JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

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 19, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Rebuilding the altar

Shall we pray concerning our relationship with God? We must reconstruct the altar, renew our intimacy and profound connection with the Father, as He beckons us to do. Today, I wish to set aside this time to pray collectively regarding this commitment with the Lord, ensuring that we consistently prioritize the altar and submit to Him. 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 “Dear God, I thank You for Your constant presence in my life and for granting me access to You, even when I do not deserve it. I am eternally grateful for the grace of being able to be with You, God. I acknowledge the importance of rebuilding the altar of worship and relationship with You as a top priority. I desire to offer You my firstfruits, knowing that You have much more in store for me. Often, I find myself distracted by the […]

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March 18, 2024·Nicole Leao

Have you complimented anyone today?

Praise is just as important as warning. How many times have you mentally praised someone for a change in attitude and forgotten to verbalize it? Certainly we remember more to demand changes than to praise, when everything is fine we tend not to pay attention to the behavioral changes of those we live with, but when people do something that displeases us, we soon notice and get upset. Family relationships Now bringing it to a more specific topic, I have an 11 year old brother and like any child, sometimes he is a bit fumbling or doesn’t want to do what was asked of him at the time he should have done it and recently I realized that I as a sister was taking the wrong approach by just criticizing him about these things. Of course I can admonish him to be more committed to his tasks, but how many times has he done what he was supposed to do and come to me happy, and I in turn said “that’s very good, but it could always be like this”. I praised him, but soon after charged him for an attitude that he was already trying to change. Maybe in […]

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March 14, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Rebuild the altar

God is calling you to rebuild your story. He not only wants you to appear healed and renewed on the outside, but He desires a genuine transformation from within. He needs to flow in you for something to flow through you, through His hands. Build an altar to Him in your heart, and witness the Lord moving everything else. Restoring the connection “Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.” Ezra 3:3 If the altar is the first step in reconstructing your story, there will be no difficulty in building everything else. In the biblical context, the altar was a place of encounter with God, where sacrifices were offered as expressions of devotion, lament, and surrender. Rebuilding starting at the altar implies restoring connection and intimacy with the Lord first and foremost, placing Him at the center of our lives, and prioritizing our relationship with Him. After the people returned from exile in Babylon, the first thing they did in the reconstruction was to build the altar. They offered sacrifices and surrendered everything they had to God, seeking His presence […]

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March 12, 2024·Nicole Leao

Individualism does not come from God

Today I opened my cell phone and the first thing I saw on my social networks was a publication that praised the fact that people increasingly want to be alone. This is not in the context of taking time for yourself and reflecting, but of not wanting to live with other people, because as it was written in the unfortunate image “it’s work”. Now, is this what God expects from us? Is this the way Jesus would act? I have the impression that with each passing year I see a hyper valorization of “me”, where what is individual over collective good comes out. However, as much as the world is like this, we must not conform to this “standard”. We didn’t come to be served, but to serve Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 Our savior, who is worthy of all honor and glory, did not come into the world to be served, but to serve. He washed the feet of his disciples, being the main example of humility that we can have and showing what attitude he expects from his faithful. […]

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March 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Worship and faith

I want to invite you to pray together about faith and worship. In order to worship Him, giving everything we are and have, it is necessary to have complete faith in God, knowing that He will always do infinitely more than we ask or dream. He is a providing Father, and we will never be alone in our steps of faith and obedience. 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 “Dear God, we come before You with gratitude and praise, acknowledging Your faithfulness and presence in all circumstances. You consistently provide for us, and we have never been alone because You are always with us. We place our trust in You, not for what we receive through this faith, but because of who You are to us in every moment of our lives. Teach our hearts to worship Your name in all circumstances, whether in the […]

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March 07, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Get out of the boat!

