Okay, amen. Praise the Lord! I trust we are all happy to be in the house of God tonight. Yes, we are going to listen to His word, but before that, as I love to do, you're going to bow down your heads and you're going to pray. Amen.
Father God, we just want to thank You. Thank You for everything You're doing. Thank You for this church, thank You for this nation, and thank You for everyone. We are grateful to be in Your presence. Father God, we ask You to fill us with Your Spirit, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of discernment that will help us discern what is good for us, and that we let this word do its work in our lives. Father God, as we go in, give us the spirit of obedience to always obey Your word and to know that at the end, You're the only one who matters. In the name of Jesus, I have prayed. Amen.
Well, good evening everyone. Last time we talked about Abraham and Isaac, and today we are continuing with the promise. The one we are talking about today is Isaac, but we are also going to talk about his two sons, Jacob and Esau. We have to understand that Isaac is the son of the promise, and there was a promise that was given to him. That promise was the legacy he would eventually give to his two sons, Jacob and Esau.
As we listen to this word, let's take time as well to seek God's wisdom and also to be blessed by His word. Amen.
So, I will just give a quick context to let you know what we are talking about tonight. The story is about two brothers coming from the same mother, Rebecca, and Rebecca has been praying for a long time before getting an answer to her prayer. Her prayer was about the pregnancy she was expecting, and this pregnancy was eventually given to her. Amen.
So, let's open Genesis 25:19-26. Okay, I hope you're there. Are you able to listen to what I'm saying? Okay, amen.
These are the family records of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaac was 40 years old when he took as his wife Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram, and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebecca conceived. But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, "What is happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord.
The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. The first one came out red, looking covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, grasping Esau's heel with his hand, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born. Amen.
So, we have to understand that even through the pregnancy of Rebecca, something was being shared and something was being communicated to her. Don't forget that she prayed for it, and God decided to manifest His power again by answering her prayer. But God's words are not something that is said in vain, nor are God's actions in vain. There is a message that has to be displayed when that prayer was answered, and there is a symbolic meaning I want us to grasp here with the two natures that are different. Amen.
So, there is a struggle of our two natures that is being represented in the differences of these two characters, Jacob and Esau. We are going to open Genesis 25:27-34.
When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Once, when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. He said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff because I'm exhausted." That is why he was also named Edom.
Amen. So, I just want to pause quickly and make you notice something: the name that was eventually given to Esau after this event was Edom. I just want you to know that his name was Esau, but then because of his weakness for something, he was named after that very thing that he was weak for.
What am I trying to say here? Be careful of what you fall for. Be careful of what is stronger than you because people, or should I say history, will make fun of you for that same thing. Here, don't see the name Edom as something that is glorifying Esau; I rather see it as a mockery that is being made toward him. If you're weak toward alcohol, people will call you a drunkard. That is not your name; that was not the name that was given to you by your parents, just as Edom was not the name that was given to Esau by his parents. But because of his weakness, that was the name he was bearing. So, let's pay attention to that as well. Amen.
Jacob replied, "First, sell me your birthright." "Look," said Esau, "I'm about to die, so what's good is that birthright to me?" Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. Then Jacob gave him bread and lentils. Esau ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright. Amen.
So, we have two differences. It was said in the beginning of what I was reading earlier that Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. What do we have here? We have someone that is being motivated by his fleshly emotions, someone impulsive, just like the flesh. Our flesh is always out there seeking for pleasure, seeking for strong emotions, seeking for adrenaline, or seeking for enjoyment, as we would say in Nigeria.
On the other side, we have the spirit, which is represented here by Jacob, who was a quiet man who stayed at home. If you listen to the story and look at the two characters, you will tell yourself that Esau was, should I say, a bad boy, and Jacob was the one who stayed at home. I don't like to use this term, but people would call him the "mama's boy."
But if you look at it through our fleshly eyes, this is how we perceive it. However, when we take time and look at it through the eyes of the spirit, there is something we need to grasp. You have the flesh that seems strong, that is impulsive, that is loud, but yet very vulnerable.
