Follow Jesus

August 27, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Run to the Father

Earlier, I spoke with you about letting go of what we’re doing and not hesitating to respond to God’s call. Today, I want to pray for you about having the courage to follow Jesus and leave everything behind for His presence. Shall we? Prayer Lord, we are here in Your presence, with open hearts and souls ready to listen to You. Just like the Samaritan woman at the well, who left her water jars and ran to proclaim the good news she received from Your Son Jesus, we too want to leave everything behind when You call us. We don’t want to seek another source of water; we want to be satisfied with everything You have for us. Father, we don’t want to be attached to the things of this world or worry about what we might lose or gain by following Your voice. Instead, let our focus and goal be to seek Your presence above all else. May the desire to proclaim Your grace and glory be greater than any fear or hesitation in our hearts. Give us the courage to lay down our burdens, our worries, and everything that holds us back so that we can run towards […]

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August 22, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Stop what you are doing

God has called you to speak of His wonders to others. Not just to experience the miracle, but also to bring others so they can see and experience everything that God has for those who love and follow Him. Excellence and delivery “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 Many times, we become so focused on the technique of what we do that we forget why we are doing it. Whatever area you serve in, seeking technique and excellence is indeed important, but not at the expense of the essence—the understanding of why you are taking a certain action. You are there to worship and praise the Lord, to make public what you have experienced in the Father. The Word of God contains many passages that highlight the importance and necessity of the “Go”. We need to worship Him and share His name with others. Leave it behind “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark […]

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August 20, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Walking with Jesus

I want to invite you to pray together today about our relationship with the Lord. Let’s pray that we may worship Him fully and in all moments and situations, not just to ask for help, but to seek His presence. Prayer “Father, we come before You with open hearts, seeking more of You. Too often, we seek Your presence only when we are in trouble, as if You were an emergency number. Forgive us for the times when we don’t seek You just to give thanks, but only when we need something. Transform our hearts. Teach us, Lord, to trust in You not only in moments of crisis but in all situations of our lives. Help us to recognize that we need You with every step we take, in every decision we make, in every joy, in every sorrow, and in every challenge we face. We want to have constant communion with You, not only in difficult days but also in moments of peace. Let our pursuit of Your presence not be driven by desperation, but by a genuine desire to be close to You, to know You more deeply, and to walk with You daily. Lord, grant us the […]

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August 08, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Submit yourselves!

Human beings love freedom, the feeling of having control and the power to make decisions. If something good results from the choice, we celebrate and feel extremely intelligent and accomplished. But if the choice brings negative consequences, we rebel against someone close or even against God, trying at all costs to shift the responsibility away from ourselves. Educated children God gave us free will, but with it, we also received the responsibility for our choices and decisions. I’m saying this to remind you that the world is not in the hands of the enemy because God gave it to him, or because the Lord desires destruction. Rather, it’s because man, having received the earth from the Lord, handed it over to the devil. Do not blame the father for the choices of the son. No matter how much the father’s authority teaches, the world and the experiences lived throughout the days can transform the son and shape his thoughts. This changes the entire path and ultimately distances the son from what the Lord desires for His children. But the son can always return to his origins, to what shaped who he is in his essence. Call the sky “God blessed […]

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July 29, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Dependent on the Lord

I want to take this moment today to pray together. May we recognize that no matter how much we know how to get by and how independent we are most of the time, we will always depend on God’s love and grace. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer Lord God, thank You for enabling me every day and strengthening me in all situations. Without You, I go nowhere. As much as I know how to do and decide things on my own, I depend entirely on Your wisdom and strength. Father, I know that in many moments of life I feel capable and independent, but I also know that without Your guidance, all my efforts are in vain. Lord, pour out Your divine wisdom upon me, which illuminates my path and teaches me the right direction. Teach me to always seek Your counsel before making decisions, […]

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July 18, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Deciding paths

God knows what is best for us and wants to have intimacy and freedom to act in our lives. To do this, we need to position ourselves in the face of situations so that there is real change and transformation in us and around us. Let’s pray together about this position? Prayer “Father, everything that You expect from us and dream for our lives is already written in Your book. I know that we need to seek answers from You and we ask for wisdom and direction on this path. Grant us the wisdom to form our opinions according to Your will. May we seek Your guidance in all the decisions we need to make, focusing on achieving Your dreams for us. May we have the courage to let go of the old self, allowing a real transformation in us and around us. God, we want to fully trust You as our guide. Help us to remain firm in the face of situations that arise and do not allow us to deviate from the paths that You have designed for us. Strengthen our relationship with You, granting us unshakable confidence in Your love and Your wisdom, showering us with discernment. […]

