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Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

The value of the heart
·Rapha Abreu

The value of the heart

One of the most well-known Bible verses is Matthew 6:21, which says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (KJV). But what does this verse truly mean? Focus “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:1-6 The passage in Matthew does not refer to “treasure” only in terms of material wealth, like gold and riches, but conveys the sense of “value.” The value I place on a particular matter, person, possession, or situation determines where my heart is. That’s why our notion of the greatest value, something unsurpassable, must be in Christ. If the place of greatest value for you is heaven, then your heart will be there. Everything you do and seek will be there. Direction “I press on toward the goal to win the […]

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Prayer: Directing the wind
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Directing the wind

There will be days when life is completely beautiful, like a summer evening with friends. At other times, there will be storms, and that’s normal! God is present in both. He cares, guides, and directs the wind. Just adjust the sails and fix your eyes on the Father. Would you like to pray about this together? Prayer “Father, I know that many times the strong winds and storms of life make me lose my way. There are moments when I feel disoriented, not knowing where to steer the ship of my life. But, Father, I know You are with me at every step of this journey, even when the sea seems too rough. Teach me, Lord, to adjust the sails so I can navigate according to Your will, towards Your plan for my life. May I not focus on the opposing winds, but on Your promise and direction. Give me wisdom to understand that, even though I cannot control the circumstances around me, I can trust in You, knowing that You are taking care of every detail. May my eyes always be fixed on Jesus, just as Peter walked on the water while looking at Him. Do not let the […]

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Adjust the sails
·Rapha Abreu

Adjust the sails

Many times we are on a path, and then, we divert our gaze. This changes our steps, actions, and goals, either leading us to the right path or diverting us to the wrong one. Towards Christ “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31 Keeping watch over the direction of our gaze is something that defines the direction of our steps. In Matthew 14, we see the story of Peter, where Jesus calls him to walk on water, and he goes to meet the Son. While Peter’s eyes were on Jesus, he stayed above the water. The invitation was made by God, the path was created by Him, but at a certain moment, Peter stops and looks at the waves. Then, he begins to sink. When Peter’s eyes were focused on Jesus, miracles happened; but when he focused on the storm and the problems, he strayed from the path of life. Steer the boat “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, […]

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Prayer: Seeking Divine Strength
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Seeking Divine Strength

Shall we pray for God’s presence and strength? This is a moment set aside for us to recognize our weakness before God and cry out for the work of the Holy Spirit. 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 recognize my weakness and limitations. I know that, by my own strength, I am not capable of facing the challenges that come my way. Many times, I try to be strong on my own, attempting to solve problems with my own hands, and I end up feeling lost, tired, and overwhelmed. There are moments when life feels too heavy, the struggles pile up, and I feel small before the challenges. But Your Word reminds me that I don’t need to be strong all the time because it is in You that I find true strength. Your grace is sufficient for me, Lord, and Your power is made perfect […]

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You are weak
·Rapha Abreu

You are weak

Your strength comes from God. He offers grace and love so that by seeking Him, you become strong. But to live this, you need to expose yourself, that is, open your heart and allow yourself to be molded by Him. Get exposed You’ve certainly heard someone say, or maybe you’ve said yourself, that we can only help someone who wants to be helped. This is also the dynamic of God’s aid. We need to recognize that we are sick so that He can act and heals us. The Gospel only saves those who recognize that they need salvation. This does not mean that only some of us need it, but that He can only act on those who know they need it. God does not invade; He is at your side, waiting for you to give Him freedom to act. That is why you need to recognize your limits and expose your weaknesses. What does the word say? Do you want examples of this in the Bible? In Mark 10:51, in the story of blind Bartimaeus, Jesus already knew the man’s need, yet He didn’t bring healing directly. He approaches the man and first asks, “What do you want Me […]

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Prayer: I want to see You
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: I want to see You

Let’s seek the face of God. He sees us, sees our hearts. Run to see Him, climb whatever tree you must to find Him. Shall we pray for this presence? Prayer Father, we acknowledge how sinful and weak we are, and we now place ourselves in Your presence, knowing that without You we are nothing, but with hearts full of hope, because we know that Your love for us is greater than any mistake we could make. Just like Zacchaeus, who longed to see Jesus, we too desire to find You, to be in Your presence, and to contemplate the beauty of Your face. Lord, we know we do not deserve to be before You. Just like Zacchaeus, who was despised by society because of his sins, we also carry guilt and wounds that separate us from You. But just as You did with Zacchaeus, we know that You look upon us with love, inviting us to sit at Your table, for a personal and profound relationship. Help us to seek Your face with all our being, to step out of our comfort zone, to leave behind all that holds us back, and to overcome our fears, so that we […]

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Climb the tree!
·Rapha Abreu

Climb the tree!

