JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

November 07, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Overcoming

I have a special affection for the story of Joseph. It speaks about overcoming, forgiveness, perseverance, dreams, and faith. Joseph suffered physically and psychologically. He was emotionally wounded, saw bonds being broken in all his relationships, and experienced God’s silence for a while. But in every moment, he remained steadfast in his faith and held onto his hope in the promises of the Lord. Focus on What’s to come “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” Philippians 3:13 I don’t know if it happens the same for you, but when the end of the year approaches, I feel the need for overcoming. Overcoming the bad things that happened, learning from the difficulties, and leaving them behind, looking forward to the sense of renewal that a new year brings. At this time, I always remember the story of Joseph, which teaches a lot about overcoming, that is, about leaving the past behind and striving to achieve every dream we have. After everything Joseph went through, he was elevated to a position of great influence and power in Egypt, becoming an instrument to save his people from famine. The one who experienced hunger, poverty, forgetfulness, sadness, and the feeling of […]

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November 02, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Prepared for the return

Since I can remember, most people talk about the return of Christ in a frightening way, filled with fear. I have reverence for that day, but the fear has ceased to be a part of my heart when I truly understood that it’s just anticipation for His return. I long at every moment for the time when He will come, so I can meet Him and know Him face to face. The only thing that scares me about this is my lack of action on the matter. I’m afraid that my lack of attention will increase and I will become distracted, forgetting Jesus’ return. Now that can fill my head with thoughts I’m afraid of. Today I want to pray with you about this, about turning our attention and goals to His return. About preparing ourselves and having an open and transformed heart for this long-awaited arrival. We need to act at all times for the return of the Son. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking […]

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October 31, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The sign of return

The Bible is full of details, and the more we study and get to know it, the more we realize those that make all the difference. Today, I want to talk about the death of Jesus and how the tomb was left when the promise is fulfilled. Folding the cloth When Jesus died, a cloth was placed over his face at the time of burial. In John 20:7, we can see that the cloth was not just left aside when He rose, as all the cloths were left in the tomb: “…while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.“ At that time, while the master was eating, the servant would stay out of his sight. When he finished, he would crumple the cloth and set it aside, which meant the servant could clear the table, as the master would not return. If the master got up but, before doing so, folded the cloth, it meant he would come back, and the servant should wait for him. Other studies also suggest that if a man went to eat at the house of his intended bride’s family and folded the cloth when […]

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October 26, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: A Worship Heart

It all starts within us. God first plants a seed in our heart, prepares it, and then this tree grows and can be seen by other people, making us a channel of God’s word and blessings. Today I want to pray with you about this order. So that we can understand the importance of first contemplating God’s grace and love, and only after worshiping Him in spirit and truth, we express this externally in words and praise. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. Each one has a specific way of talking to God and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. I want you to be comfortable talking to the Lord in His way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, thank you for offering me a heart like Yours every day. Thank you, because even though I am a failure, the Lord shapes me every day. Teach me to worship You first, within my heart, with my being and spirit, so that later I can express it in words and actions. May people see the shine of Jesus in me […]

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October 24, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Start with your heart

Everything we express comes from our heart, everything we do flows from it and God knows it deep down. That’s why we first need to fill ourselves to be able to overflow. This is being a channel, because we can’t take people around us to a place we haven’t been to yet. Born from within “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 When we fill our heart with gratitude, worshiping the Lord becomes a natural response from our body. Praising Him is in our essence. Our body needs to worship the Creator, but this needs to start first in our heart. I’ve always heard that first we need to introject, and only then can we project. You can never lead a person to worship if you have never worshiped in Spirit and in truth. Many times, even before you minister over someone’s life in words, people will see God in you, in your actions, and in your lifestyle. When you are filled with the Spirit, you exhale it naturally, without having to strain. It overflows from within and reaches hearts, without needing words in sermons. Jesus, even without speaking, on several occasions healed and […]

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October 19, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Decoding messages

In the previous text I brought you a phrase that appeared several times in some dreams I had. Today I want to use this space to pray for clarity. Just as I sought answers from God, I want to pray that He gives us an open heart to receive and understand the messages He has to give us. Furthermore, I would also like to ask for patience in the process, so that we respect the right time for each step along the way. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. 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, thank you for always speaking to me, for guiding me and comforting me with Your sweet voice. Make my ears attentive to everything You want to tell me. Give me courage and boldness to follow everything You tell me and wisdom to understand and respect each process. I don’t want to skip steps, God. I don’t […]