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July 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Building tomorrow

Previously, I spoke to you about being grateful for everything we have today. The Father pours blessings upon us every day so that we can build our future with Him. Shall we pray about this gratitude? You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, the Lord pours so much upon us! Unique blessings and wonders, things that we only achieve by being in You, for the Lord is the source of everything! Help us to recognize and value everything You have already placed in our hands, to live a life of gratitude, even without having yet reached the place we dreamed of, but recognizing that the Lord places us in a place of honor every day, before Your grace and majesty! May our eyes be open to see each of the blessings we have already received, for it is through what we have and are now that the Lord […]

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July 04, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Too busy for Christ

When we choose to listen to the Lord, we take the best path. Spending our time at the feet of Christ is the best choice, and nothing else matters when we have this closeness to Him. In Luke 10, we see God clearly express this truth to Martha and Mary. Hear Him now! “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” Luke 10:38-39 Mary left behind everything that had to be done in the house, as she knew what a great opportunity it was to have Jesus there with them. They could hear the Master, face to face, sitting with them. We don’t encounter Jesus in the flesh, like they did. But we have Him with us every day and at all times. He lives in our hearts, and we can talk to Him at any time of the day. The Lord knocks on the door to sit with us too and invites us to be at His feet, listening to everything He has to teach. All […]

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July 01, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Unconditional Faith

God does not measure your faith by its size; He just wants your complete surrender. All your faith placed in Him. I want to invite you to pray together so that the Lord teaches us more and more about this faith and surrender. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I know that life’s journey often includes difficult paths and challenges that seem insurmountable, but I choose to focus on You, because I know that Your presence is all I need. Help me understand that facing difficult times does not mean that my faith is small, but that it is an opportunity to grow in trust and dependence on You. Strengthen my heart and mind so that I can face each challenge with the certainty that You are with me, guiding me and supporting me at every step. Teach my heart to place all my faith […]

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June 24, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Directing dreams

There are dreams that are aligned with God’s, others that walk outside of God’s footsteps, and even those that are blessed by the Lord but become wrong dreams because we seek them incorrectly, far from God’s teachings. I want to invite you to pray together at this moment so that our dreams and paths align with those of the Father. Only in this way can we bear fruit for the Kingdom and experience everything that God desires for us. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, thank You for everything You give to me. Be the Author of my dreams and the guide of my paths. May my dreams and projects be in perfect harmony with Yours, so that I can live according to Your purpose and Your will. Teach my heart to discern the desires that You have, and may my plans be in accordance […]

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June 04, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Be available

In the previous text, we talked about being free from ties and things in our hands that take up space, making it impossible for us to receive what God has for us. Today, I want to pray with you about this, to be available to God. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Dear God, we are here at this moment with sincere and humble hearts. Today, we want to place ourselves entirely at Your disposal, desiring to fully live out Your purposes and plans for our lives. Lord, help us to identify and remove from our lives everything that binds and hinders us, preventing us from being completely available to You. May we discern what occupies the place that belongs only to You in our hearts and minds. God, may we free our hands from unnecessary worries, material attachments, toxic relationships, and dreams that are not […]

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May 29, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Unbind Yourself!

We hear a lot about being available for what God is going to do. The Bible says in several passages that we need to open our hearts and allow the Lord to act in our lives. But, after all, what does this mean? Be aware “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 Being available does not mean being idle but being open and attentive. To be available, you can’t be tied to something; it is necessary that we are not entangled in any situation. When we try to embrace the world, we lose focus, and that puts us in a spider’s web. We make our lives so busy that we don’t have free time to pay attention to what the Lord wants to do. This makes us miss opportunities because we are too busy and miss the blessings of heaven because we are distracted by things that take us nowhere and just take up unnecessary space. Make room for “yes” “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries […]

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May 14, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Becoming unrecognizable