Let me tell you something tonight: your flesh is not your friend. The only thing your flesh is seeking for is your death because your flesh will lead you toward sins that will eventually kill you. It will pull you toward addictions that will eventually destroy you or get you into jail. It will pull you toward relationships that are not supposed to be yours and then destroy you, or it will pull you toward behaviors that will make you someone who is not seen as a good example in society.
Where I come from, when you become a thief and they catch you, they kill you. This is what the flesh does; these are the results of the flesh. But when it comes to the spirit, the spirit is always looking for God. The spirit is what is going to save us. The spirit in us is calling us to get closer to God every day.
So, I'm just going to ask you one question: what side of yourself are you going to feed? Because I mentioned two of our own natures. I didn't say two natures of people on the outside because I know we all struggle with that thing in our nature. What side of your nature are you going to feed: the spirit or the flesh? Are you going to feed Jacob or are you going to feed Esau? Amen.
If you read in Hebrews 12:14-17, it says, "Pursue peace with everyone and holiness; without it, no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. Make sure that there is any immoral or irreverent person," they even said in some versions, "fornicator like Esau." We all know that fornication is the work of the flesh.
Esau sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. For you know that later he wanted to inherit the blessing; he was rejected even though he sought it with tears because he didn't find any opportunity for repentance. Amen.
So, yes, I don't know if I'm talking to someone tonight, but that opportunity that you're looking at, the deal of the century, if you miss this one, it's not good. I'm repeating this to you: that very opportunity you're calling the opportunity, the deal of the century, and you're thinking that this is the thing that is going to get you out of poverty or this is the thing that is going to save you, pay attention to what you're doing.
Because later on, what is going to happen is you will spend time alone somewhere thinking about the regrets, or you'll be thinking about the things you have done at that very moment, and you will have tears, and there will be no repentance at that time because you'll be facing the consequences of your actions. Amen.
Let's move to the birthright exchange. So, let's open Genesis 25 again, verses 39-34. I just want us to understand something there.
Once, when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. He said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff because I'm exhausted." This is why he was also named Edom. Jacob replied, "Sell me first your birthright."
Amen. So, we have now two brothers. Just imagine Esau feeling very angry and he's giving out something he's calling his birthright. When we think about the birthright, we think about something institutional, like a blessing that is being given from the father to the son. This is eventually, I'm sure, how Esau thought about it. He told himself, "Well, this birthright, you know, is not that important. I'm starving right now; I'm famished, so let me eat."
We think about that birthright later. This is what the story needs to teach us: when it's time to make important decisions, we should think and just know that there is someone out there; his name is the Devil. He's always there trying to tempt you with things that look so shiny, that look so nice at the moment, that look so beautiful, that you will tell yourself, "You know what? It's only one time; let me do it now."
Do you know that there are some people that were actually designed to sing in the church? I will talk about Whitney Houston here. I don't know who knows Whitney Houston here. Whitney Houston was a singer; she used to sing so well. She was singing in the choir in her church as a teenager, and she used to sing so well. But when she got caught up in the world with all its vices, it took for her to only taste crack one time. And you know what crack does to people? She got destroyed instantly.
Something can feel good at the moment because, yeah, she maybe when she was trying that for the first time, she was telling herself, "Well, I feel high; I love it," not knowing that that was destroying her day after day. Amen.
Never take what is nice, shiny, beautiful, and exchange it for something that may not seem that attractive at first but actually has more blessing in it for you. Amen.
Never overlook what God has to offer you over the things that the world has to offer you. Never overlook what you think is pleasing at the moment for your eternal salvation. Amen.
So, if there is even something I really want to share with you before we move to the next chapter, it is that, hey, be careful about making choices in the heat of the moment, especially when it means giving up something important. Think about it and try not to make good decisions, not just ones that feel good right now. Let's be smart about the choices we make. Amen.
So, let's explain now what the birthright is about. The birthright, also named "bechor" in Hebrew, has to do with both position. He is the big brother. In their case, it was a bit complicated because they were twins. Usually, we don't know who of the twins is the firstborn, but in their case, it was clear that Esau came out first.