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October 17, 2023·Rapha Abreu

First, put your feet on

Always before going to sleep I pray that, in addition to protection and rest during the night, the Lord visits me in my dreams to speak to me. Sometimes He comes, and I know when it’s Him because I remember every detail of some specific parts, and those parts don’t leave my mind. In 2022 I had a special dream where a person brought me a phrase and, since then, I have dreamed more times with the same phrase brought in different ways in each dream. I didn’t understand it very well, but now it’s clear to me and I want to share it. Seeking answers in Him “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 In dreams, this phrase was always delivered through people or appeared printed in places. When I understood it, it never appeared to me again. The sentence in Portuguese said something like: “We must not eat salt until it is on our feet and coating our steps.” To me it seemed like an enigma and, whenever I tried […]

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October 11, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Focused on the miracle

In the last text I talked about some small miracles in our days that we let go unnoticed because we are focused on other situations, waiting for big signs while God does small things every day. Today I want to use this space to pray together for open eyes and a vision focused on the Father and His small and great wonders. Focused on the small and powerful clouds of the Lord that bring renewing rains. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to write here. Each one has a specific way of talking to God and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. I want you to be comfortable talking to the Lord in His way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. PRAYER Father, I want to thank You today for Your daily and wonderful actions. From the small details to those actions that easily catch our attention and make our eyes shine. May my vision be focused on each of these events. I want to have my eyes open to contemplate everything the You do and worship You from the small cloud to the […]

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October 10, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Unnoticed Miracles

Even though I am a very observant person who pays attention to the smallest details, there are times when I let events go unnoticed. When it seems like we’ve been stagnant for a long time and that our life is stuck in the same place, it means we need to pay more attention to something. There may be miracles that are not receiving due attention. Grains that become beaches “Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.” 1 Kings 18:43-45 Guimarães Rosa, a Brazilian poet, one day wrote a sentence that really impacted me: “When nothing happens, there is a miracle that we are not seeing.” If for a year you’ve felt like your life is going nowhere, you’re definitely not paying attention to small miracles every day. God is always doing. On some days something big, which easily captures our attention, and on other days small grains of sand that gradually fill in and form a large beach. Small miracles deserve our attention and gratitude. God doesn’t just do what you can see from miles away. But also things […]

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October 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Right Intention

In the last text I talked about how our heart needs to be focused on the correct intention. We must follow God’s paths and desires, always working with the intention that His work is done everywhere through our lives and in the best possible way. We will never be perfect channels, but we are the imperfect instruments that He perfects at each new stage in the process of building His work. He doesn’t want you to be perfect so that He can use you, He just wants your heart to be generous and humble, totally focused on His voice. And that’s what I want to pray with you about right now. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to pray here. I know that everyone has a specific way of talking to the Father and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I am embarrassed to remember how, even without me deserving it, You use me and shape me in Your love. Instruct and teach my heart […]

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October 03, 2023·Rapha Abreu

What is your real intention?

Generosity is something difficult to put into practice, as most of the time it is accompanied by sacrifice. Whether it’s sacrificing part of our time to serve someone or even donating material resources, which we often don’t have spare, but we do so to share with those in need. Therefore, serving and being generous is an act of courage and gratitude. Surrender and devotion “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless, I will show my salvation.” Psalm 50:23 We need to be generous, because through this action, in addition to serving other people, we express our gratitude through giving, whatever the scope. More than give material resources or donate our time, we need to look at everything we have, all areas of our lives, in a generous way. Because generosity is at the essence of the Gospel. Pastor Tim Keller said something interesting in one of his sermons: Jesus Christ was the only human being who was not simply born, but who was delivered. God gave, donated His son out of love for us. Christ gave himself out of love for us. He became poor so that we could become rich. Through this surrender of Christ we […]

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September 28, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Peace beyond the rain

Having the peace that passes all understanding means being at peace on rainy days as well as on sunny days. Whether in difficult times or when everything is going well. It goes beyond all the reasons that surround us for being good or bad in a situation, it goes beyond everything we have within us and around us. Today I want to pray with you about this peace, so that we can ask God to fill us with it and that it is not just an emotion in our hearts, but a lifestyle. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has a specific way of talking to the Father and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, even though there are reasons to cry, I know that I have even more reasons to smile, through the joy of the Lord that was deposited in my heart. Open my physical and spiritual eyes so that I can focus on the reasons […]

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September 25, 2023·Rapha Abreu

How does the glory reveal itself?

