that comes from knowing your salvation is complete. Trust that God has removed your sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12). Walk each day in the confidence and joy that come from being fully accepted, fully forgiven, and fully loved by your Heavenly Father (Hebrews 4:16).

God has also set us free from the problems of our present reality. Through His resurrection, Jesus—the True King—defeated Satan, the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Because He reigns, we no longer have to follow the patterns of this world. We have victory over sin, over fear, and over the schemes of the enemy. Scripture declares, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4–5).

So give all your worries and anxieties to God, for He cares deeply for you (1 Peter 5:7). Do not let the enemy plant seeds of fear or unbelief in your heart. Stand firm in the authority Christ has given you, and when you resist the devil by submitting to God and His Word, he will flee (James 4:7).

Finally, we have been freed from the fear of the future. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus, our True Prophet, opened a new and living way for us—from death to life, from hell to heaven (John 5:24). Our eternal address has been changed forever: He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves (Colossians 1:13).

Even while we live on earth, we belong to God’s kingdom (Luke 17:21; Philippians 3:20), and Jesus has given us the keys to unleash the power of heaven through prayer (Matthew 16:19). One day, He will take us to the place He has prepared, where we will be with Him forever (John 14:1–3).

You have been saved by grace through faith in Christ—and even that faith is a gift from God. Your salvation is not based on what you have done; therefore, there is no room for boasting (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, your transformed life becomes living evidence of God’s grace for future generations. His kindness and the amazing richness of His grace to us who belong to Christ Jesus will be displayed for all eternity. God has prepared an important task for you: proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Ephesians 2:10).

Do not let the crises in your life move you; instead, move them by the power of the gospel, affirming who you have become in Christ.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for allowing crises in my life to bless me. Help me stand on the firm foundation of my salvation found in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,

But we have the mind of Christ.

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When you live a life led by the Spirit, you will see profound and undeniable changes taking place in your life. Why? Because the Spirit of God does not merely modify your behavior; He brings about a complete transformation of your inner being, producing fundamental changes at the deepest level of who you are.

The Spirit turns death into life, darkness into light, flesh into spirit, wrath into salvation, hell into heaven, religion into faith, law into grace, children of the devil into children of God, enemies of God into friends of God, sinners into righteous, the accused into the justified, the lost into the found, the powerless into the powerful, the ungodly into the godly, the worthless into the beloved, the wounded into the healed, the useless into the useful, shame into glory, sufferings into hope, the pride of life into boasting in God, lovers of self, money, and pleasure into lovers of God, and wanderers into witnesses.

This is not just a change of circumstances; it is a complete recreation of identity, purpose, and destiny through the work of the Holy Spirit: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You begin to live as a new creation in Christ, no longer bound by the curse and limitations of the past.

You will also see the fruit of the Spirit growing in your life: love, joy, and peace in your relationship with God; patience, kindness, and goodness in your relationships with others; and faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in governing yourself (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not qualities you strive to manufacture on your own; they are the supernatural evidence of God’s Spirit dwelling within you.

When people see you bringing good things out of the good treasure stored up in your heart, they will recognize the light of the gospel shining through your life and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). A Spirit-led life becomes a living testimony that draws others to Christ.

Living a life led by the Spirit requires surrender and yielding to Christ. As Paul confessed: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This means dying to your old self—laying down unbelief, selfish motives, and worldly ambition—and being raised to new life through the power of the gospel. Through this death and resurrection, you begin to live a life of victory, led by the Spirit.

Living by the Spirit also requires the power of God. As Paul declares, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). A Spirit-led life is not about your abilities, discipline, or wisdom; it flows from God’s power working in and through you. To walk in this power, you must immerse yourself in the Word of God, your source of life, and go deeper into prayer, which connects you to the heavenly realms and aligns your heart with His purposes.