Somehow, they need to define who was that first child and who would eventually inherit the birthright. The birthright, the firstborn, inherited the leadership of the family and the authority of his father. So, that birthright is not only about possessions. It's not only about, "Well, because we live in a generation when we think that it's my right; I deserve this."
No, but we forget that when we talk about our rights and think we deserve things, we must remember that our rights and things we deserve come also with responsibilities. So, that birthright has to do with responsibility.
Esau's actions showed that he was not fit to carry on Abraham's responsibilities and blessings from God's covenant because he lacked carefulness and wisdom. His wise qualities were also lacking. But on the other hand, we had Jacob, who demonstrated his readiness, intelligence, and ability to plan ahead.
Although what Jacob was doing, let's be honest, what he would do later on was not honorable, but let's talk facts. It's not about the law because a deal was done; someone accepted to exchange something for something else. So, the title he earned was somehow valid.
Even though for him it felt like, "Well, I did this to my brother; I was able to trick him into swearing that he would give me his birthright," he actually needed to conspire with his mother to deceive the father in order for him to finally receive the blessing that was meant for the firstborn. Amen.
So, before we move into the next chapter, let's also understand what this covenant, what this blessing was about. The responsibilities and blessings of God's covenant are explained in Genesis 12:2-3, where God promises to Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
The covenant includes numerous descendants, the land of Canaan, blessings for Abraham and his descendants, and the lineage through which the Messiah, the Savior of the world, will eventually come.
So, basically, if you pay attention to the story again, Esau exchanged that whole privilege, that whole blessing, that right of being one of the ancestors of the Savior of the world for a bowl of stew. It's not a fair deal for a bowl of stew. Amen.
Let the Holy Spirit teach us to make smart choices because you may be giving up something now and thinking that it's nothing, that it means nothing, that it's just symbolic, while not knowing that the repercussions are going to be eternal.
Amen.
So, let's move to the stolen blessing. Let's open Genesis 27:1-10.
When Isaac was old and his eyes were weak so that he could not see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, "My son." He answered, "Here I am." He said, "Look, I am old and do not know the day of my death. Now take your hunting gear, your quiver and bow, and go out in the field to hunt some game for me. Then make me a delicious meal that I love and bring it to me to eat so that I can bless you before I die."
Now Rebecca was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went into the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebecca said to her son Jacob, "Listen, I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, 'Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so I can bless you in the Lord's presence before I die.' Now my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and we'll make them into a delicious meal for your father, the kind he loves. Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies."
Amen.
So, in the story that is being told in the Book of Genesis, Isaac is basically planning to bless Esau, but that whole thing was somehow spoiled or destroyed by a plot that was run by the mother and the other brother.
What is being shown here is that in that family, they had a kind of dynamic going on. You have the father that likes this other son, and the mother likes the other one, and everybody is trying to treat the other. Eventually, the mom, with the help of the other brother, was able to trick the father into blessing the brother she likes.
God help us! If there is something we can see that is going on in that family, it is that there is a big issue with something called favoritism.
Right now, I know it's not the core of what we're going to preach about, but please, parents, I'm not yet a parent; I don't even know how that thing works. But please, parents, learn to love all your kids equally. I know we are all human beings; it's not easy to do that. Amen. Honestly, it's hard to love our kids in the same way, but at least the way we treat them, even if we love them, we don't love them the same way because we are still human beings. Treat them the same way. Amen.
Let's be fair in how we love our children.
So, she comes up with a tricky plan where Jacob pretends to be Esau using goat skin and Esau's clothes. The story unfolds with Jacob finally being blessed instead of his brother. When the brother finds out about it, he was destroyed.
Well, you remember when I was talking about the consequences of our actions and the consequences of our choices? The thing you're doing, the deal you're making now, can seem sweet at the moment, but when the real deal comes, you will cry.
Because the father loved Esau so much, he still had some blessings for him. But because he had to sell his blessing for a bowl of lentils, he would have rather had a sweet, should I say, "sore" kind of blessing.
Can we just open Genesis 27:38-40?
Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" And Esau wept loudly. His father Isaac answered him, "Look, your dwelling will be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of the sky above. You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will break his yoke from your neck."
