Matthew chapter 12 presents Jesus challenging the rigid legalism of the Pharisees, asserting His divine authority, and speaking powerfully about the inner condition of the heart. The chapter reveals that the true focus of faith is not in the outward performance of rules, but in the inward posture of love, mercy, and recognition of Christ's lordship.Scripture Focus: Matthew 12:7-8, "And if you had ...  Read More

  John 5 is a rich chapter that reveals Jesus’ authority, compassion, and call to spiritual awakening. The healing at the pool of Bethesda and His bold confrontation with religious leaders offer powerful lessons for the church today.John 5:1-9 — Healing at the pool of BethesdaJohn 5:16-30 — Jesus’ authority and unity with the FatherJohn 5:39-40 — The call to respond to Scripture and believe"Do you...  Read More

 Matthew 8 is rich with demonstrations of Jesus’ authority—over sickness, storms, spiritual forces, and even social boundaries. It’s a powerful chapter for stirring faith and calling the church to bold trust and compassionate action.Matthew 8:1-4 — Jesus heals a man with leprosyMatthew 8:5-13 — The faith of the centurionMatthew 8:23-27 — Jesus calms the stormMatthew 8:28-34 — Jesus delivers two de...  Read More

John 2:1–11 — The wedding at Cana, John 2:13–22 — The cleansing of the temple Jesus Transforms What We Surrender "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. — John 2:7Real-Life Principle: When we offer Jesus what we have—even if it seems ordinary—He can transform it into something extraordinary for His glory.Relevant Life Application:In ministry: Encourage leaders and volunteers t...  Read More

In Mathew chapter 4, we see a lot of important events like the temptation of Jesus, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the calling of the first disciples and Jesus ministering to crowds around Galilee. We are going to look at and focus on the temptations of Jesus. After Jesus is baptized, He is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to fast for 40 days and is tempted by satan 3 times. The first...  Read More

“Behold, the voice of one crying in the wilderness! In these 3 chapters, we find some history on John the Baptist,  his encounter and baptism of Jesus, and some of the early works of Jesus after His temptation. One of my favorite  Christmas stories is when Mary visits Elizabeth and John LEAPS in the womb of Mary, and preparing this devotional made me immediately think of the story. We find the rec...  Read More

Matthew 2 is not just a quiet Christmas story; it is a collision of kingdoms. On one side, foreign Magi travel hundreds of miles to find the newborn King. On the other, Herod, the self-proclaimed “King of the Jews,” trembles at the news and schemes to protect his throne.Both hear about Jesus. Both are moved by His arrival. But one group comes to worship. The other comes to destroy.The Magi shouldn...  Read More

The God of History and Hope Matthew 1:21-23 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). The Genealogy of Grace (Matthew 1:1-17) Real Life Principle: God is Faithful to His Plan, Even Through Imperfect People. The long list of names in the genealogy (verses 1-17) proves that Jesus is the promised Messiah, descended from Abraham and King David. But if you look closely, this family tree is messy. It includes: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba: Women, some of whom were Gentiles or involved in questionable circumstances, yet God specifically includes them. Kings and sinners: Great heroes of faith alongside people who committed murder, adultery, and idolatry. Relevant Life Application Embrace Your Story: Your past, your family background, your mistakes, and your current circumstances do not disqualify you from God's plan. The genealogy shows that God uses all kinds of people—even the flawed, the outcast, and the unexpected—to fulfill His perfect purposes. Ready Action Step: Stop letting past failures or current weaknesses define your future. Know that God can write the story of His grace into your life today.  Read More

Scripture Focus: John 1:1–14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."John opens his Gospel not with a manger, but with majesty. He takes us back to the beginning—not just of Jesus’ earthly life, but of creation itself. The Word (Logos) is eternal, divine, and personal. And this Word didn’t stay distant...  Read More