As you grow as a person of the Spirit, God will open your eyes to discern and judge all things according to His wisdom. He will give you the mind and heart of Christ. You will begin to think as Christ thinks, desire what Christ desires, and go where Christ would go. Your priorities, decisions, and affections are transformed to reflect His. This is the kind of life God has called you to live—a life fully yielded to His Spirit, walking in His power, and fulfilling His purposes on earth:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for inviting me to live a life led by Your Spirit. Take full control of my soul, heart, thoughts, and body. Govern my words and actions through Your Spirit, so my life may bring glory to You. Teach me to walk by faith, to abide in Your presence, and to bear fruit that reveals Christ to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3. Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

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Though many believers have received salvation, far too many fail to experience the fullness of life in Christ. Why? Today’s Word shows us that they are still worldly.

They may have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). They attend church, sing hymns, and even know the Bible, but they wander through life living no differently than unbelievers. Their hearts are consumed with the same worries, ambitions, and desires as the world.

Nicodemus was an accomplished scholar of the Law, a respected Pharisee, and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Outwardly, he had achieved everything a religious man could desire. Yet when he encountered Jesus, he could not recognize the One who came to save him. Jesus spoke to him about the necessity of being born again—of experiencing a spiritual birth from above—but Nicodemus could not comprehend it (John 3:1-3).

Here was a man well-versed in the Law, yet he could not understand the heart of the gospel. Highly religious but spiritually empty, he came to Jesus in search of answers for his life. This is a warning to us: it is possible to know Scripture but miss the Savior. It is possible to attend church but never experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

If we remain worldly, we will wander aimlessly through life—never fully tasting the joy, peace, and power God has promised us through Christ. Tragically, many choose the things below instead of the things above (Colossians 3:1-2). But the truth is this: we have been born from above through our Lord Jesus Christ. We belong to heaven.

Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of God. He declared, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Why, then, do we exchange the eternal inheritance of heaven for perishable, temporary things on earth? If you fill yourself with godly sorrow, which brings life and leaves no regret, you will be able to turn your heart away from worldly sorrow, which leads only to death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Stop being a lover of yourself, money, or pleasure. Become a lover of God and the good (2 Timothy 3:1-4). If you love Him, you will desire to obey Him (John 14:15). You will not grieve His Spirit by doing what He does not want you to do (Ephesians 4:30). You will not dismiss the Spirit by ignoring what He calls you to do (1 Thessalonians 5:19). You will not silence His voice when He leads you to people and places where Christ is not known. You will not quench the Spirit by chasing after the things of this world that will not last.

Invest your life in the things above, focusing on what is eternal rather than temporary. The treasures of this world will fade, but the inheritance in Christ lasts forever. Make Him the center of your life, the greatest choice of all, surrendering your plans to His will and seeking His kingdom first.

Why is it so dangerous to live a worldly life? Listen to what Scripture says:

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8).

In other words, the minds of believers who follow the world are controlled by their own desires. Though they are not enemies of God in status, they live as if they were. People may hear the Word of God, but their hearts are far from it, resisting obedience. Their entire lives, they will please their bodies rather than the One who loved them and died for them.

Thus, we must live by faith, not by sight. Faith pleases our Father (Hebrews 11:6). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin, and the greatest sin of all is unbelief (Romans 14:23). We have every reason to live by faith: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17).

Let us be like Paul when he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). Paul considered himself dead to the world. At one time, the things of the world were important to him, but he came to realize that they were worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:7-8).

The more you know Jesus, the more you will realize that you possess the greatest treasure of all. You will cherish Him, love Him, worship Him, and obey Him.

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Prayer. Lord Jesus, I cherish, love, and worship You. I will leave the world behind and follow You. Take me to a place where Your name is not known. In Your mighty name, Amen.

Philippians 2:5-11. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

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How do you walk with Christ in this twisted and crooked generation? To walk with Christ in such a world requires both inner transformation and outward testimony. It is not simply about outward morality but about living in union with the Lord Jesus Christ—sharing His mindset, taking up His cross, and standing in His victory.

First, you must walk with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). What does this mean? It means you invite Him as Lord and King to the throne of your heart and mind. Make His will your will. Make His plans your plans. Make His purpose your purpose in life. Let giving Him glory and honor become the greatest joy of your life.