The journey of faith needs to make us unrecognizable. This does not mean forcing ourselves to look like something we are not, but truly being transformed. Processes “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 Nothing changes who God is; no situation or person holds such power. But nothing remains the same wherever God passes. His presence needs to kill who you are so that you become more and more like Him. At times, we try to change the Lord without realizing it. We want to teach Him how to do something, aligning His desires with ours, not the other way around. The problem is that this frustrates us and keeps us away from our promises because we are the ones who need change and direction. Change hurts; the refinement process is painful at some points. We need to let go of who we are used to being. And the secret to getting through all this stronger is to focus on who we will become while walking with Christ. […]

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May 06, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Living Christ

Being a Christian is not simple. It requires total surrender, dependence, and sacrifice. Emptying our hearts of our desires to align our projects with His often hurts, as we need to give up what we want and plan to trust Him completely, even if the decisions don’t make sense at the time. But we often forget this and consider ourselves Christians just because we go to church…. Ambassadors of the word “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 God demands nothing in exchange for His power and care. However, to be under His protection, we also need to be aligned with His word. The enemy constantly tries to deceive us with lies to influence our journey. Lies about God, about our identity in Him, and about the things and people around us. He will not respect your church card, but he is obliged to respect our spiritual authority. He can influence our lives even when we are at church; attending all services does not make us immune to his pitfalls. However, he has no power over us […]

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April 04, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Anointing of the Spirit

God grants us gifts, pours His grace upon us, and empowers us for various actions, specific to each of His children. But, furthermore, He also desires to anoint us in these areas. He has set us apart for the Kingdom and guides us daily toward His work. I want to invite you to pray today for this anointing, for boldness and wisdom to serve the Kingdom. It’s important for us to pray for our dreams, but beyond that, it’s necessary to be thankful for what we already have and to seek empowerment for what He calls us to do. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I acknowledge the need I have to be anointed and washed by You, Lord. In this moment, I pour myself out before You, surrendering all that I have and am, allowing myself to be crushed and molded so that […]

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April 02, 2024·Nicole Leao

It is not far from Christ that we find transformation

We are sinners and failures, so shame before God’s presence can so often come upon us, but let me let you in on a secret… did you know that our Father is willing to forgive you no matter what the mistake was? Sometimes we may think we are not worthy of God’s love because we have made mistakes or our faults, but he sent his son to save us from condemnation and today we can have free access to Him. We are set free from our fears, bonds and our sins no longer dictate who we are, for in Christ we find our true identity. We understand the identity that God gave us when He created us. It may be that at the moment you find yourself ashamed of yourself for an attitude and it is taking you away from God and all that he has for you. But it is not away from Christ that you will get rid of sins and the old man, after all, He is the way, the truth, and the life. If there is anyone who can transform your life it is your Savior and I can assure you that He wants you by […]

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March 25, 2024·Nicole Leao

The burden of Christ is light

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 How this passage can impact us, isn’t it? These days I was very busy, full of commitments and issues to resolve, but then in a conversation with a dear friend, she reminded me of this passage so precious and necessary to us. I don’t know about you, but I particularly have a hard time saying no to commitments or requests made to me. I get that feeling that if I don’t help I’ll be boring or that I might disappoint others. Surely this is not good, because we are not able to do everything at the same time, we are still only one person, aren’t we? Well, but as I read this passage I thought about what was not being light, as we read in Matthew 11, our Lord did not say that we would not have a “burden”, but that his burden is […]

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March 21, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Where Christ is not welcome

As tempting as it may be to journey where you desire, refrain from proceeding if it means leaving God behind along the way. Any path without Him leads towards the abyss. Despite the pain involved, relinquishment and surrender bring us peace and accomplishments far beyond what we could ever imagine. Don’t follow your limits “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!” Psalm 20:7-9 God calls you to live your best life in this world, not as a slave to your desires and dreams, but with the Father by your side, guiding you to ever greater heights. When we walk alone, we rely solely on our own abilities and strength, reaching only as far as our own limits allow. However, when we choose to walk with God, we surpass our own strength, being empowered by Him. Consequently, we reach places that we could never reach on our own, as there are no limits to Him. Our minds can only comprehend so much, and our strength has its limits. But […]

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March 05, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Servants