Wow! We have been on a long journey. As we are closing the Old Testament, we read Malachi. You would think it’s a happy sweet book because it comes right before the gospels, that people are in the rebuilt temple offering real and truthful offerings or worship. Unfortunately, it’s the complete opposite situation. Its first three chapters, the author is sharing God’s message to his people as a dialogue. In a nutshell, God is telling them they have been unfaithful, misbehaved and disrespected Him. The priests are a sham, they know how sacrifices should be made and have been giving the least and most despicable offerings. Nevertheless, chapters 3 and 4 share the prophecy that there will be a messenger (John the Baptist) preparing the way for Jesus. Who will come to renew and refine his people. Real: Life Principles  God loves us: As we have read in the entire OT, we see how God has loved his people and is proof He loves us. The mighty things He has done for them represent that amazing love He has for them and still does.  God is dishonored with blemished offerings: I don’t know what His people in this time thought, I believe they thought “let’s do this our way, no one will never know”. Hey! God is watching, He knows!! What we give Him must be the best. Always!  God is asking for faithfulness and integrity: The Israelites during this time were unfaithful with God and their wives too; by this time, we all know God loathes it. He wants us whole, not in pieces. He wants our faithfulness and to also demonstrate it in different areas of our lives. This makes me ask: are we walking the walk we talk? Relevant: Life Applications  God loves us and we don’t have to doubt it: The representation of the Israelites when they ask in verse 1:2 “How have you loved us?” makes me remember when I was young and impertinent with my parents. I would ask things, thinking I was smarter or trying to make them feel they had failed on something; just to find out minutes later, I needed to get under a rock, and I was utterly wrong. God loves us so much and through the reading and study of His word we can learn it. Daily in the big and the small He still demonstrates it. Ponder on how He has blessed you until now.  Walk the talk: Israelites had made a promise to God and were not living up to it. Are we calling ourselves (or writing in the headings of our social media pages) “Believers”, “Christians”, “Jesus follower” but are we really living up to it? Are we living in integrity? Are we faithful in and out of church? Or do people know two versions of us? Are we living the: “yeah! Let’s keep on rolling... no one will ever know” lifestyle? Well, you know now how it works. God does know, and he doesn’t like it.  What are we bringing to God? Are we bringing to the altar the best or just our leftovers (it can be applied to time, service, money, attention, worship)? Thanks God we no longer need to offer a sacrifice; Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. But in Romans 12:1 we are urged to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. For Christians honoring God as “living sacrifices”, means surrendering to Him entirely and trusting every aspect of our lives under His complete control. Ready: Life Actions  Daily think at least on 5 blessings God has given you and thank Him. Be intentional on reminding yourself God loves you and takes care of you in the big and small aspects of life.  If you have recently become a Christian or are not sure on how to walk the talk; please read and study the book of Ephesians, it’s a short but amazing letter written by Paul that contains instructions for Christian living applied to different areas of our lives.  Are you struggling to walk the talk? Remember we have a gracious and forgiving Father. Confess and repent, share with Him in prayer what’s causing you not to walk in integrity. Let Him take care of it. Remember He is molding you, surrender completely and let Him work. Find an accountability partner (can be a Christian mentor, leader or teacher) that is willing to hear you, support you and give you godly advice during this process. Dear God, Thank you for loving me, for my family and friends, for providing for each of my needs. Forgive me if I have been unfaithful or been living a double life. I need you and want to honor you in every single aspect of my life. Make everyday be more of you and less of me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.   Read More