To do this, approach your Father’s throne with an attitude of total submission, just as Jesus did to His Father (Philippians 2:5–8). Only then will you begin to understand the heart of “God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

When you have this mindset, your prayer life will change. You will pray not for selfish needs but according to His will. You will seek the greatest blessing of all—His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). You will pray with the heart of an evangelist: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19–20).

God will read your heart, hear your prayer, and open a door for your message so that you may proclaim the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:2–3). Knowing this, Paul prayed on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18), did not stop praying for the believers (Colossians 1:9), and always prayed with joy (Philippians 1:7). This is a mark of those who walk with Christ.

Second, to walk with Christ you must fix your eyes on the cross with humility (Philippians 2:8). We have been saved by grace. Only when we acknowledge that there is no hope apart from the cross of Christ will we be set free from the curse of sin. We cannot overcome sin by repentance alone or by trying harder to live a godly life. The burden of our sin is impossible for us to carry. That is why “the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). When you kneel before the cross and confess that Jesus is your True Priest who gave Himself as a ransom for your life, you realize that He has already canceled your sins by the blood He shed.

The same is true in our battle against Satan. On your own, you cannot overcome the powers of darkness. But when you acknowledge Jesus as your True King, He fights the battle for you. The devil has already been utterly defeated when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Victory in life cannot be expected apart from the cross of Jesus. That is why Paul confessed, “The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Finally, you must live with the assurance of victory for tomorrow. God has given us the name of Jesus that is above every name, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9–11). You may be weak, like a jar of clay, but the all-surpassing power is from God and not from you (2 Corinthians 4:7). When you pray in Jesus’ name, God promises to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land (Haggai 2:6).

Walking with Christ means conversing with Him throughout the day, in every situation, seeking His will. When you do, He will give you clear answers in your conscience, strength in your weakness, and victory in your trials.

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Prayer. Lord Jesus, I thank You for walking with me today. Help me fix my eyes on the cross, put on Your mindset, and live with the assurance of victory that came through You. In Your mighty name, Amen.

Colossians 1:15-20. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

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If you walk with Christ, you will know no ultimate failures in life. Why is this so? Because Christ Himself is the One who came from heaven, not to carry out His own will, but to fulfill the will of God the Father who sent Him (John 6:38). His entire life, ministry, death, and resurrection testify to the truth that in Him, there is no failure, only the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan.

Jesus Christ has divine authority. He alone has the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6), and He has the power to give eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 6:47). Unlike any human teacher, prophet, or religious leader, He is the One who conquered death itself. By rising from the grave, He crushed the head of Satan and destroyed the one who held the power of death (Mark 9:31; Hebrews 2:14).

Anyone who truly encountered Jesus had to acknowledge that He was no ordinary man, but the very Son of God. Pontius Pilate declared His innocence (Matthew 27:24), Judas confessed his betrayal of innocent blood (Matthew 27:4), and even the Roman centurion at the cross exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).

John the Baptist proclaimed Him to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Peter testified that “he committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), and Paul declared that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). His own disciples witnessed that even the winds and waves obeyed Him (Matthew 8:27).

While on earth, Jesus revealed the unconditional love of God. When He met a widow who had just lost her only son, His heart was moved with compassion, and He brought her son back from the dead and gave him back to her (Luke 7:11–15).

Another time, when a woman known for her sinful life poured perfume on His feet, He said of her, “Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47). He welcomed little children and blessed them (Mark 10:13–16). He even extended His grace toward His enemies (Luke 9:51–56).

As the True Priest, He gave His life as a ransom to break the curse of sin that brought death to the whole human race (Mark 10:45). When He hung on the cross, He carried all our failures, past, present, and future:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Through His suffering, He gave us life:

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21–22).

Living apart from God leads only to failure, but through Christ, we now have peace with God:

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10–11).

Not only did He die, but He rose again to give us victory over sin and death. His resurrection is the ultimate proof that He is the Christ. His death and resurrection were foretold for thousands of years and fulfilled at the appointed time. This was the turning point of human history. His work on the cross and His resurrection changed our destiny forever.