When we hear the word “worship,” one of the first things that comes to mind is music, praising in songs. But it’s not just that. We can worship Him in songs and melodies, but worship is a lifestyle and holds a much deeper meaning. We need to worship Him beyond the comfort of the boat. Complete delivery The first mention of the word “worship” is found in Genesis 22, verse 5, where God instructs Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, to offer him as a sacrifice: “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” This initial mention of “worship” was associated with an offering, not a song. To worship means to be in complete devotion. This absolute surrender can occur through a song, but it is also evident in our decisions, the steps we take, the way we speak, act, and love. We can engage in various activities, but what characterizes an action as worship is the act of surrender. When we give something to the Lord, pour out everything at His feet, and submit it to His […]

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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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March 04, 2024·Nicole Leao

The Seasons of Life: Winter

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot; Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 Today we will finish the series “The Seasons of Life”, where through 4 texts we were led to reflect on the moments of our lives by making an analogy with the seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Without a doubt, we can say that our life is full of different circumstances that are not always well defined as the seasons. Sometimes spring is not only flowers and thinking about this I remembered a violin concerto by a very famous Italian composer named Antonio Vivaldi, entitled “The Four Seasons”. In his composition, through music he brings in different notes these nuances that exist within each season, just like life, but it is still possible to perceive that there is a cycle, a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the Bible we find numerous passages that speak exactly about this, the weather, and today we will talk about the winter. Winter Winter is the time of trials and struggles. It is also […]

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February 29, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Have great faith

We often read that we are children of love, of the One who is grace and mercy itself. Today, I want to remind you that we are also children of faith, of the One who is hope itself, alongside whom we are secure. Several passages in the Bible speak of this, aiming to fill us with this divine faith, love, and grace. Do not fear “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 Faith does not accept doubts; it generates certainties. It does not arise only afterwards, when we already know everything and have complete security in each step. It is born beforehand, in the darkness, when we cannot clearly see anything ahead of us. I once read that anxiety is the fear that God will make mistakes. However, He never errs. We can have faith and fully trust in His word, even before we have confirmations, trusting that our faith will confirm what is necessary. This is an invitation for you to trust and surrender everything to Him. God does not expect us to have a great faith in our own way. He desires that we have great faith, complete surrender. Follow His voice “Consequently, faith […]

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February 27, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Consuming fire

I want to invite you to pray together for revival. We are living in a time where we witness the desires of the flesh outweighing the purposes of the Spirit. People are getting lost, entangled in ties and chains that hold them back and distance them from God and His paths. But He calls us, you and me, to be voices in this generation, bringing His life back to hearts and spirits. One way to accomplish this is by praying for the people around you, for your city, and for your country. Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to pray exactly as I am about to do here. Everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy with Him. Feel free to speak to the Lord in your own way. However, if you wish, I am here to join you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, Your presence burns like fire, and we yearn to feel it once again, increasingly. It invigorates and purifies those who seek it with sincerity of heart, and that is precisely what we are doing in this moment. Bring life to our […]

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February 22, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Fighting with Christ

In Proverbs 3:5-6, it is written: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse reminds us of the importance of fully trusting in God and recognizing Him in all areas of our lives. In one of the previous texts (“Unnecessary Battles”), we discussed avoiding fighting battles that do not come from the Lord, conflicts that arise from our own decisions and can divert us from the plan that God has for us. Today, I want to pray with you for the courage to completely surrender our lives to God, trusting in His wisdom and guidance to lead us along the right path. 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 “Lord, I acknowledge that I often make decisions without seeking Your guidance, leading me into unnecessary battles. Today, I […]

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February 20, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Don’t just be a worker

God has called you to be a servant! For this reason, we should be grateful. The gratitude within us must come from the Lord, and it goes beyond being thankful only when we receive a reward after something we have done. Instead, we should truly be grateful for simply being here, even amidst challenging moments. This life style comes from understanding that we are servants first and foremost. Be a servant! “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26 The Word of God encourages us to be servants, not just workers. We can read in various passages that we should labor in the work, but in this context, this word is connected to “getting our hands dirty,” calling us to action, to GO! When we embrace the work, our hearts need to be those of servants. The worker acts thinking about what they will receive. The servant acts knowing that they have already received. The grace of God has already filled us; His mercy reaches us every day! There is no greater reason to be grateful. We should serve because we have been […]

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February 19, 2024·Nicole Leao

Is your heart a fertile soil?