So, let's break this down. The very blessing Esau has now has hardship because if his father said, "Look, your dwelling place will be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of the sky above," we also have danger. You will not live by the sword, and in the Bible, it later says that whoever lives by the sword will also die by the sword.
So, there is a notion of danger there, and finally, slavery: "You will serve your brother." But eventually, it says, "But when you rebel, you will break his yoke from your neck."
Just imagine getting all that just because of a bowl of lentils. Let's be smart about our choices once again.
So, the world situation shows a family dealing with serious issues: favoritism, lies, and strained relationships. But at the same time, it highlights how God worked through imperfect people.
Remember how God said the older son will serve the younger one? Well, even with all the family drama, God's plan is still in motion.
So, hear me out now. I was talking about Esau and how bad it was for him later on with the blessing. He actually, should I say, just after that, it was pretty good for him because he stayed in this land. He didn't have to flee; he became a hunter, I guess. So, he was hunting, and then he had a big family.
Well, he inherited all the wealth of his father. But at the same time, Jacob, the one that was supposed to be blessed, had to run away. He had to flee; he had to hide. He had to live with someone he thought was a crook, but he went to see someone that was a bigger crook than him.
Just imagine: big crook! I mean, the deal was this: you will marry my daughter after you work for me for seven years. But finally, you end up working 14 years before marrying that daughter and, in the process, marrying someone you don't even love.
So, Jacob thought he was a crook, but he found someone that was a master crook. Jacob was running away; he was hiding. You know, the first night he had to flee from his house, he went to a place and he didn't even have a pillow to rest his head. He actually was able only to sleep on a stone, and a stone was his pillow.
I mean, I don't even want to think about the kind of neck pain he had the next day. But that was really the thing he was exposing himself to.
But what I'm trying to say is that, yes, God's plan is at work, but when we humans take decisions and actions, there are consequences to it, and those consequences are going to come.
I don't know; I was discussing with Brother Doma one day, and we were saying that, well, if you come to Jesus, God will save you. But somehow, the understanding we had is that if God saves you and you still go back and do something that you're not supposed to do, then you will face the consequences, and you will cry in jail.
So, I'm sorry to say it this way, but your salvation is somehow different from the consequences of the law. I mean, your salvation has to do with your relationship with God, but when it comes to human beings and relationships in society, if you do something, I'm sorry, but society is not as merciful as God. You have to face consequences. Amen.
So, does this story make us think about the consequences of being dishonest in families and how important it is to communicate openly? Parents, it's important to communicate openly with your children.
So, despite all the messiness—because there was a big mess going on in the house, especially after Jacob left—it encourages us to trust that God can work things out even when family relationships are complicated.
So, let's move to the next chapter. Think of this story: the next chapter is about God unfolding His plan despite human failures.
So, think of this story of two brothers who are not perfect. They make mistakes. You know, the big brother Esau is impulsive; he can't even control his hunger. The younger brother is a crook; well, he's a liar, a manipulator. But despite all that, even though they were making mistakes in their family, God's plan still had to unfold.
What I'm trying to say is that your situation, whatever you call impossible, is nothing compared to what God can do. Actually, you can come from the worst situation. I mean, your background can be the worst, but when it comes to God blessing you and making His plan work in your life, well, it's going to happen.
So, God still has a plan. Jacob tricked his dad; Esau acted too quickly, but God's plan keeps going. I don't know where you're coming from. People are fighting; people are killing each other, but God's plan is still going.
Your landlord kicked you out because you didn't pay the bills; you didn't pay the rent, but God's plan is still going. Your mistakes are not going to stop God's plan. You made some mistakes and got arrested and tried, but God's plan is still going.
There is nothing that we can do here that is so powerful that is going to impact God's plan in our lives. The point is that we all have flaws, and that's okay. We are imperfect; that's okay. I mean, if you know someone that is perfect, I want to meet him.
No, let's not talk. If you know someone apart from Jesus that is perfect, I want to meet him because if I meet him, then I will know that God doesn't exist. There is no reason for God to come on Earth if human beings can be perfect.