Devotional Day 272 Nehemiah 13 Have you heard the expression: “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”?. This is exactly what happened with the Israelites after they had rebuilt the wall. The people of Israel, with the leadership of Nehemiah, had finished rebuilding the wall. God had protected them during this time, they had confessed their sins and returned to God’s ways, and they finally dedicated the wall with celebration. Nehemiah 12 says there was great joy, and it was so loud that the Joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. (Neh. 12:43) At this time, Nehemiah had to return to Persia as he promised (Neh. 2:6), and chapter 13 gives us insight into how the people had stepped away from the good path they were on. They had just read that no Ammonite or Moabite should enter the assembly of God (vs 1), and then we see that they had let Tobiah the Ammonite live inside the temple When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and found this, he was just disappointed, frustrated, and angry at some point. Not only this happened, but also, the Levites were not receiving the portions they had to receive, which led them to go to their fields to work and not work at the temple (vs 10). In those days, people were also trading on the Sabbath, which made Nehemiah confront these people and even kick them out of the city, and they even went back to marrying women from Ashdod and Ammon, as they were commanded not to. This points back to the first expression, when there is no cat, the mice will do anything they want. In this case, it was Nehemiah who kept them in the right path. God guided Nehemiah, and he led the Israelites. But for us now it is about Christ. Every one of us has Christ in us or has the opportunity to have Christ in us to guide us, but when we don’t spend time with him, when we do not listen to him, we will start doing things however we want and not according to his will. Real: Life Principles • Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Our life should follow his guidance, his words, his will. • If we try to do things away from God’s will, from God’s guidance, we will end up far away from God. Relevant: Life Applications • We need to recognize that we need Christ every day in our lives. We can’t do it on our own. • Depending on God’s guidance is not weakness. It is having the true freedom of Christ acting in our lives. Ready: Life Action Steps • Seek him every day, in every decision, in every aspect of your life. Follow his will. • Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the Lord only, and not rely on our own understanding. The Israelites in this passage thought they knew better, but who did they end up?  Read More

Whoa! Do these chapters ever hit home! Not only with things we see around us now locally, but also in our nation and world today. This reading should stir all our hearts to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth in God’s Word to us. Chapter 8 shows us a RECOGNITION of God and His laws for us as Nehemiah, Ezra and some of the priests call God’s people together at the Water Gate. The exile is ending, and God’s people are returning to Jerusalem to rebuild. God’s word is opened, and the law is read to the people from early morning to mid-day, and the people soon realize (just as the law was intended) that they have not honored God. He set standards for His people, and they can’t measure up. The people are moved and begin a journey back towards God by instating the Feast of Booths. Chapter 9 continues with more reading and brings a REALIZATION of how far and long God’s people have strayed and the just punishment that has befallen them throughout their history from Abraham until now. We see a summary of how God blesses his people, the people come to Him, and then they begin to stray again…brining His just judgement upon them. I’ve spent quite a few lessons teaching in young kids classes all the way up to adults talking about the “Roller Coaster” pattern of God’s people from the time He chose them going forward. It’s amazing to see that summarized so well in this chapter of Nehemiah! Chapter 10 shows us a REPENTENCE as God’s chosen people are committing to Him (and His laws) once again. Many people are noted in this chapter who seal their names to this repentance. A real commitment that sadly as we look at Biblical history, we know they still can’t keep going. In all of this we can see the need for God’s plan of a savior for all who believe! We cannot measure up, and never will through works, dedication, and any other word you want to try to use to explain us truly being able to keep up His expectations of us. The answer…Jesus! God’s law is a picture for us that we will never be able to “measure up” to all His expectations. It takes Jesus being obedient to God even unto death on a cross and then rising on the third day…defeating death and carrying the burden of our sin so that we can have a relationship and eternity with our Great and Holy God. What a gift! Real Life Principles: Where do you stand? Do you realize none of us can measure up and we all need the blood of Christ to bring us back to God? We all sin and fall short, yet through His grace, we can be reconciled to Him! The Israelites in these chapters had real, “Oh crap!” moments, and they reset their hearts to God. We cannot do that for long under our own devices, yet through a true, deep, and meaningful relationship with Christ, we can not only be brought back into relationship with God, but we can also, through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives show others the way to Him! Relevant Life Applications: Connect…not just one or two days a week…not just on a special holiday, but daily in everything we do. The moment we start putting things of this world in conflict with our walk with God is the moment that chaos, trials, and judgement come as we turn more to worldly things more than we turn to God. Start your day honoring Him with praise, time in his Word, and prayer then trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in His Will and His Plans each and every day Being Ready with Life Action Steps: We can always find time for worldly things that “mean something” to us, however that leads us farther and farther from our Creator…a place we really don’t need to be! Think of how easily we commit to those worldly distractions and apply that dedication and commitment to your individual walks with God…each and every day, without fail. You will be shocked at the peace, joy and comfort that it brings to your lives (and others around you), even in times of trials. Fathers, Mothers…it starts in the home with y’all…draw closer to Him and do what He asks of you. It’s not easy, but it’s what He wants from us. Men, Women…when that family structure is not there for those you know, be praying how God wants to use you to fill in those gaps that worldly struggles have put upon broken families.  Read More