In today’s reflection I want to remember the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13, in this passage Jesus speaks to a crowd in parables and then talks about the fertile soil which is an analogy to our heart: 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:3-8 Explanation of the Parable of the Sower The Lord Jesus himself explained the meaning of the Parable of the Sower to his disciples. Jesus explained that when someone hears the message of the kingdom but doesn’t understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what […]

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February 15, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Consumed by fire

The Bible mentions in several passages that God is a consuming fire and that we must burn for Him. However, for this, we also need discernment. We must constantly seek the Father’s wisdom to distinguish what comes from Him and what is merely burning out of a desire of the flesh. Revive us! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 When I hear these passages, revival comes to mind. Revival is not merely about gathering people and making noise. There is already plenty of noise that lacks the presence of God. Revival is the life of the Lord breathing life into us, resurrecting what was dead. And this is not about the volume of your voice, but rather the condition of your heart and your true intention. God knows us intimately; a whisper uttered with the spirit carries much more weight than a shout from the mouth. When the intention of our hearts is to seek the Father, His consuming fire surrounds us without any effort on our part. Special portion “And afterward, will pour out […]

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February 14, 2024·Nicole Leao

Have you been humble?

Today we will talk a little bit about humility here, a trait that is so important but sometimes seems so lacking for us. Humility is the opposite of being proud, arrogant, or haughty. As such, this is a trait that is highly praised throughout the Bible and often precedes honor, as is written in Proverbs 15:33, and 18:12. In the eyes of the world, many times being a humble person is a sign of weakness or something bad, but we should not see it this way, because it takes a lot of wisdom and self-control to act this way. There are several biblical passages that emphasize the need to have a humble spirit. Grace is bestowed on the humble He mocks mockers, but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34 True humility is developed by the action and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In this way, humility is not a mere inferiority complex, but rather, a sincere attitude that gives no room for self-sufficiency. He who is truly humble recognizes his total dependence on God; he knows that everything he has comes from the Lord. As it is written in the word above, the Bible says that […]

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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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February 05, 2024·Nicole Leao

Series: What cure do you need? [Emotional Healing]

Today we will continue the series “What healing do you need?”, where through three reflections we will recall biblical stories of physical, emotional and spiritual healing, in which the Lord worked in favor of his children, showing once again his glory and infinite goodness. In the last text we talked about physical healing, and today we will talk about emotional healing, a subject that has become more and more important considering the world we live in. Overwork, polarization, information coming at us all the time, and so many other things, more and more we see people with stress, anxiety, depression, and other bad things that affect even children. Of course, all this has not arisen in our time, and in the Bible you can already find stories of emotional healing, because since there is sin on earth, we human beings have led much more arduous lives. However, fortunately our savior sacrificed himself for us and today we no longer have to carry the weight of sin, for we have been set free. I want to remind you that emotional diseases can have several reasons, not only spiritual ones, and that there are qualified professionals that we can seek to help […]

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January 31, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Boldness to take a stand

I want to invite you to pray together about taking a stand. Just as in times of affliction and wars, Deborah stood up as a mother for the nation of Israel, may we have the authority and boldness to follow the steps that God calls us to take. 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 free to talk to the Lord in your way. But, if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer Father, thank You for Your infinite kindness, even in the midst of the difficulties and wars that I face during these days. I ask for Your guidance and peace today. Make me sensitive to Your voice, following the call You have for me. May I learn from You how to position myself with wisdom and discernment. Make my spirit willing to follow Yours, and may no battle have the power to silence Your voice in my ears. I want to recognize You not only in moments of rest but also […]

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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 29, 2024·Nicole Leao

The importance of constancy in your life

How important it is to stand firm, to be constant in what we do. We have been living in liquid times, where the word constancy has been losing its meaning, however, the word of God instructs us to be constant. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, it is written: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast and constant, always abundant in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not vain in the Lord. Unfortunately, what we have seen out there is exactly the opposite and as a result we have the increase of divorces, constant changes of employment, people giving up on their dreams, and furthermore, many giving up on preaching the gospel. But as we have seen, the words of the apostle Paul exhort us to take a counter-cultural attitude and be firm, just like our God. Without constancy we are not able to build anything, nor to get anywhere. Whoever has tried to learn an instrument knows very well how important daily study is for progress and with our faith, it is no different, we need constantly to be nourished by the word, to be in prayer and to talk about God’s love so that more people can […]

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