Anyone who has never tried to take control out of God’s hands should throw the first stone… I often thought that my way was better and closed my ears to what He had to say to me. I closed my eyes to His ways and followed a direction that I invented and judged to be sensible. In some moments when I decided for myself and for myself, everything worked out right away. But then I saw everything falling apart, becoming almost impossible to hold. He’s not like us “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 If miracles happened as we imagine and according to our dynamics of faith, those miracles we see in the Bible would be different and much less impactful. This is because often, in our prayers, we plead for deliverance, and not for more structure and strength to face a given situation. But the glory of God is revealed in the midst of trials. We would not recognize the Father’s grace if it were equal to our thoughts and actions. We would easily think that a certain event occurred due to our strength […]

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September 21, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Giving up understanding

We hear a lot about the passage from Philippians 4, about receiving into our hearts the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, that is beyond what we can comprehend with our intellect. Looking at the world around us we come across many reasons not to believe, not to maintain our peace. And at these times I remember a quote from Bill Johnson… Don’t depend on the obvious “In order to have a peace that surpasses all understanding, you have to give up your right to understand.” Bill Johnson Feeling peace after the storm or when dreams come true is very simple, as it is obvious. If everything happened as I wanted, everything is going well, without any difficulties, it’s easy to have peace, it’s an obvious feeling. To experience the peace of God, the one that goes beyond everything that happens around us, we need to not let ourselves be shaken by what happens around us. We always want to have the peace of mind of being with God, but even though we are with the Father, we don’t focus on Him, and this shakes our calm in the face of life’s situations. We focus on problems as […]

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September 19, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Purified by the storm

Rain is also seen as purification. I know that sometimes we see it as something that causes dirt and often gets in our way. At many times we see storms as a delay in our day, and I know that it can really be difficult to get through them. But they are also a way of purifying. Rains are necessary “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. It is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone” Zechariah 10:1 You’ve probably been through a time when it hasn’t rained for a while. The air becomes dry, at times it is difficult to breathe, the heat intensifies and crops are damaged. After a while without rain, when it finally rains, breathing becomes better, the streets are clean, the plants grow more easily…Physiologically we need this moisture and cleanliness. As frustrating as it is to get ready to go out and get your shoes wet in unexpected rain, the pleasure and purification that this rain brings makes it worth it later. Rains are inevitable “Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent […]

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September 14, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Armored interior

In the last texts I spoke to you about how the enemy wants to interfere in situations around us to affect our emotions and distance us from the Lord. But God cares more about your inner self and how strong you are in your faith than what happens around you. If you are in Him, and He is in you, nothing can shake you. Today I want to pray with you about keeping our emotions and feelings firm in God, so that the enemy has no power or space to act in our lives. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here, because I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, thank you very much for another day. For loving me, for taking care of every step and detail of my life. At this moment I want to ask you so that, just like in Ephesians 6, I have my being shielded and surrounded by the armor of Christ. […]

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September 12, 2023·Rapha Abreu

How do you feel inside?

The problem is not that there is chaos around you, as you need to focus on what is happening inside you. God is much more concerned about how you are than how things around you are… He’s in us… “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 In Acts 16 we see the story of when Paul was arrested. He was in captivity, but Paul’s inside was at peace and that set him free. In the story of Mark 4, when the storm hits, Jesus was at peace within and the storm stoped. Their states of mind, the feeling of peace within them coming from God changed the environment. What is within us has enough power to transform everything around us, it is not the other way around… When we fear the Lord, prosperity and peace accompany us wherever we are. Even if the environment calls you to make mistakes, to sin, to lie, to steal… If your principles are well established and your interior is at peace in Him, the environment is changed, not you. 1st step: Obedience “We must […]

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September 07, 2023·Rapha Abreu

What is the enemy’s power?

