2 Corinthians 10:3-5 BSB [3] For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. [4] The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. [5] We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. https://bible.com/bible/3034/2co.10.3-5.BSB

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” In today’s verse we have no words that we can use for a deeper look through a word study. It does not even mention humility in the verse. But we see Jesus speaking to His disciples in response to James and John asking for positions of authority with Him as He wraps up a teaching on servant leadership. Within that context, we find today’s verse which redefines greatness as humble service and self-sacrifice rather than power or status. Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought when Jesus said this to them? The King they had hoped would come to liberate them from oppression said He came to serve? Here they were arguing over positions in His coming kingdom and He tells them He was there to serve instead. Talk about changing the focus of the conversation. We have the opportunity to look back on events and see the bigger picture, but they didn’t. They still didn’t even understand exactly what He was telling them at this point. We see how He gave Himself, died in our place for our sins, and then conquered death and liberated us all from the consequences of sin and death. But they were still living through it all, completely unaware of exactly how things would play out. And He was emphasizing service instead of authority. He was telling them that humility was greater than power. How would you have responded? Better yet, what is your response now, knowing what you know? Are you living a life of humble service to others or are you still placing yourself in the center? We have His life as an example. He loved everyone so wholly and completely that He gave His own life for us. There is no position more important, no role more authoritative, no action more expressive than the one done in humble submission. We need to step out of the spotlight and into the position of humble servant and live a life He would approve of. Let your life serve others rather than serving self. #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse

❤️ Jesus Christ taught that what is inside the heart matters far more than outward appearance. While people may focus on what is seen, God looks deeper, at our motives, thoughts, and the condition of our hearts. 🙏 True transformation begins within. #HeartMatters #InnerLife #JesusTeaches #FaithInChrist #SpiritualGrowth #BiblicalTruth

The Upper Room Bible Study Friday @ 6-9pm EST Come join us, Everyone is welcome. The Upper Room Bible Study is a dedicated weekly gathering focused on careful, reverent, and participatory study of Scripture. Meeting every Friday evening from 6:00–9:00 PM (EST), this study is designed to encourage both thoughtful reading and meaningful discussion within a fellowship setting. https://itaintover.net/events/upper-room-bible-study/var/ri-7.l-L1

📘 Daily Devotion — April 17 | Mark 4:20 (NKJV) 💯 The Fruit of a Receptive Heart Mark chapter 4 contains the parable of the Sower where Jesus explains how people respond differently to the Word of God. Seeds are scattered on various types of soil representing different conditions of the human heart. Some seeds fall on hard ground and never take root. Others grow briefly but wither under pressure or are choked by distractions. In verse 20 Jesus describes the good soil. This represents a heart that hears the Word of God, accepts it, and allows it to take deep root. The result is fruitfulness. Spiritual growth produces visible evidence through transformed character, obedience, and influence on others. The emphasis is not merely on hearing the Word but receiving it. Many people hear Scripture regularly, yet true transformation happens when the heart welcomes God’s truth and allows it to shape thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Fruitfulness also varies. Some produce thirtyfold, others sixty, and others a hundred. The key point is not comparison but faithfulness. Every life that receives the Word and lives by it will produce fruit in God’s timing. For believers today this verse invites us to examine the condition of our hearts. When the Word of God is received with humility and obedience, it grows into a life that reflects God’s character and purpose. Reflection Questions 1. How receptive is my heart when I hear the Word of God 2. What distractions or pressures might be limiting spiritual growth 3. In what ways is God producing fruit in my life Prayer Lord God help my heart to remain open and receptive to Your Word. Remove distractions and attitudes that prevent spiritual growth. Let Your truth take deep root in my life and produce fruit that honors You. In Jesus name Amen. Practical Application ● Spend intentional time reading and reflecting on Scripture ● Identify distractions that prevent spiritual growth and remove them ● Look for ways to apply God’s Word through obedience and service Takeaway Thought A heart that receives God’s Word deeply will always produce fruit that reflects His work in our lives. #LordsbookDailys #DailyDevotion #April17 #Mark420 #GoodSoil #BearFruit #HearTheWord #BibleInspiration #GrowInFaith