Day #270 R3 Devo. Standing Firm in the Face of Distraction Scripture Key: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it and go down to you?” – Nehemiah 6:3 (NKJV) Real life principles : Nehemiah faced intense opposition as he rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall. Enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah tried many things to stop him: false invitations, slander, and intimidation. In all of these, their main goal was to distract him from God’s calling to rebuild the wall. Still, Nehemiah responded firmly to his oppositors: “I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down.” He knew the work God gave him was too important to be delayed by fear, gossip, or the pressure his adversaries were putting on him. In our own lives, distractions come in many forms—busyness, criticism, temptation, doubt, or sinful acts. The enemy, just like Sanballat and Tobiah to Nehemiah, still tries to pull us away from God’s calling. But, Nehemiah reminds us that perseverance and prayer are our strongest weapons. He prayed for strength (v. 9), refused to be intimidated (v. 11), so God blessed him by completing the wall in just 52 days (v. 15). Real life Application: - Ask yourself: What “great work” has God entrusted me with? God wants to use you in your family , church, and even your workplace to build His Kingdom! - Watch out for distractions! What are some things in your life that are trying to pull you away from the work God has called you to do ? I am not just talking about being over-busy doing something else, but you might also be distracted by the thoughts and feelings that are in your mind and heart. Are you giving too much attention to criticism, fear, or comparison from others? - Ready Action Steps: - Like Nehemiah , say no to distractions! And turn to prayer instead when feeling anxious , stressed or overwhelmed. Stop for a moment , acknowledge the heaviness of your heart , leave it to God in prayer , and then fix your focus on what matters most, God's plan for your life and the mission He has called you to do today!  Read More

Nehemiah 1- When the Walls are Broken “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” – Nehemiah 1:4 Nehemiah’s story doesn’t start with building; it starts with breaking. He hears the news: “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Those words don’t just pass through his ears; they sink deep into his soul. He can’t brush them off, can’t pretend he didn’t hear, can’t busy himself with palace duties to make the ache go away. The news crushes him. And so he sits down. He lets the weight of it hit him. He weeps. He mourns. He fasts. He prays. This is holy ground—the place where pain meets God. We don’t like to linger here. Most of us run from brokenness. We’d rather numb the ache than feel it, rather rush to fix things than sit in the ruins. But Nehemiah doesn’t move on. He doesn’t distract himself. He lets the grief wash over him until it drives him to his knees. And maybe that’s what God is asking of us. To stop pretending we’re fine. To stop ignoring the ruins around us. The brokenness in our families, the fractures in our churches, the wounds in our communities, the sin in our own hearts. To actually let it hurt. To let it break us. Because only hearts that are broken before God can be rebuilt by Him. Nehemiah doesn’t just pray about the problem; he confesses the sin behind it. “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you” (v.6). He doesn’t distance himself from the mess. He doesn’t say, “They’ve messed up, Lord.” He says, “We have sinned. I have sinned.” That’s vulnerable. That’s raw. And that’s where healing begins. Sometimes the most powerful prayers we can pray are not polished words, but trembling confessions. Sometimes the most sacred moments are when we drop the mask and whisper, “God, I’m part of the problem. Forgive me. Change me.” Nehemiah’s tears weren’t wasted. His mourning became the soil where hope could grow. His prayer became the starting point of a miracle. The walls of Jerusalem would one day rise again, but first, Nehemiah had to fall apart before the God of heaven. Maybe that’s where you are right now, sitting among ruins. Maybe it feels like your life, your family, or your faith has been burned down and left in disgrace. And maybe you’ve been trying to hold it together, trying to stay strong, trying to fix it yourself. But what if God is inviting you to do what Nehemiah did? To finally stop. To sit down. To let the tears fall. To confess. To pray. To place the broken pieces in His hands. Because the truth is this: God does some of His best work in the ruins. The places that feel beyond repair are the very places where His mercy begins to rebuild. But the rebuilding starts in our hearts. When we dare to get honest, when we dare to get raw, when we dare to let our walls come down before Him. Nehemiah didn’t know how the story would end when he prayed. All he had was his pain, his confession, and God. And that was enough. That is always enough. So maybe today, you don’t need answers. You don’t need a five-step plan. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to sit with your Father and weep. You just need to let your mourning become prayer. You just need to bring Him your ruins and believe He still restores. And here’s the hope: the God who met Nehemiah in his tears is the same God who meets you in yours. Your weeping does not end in despair; it is the doorway to restoration. The ruins are not the end of your story; they are the place where God begins His rebuilding work. Let your mourning become the melody of prayer, and watch Him turn it into a song of restoration. Real. Relevant. Ready. 1. Get Real with God. Stop pretending the ruins don’t hurt. Like Nehemiah, let yourself feel the weight of what’s broken. Sit down. Weep. Pray honestly. God meets you in your rawest places. 2. Make it Relevant to You. Nehemiah didn’t just point out their sins; he confessed his own. Don’t just pray about “the world out there.” Ask God to reveal what needs rebuilding in you. Own your part. Invite His mercy to start in your heart. 3. Be Ready for God to Move. Nehemiah’s tears didn’t end in despair; they became the doorway to purpose. Your brokenness isn’t the finale; it’s the starting line. Stay watchful. Stay prayerful. God is preparing you for restoration that’s bigger than you can see right now. Prayer: Lord, I’m tired of holding it together. I’m tired of pretending the ruins don’t hurt. Today, I lay them before You. The broken pieces of my heart. The messes I can’t fix. The sins I can’t cover. The burdens I can’t carry. Forgive me, God, for the ways I’ve contributed to the brokenness, for the ways I’ve run from You, for the times I’ve tried to rebuild in my own strength. Wash me in Your mercy. Remind me of Your promises. I don’t know how You will restore what’s been lost, but I know You are faithful. So I surrender the ruins to You. Break me if You must, rebuild me as You will. I trust that out of these tears, You can bring life again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  Read More

