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And Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 Dear Jesus, You are my Lord and Savior, and You are my best friend. There is no one else who is able to share the depth of grief I may feel at times or the heights of joy I experience. You know every single hair that is on my head and Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4). I love the intimacy that I share with You, Jesus! "God is the most glorified in us when we are the most satisfied in Him." - John Piper. TV shows, fantasy land, social media reels, and entertainment are all Satan's substitutes for joy. The more joy I have in Jesus, the less entertainment I need to seek out. All I need is Jesus if I want to feel true joy in my heart. All I need is Jesus if I want to have real satisfaction and peace in my life. And of course, I also need my brothers and sisters in Christ to help strengthen me in my walk with Jesus. We all have our own personal, intimate walks with Jesus, but we are here for each other to help and encourage one another on our way to heaven. Lord, I pray that You help me share the truth and glory of You, in boldness and confidence in You. Please, I ask that You help me to never be ashamed of Christ and to never shy away when the opportunity arises to say Your name or share the gospel. Lord, give me the grace to always be a blessing to others and to glorify You in everything that I do, say, and think. I want to live for You because You died for me, Jesus. Although I will stumble, I desire to obey Your Word and walk in Your ways because I trust You! I know by Your grace You will keep me from ever falling away indefinitely. I am secure in You for all eternity! When I live for the glory of God, I am living out my God-given purpose, and that is wonderful! This is not about me or my story, but this is Your story, Lord. How amazing is it that by Your grace, I am part of Your story? Thank you for choosing me, cleansing me of all my sins, saving me, setting me apart, and loving me forever. What. A. Gift. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 Dear Lord, Please help me through this day and lead me in Your truth. Be with me and guide me in my thoughts, actions, and deeds. And whatever I may do today, may I do it all with love so that I may bring You glory. Help me grow in my faith Lord. May my faith shine through as a true Christian through loving obedience to Your Word. I know that obedience naturally flows from true saving faith just as disobedience naturally results from disbelief. Lord, I trust what you tell me because I know You want what is best for me, all because You love me. You are Your Word, and I trust Your Word because You love me and I love You. I pray that when I open my Bible today, You speak right to me about whatever it is that I may need to hear for my life. Lord, humble me and do away with any pride that tries to find its way into my mind and heart as it so easily does. Just as pride is the root of all sin, humility is the essence of Christianity in which all other virtues flow. Humble me, Lord, and keep me humble. The highest aim in life for a man or a woman is not fatherhood or motherhood, but it is to be conformed to the image of Christ and to grow more Christ-like every single day. Help me be one tiny bit more like Jesus today than I was yesterday. May You help me take up the full armor of God and be prepared for the spiritual battle today by putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Christian life is not easy, but as a Christian it makes sense that I would be one of the happiest people in the entire world, no matter what. That’s because I have You, Jesus. What more could I ever want or need? I pray for Your wisdom and direction, for Your power and protection. I pray that I find my joy in You today (and everyday), and may my joy of You be my strength. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray Amen.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 Dear Heavenly Father, You are such a good God! I praise You for who You are as the almighty God of the universe and for who I am in Christ. Those who have an appropriate understanding of who God is, His character, His role in the universe in comparison to our roles, have a clear view of reality. This leads us as Christians to live upright, balanced lives in line with the Truth. We must pursue an accurate view of God and not lose sight of His true nature. Our relationship with God and how we view Him, is what makes us who we are. “What come into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” – A. W. Tozer. The Lord loves us. He wants to have a relationship with us, and it starts by getting to know Him for who He really is. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Knowing who God is and who we are in Christ gives us wisdom and helps us live right! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). God’s Attributes of Ability: · Because You are all-powerful (Matthew 19:26) You can help me with anything · Because You are ever-present (Psalm 139:7-12) You are always with me. · Because You are all-knowing (Psalm 139:1-24) I can go to You with all my questions and worries. · Because You are sovereign (Proverbs 19:21) I will joyfully submit to Your will. God’s Attributes of Integrity: · Because You are holy (Isaiah 6:3) I will devote myself to You in purity and worship, becoming more like Christ in my sanctification · Because You are absolute truth (John 14:6), (John 17:17) I will believe what You say in Your Word and live by faith. · Because You are perfectly righteous (Psalm 11:7) I will live by Your standards, not my own. · Because You are perfectly just (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8) You will always treat me fairly. · Because You are wrathful (Romans 1:18), (Romans 12:9) You will always hate sin and evil because sin destroys us and keeps us separated from You. God’s Attributes of Relationship: · Because You are love (1 John 4:16), (1 Chronicles 16:34) You are unconditionally committed to my well-being, and Your love for me is eternal. · Because You are merciful (1 John 1:9), (Psalm 86:5) You forgive me of my sins when I sincerely confess them to You. · Because You are faithful (Psalm 37:23-24), (Isaiah 41:10) I will trust You to always keep Your promises. · Because You are never-changing (Hebrews 13:8) My future as a child of God is secure and eternal. Lord, who You are is simply amazing, and I am immeasurably blessed to be in Christ. To be a Christian is to be rich and blessed beyond all comparison. To be in Christ makes a multi-billionaire look like a pauper. To be in Christ does not mean to be blessed with earthly things that pass away, but rather with spiritual promises that are eternal...riches beyond our wildest imaginations. As Christians we can write checks out of God's bank as often as we want, for as much as we want - and still never diminish the account. That's how rich Christians are. To understand more just how blessed and rich we are, I recommend reading the book of Ephesians. Some have called it the treasure house of the Bible, the bank of the believer, the most majestic expression of the gospel, and the essence of Christianity. “Pound for pound Ephesians may well be the most influential document ever written” - Klyne Snodgrass. It's a marvelous book about riches, about fullness, about inheritance, and about the glory of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit working in me, I pray that You continue to help me live for the purpose that You created me for – help me live all for the glory of You in everything that I do and be a blessing to others by sharing Your Truth. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. “Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one.” A.W. Tozer “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” Saint Augustine “Prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. As we engage in this communion with God more deeply and come to know the One with whom we are speaking more intimately, that growing knowledge of God reveals to us all the more brilliantly who we are and our need to change in conformity to Him. Prayer changes us profoundly.” RC Sproul "You can't love Jesus and not love His Word." - RC Sproul In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3 “Pound for pound Ephesians may well be the most influential document ever written.” Klyne Snodgrass

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. John 10:4-5 Truth Mixed with Error False teaching can be subtle because often times it’s masked in a good amount of truth that is mixed with error. Because of this, people may let their guards down since they hear sections of truth within it; a sneaky trap for the undiscerning and those who don’t have the Holy Spirit to alert them of the error. After a while, the error in false teaching will begin to erode away at their minds and distort the truth that they may already know, sinking them into it even further, getting them to invest in it even deeper. This is because deception is often times progressive. The only way we are able to recognize the deception in false teaching is to be serious students of Scripture and to abide in God’s Word. Without first truly comprehending who Jesus is, what the pure Gospel is, and what Scripture teaches, we won’t ever be able to understand what false teaching is and how to recognize it. The way we fight error is with absolute Truth; the Word of God. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Gift of the Holy Spirit Thankfully, we’re not left by ourselves to study and interpret Scripture. God has given us the blessed gift of the Holy Spirit who teaches us about all things in every single aspect of life. He is our great teacher and helper who dwells within us as Christians. The Holy Spirit is also the One in us who gives us that desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and hunger and thirst after righteousness and divine wisdom. A person without the Holy Spirit has very little interest in what Scripture says, because Scripture can only be discerned, comprehended, and loved through the Spirit - and not by mere human intellect. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). The natural mind is obstinate against God’s law; it cannot truly understand His Word nor accept it, let alone love it. However, true believers have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have an anointing so that we have the ability to truly understand what God’s Word teaches (1 John 2:20). Christ says His sheep hear His voice, and they will not follow the voice of another (John 10:4-5). True believers will not be led into damning teaching, and if they are, the Holy Spirit will convict them, and God will bring them back to His flock. False Teaching Stunts Growth, Biblical Truth Transforms With the Holy Spirit, Christians will recognize that the fruit produced from false teaching will inevitably be bad, simply because bad trees cannot produce good fruit. And good trees cannot produce bad fruit (Matthew 7:18). The bad fruit that comes from false teachers won’t have the power to transform our hearts, feed our souls, or renew our minds. Neither will it safely guide us on the narrow path in this life in order to get to the narrow gate in the next life. False teaching will hook us in the short-term, but it will starve us in the long-term where we will keep coming back to breadcrumbs and an empty well. Satan promises all "great things," yet he never delivers. His promises only play to our fleshly and earthly desires. and anything we do get from Satan comes with a price to pay. The only place we can drink from the living waters and eat the bread of life is through Jesus Christ and His Word. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst’” (John 6:35). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). The thing is, even a little error mixed in with a lot of truth will only end up stunting our growth and leading us astray in the end. The Holy Spirit Teaches You About Everything The apostle John writes to us in his first letter about abiding in the Truth with the help of the Holy Spirit; the anointing we have received from God as His beloved children. 1 John 2:24-27 says, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us - eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no a lie - just as it has taught you, abide in him.” As we test doctrine with the help of the Holy Spirit we must ask, “Does this teaching lead me holiness? Does it teach correct Christology? Does it agree and align with the rest of Scripture? Does it teach submission to authorities or does it teach rebellion?” Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that we as Christians are protected against deception. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” As we abide in Christ and in His Word, the Holy Spirit who is our helper will protect us from deception and give us the ability to bear much fruit. Without the Holy Spirit and knowing God’s Truth for our lives, we are all sitting ducks for Satan’s layers of deception. Ephesians 4:14-15 says, may we no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Added Scripture: This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 1 John 2:20 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:5-6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. John 8:47 "Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" Ephesians 5:8-10 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:5-6 Right and Almost Right Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” Today, we live in a world where an overflow of information is literally at our fingertips, and fake news floods our screens all day long. At times, it can be overwhelming to sort through what’s real and what’s not, especially in this society of relative truth. For Christians, this can also be true when it comes to what is being preached as truth from the pulpit. If we are anything as Christians, we are essentially people of the Truth, and there is no room for reckless faith, ignorance, or gullibility in God's true church. As Christians we know the worst form of wickedness consists of perversions, distortions, additions, and subtractions of God's Truth. Thankfully, as true believers, we have the discerning power to sort out what is inherently good and true from what sounds good but is really crooked and evil. But even as true believers, we must still be careful and hold fast to the Word of God in this world's sea of deception. Itching Ears Satan’s goal in false teaching is to distort God’s Word, as well as our view of God and ourselves. He works day and night to suppress the Truth by replacing it with countless deviations of the truth. Often times, Satan keeps people from God’s divine wisdom by mesmerizing them with high-sounding theological nonsense or empty secular philosophies; things their itching ears want to hear. People with itching ears are those who are always searching for something that's fascinating, intriguing, or speculative. These people will find teachers to suit their own passions and will fall away from God's absolute Truth, getting lost in nonsense without even knowing it. "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19). Do Not Be Foolish, but Understand the Will of God Satan will do anything to get us to put our trust, time, and dedication in anywhere else other than the Word of God – the place we learn what God's prescribed will (commanded will) is for our lives and what it means to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, walking in the light. “This world is passing away along with all its desires, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Satan's main goal is to steal people's souls. Therefore, he keeps people away from sound doctrine by captivating the gullible through smooth talk and pseudo-intellectual theories that only appear to be profound. Satan wants people to sink themselves into false doctrine, investing in their own wills and the ways of this world while being ignorant of God's will for their lives.“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Satan's Different Doors of Deception Satan tries to suck people into any religious teachings that twist, add to, or take away from Scripture, the purity of the gospel, and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan also tries to securely trap unbelievers through secular teachings that are diametrically opposed to Christianity altogether; teachings that utterly degrade, directly go against, and reject God's absolute Truth and the teachings of Jesus. One example would be Scientology, which teaches its paying members that they can become their own gods, erase their memories, and restore their own physical and mental health and analytical functioning to a state of perfection. (I'm not even sure how to explain Scientology it's so off the wall. Although it can be beneficial to understanding how satanic belief systems work, my time is much better spent studying the Truth). Another example would be any cult-based program that teaches its paying followers that there is no absolute truth, no good, no evil, no right or wrong, no sin, or no meaning to life except what you give it yourself. These types of teachings are prevalent in the new age and in humanistic self-help programs, and they are completely incompatible with Christianity. These types of teachings have belief systems that are based on satanic principles, therefore are antiChristian. The truth is that you cannot be both a Christian and a Scientologist, nor follow a cult and a be a true believer of the church. Christ says His sheep hear His voice, and they will not follow the voice of another (John 10:4-5). True believers will not be led into damning teaching, and if they are, the Holy Spirit will convict them, and God will bring them back to His flock. Living in the Grays Versus Living by the Word of God False teaching is a sticky web for those who are undiscerning and open-minded to whatever feels right, based on their own personal standards and what "works" for them. The problem is we live in a culture that is unwilling to think antithetically. That is, many people don't want to think black or white, right or wrong, true or false. These types of people prefer to think and live on some sort of spectrum of relativity based on their own finite wisdom and personal preferences, which stem from ignorance or pride. To these people who live their lives in the shades of gray, there is no definitive right, there is no definitive wrong, there is no definitive truth, there is no definitive false. Everything is subjective for them, and they take whatever sounds good from whatever sources or teachers that intrigue them, move them, or tickle their ears. See, biblical truth is the farthest thing from living in the grays. God's Truth is absolute. It is objective. It is sharp. It is black and white. It is antithetical to all that is lies, deception, and error. God's Word and His true believers are the light of the world, shining light and truth into the darkness and exposing error, falsity, and evil. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it" (John 1:5). "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). The same God who first shined light into the world is the only One who can shine the light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ into our hearts. It's only by the power of God that people will have the ability to see the light of the gospel in Jesus Christ and come to true saving faith. With true faith in Jesus, we are able to discern right from almost right and not be led astray by lies. As believers we are filled and satisfied with the Truth. "Whoever is not satisfied with Christ alone, strives after something beyond absolute perfection" - John Calvin (I am not a calvinist but I like Calvin). For God, who said, "Let line shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6) To continue reading, check out: "Discernment is a Gift From Above - Part 2" Added Scripture: His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:15-18 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20 For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 30:9-11 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:4-5 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Ephesians 5:10-11).

Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 Dear Lord Jesus, I want to praise You with this song! I pray that these words may bring comfort to everyone who reads them. May I be still in You, trusting in Your divine sovereignty, knowing that it is Your will for everyone to come to true saving faith in You. I pray for Your will to be done, and I know You hear my prayers, Lord! This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from its sunshine For its skies may turn to grey. I don’t worry o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said. And today I’ll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand. Every step is getting brighter As the golden stairs I climb; Every burden’s getting lighter, Every cloud is silver-lined. There the sun is always shining, There no tear will dim the eye; At the ending of the rainbow Where the mountains touch the sky. I don’t know about tomorrow; It may bring me poverty. But the one who feeds the sparrow, Is the one who stands by me. And the pathway that be my portion May be through the flame or flood; But His presence goes before me And I’m covered with His blood. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand. – I know Who Holds Tomorrow, by Ira Stanphill All glory belongs to You, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 I dedicate this post to my dear friend and Sister in Christ, Kathy. She sent me a video of her playing this hymn on the piano and singing along - and it just made me tear up so much because it's just so sweet and so true! Many things I don't understand about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does. And so now I want to share this with you because He holds your tomorrow and He holds your hand too. <3 :) No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me. - Charles Spurgeon Thank you Kathy for your prayers! I know God hears you! Love, Jenna

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-23 Dear Lord Jesus, We thank You for Your Word. Your Word is the truth. We know there is nothing more loving than the truth, even when the truth offends. Lord, I pray that You soften hearts and open eyes so that people are able to truly see the magnificence of the gospel in its entirety. Please, help us unfix our eyes from the temporary things of this world and the ugly news that spews forth deception and half-truths, entrapping us in its empty satisfaction, searing our consciences, and hardening our hearts over time. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, comes not from the Father but is from the world, and the world and its desires are passing away; but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:16-17). Lord Jesus, help us fix our eyes on You so that we may find true knowledge and wisdom, fulfilment, and joy in You alone. Satan’s Deception and the Christian's Self-Deception Now is the time to seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is still near (Isaiah 55:6). This world is our one and only chance to get it right. We don’t want to miss the boat. Satan has layers upon layers of deception out there, including false teachers, worldly-minded preachers, and watered-down, lukewarm, comfortable, counterfeit Christianity everywhere you look, masquerading as the truth. Satan is extremely crafty and slick on so many levels; especially towards those whose guards are down, are unsuspecting, and have a false sense of hope and assurance of their salvation. If Christians think they can’t be deceived, it’s likely the deception has already begun. Satan has those people exactly where he wants them – his goal is to make people think they’re safe and secure in their salvation when they’re not. He wants them feeling comfortable exactly where they’re at; unaware of and even unbothered by their sins, as if their sins don’t offend our Holy God. And Satan wants to keep people following their own hearts instead of following the Word of God. Furthermore, Satan wants us to believe the lie that God’s grace stretches so big that we can just keep on sinning casually with half-hearted repentance and think it’ll still be okay for us in the end. He wants us to downplay our sins, keep us prideful, and lack knowledge and understanding of God’s Word and what the holiness of God truly means. And he also wants us to think we’re not as sinful as we really are, comparing ourselves to others and blinding us in our own self-righteousness. Satan doesn't want us to have a proper understanding of who God is, nor a right view of our own ourselves and who we are in comparison to Him. The human dilemma is this: God is holy, and we are not. God is righteous, and we are not. - RC Sproul Don’t Trust in Your Feelings - Trust in the Word of God Satan is called the Father of Lies for a reason, and he has had centuries of experience in deceiving people. He knows exactly what he’s doing. We must be alert and have a sober, discerning mind as we navigate through this world - and cling to Christ the entire way. Lord please, I pray that You open the eyes of those who are deceived or self-deceived with a false sense of assurance, based on emotion and mere feelings of what they understand faith to mean to them personally in their hearts, over how faith is truly defined in the Word of God - by You Yourself, Lord. I pray that You keep us from trusting in our own feelings and in our own hearts, since the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Come to the Full Knowledge of God Lord, I also pray that we don’t find wisdom in our own eyes and in our own pride, but in Your Word alone. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered (Proverbs 16:2). Please, let us grow in faith through the divine wisdom and knowledge You graciously make available to us in Scripture. My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I also will reject you (Hosea 4:6). But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge (Job 26:12). Lord, I pray that people are really listening. Help bring us all to the full knowledge of You, and guide us to learn by the Holy Spirit so that our eyes may be enlightened to the whole truth of You, Lord; not just parts of the truth we are interested in or comfortable with on our own personal level. Lord, I ask that You may place a real hunger and desire for knowledge and wisdom in us all. An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge (Proverbs 18:15). But whoever lacks knowledge, let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it’ll be given to him (James 1:5). Examine Yourselves! Examining to see if we’re truly in the faith is one of the most responsible things we could ever do in this life as Christians. This life is short and eternity is long, so it’s only reasonable that we live this short life in the light of eternity. Let’s not be foolish, let’s not lean on our own understanding, and let’s not ignore the reality of eternity that’s quickly approaching us all, not to mention the frailty of all of our lives at any second. The "Grim-Reaper" stands inches away at all times from all the unconverted souls in the world. Lord, I pray that Christians do not get swept away in this life in all its worldliness, pride, lustful desires, fleshly comforts, alluring distractions, and empty entertainment that are all part of Satan’s goal to deceive us and keep us from ultimately surrendering to Christ – our only hope and true source of security. Without clinging to Christ, we are all sitting ducks for Satan’s schemes of deception. Brothers and sisters, I ask that you set your mind on things above because this world is passing away quickly. Be responsible, be wise with your eternal souls, and examine yourselves to see if you’re truly in the faith, resting safely in Christ’s arms. *To examine your faith biblically, read 1st John and fellowship with other Christians to discuss it together. Be honest with yourselves and each other, and pray for one another. And Lord, I pray for us all to set aside our pride because only a humbled heart can be open to fully surrendering to Christ. Confess Your Sins, Repent, and Serve Christ Lord, I pray that we all are able to acknowledge our own depravity, be truly humbled by it, confess our sins to You every single day, truly repent with a contrite heart, turn away from our own self-sufficiency and idols, and follow whole-heartedly after You, Christ. And please Lord, kill our pride, for pride is the root of all sin. It’s often pride that keeps us away from the true knowledge and full understanding of You, Lord. Brothers and sisters, if you’re finding this difficult to deny yourself, pray to the Lord, cry out to Him, and ask Him to give you a new heart; a heart that desires to obey Christ, love righteousness, and hate sin; a heart that truly loves Jesus. Ask that He may give You the grace to truly turn away from your sins and run to Him in all His beauty, glory, and love. Remember, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Lord, only by Your grace did I have the courage and the love to speak the truth boldly as I ought to speak. Prayer is part of Your sovereign plan, and sharing the gospel is Your command to Your children. Lord, I planted the seed as I was called to do, and now I know the rest is up to You. I trust in You. All glory belongs to You. I love you, Lord. Thank You for blessing me through my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me to help others come to the full knowledge of You - in all Your truth, beauty, and saving grace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14 Love, Jenna Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Cor 13:5 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-23 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:1 Now we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:7 Dear Lord Jesus, I praise You for all the wonderful people in my life, and I ask that You may bless my relationships. May they be centered around You, giving You all the glory. You created me so that I may glorify You. That's my ultimate purpose on this earth - to bring You glory. You are the most glorified in me when I am the most satisfied in You. God is most glorified in you when you are the most satisfied in Him. - John Piper. May my satisfaction never be self-centered. May my satisfaction always be Christ-centered, for I know that true joy can only be found in You, Jesus. Lord, I pray that my joy in You radiates to others the truth and love of Christ. Companionship always increases our joy. Sharing what we enjoy with the people we love always seems to deepen our joy. My favorite show is pretty engaging all on my own, but somehow it's much more interesting when I watch it with my best friend. A tasty meal is pretty tasty by myself when I'm listening to YouTube. But in a strange way, it becomes one of the best meals I ever had when I'm listening to my Dad. Going for a walk on a beautiful fall day is pleasant, but the fall colors seem to be more vibrant when I walk with my