He now lives through the Holy Spirit in those He redeemed by His blood on the cross. Even now and in the ages to come, He is leading us by His Spirit. He will continue to show us the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us (Ephesians 2:7).

When the gospel is preached to the ends of the earth, He will return as King of kings and Lord of lords to establish His kingdom. He is preparing a place in heaven for those who trust in Him (John 14:1–3), and He will come again to judge the living and the dead with perfect justice and truth (Mark 14:61–62; John 5:22; Acts 1:11).

When you truly believe in the power of Christ, His authority will be revealed wherever you are. God has given us spiritual authority in His name to drive out the powers of darkness. Do not be shaken by the problems in your life, your family, or your church. Stand firm and use the authority given to you in Jesus’ name.

Who is Jesus to you? He is asking you the same question He asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Believing about Jesus is not enough; only Jesus Himself must remain at the center of your life (Matthew 17:8). Only then will the power of Satan, sin, and hell collapse. Only then will the kingdom of God come upon you. Only then will the Holy Spirit work mightily in your life. Only then will you live a life with no regrets.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for giving me victory in Christ in every circumstance of life. Help me to hold firmly to only Christ, only Your kingdom, and only Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ephesians 1:9-14. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

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Scripture declares that God chose you in Christ before the creation of the world—even before you had done anything right or wrong (Ephesians 1:4). His choice was not based on your works, merit, or ability, but solely on His eternal love and purpose.

Yes, even before Adam and Eve broke the covenant and fell under the curse of Satan, sin, and hell, God had already determined to save you. He knew you from eternity past. Long before you took your first breath, He called your name while you were still in your mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1).

From the moment humanity became enslaved to the enemy, God revealed His salvation plan. He gave the first promise of the gospel in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This was God’s declaration to Satan that the Christ would come to destroy his work.

When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill this promise: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7–8).

For thousands of years, the Old Testament recorded the preparation for Christ’s coming—through prophecies, covenants, sacrifices, and the history of Israel. Then, in the New Testament, God fulfilled His promise, and those who believed in Christ, God’s chosen, bore witness to the Christ who came, died, and rose again. As Jesus Himself said, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

But why did it have to be the Christ? Because no one can free themselves from the three fundamental curses: the power of Satan (Revelation 12:9), the curse of original sin (Romans 3:23), and eternal separation from God in hell (Ephesians 2:1). From birth, every person is spiritually dead, cut off from the glory of God.

Throughout life, people are trapped in three patterns of destruction: self-reliance and self-centeredness (Genesis 3), corruption and pursuit of worldly pleasure (Genesis 6, and pride in human achievement and success (Genesis 11). On top of that, Satan binds people inside three unbreakable frames: the power structures of the world (Acts 13:4–12), the economic systems that enslave (Acts 16:16–24), and the culture of darkness that dominates society (Acts 19:8–41).

Because of this, all are destined to live as children of the devil (John 8:44), worshiping idols (Exodus 20:4–5), suffering mental torment (Matthew 11:28) and physical affliction (Acts 8:4–8), facing eternal condemnation in hell (Luke 16:19–31), and passing down the same spiritual curses to future generations (Matthew 27:25).

This is why it is critical to understand the purpose for which God sent His Son—to bring salvation (1 Peter 1:9). Salvation is not a small, temporary, external change; it is the ultimate reason and goal of our faith.

Salvation means complete freedom from your past. Because Jesus, your True King, lives in you, Satan no longer has power over you. You are no longer his servant, and you no longer have to obey his commands. This is the blessing of the Passover (Leviticus 23:4–8). On that night in Egypt, God’s judgment passed over every house marked by the blood of the lamb. The blood of Jesus once and for all set you free from the bondage of your past.

Salvation means victory in your present. You now possess the position, status, and authority of a child of God. Because Jesus, your True Priest, lives in you, the curse of sin has no claim on your life. This is the blessing of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15–22). God will empower you with the Holy Spirit so you may be victorious in all circumstances.