Ezra 7 provides powerful principles for devotion, discipleship, and leadership, which are highly relevant for us especially for our R3 Devotional. Real Life Principle 1: The Priority of Preparation (Ezra 7:10a) "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord..." (ESV) ● Intentionality Precedes Insight. Effective spiritual growth and service do not happen accidentally; they require a deliberate commitment of the heart and mind. The word "set" (Hebrew: kun) means to prepare, fix, establish, or be firm. Ezra's learning began not with his eyes, but with his heart's resolve. Relevant Life Application ● Establish a clear time and space. Don't let your devotional time be the leftover minutes of your day. Decide the when (e.g., 6:00 AM) and the where (e.g., specific chair) and commit to it. This "sets your heart" physically and mentally for the encounter. | ● Eliminate Distractions. Before you open your Bible, close your other apps and put your phone on silent or do-not-disturb. This is a practical way of telling your heart, "This time is fixed and dedicated to God alone." ● Pray for Focus Start your devotion with a prayer that you would not merely read but study and understand the Scripture. Ask God to "set your heart" on His Word. | Real Life Principle 2: The Discipline of Deep Study (Ezra 7:10b) "...to study the Law of the Lord..." (ESV) ● Mastery Requires Immersion. Ezra didn't just casually read the Law; he "studied" it. Daily devotion is not a checklist item; it is a serious, ongoing, and in-depth exploration of God's revealed truth. True spiritual depth comes from a disciplined engagement with Scripture. Relevant Life Application Go Beyond Reading. Don't rush to finish a chapter. Take a small passage (even a single verse) and use a study method: Look up keywords, write out a key verse, or try to summarize the main point in one sentence. ● Keep a Journal : The act of writing forces you to slow down and process what you are reading. Use your journal to capture a key verse, jot down questions you have, or list any truths that convicted you. ● Seek the "Why" : Ask deeper questions: Why is this passage here? What does this tell me about God's character? How would I explain this truth to someone else? This moves your reading from passive to active study. Real Life Principle 3: The Call to Integration and Action (Ezra 7:10c) "...and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel." (ESV) Truth is for Transformation and Transmission. Ezra's learning had two clear outcomes: practice (personal transformation) and teaching (transmission to others). Knowledge that doesn't lead to obedience is incomplete, and obedience that isn't shared is ultimately self-contained. Relevant Life Application ● Personalize the "Practice". As you finish your study, write down one specific, actionable way you can obey the truth you just read today. For example, if you read about patience, your action might be: "When I feel stressed today, I will pause and pray before responding." ● Identify the "Teaching" Moment. Look for opportunities to share what you learned. Think about who you will interact with today (family, coworker, friend) and how you could naturally and authentically share an encouraging truth or insight from your devotion. ● Pray for Integrity. Conclude your devotion by praying that God would give you the strength to live out the truth you studied. Ask that your walk would align with your knowledge, ensuring your life becomes a reliable witness.   Read More