We are servants of the Kingdom, which means we depend on one Lord, under one God, and follow one direction. Offering ourselves for our brothers, just as the Lord gave himself for us, is our greatest calling. A high price, in blood, was paid so that today we could be free, and in that freedom, choose to be servants of the One who called us! We have already received, and therefore, we give. Today, I want to pray with you about this devotion and obedience in serving and pouring everything at His feet. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, today I come before You with a heart overflowing with gratitude. I acknowledge the abundance of blessings I have received from You and the unconditional love You have bestowed upon me since before my birth. Thank You for envisioning my existence and showering Your boundless […]

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February 09, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Unnecessary battles

There are battles necessary for our growth, where God strengthens us and reveals Himself to us. However, we cannot forget that actions generate reactions and consequences, and depending on the step we take, the result may be an unnecessary battle that we ourselves create. Guided fights “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Daniel was placed in the den with lions, and David was sent to fight Goliath. Similarly, we are also called to battles, urged to be strong and courageous, receiving direction and power from Him. These confrontations elevate us to new levels, drawing us nearer to Him and His promises. They are moments of strength and shaping, fostering our growth. However, at times, we engage in unnecessary battles not initiated by Him. The Bible instructs us to involve the Lord in our decisions from the very first step. Yet, in our daily hustle and bustle, we often decide for ourselves. This leads us into places, relationships, and circumstances not aligned with God’s plans, thus delaying the […]

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February 08, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Instruments of Praise

In the previous text, I discussed the daily decision to be someone through whom God is praised. Today, I invite you to pray with me about this, to become available and completely surrendered instruments, allowing God to work in our lives according to His will. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I acknowledge Your worthiness of all praise and worship, for everything in creation is under Your sovereignty, and all belongs to You. I understand that my purpose is to praise You, and I desire to do so each day of my life, leading others to worship You in the same way. You are the source of all love and grace, and Your mercy continues to pour out upon me, even when undeserved. Make me an instrument of praise. Shape my heart according to Your will, and may my hands be ready to carry […]

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February 06, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Who are you?

Every day, we need to make decisions, whether big or small, that can change not just an hour but an entire life. These decisions often unsettle us, especially because we don’t know the impact they will have on various areas. Have you ever wondered what the most significant decision in your life will be? Well, I believe I have the answer for you… Identity and direction “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose… The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:12 and 14 The most significant decision will always be choosing Christ. Without further ado, today I invite you to decide to be the vessel through which God is praised. Regardless of the magnitude of professional, financial, or family decisions… Choosing Christ should always take precedence. When our lives are centered on following Him and worshipping Him, others around us are influenced to do the same, and this stance radically transforms our lives, aiding us in making countless other decisions. A life focused on God provides answers to questions that once seemed insurmountable. Used daily “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special […]

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January 29, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Take a stand!

In the book of Judges, we see some challenges and victories recounted, and in the midst of them, a woman emerges as a spiritual mother for the people of Israel. Deborah was a wise leader, but beyond emphasizing that, I want to remind you of one of her actions that made all the difference: rising up. Challenged to act “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:7 Deborah stood up as a mother to Israel in a time of need, and her story powerfully tells the transformative impact of standing up and taking action. In Judges 4, we see Israel immersed in times of war, crying out to God for guidance and deliverance. Being a leader in moments like this is very challenging and complicated, but even so, Débora stood up with determination, as a judge and spiritual mother. She decided to act boldly, guiding and inspiring the people, in God. How long has it been since you stood up and truly stood with authority in your life? Acting in fear of the Lord “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the […]

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January 25, 2024·Rapha Abreu

God and sin

Some texts have such a huge impact with certain words that our attention can focus on just one part of the sentence and take away the full meaning of it. I see this detail in some texts in the Bible and also in those that mention faith, where, if we don’t have an open heart, we can focus on just a few parts and forget the context. Aversion to sin “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Certainly, you have heard the phrase “God hates sin, but loves the sinner”. This phrase is not in the Bible, but it has become very famous. The word “hates” becomes something so impactful for us that it steals our attention only on it, but I want to invite you to read the rest of it. The Lord truly abhors sin; He does not accept it, and His desire is for sin to be destroyed. But He loves those who sin because the way God sees us goes far beyond our mistakes. He knows our hearts deep down and knows who we are in Him. The Father gave us the […]

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