Our very imperfection is the reason why Jesus came on Earth. There is no perfect being. Maybe you think you're not sinning, but wait! Last time before leaving the shop, you kicked someone without even apologizing, and you think you're perfect? No!
Or you keep on criticizing people for what they're doing; you think you're perfect? No! Or if you think you're so perfect, why are you always angry when you wake up in the morning without taking your coffee?
Or if you take your perfect, why when you're hungry do you become a very messy person? Just like, "Okay, now that my belly is full, I'm kind and smiling, but when I don't have money to eat, I'm mad at everybody."
Do you really think you're perfect? There is no perfect human being in this world. But our imperfection makes us understand the reason why God came through His Son, Jesus Christ, to us to save us.
It's all right; we are not perfect, but God has it covered. There is something that is becoming my motto now because as I'm growing up, I'm understanding every day deeper and deeper.
Remember on the day of Calvary, Jesus said something, and that word was "Tetelestai." What does "Tetelestai" stand for? It's all covered! Your sin is all covered, but you have to claim that your sin is covered. You have to claim mercy.
But if you don't claim it, there is no way it's going to happen for you. So, if you believe that you're perfect, I don't think there is a way that you will realize that you need God's mercy because, "Oh, I'm perfect; I don't need God's mercy."
Humility is essential to grace because if you have no humility, you will never admit that you're in need of God's grace, and you will think that you can do it all on your own. You will think that you can be saved all by your actions.
But remember, in this imperfect family of Jacob and Esau, God is still unfolding His plan. So, it's a message of hope saying that we can rely on God even when we are not at our best.
I know the story of a man. Because I know he's here, I'm going to share his story with his permission. He was a renowned criminal, and whenever he talks about his testimony, he will tell you, "I was a crook; I was a bad guy."
But through all the adventures he went through, he met Jesus, and Jesus changed his life. The person I'm talking about was in jail; he was about to die, and this is where he met Jesus. This is where the work started in his life.
Eventually, he was trying to be stubborn against God's will in his life, but God kept showing him wonders and signs that, "Hey, I'm here." But he still didn't want to do it on his own. Eventually, later on, he came and started living in Marrakech.
After doing all sorts of things in Morocco, getting into jail so many times, he started being in Marrakech. When he came to Marrakech, he started—people were calling him a fool because now he had the conviction that he had to leave everything he was doing before.
After that, he came into a church; he was sweeping the floor, cleaning. So, he basically left from living the jet-set life, you know, driving the best car. I mean, if you listen to his testimony, he will tell you that he had a nice car and used to be with the best chicks in town.
But now, today, after that, he had to sweep the floor in the church. People were looking at him as a foolish man. "Look at this guy; you're a failure; you’re worth nothing now."
But through that, especially at the stage where he was, he was able to meet God, and today he is a restored man who is talking boldly about the word of God, who is talking boldly about how God has been blessing him.
And let me tell you something about that man: he doesn't mess with prayer. If there is a man I know who doesn't mess with prayer, it is that man. Even sometimes, me, his friend, I somehow get annoyed by the way he prays a lot, but I love him because he doesn't mess with prayer.
That was the work of salvation in his life. Amen.
We all know who that brother is. Let's clap for his life!
I share this to show you that God never fails us. He can give His glory manifested in even desperate situations. This is what He does. When it's supposed to be okay, He is not going to do anything because human beings will think that they will figure things out well.
But it's when it's screwed up—when, as Nigerians would say, "Go see"—this is exactly where God will show up and fix the whole situation. This is the God we serve; He is the God of desperate cases.
Praise the Lord!
So, let's read Isaiah 41:10 that says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
So, lessons for our journey: when we think about the story of Jacob and Esau, there are some important lessons for our own lives. It tells us how crucial it is to be patient and trust in God's timing. Jacob's quick decision shows that we should not try to rush things or take shortcuts.
Because, yeah, we've seen that just after he was trying to shortcut things, he was in big trouble. He had to run; he had to serve a very tricky man for 14 or 20 years.