Esther 6 describes a turning point where an unpunished past good deed by Mordecai leads to his public honor, a dramatic reversal of Haman’s plans. Due to King Ahasuerus’s insomnia, he reads about Mordecai’s past act of loyalty to the king, leading him to desire to reward Mordecai. Haman, intending to get approval to hang Mordecai, is instead tasked with honoring him, forced to dress Mordecai in ro...  Read More

 Esther was written to the people of Israel in approximately 470 B.C. Esther became queen in 479.  It was also written to demonstrate God’s sovereignty and His loving care for His people. The author of this book is unknown; it could possibly be Mordecai. Some have suggested Ezra or Nehemiah because of the similarity of the writing style.   Although Esther follows Nehemiah in the Bible, its events ...  Read More

Zechariah 10 through 14…woah.  These 4 chapters are chock full of prophesy of the coming Messiah, God’s dealing with Israel, and the final showdown…The triumph of God’s Kingdom!  Let’s jump in!Chapter Ten is the restoration of Israel and the condemnation of false shepherds.  How well do you depend on God for your daily provisions?  How about your blessings?  Or do you let false shepherds lead you ...  Read More

Zechariah wrote this book to give hope to God’s people by revealing God’s future deliverance through the Messiah. This book is directed toward the Jews who had returned from their captivity in Babylon. It seems that Chapters 1-8 were written approximately 520-518 B.C. and Chapters 9-14 were written around 480 B.C. The exiles had returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple, but the work had been thwarted and stalled. Haggai and Zechariah confronted the people with their task and encouraged them to complete it.  Read More

Zechariah is a book so rich in picturesque prophecies about the Messiah. These were revealed to Zechariah, one of the prophets and a priest, that spoke to the Israelites that had been freed by the king of Babylon, after being 70 years in captivity. Today’s chapters are a calling to repentance, going back to God, a call to rebuild the temple and the promise and hope of a future Mesiah. Perhaps it was written around 520 BC, yet its words, encouragement, and promises are so applicable to today’s world. God is still calling to repentance, and more than ever, we are sure that Jesus is coming back again soon.  Read More

“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace.” (Haggai 2:9, ESV)There comes a time in every believer’s life when you look at what you’ve built and wonder if it’s enough. Maybe it’s your family, your work, your ministry, or even your spiritual walk, and in that quiet moment of honesty, you feel the weight of disappoint...  Read More

Ezra 4 recounts the intense opposition faced by the Jewish exiles as they attempted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Local adversaries first offered deceptive help, and when rejected, they resorted to intimidation and political sabotage—eventually persuading King Artaxerxes to issue a decree halting the construction. The chapter highlights the persistence of opposition to God’s work and the need for discernment, courage, and trust in divine timing.  Read More

A miracle! Something that we would have never expected, but God had already planned! A pagan king, Cyrus the king of Persia, was stirred by the Lord so that the prophecy made by Jeremiah might be fulfilled (Ezra 1:1). Now the Israelites who had been in exile for 70 years were going to return to their land.  Read More

Daniel 10 offers a glimpse into the unseen spiritual realm and the power of persistent prayer. The prophet Daniel enters a period of mourning and fasting for three weeks, during which he receives a vision of a radiant heavenly being who reveals that Daniel’s prayers were heard from the beginning but delayed due to spiritual warfare with the “prince of Persia”. This chapter highlights the reality of spiritual battles, the importance of perseverance in prayer, and the strength God provides to those who seek Him earnestly.  Read More