The work of the Holy Spirit (James Smith, "Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860) Play Audio! Download Audio I love to meditate on the work of the Holy Spirit to whom we are so much indebted, and from whom we receive such great and invaluable blessings. To Him, I feel that I am indebted for every good thought, and for every good work. How wonderful His patience, that He should bear with me so long; and how wonderful His loving-kindness, that He should confer on me so much! O that I was more deeply sensible of my obligations! It was the Holy Spirit who quickened me when I was dead in trespasses and sins . . . imparting a new life, infusing new thoughts, and producing new desires in my soul. Having quickened me, He conquered me, subduing . . . the enmity of my heart, the obstinacy of my will, the worldliness of my affections, and bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of Christ. Having quickened and conquered me, He comforted me, assuring me of a saving interest in . . . the love of God, the perfect work of Jesus, the precious promises of the Word, and the eternal rest which remains for the people of God. Having quickened, conquered, and comforted me, He sanctified me by . . . separating me from the world, and setting me apart for my Redeemer's glory and praise. As my Sanctifier, He became my Guide . . . leading me into the truth, conducting me out of the paths of danger, and directing me into the everlasting way. Not only my guide, but He became my Guard . . . preserving me from danger, protecting me from foes, and becoming a wall of fire round about me. Whenever I wander, He reproves me; when I willfully go astray, He corrects me, and makes me smart for my folly. The work He began so long ago, He carries on; nor will He withdraw His hand from it, until it is perfected and I am fully fitted for glory. Reader, what do you experimentally know of the work of the Holy Spirit? Has He quickened you? Has He conquered you? Does He comfort you? Are you sanctified by His presence, power, and operation in your heart? Does He . . . guide you by His counsel, guard you by His power, and correct you for your follies? The work of the Spirit within us, is as necessary as the work of Jesus for us! For if the atonement of Christ entitles us to glory, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to possess and enjoy it. We must be washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God—or we cannot be saved!

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. It is early. It is dark. I believe this is why I retired…because this is rough. I have gotten spoiled. Haha. Coffee is hot and delicious. We will be fine. The other day, while walking the dog, I noticed that my grass was full and thick. Absolutely beautiful. I also noticed that my yard was very much infused with dandelions. You know … the child’s favorite flower. The precious yellow bloom was poking up throughout the yard. Beside and complementing the famous child’s flower, were the purple violets of adorning fashion. Rippled and comingling in harmony while covering my front yard. My childhood came booming back. I am not sure when I learned that the dandelion was not a flower but considered a weed and something to get rid of, but they have always been a beacon of spring for me. A beacon of change. Even as spring closes and the dandelions turn into white seedlings to be scattered by the wind, they are beautiful. As I gazed upon the color in my yard, a thought came to mind. The yard is the world. The vast land of life. The green of the field portrays the world in which we live. Huge. Vast. Enormous. Green blades of grass represent all the people that we could potentially engage with. We are the dandelion. We are the bright yellow in a sea of green. We give beauty to an otherwise dense field. The violets are our partners. Adding to the diversity of the field and bringing their own song for His glory. The world would have us extricated or removed so that our seeds could not spread any further. The world calls us weeds that are an infestation of their peace or version of peace. The world says that we are the poison that is killing them. The world will make us out to be dangerous. And they are right. We are dangerous. We bring color. We bring joy. We bring light. We bring truth. We blow in the wind and spread our seeds throughout the yard, and come back multiplied the next spring. Though we may only be in this season for a short time, we bring His peace, His joy, His truth, His Love, and the world does not like it. Today, I want to encourage you to be a dandelion. I want you to be a bright, inviting, childish, joyful, and loving dandelion to sea of monotonous green full of dread and despair. Brighten someone’s day today by simply being you. Be blessed. **Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. – 2 John 3

“He Still Calls Your Name” Scripture Focus: • Mark 16:7 — “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him…” • John 21:15–18 — Jesus restores Peter and calls him to “Feed my sheep.” Thought of the Day... God doesn’t cancel you because you failed—He calls you by name and restores you with purpose. In Mark 16:7, the angel gives a powerful instruction after the resurrection: “Tell His disciples… and Peter.” Peter. The one who denied Jesus three times. The one who swore he didn’t even know Him. Yet in this moment, heaven makes sure Peter is not left out. Why? Because failure does not erase calling. Jesus could have simply said “tell the disciples.” But He singled out Peter to send a clear message: “You may have denied Me, but I have not denied you.” Now fast forward to John 21:15–18. Jesus meets Peter again—not with condemnation, but with restoration. Three times Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?”—mirroring Peter’s three denials. But instead of shame, Jesus gives Peter an assignment: • “Feed My lambs.” • “Feed My sheep.” • “Follow Me.” Jesus wasn’t just forgiving Peter—He was reinstating him. Peter’s story teaches us something powerful: God doesn’t just forgive your past—He redeems it and reassigns your future. Where you failed is often where God will use you most. What This Reveals 1. God is Personal He didn’t say “tell them”—He said, “tell Peter.” God sees you individually, not just as part of a crowd. 2. Failure is Not Final Peter denied Jesus publicly, yet he was restored publicly. Your worst moment does not define your destiny. 3. Love is Proven Through Obedience Jesus didn’t ask Peter about his skill, education, or past—He asked about his love. Then He gave him purpose. 4. Calling Still Stands Even after failure, Peter was still called to lead, serve, and shepherd others. Prayer... Father God, Thank You that You are the God who still calls our name—even after we fall. Thank You that our failures do not cancel Your purpose for our lives. Just like Peter, we have made mistakes, we have denied You in our actions, our words, and sometimes even in our silence. But today, we hear Your voice calling us again. Restore us, Lord. Heal every place of guilt, shame, and regret. Replace our failure with Your grace and our weakness with Your strength. Teach us to love You deeply—not just with words, but with our obedience and our lives. Give us the courage to step back into our calling. Help us to feed, serve, and love others the way You have commanded. Let our lives be living testimonies of Your mercy and restoration. We declare that we are not disqualified—we are redeemed, restored, and reassigned for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Declaration... I am not defined by my failure—I am defined by God’s grace. Jesus still calls my name. I am forgiven, restored, and given purpose. I will follow Him and walk boldly in my calling.

TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE The Bible says take every thought captive. Why? Because thoughts are trying to take you captive. A thought comes: “Nobody likes you.” “Did you see how she ignored you?” “They are all pretending.” Before you know it, you have built a full story in your mind. You’ve travelled far. Then you stop and ask—how did I even get here? So what do you do? You test the thought. Is it true? Is it honest? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it of good report? Does it have virtue? Is it worthy of praise? (Philippians 4:8) If it fails, reject it. Say, “This thought is not qualified to stay in my mind.” That is spiritual warfare. You are not fighting people. You are not fighting shadows. You are dealing with thoughts. If you practice this consistently, your mind becomes clean. Your heart becomes peaceful. Your soul rests. You will stop believing everything you hear or imagine. This is how you live free. Your primary battleground is your soul. Focus there. Win there. That is how victory comes. Shalom!

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 16TH APRIL, 2026 *SUB-THEME:* THE CROSS: CULMINATION OF GRACE. *TOPIC:* REQUIRES TOTAL ALLEGIANCE *TEXT:* ACTS 4:16-20 16. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! 20. As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” *TOPIC:* REQUIRES TOTAL ALLEGIANCE *THE MESSAGE:* Jesus had assured the disciples of the presence of the Holy Spirit whenever they faced opposition from the authorities (Mt. 12:11-12). The priests, temple guard, and the Sadducees brought Peter and John to the Jewish council after healing a lame man. Though unable to deny the miracle, the leaders attempted to silence them to prevent the spread of the Gospel of Christ. However, Peter and John responded, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v. 20). Following Christ demands total allegiance to God above all earthly authorities. Today, Christians are facing similar threats from ungodly authorities and hostile communities. Our obedience to God must supercede human opposition. God called believers to prioritise His command over fear, pressure, or persecution and declare God's truth regardless of the cost. *REFLECTION:* Do not submit to threats. *PRAYER:* Lord Jesus, help me to stand my ground without fear. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* COLOSSIANS 2:15. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* 1 CHRONICLES 6-10. ii. Skip to content Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth Posted onApril 16, 2026 by Editor Surrendered Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals Complete surrender, Surrendered absolutely. – not in your strength but in His, Absolute yielding, Yielded completely. – remember “It is God that worketh in us….” Full submission, Entirely devoted. – not for your glory, but for His. Humble obedience, Obedient humility. -both to will and to do of His good pleasure” This is the foundation of happiness, This is the superstructure of joy. This is the bedrock of blessedness, This is the core of communion with Him. Complete surrender – surrendered absolutely. Absolute yielding – yielded completely. Full submission – entirely devoted. Humble obedience – obedient humility. Only the one that lays down ALL ego, ALL self, ALL of the flesh Will receive the fullness of Who He really is But it requires:- – absolute surrender; – complete yielding; – full submission; – entirely devoted; – humble obedience. Post navigation Previous Post Previous Christ’s Comforting Words Proudly powered by WordPress. 2. Evening Prayer for today. i. Evening Prayer A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. ⏤ Psalm 127:1 As is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. ⏤ Martin Luther Our Father, before we lay down to sleep, we thank You for protecting and providing for us, and for all the blessings of this day. We committed ourselves to Your care this morning, and You haven’t forgotten us for even a moment. We thank You for the happiness we’ve shared at home today. Father, bless our family life and make it more tender and supportive. May our home become a holier place to live and grow. May all its influences be pure, uplifting, and enriching. Fill it with Your Holy Spirit, and then it will be like Heaven. O Son of God, who lived in an earthly home in Nazareth for many years and often visited the home in Bethany, come and dwell in our home, and bless it with Your tender grace. May we sit at Your feet like Mary did, listening to Your word and learning from You. Then, in times of sorrow, You will come to comfort us. We also want to pour out our love to You like the woman who anointed Your feet with perfume. Come, dear Master, and be our constant guest. Stay with us all the time. Help us to make our home a place where You’ll want to dwell—a home of truth, pure feelings, gentle words, and thoughtful affection. Now, as this day ends and we prepare for rest, we entrust our whole home to Your care. Forgive us all our sins. Accept the work we bring to You—only small pieces of what we intended to do, and stained by sin. Take it as it is and let Your blessing rest on it. Keep us through the night, and prepare us for tomorrow, whether we spend it on earth or in Heaven. We ask all this in Your name, O Lamb of God. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/11/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.