What I'm trying to say is that if the mom and he decided not to trick the dad, God would still find a way because He said it. His word said it in the beginning that the younger one will rule over the elder.
But because of our human understanding, sometimes we try to help God, as Pastor Jamie loves to say, "Help God do His work." We can't!
That's why I'm telling you, I remember last time when I was preaching, you remember I was telling you that when it comes to obeying God, just obey God. Because whatever else you are doing is just going to be a waste of energy, and there are consequences to it as well.
Whatever you're trying to do outside of what God is calling you to do, yeah, there are consequences to it, and you have to face it at the right time.
Well, for Jacob, the consequences were serious, right? He had to flee. So, when he fled, he was not able to witness his father's death. I don't think he was able to witness his mother's death as well.
So, when he fled, he went to work for a man. He was a hard worker, but despite being a hard worker, he was being crook-ed. He was being exploited. And back in the days, there was nothing like a city where we would go and sue the boss. No! They would screw you, and you'd have to deal with it.
This is what he went through. And then when he came back, he was still trying to find solutions. Then finally, he met his brother. He was ready to give everything he worked so hard for.
Just imagine: you've been working for, I don't know how long, 20 years for someone, and because you just don't want to be made a slave or killed, you want to give everything out.
These are the consequences of what Jacob did. It was said later in the story that he wrestled with God; thus, comes his name, Israel. But that's for another time.
The story makes us think that we sometimes want things right away and might do things that are not the best. It reminds us to be humble and follow God's way.
So, by being patient, trusting God's timing, and not looking for shortcuts, we can walk our life journey with strong faith, knowing that God's plan unfolds in His perfect time.
Don't try to help God do what He's supposed to do. Don't try to help God bless you. His blessings are coming at the right time. Amen.
So, as we come to a close, let's understand how God's plan is resilient and beautiful even when our actions complicate things. The story of Jacob and Esau reassures us that God's purpose remains strong despite our mistakes.
Let's take this lesson for our journey, trusting in God's anointing and letting His guidance shape our journey. In our imperfections, we may find accomplishment in the God who turns the threads of our lives into something very beautiful.
So, we are going to pray. We start by praying; we finish with prayer. So, media team, the worship team, our first prayer point: we are going to ask God to grant us patience in His timing, not according to our timing.
Well, this prayer, when we pray with heart, you understand that your timing is not what matters; God's timing is what matters. Let's not ask for things to be done according to our will.
But remember, even the Son of God, when He came on Earth, when He was about to be slaughtered for our sins, He said something: "Father, let Your will be done, not according to how I want it, but how You want it."
Let's pray and ask God to give us patience when we go through trials, when we go through times of doubt. Let Him give us the spirit of patience to be patient and await His blessing.
You will say that, "Well, while I'm waiting, I can do this; I can do that," just to alleviate the pain, just to alleviate the struggle of me waiting. But trust me, in shortcuts, there are temptations.
And let's ask God to help us resist every urge we have to go through shortcuts or temptations. Finally, as we claim the work of salvation in our lives, let's pray and ask that our actions align with His divine plan in our lives.
Let every action we take be something that goes in the divine plan He has for us. Is it the prayer you're going to be committed to? Is it the kindness you're going to show to people from now on? Whatever you decide to do, let that small action you call small be the very reason why you get back on the path God has for you.
Father Lord, we just want to thank You. Thank You so much for today, and thank You for Your teaching. Thank You as we are blessed and as we understand that, Father God, sometimes we may be tempted to go towards what is shiny, what is fulfilling our flesh at the right time.
But we are asking You for Your grace, Father God. Let Your grace be displayed in our lives to give us the strength to battle against temptation. Let us be strong when temptation comes our way.
Let us always trust in Your perfect timing and avoid using shortcuts, avoid outsmarting people, and avoid trying to be smarter than everyone else. Trust more in You, Father God. We trust You; we love You, and we believe that wherever Your word goes, it does a work.
Let that work be done in our lives. Let's understand today that the only trust we should have is in You, in Your perfect time. We love You, Father God. In the name of Jesus, we've prayed. Amen.
on Feb 23, 2024