Salvation means absolute certainty for your future. God has already seated you with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Because Jesus, your True Prophet, lives in you, your eternal destination is secure—you are on your way home to heaven. This is the blessing of Ingathering (Leviticus 23:33–43). Your background is the kingdom of God, who will cause all things pertaining to His kingdom to be fulfilled on your covenant journey.

For this reason, every step you take in the work of evangelism and world missions is connected to God’s eternal plan, formed before the foundation of the world. Nothing about your calling is ordinary. Every prayer you lift, every soul you share the gospel with, and every act of obedience is a continuation of His work from eternity past.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as Your evangelist to carry the message of the cross. Open my spiritual eyes to see Your eternal plans for the world and my part in them. Let my life be fully aligned with the mission You prepared from before creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Exodus 33:9-11. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. ¹¹ The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

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What is your relationship with God like? That relationship shapes the way you speak to Him and the way He speaks to you.

In Today’s Word, we see an extraordinary reality: the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Their conversation was not distant or formal. It was marked by trust, openness, and deep understanding of one another’s heart. Moses could talk to God about anything, and God would reveal His plans to him.

Because Moses knew God’s heart, he prayed with boldness. He interceded for the people of Israel when they had sinned, and God responded to his prayers and relented from the judgment He had spoken (Exodus 32:14). This was not because Moses altered God’s eternal plan, but because God delights to work through the prayers of His friends, inviting them to participate in His purposes.

Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb marked a turning point in his life. Having experienced the awesome presence of the Lord, meeting with God became his highest priority. Prayer was not an occasional religious activity for him—it was his life. His leadership, decisions, and identity all flowed from the time he spent with God. When he returned from these meetings, his face shone with the glory of God, and the people bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

Through his relationship with God, Moses came to understand the ultimate purpose of all God’s work—the fulfillment of His covenant of Christ and world evangelization. This understanding became his reason for living. Every moment with God brought him deeper into the reality of that purpose.

He was an ordinary man, saved and chosen by God’s grace, just as you are. In Christ, you are washed in His blood, adopted into His family, and called His friend. Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15). God wants to meet with you personally and reveal His heart to you.

His invitation is clear: “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). As He did with Moses, God can open your spiritual eyes to see the world through the lens of the gospel. As He did with Joseph, He can give you wisdom and solutions to meet the needs of a hurting world (Genesis 43:38-40). As He did with David, He can form in you the integrity and skill to lead others according to His heart (Psalm 78:70-72).

All of these servants of God shared one thing in common—they were people of prayer. For them, prayer was not merely pleading for help in crisis or presenting requests to God, but the daily joy of living in His presence. It was a continual fellowship with the One they loved most.

Do not leave His presence, even for a moment. You may not always be speaking words of prayer, but you can live with your heart in constant fellowship with Him before His throne. In that place, you will find the strength to overcome the ruler of the kingdom of the air and the ways of the world. You will see the kingdom of God advancing in every task, every decision, and every circumstance.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me Your child and Your friend. Draw me nearer to You every day. Let me enjoy Your presence as Moses did, face to face. Teach me to listen to Your voice and to pray with boldness. May my life reflect Your heart so that others may see Christ in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Revelation 1:1-3. The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ² who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

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The most profound, enduring, and tangible way that God is present in our lives is through His Word. It is the means by which He reveals His heart, His will, and His promises to us. Yet tragically, many hear the Word of God but never allow it to take root in their hearts. They treat it lightly, as if God’s promises were mere suggestions rather than the very foundation of life.

When God speaks, He is not giving us optional advice—He is declaring eternal truth. If we do not take His promise seriously, we inevitably slip into unbelief. This robs us of the joy of answered prayer and leaves us spiritually dry. Some even replace the unchanging authority of God’s Word with fleeting spiritual sensations or mystical experiences, forgetting that only His Word is a sure foundation.

