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Job 1:19  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Reflection: The phrase “beauty from ashes” captures the heart of Job's journey—a story that moves from unimaginable loss to an even deeper restoration.   At the start, Job is a man of great wealth, integrity, and faith. But then, calamity strikes: he loses his children, his health, his riches, and even the support of his closest friends. His world becomes ashes—figuratively and almost literally, as he sits in the dust, scraping his sores with broken pottery.   But Job’s story doesn’t end in despair. Through the storms of pain and questions, he refuses to completely sever his connection with God. And in the final chapters, we witness a dramatic shift. Job’s fortunes are restored—not just returned, but doubled. His relationships are healed, and he gains a new understanding of...

Read the whole book of Job. Reflection The story of Job offers profound spiritual wisdom, especially for anyone facing hardship, uncertainty, or deep questions about life’s fairness. Here are some powerful lessons drawn from Job’s journey: 1. Faith can endure even in suffering – Job's faith didn't mean he was spared from suffering, but it sustained him through it. He wrestled with God, questioned, lamented—but never fully turned away. 2. It’s okay to question and grieve – Job’s raw honesty before God shows us that spiritual maturity doesn’t mean bottling up pain or pretending to have all the answers. Deep faith includes room for tears, doubts, and long silences. 3. Not all suffering is punishment – Job was upright, yet he suffered. His story dismantles the idea that pain is always the result of personal sin and challenges us to be more compassionate in how we view others’ suffering. 4. God’s ways are higher than ours – In the end, Job never gets a full explanation. Instead, God...

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Reflection:  Life as a believer isn’t a promise of constant sunshine. In fact, the psalmist, David, knew suffering firsthand—betrayal, danger, heartbreak. And yet, through each challenge, there was one constant: God’s deliverance. Affliction doesn’t mean abandonment. If anything, it highlights a divine pattern—God draws near to the brokenhearted and shows His might not by preventing storms, but by guiding us through them. The “many” afflictions may come in different forms: sickness, rejection, financial hardship, or spiritual battles. But each one becomes a stage for the Lord to display His faithfulness. This verse doesn’t just comfort—it strengthens. It whispers to the weary, “Hold on. Deliverance is on the way.” Not one affliction slips past God's sight. And not one is too great for Him to redeem. Prayer:   Lord, thank You that in every trial, You are there. Even when t...

This is a continuation of yesterday's devotional.  Applying John 15:4 to your everyday life means choosing daily connection with Jesus, not just on Sundays or in moments of crisis, but as a constant, life-giving relationship. Here are some simple but powerful ways to live it out: 1. Start your day with Him – Even five quiet minutes in the morning to pray, reflect, or read Scripture can center your heart on the Vine before the day gets noisy. 2. Invite Him into your routines – Whether you're cooking, commuting, or working, you can whisper prayers, offer gratitude, or ask for strength. That ongoing conversation is part of abiding. 3. Stay in the Word – The Bible is like spiritual nourishment. Reading it regularly, even a verse or two a day, helps keep your mind and heart aligned with Him. 4. Be mindful of your influences – What you watch, listen to, or dwell on can either draw you closer to Christ or distract you. Guarding your heart is part of staying connected. 5. Stay in commu...

Scripture: John 15:4 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Reflection:   Have you ever seen a branch lying on the ground, severed from the tree? It may look alive for a while, but without its connection to the trunk—its source of life—it quickly withers. In the same way, Jesus reminds us that our lives are only fruitful and truly alive when we remain connected to Him. To "abide" is not just to visit occasionally—it means to live, to remain, to dwell. Christ longs for us to make our home in Him, to anchor our daily thoughts, choices, and desires in His love and truth. And the promise is astounding: as we stay close to Him, He pours His very life into us—His strength, His peace, His purpose. We don't bear fruit by striving harder, but by staying closer. Today’s Challenge:   Find a quiet moment today—just you and Jesus. Talk to Him. Listen. Open your heart fully and i...

  Matthew 5:5 KJV Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Devotion: Our world celebrates boldness and self-reliance, but Jesus praised something radically different: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV).   Meekness isn’t about being timid—it’s strength under control, power surrendered to God. It’s allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, achieving more with less striving.   Jesus Himself embodied meekness—not by lacking power, but by choosing to submit His power to the Father. When we follow His example, we step into the blessing of becoming more like Him and inheriting all He’s promised. ©Dr Joel Olanrewaju. Feel free to reach me at gbemide09@gmail.com to share your thoughts. Share this with your contacts. Shalom.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4 Devotion: Psalm 100 is a jubilant call to worship, a reminder that praise is not just a Sunday activity—it’s a lifestyle of acknowledging who God is and what He’s done. From the first verse to the last, this psalm overflows with joy, gratitude, and reverence. Praise Is Our Posture Worship is more than music or words; it's the posture of a heart that recognizes the greatness of God. Psalm 100:1 urges us to "shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth." This is an invitation to everyone, everywhere, to express wholehearted praise—not out of duty but delight. Worship Anchors Our Identity Verse 3 reminds us: “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his.” In a world that often tries to define us, worship realigns us with the truth—we belong to God. When we worship, we anchor ourselves not in shifting circumstances but in His unchanging characte...