Mom. We naturally like to invite our family and friends into what we love. “You have to see this and tell me what you think!” “You have to hear that and let me know how it is!” "You have to try this with me!" There are so many joys in life, but there is One Joy that is the greatest of them all. And that is the joy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the epitome of joy. He invented joy! The greatest joy in the world is to know Jesus Christ. The second greatest joy is to make Him known. - Steve Lawson. We were made for God. We were made to enjoy God. We were made to praise God for His creation and all the joys He gives us. We were made to center our lives around Him every single day, giving Him all the glory in everything we do, say, and think. So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our joy in Jesus will be the fullest when we share Him and tell others about the joy we have found in Him. Spending time with other Christians is enriching and invaluable. Friendships with other believers help us to enjoy Jesus even more and grow stronger in our own personal walks with Him. Let us never reverse this and use God as a means to enjoy people more. If we only go to Him to ask for relationships and things, it shows that we view God as the way to gain something other than Him. That's a backward way, and we will always come up empty if we go that route. What we should be doing is looking for more of Christ in other people. Interestingly enough, we will love and cherish our relationships more when they become the means of loving and cherishing Jesus. Lord, I pray that You help me find meaningful friendships and relationships with those who also center their lives around You. Help me find people in this world who understand their ultimate purpose in life and desire to fulfill that purpose. Lead me to those who's highest goal in life is to bring You glory in everything they do, and help me be encouraged through them to do the same. I pray that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, reach greater heights of joy in You, and spend eternity together, glorifying and praising You. Lord, I praise You for loving me before the foundation of the world, setting me apart for Your purposes, and opening my eyes to see the glorious light of Jesus, full of grace and truth. Help me to be a light in this dark world. Help me to let the light of Jesus shine so that I can help others come to know You and be saved by Your grace. Lord, I know I can't convince anyone to believe in the Truth. It's not my job to save anyone, but it is my responsibility and the greatest privilege on earth to share the gospel message faithfully. I know that it's only by Your grace that people will see Jesus. As I share the gospel message and plant seeds of truth, Lord I ask that You bring the growth. Please have mercy on those who are lost and blind, and open their eyes to see the light of the gospel, like you did mine. I praise You for saving me from my sins and gifting me eternal life, by grace through faith in Jesus. Lord, it is Your will that people be saved, sanctified, saturated with Your Word, Spirit-filled, submissive, suffering for the sake of Jesus, and saying thanks always for what Jesus has accomplished for us in His life, death on the cross, and resurrection. Lord, I pray for Your will to be done. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen Love, Jenna God is most glorified in you when you are the most satisfied in Him. - John Piper We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade the treasure for other things, everything is disordered. The sun of God’s glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all attracting place at the center. - John Piper The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Provers 13:20 Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals. 1 Corinthians 15:33 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:13-17)

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 I believe this Scripture to be one of the most sobering verses in all of the Bible. The rest of this passage in Matthew is intense too. A Tree and Its Fruit 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. I Never Knew You 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Build Your House on the Rock 24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:15-27

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:7-9 The Benefits of Memorizing Scripture I love this passage of Scripture. It's a really good one to have memorized. Along with prayer, Scripture is the best medicine for an anxious heart or a discouraged spirit. When Scripture is written in your heart, it's an awesome weapon against Satan. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). Holding fast to God's Truth protects you from Satan's lies. Memorizing Scripture can also help us resist temptation (Psalm 119:11), instruct, correct, and train one another in wisdom (2 Timothy 3:16), encourage and comfort one another, cultivate a grateful heart (Colossians 3:16), and realign our minds to an eternal perspective so we can be reminded of what's truly important. Memorizing Scripture is not a work we do to earn God's favor, but it's a wonderful way to glorify Him because we love God and cherish His Word. What is more important: prayer or reading the Bible?' I ask, 'What is more important: breathing in or breathing out?' Charles H Spurgeon For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16