Jesus explained this truth through a parable, saying that the seed sown by the farmer represents the Word of God. Some fall along the path—these hear the Word, but the devil quickly snatches it from their hearts so they cannot believe and be saved. Others are like seed on rocky ground—they receive the Word with joy at first, but because it has no root, their faith lasts only for a short time, and when testing comes, they fall away. Still others are like seed that falls among thorns—they hear the Word, but as they go on in life, worries, the pursuit of wealth, and the desire for pleasure choke it, keeping them from growing to maturity (Luke 8:4–14).

Scripture is not a collection of religious sayings. It is alive. “The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Word is living, breathing, and working in every corner of your life. It has the power to examine, confront, heal, and restore you. The promises it contains do not expire, for “the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). And what God has spoken will not fail: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Whenever you hear the Word preached in your church, do not merely register it as the voice of a human messenger. Listen beyond the sermon to hear the voice of the living God speaking directly to your heart. Seek to read His heart in the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to make His Word burn within you, just as it did for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32)

Anchor your life to the promise of His Word—a promise that is unshakable, unchanging, and able to withstand every storm you will ever face. It is a promise that transcends all your circumstances, reaching beyond the limits of what you can see or understand. When you stand firmly on this foundation, you will discover that God is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken.

Throughout the week, confirm the fulfillment of the Word you have received at your local church. Let your mornings be shaped by the promises you meditate on, and let each day be guided by the truth God has already spoken into your life. This is how you continually enjoy His presence—by living in, with, and through His Word.

You are deeply blessed because God Himself is speaking to you through Scripture. So read it. Hear it. Treasure it. Obey it. And watch as it transforms your life.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for being with me through Your Word. Open my ears to truly hear You, and open my eyes to see the mystery of Christ in every page of Scripture. Let Your Word burn within my heart, guiding my steps and strengthening my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mark 3:13-15. Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons.

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The most important reason for God’s calling is not the tasks He assigns, but the relationship He desires. He did not call us primarily to give us work to do. He called us because He wanted to be with us.

From the beginning, God’s purpose has been to restore our broken fellowship with Him. He wants us to delight in His presence—the only true answer to every problem in life. He desires that we experience His power, His peace, and His joy in a way that transforms our entire being.

It is only after we have been with Him that He sends us out to do His work—preaching the good news, healing the brokenhearted, and driving out the darkness. Without first knowing and enjoying His presence, all our ministry efforts, no matter how impressive, will be empty and powerless.

Thus, do not rush to fill your life with activity. Do not measure your calling by how much you do. Learn to be with God first. Sit at His feet like Mary did (Luke 10:39). Listen to Him. Obey what He says. In doing so, you will find that His presence equips you far more than any human preparation could.

Only then will everything you do have eternal value. As Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When Jesus first called His disciples, His invitation was simple yet profound: “Come, follow Me.” Their first task was not to preach or perform miracles—it was to walk with Him. Only after that did He reveal the purpose: “I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19).

Even after His resurrection, as He prepared to ascend into heaven, Jesus gave His disciples this unshakable promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This is not a vague encouragement—it is the ongoing reality of the risen Christ with His evangelists today.

Jesus does not promise to be with us in some distant, abstract way. He offers a personal, intimate presence in every area of life: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me” (Rev 3:20).

King David understood this truth well. He declared, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1). David’s assurance did not rest on “the green pastures” or “the quiet waters.” It was not grounded in finding “the right paths” or in the absence of enemies. His peace came from one thing—his Shepherd was with him. That was enough, because in God is everything.

Today, will you seek the greatest blessing—the presence of God Himself? Let His kingdom be your first priority, your deepest joy, and your greatest treasure.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for being with me in every area of my life. Teach me to follow You closely and to obey without hesitation. May Your presence be evident in my thoughts, my words, my actions, and in every meeting I have today. Let my life be rooted in You, so that all I do may bear fruit that lasts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 John 5:14-15. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

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When you pray and it feels like nothing happens, it can be discouraging. You may feel as though your words are just echoing in the air, that heaven is silent, and that your problems remain unchanged. You might even begin to wonder if prayer makes any real difference at all.