Whoever looks for you in your past will find you there? Or will you find an empty place? Hell at all times wants to take us to a place of our past, making us live all the mistakes again or taking away our peace with remorse for what has already gone. But while the enemy wants to remind you of your past, God keeps releasing things about your future… God made you new! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Christ made all things new. You are no longer the same person you were yesterday, He constantly puts you in new positions, plants new dreams in you, continues daily to pour new blessings into your heart. But the enemy just as constantly tries to focus your eyes on what has already been forgiven by the Father. He knows that have been given to you a son’s identity, he knows how much access you have to the Father. What he always struggled to have, you have for free. But we have a lot to learn from the enemy and I know this phrase sounds strange, but I’ll explain. […]

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September 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Negotiating the price of blood

Do not negotiate what cost the price of blood! Several times to fit in places and intentionally approach people, we give up what we are and what we received from the Father. But He didn’t die for you so that you can use this truth only when it suits you. Focus on him “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 Jesus paid with His own blood so that we could freely live out the identity we received through Him. Through his work we are children loved, cared for and protected by the Father. However, in certain situations in our lives, we are so focused on feeling part of something that we lower ourselves to fit into scenarios that are not for us. When I see myself in those moments where I start to negotiate my truths, I realize that this has almost 100% to do with fear of the future. It’s as if the place where I […]

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August 31, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Urgency to move

In recent texts, I spoke to you about how the Father is not just a priority, but an urgency. And how He moves through us. Today, I want to use this space to pray about these matters. I want to ask that we can move for Him with that sense of urgency, looking for the Spirit and His work in us. Having strength and boldness to put Him before first place and move in favor of it. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to leave it here, because I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, how good it is to know that, even moving in You, I can rest in Your love and in Your action. I can rest knowing that You move through me and gives me strength in the face of everything that is impossible. I want to ask today for my heart to be open and understand how important and essential it is that my first search […]

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August 29, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Jesus is not a priority

We hear a lot about how God needs to be our priority, the number one on our “to-do” list. But I disagree with that and I want to talk a little bit about it with you today. He is urgent! “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 When we enter a hospital looking for care, we need to go through triage, where patients are sorted and prioritized according to their situation. If you have a headache and arrived first, you are a priority. But, if someone arrives in an ambulance after you, having suffered an accident, this is an emergency patient, and the urgency to assist him, allows him to undergo care ahead of all the people who are waiting. Jesus is not a priority in our lives. He is urgency! He doesn’t have to be number one on your “people I love the most” list, He can’t be on lists, he’s above that and before that. Putting Jesus in a ranking takes away the true meaning of urgency and pre-eminence that He has. He is everything! “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is […]

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August 24, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Move yourself

The word “movement” appears for the first time in Genesis 1, verse 2. From that text, from Genesis to Revelation, it was through people moving that miracles happened. Do not stop “The earth was an empty waste and darkness was over the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was moving over the top of the waters.” Genesis 1-2 It is after this word that the text of Genesis begins to tell us how God created everything in the world in those 7 days. It was after His movement that everything began to emerge. Movement means success. No one who has won and reached incredible places has managed to stand still. People who move change their position and achieve their goals and dreams. Even if it’s not overnight, with each step they get closer to where they want to go. And as the Father moves, He calls you to move and work. Not to stand still. The Lord can do anything with a snap of His fingers, but He will work the impossible and He expects us to do everything that is possible as humans beings . We have the opportunity to participate in the work of the Father. I […]

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August 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Planting time

In recent texts, I brought some reflections about sowing and burying some dreams, projects and ideals. Leaving space for the act of God and the fulfillment of His promises. Today I want to invite you to pray with about this matter. Ask the Lord to take care of each stage of planting and each season, taking care of your heart in every process. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to write here, because I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your way. But if you want, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, at this moment I want to thank you for everything you have done in me like a soil. I also thank you for the seeds that You has prepared and helped me to cultivate. I ask that you, Lord, watch over my heart during the time of waiting, as You prepare me to receive the best of Your blessings. I want to ask you for moments when the seed is in silence and darkness, when the root is growing. Don’t let […]

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August 15, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Be a good soil

Still on the subject of burying and planting, I want to remind you of the importance of taking care of the soil first. We often think that just the seed and how much we water it are the only things that matter. We also care about the sun, the temperature, whether the vase is beautiful…But knowing the ground and preparing it are the first and most important steps. Multiplied harvest “He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.” It is because of the quality of the soil that at different times we will need to wait for God’s preparation. In Mark, chapters 4 and 13, we can read parables about sowing, stories that make clear the importance of preparing a good soil and paying attention to the place where we are planting our seeds. The Word says that the seed cannot be planted shallowly, lest its roots burn with the sun because they are not deeply fixed. If it is just dropped on any surface, birds can eat it and you will lose it. If it is among thorns, it will suffocate and not grow. But if it is in good […]

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