Our thoughts and words will produce critical results as they become imprinted on our hearts, minds, and brains. They are eventually imprinted deep into our souls in the throne of God. When Apostle John was in the midst of a great crisis, God gave him a revelation. From the first day to the very end, God showed him all that was to take place, and in the midst of this, He showed him something special: that not a single word of the prayer of the saints is lost, as recorded in Revelation 8:3–4:

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”

Also, Scripture reassures us with a promise: “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). This means God is not ignoring us—He is attentive to every word. But there is a condition: our requests must align with His will. That leads to an important question—what is God’s will, and how do we know it?

God’s will is revealed in His living Word. The Word of God is alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). When we pray outside the truth and boundaries of God’s Word, we risk seeking things He has neither promised nor purposed—and that is not true prayer at all. But when we pray according to the Word, we are praying in agreement with the heart of God. Jesus Himself said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

Opening the Word shows us what God desires for our lives. It realigns our thinking, reshapes our desires, and renews our faith. We begin to realize that the greatest answer to prayer is not merely receiving what we desire, but becoming the person God intends us to be, and seeing the fulfillment of His Word and the covenant of world evangelization. As He will do what He has planned and spoken, “we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:15).

Prayer is not merely an exercise in speaking to God—it is a spiritual science with absolute power and unseen effects. When we pray, the Holy Spirit moves transcending time and space to work in every person, place, and situation connected to our prayers (Luke 11:13). In the spiritual realm, Satan—“the strong man”—is bound and his plans are disrupted (Matthew 12:28–29). God’s angels are dispatched to minister and carry out His purposes (Revelation 8:3–5). These are not abstract ideas; they are biblical realities that reveal how seriously God takes our prayers. Tragically, countless believers are blind to the true spiritual reality and power of prayer.

Through prayer, we tap into the authority and power of the Kingdom of God. Jesus declared, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Prayer unlocks doors that no human effort can open. It changes circumstances, but even more importantly, it transforms hearts—beginning with our own—and renews our spiritual state.

Many people claim to be too busy to pray, yet Jesus, in the middle of His demanding ministry of preaching, healing, and teaching, always made time for it. He rose very early, while it was still dark, and went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35). At times, He even spent the entire night in prayer (Luke 6:12). If the Son of God made this a priority, we have no excuse not to follow His example.

When you place your hope in God through prayer, your strength will be renewed (Isaiah 40:31). When you keep your focus on Him in prayer, you will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8). Prayer keeps your heart pure and guards you from sin (Psalm 119:10–11). It also serves as your spiritual weapon against the attacks of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8–9).

The call today is simple yet profound: Meet with God. Find a quiet place and pour out your heart to Him. Pray His Word back to Him, not demanding your will, but seeking His. Ask for His plans to prevail over yours.

This is the moment to experience Christ’s power resting on you. This is the moment to acknowledge His will as greater than your own. As you surrender daily to Him in prayer, you will not only sense His presence more deeply—you will see it transform your life. Others will see it too, and they will know that you have been with God.

God has called you to be a watchman in this generation. He has entrusted to you the unshakable covenant of life—a covenant that can transform the course of history. This covenant is to be imprinted on your heart, mind, and spirit so that every prayer you lift becomes a treasured offering before His throne. Each day is an opportunity to believe, confirm, and walk in His absolute plan, holding firmly to the promise of Immanuel and relying on His eternal Word.

This calling is a life of 24-hour prayer—building the highway of the covenant journey and raising the banner of salvation for all peoples, for the 237 nations and the 5,000 tribes. Like the Remnants, David, Daniel, and Esther who stood unshaken in the face of every challenge, you are called to stand with courage, move nations, and participate in the fulfillment of world evangelization through prayer.

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Prayer. Father, I thank You for hearing my prayer every time I call on the name of Christ. At this moment, I believe You are working through the Holy Spirit to break the power of darkness and send Your angels to guard and guide me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke every spirit of unbelief, anxiety, and guilt in my life. Help me to discover Your perfect plan in every situation I face today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.