In Luke 19, we see the story of Zacchaeus, a man small in stature, but with an immense desire to see the Lord. Stay exposed “A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.” Luke 19:2-3 As we read the verses of this story, we might mistakenly interpret that the Lord saw Zacchaeus because he was in an elevated position. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, a group whose social status was equivalent to that of sinners, prostitutes, and lepers at the time. For this reason, he was considered as sinful and impure as they were, and people hated him. He always walked accompanied by Roman guards to ensure his safety. Even knowing the risk of being lynched, Zacchaeus exposed himself. He placed himself in a position of visibility, seeking to see the Son of God. Be vulnerable “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay […]

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Prayer: Surrendered to God
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Surrendered to God

I want to invite you to pray together about trust, surrender, and strength while God works, even in silence, when we can’t hear Him. 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, loving and merciful Father, we come before You now with surrendered hearts, full of a desire to follow Your will. We know that Your plan is perfect and that Your ways are always better than ours. Today, we completely surrender our lives into Your hands. We trust in Your unconditional love and infinite wisdom. Give us the courage to let go of control, and pour out Your grace upon us so that we can set aside our fears, anxieties, and selfish desires, allowing You to guide our steps. Father, we want to follow Your will in every moment and situation. Even when our prayers are not answered exactly as we ask, help us to […]

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Let my will be done
·Rapha Abreu

Let my will be done

The prayer is the most powerful weapon in a Christian’s life because it unites us with the Father and His will. In this way, we are guided by the Creator, with the aim of reaching the Kingdom, receiving all the other things we need. However, have we prayed for the Father’s will or our own will to be done? Ignored prayer The Bible teaches us in various passages about the importance of praying and connecting with the Father, maintaining a relationship with Him. We are instructed to present our requests to the Lord and to seek His will above all else. I have often heard people rely on the passage from Matthew 7:8, which says, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Notice that the word says, “everyone who asks, receives.” It doesn’t say, “receives what they ask for”, but receives… The problem is that if we don’t understand this detail in the phrase, we might become frustrated with some prayers, as if God were ignoring us. Free to move When God teaches us to pray the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, there’s a part that says, […]

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Prayer: Run to the Father
·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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Stop what you are doing
·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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Prayer: Walking with Jesus
·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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Dial Jesus
·Rapha Abreu

Dial Jesus

Prayer is not an emergency call we make when an accident happens or when we need to be heard. Seeking the Lord during difficult times demonstrates trust and love, but if we do not seek Him when things are going well, then prayer becomes merely a moment of desperation. Domain Prayer is not just a means by which we obtain what we want from God. He does instruct us to ask for what our hearts desire, but more than that, we need to align our dreams with His. It must be the way through which God receives from us what He wants. To pray is to connect heaven and earth, with the intention that God’s will be done in our lives, not for the earth to have dominion over heaven. Sometimes, your prayer is not being answered because it is trying to dominate God. The Bible says that the One who was taken and died as a lamb (Isaiah 53:3-7) will return as a roaring lion over the nations (Revelation 5:1-5). It is not easy to tame a lion. He is the One who reigns, and His authority is over everything and everyone. Follow Plan A Try to use your […]

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Prayer: His is the dominion
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: His is the dominion

Surrendering everything to God will always be the best choice of your life! Walking with Him and submitting each step to the Lord is the best path to follow. That is why today, I want to pray with you about this complete surrender and devotion 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 “Father, we acknowledge that everything we have and everything we are comes from You. You have given us the world and everything in it, entrusting us with stewardship over Your creation. But today, Lord, we want to lay everything at Your feet, subjecting the world and our lives to Your Son, Jesus Christ, giving Him dominion over all things. We know that when we place everything under the authority of Christ, He can perform wonders far beyond what we hope for or imagine. We trust in Your power, Father, and in Your infinite […]

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Submit yourselves!
·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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Prayer: Apple of the eye
·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Apple of the eye

We are children of God, which means He will always have a fatherly gaze toward us, a gaze of care and protection. He knows how limited we are and how we err, knows that we are imperfect and defenseless, and that we need His love and care. I want to invite you to pray together to recognize the sovereignty of 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 Father, we are grateful with all our hearts for Your unconditional love and infinite patience. We recognize that we are immature and often act impulsively, without considering the consequences of our actions, frequently disobeying Your word. Even amidst our failures and limitations, You love us and welcome us with open arms. We are beloved children and we know that Your eyes are upon us like those of a Father who loves and cares. We are small and defenseless and […]

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Immature and loved
·Rapha Abreu

Immature and loved

We have already talked about how dependent we are on the Father. No matter how much we know how to do certain things on our own, the best choice is still to follow His steps. He wants to be in control of our lives because He dreams of the best for us. Patient father “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:8-11 God knows everything, so He is by our side, already aware of our limitations and human mistakes. But He is patient with our childishness and immaturity. He knows our lack of knowledge and our difficulty in controlling ourselves. The Bible says in several verses how the Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love. In all the ancient stories, we see God showing immeasurable patience with His people, guiding them through spiritual deserts and moments of darkness. He sees us as beloved children, […]

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Prayer: Dependent on the Lord
·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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Independents
·Rapha Abreu

Independents

I don’t know the exact moment when you matured, when you realized that it was necessary to grow up. In each season of our lives, we learn something that shapes and transforms us. We learn so many things simultaneously and end up not giving everything its due value. Time to grow “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 I started working at 13 years old. I helped at a stationery store on the avenue near my house. It wasn’t my parents’ desire, and they only allowed it because they saw that it was my desire to have my own money and learn. As the owner of the place was a friend of theirs, I was able to go in to help her. I did various tasks, some days cleaning to maintain the environment, receiving new merchandise, among many other things that, even though they seemed small, made me grow a lot. I matured very early. Since that age, I knew the value of my money and my work, I had my responsibilities, […]

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Don’t compare yourself!
·Rapha Abreu

Don’t compare yourself!

You know that person you admire and look up to? I need to tell you something: she also has bad days, and her life is not perfect. Lives on screen These people will not go around shouting to the world that they have health problems, financial problems, or what struggles they are facing to everyone around them. Just like you don’t tell everyone that yesterday you went to sleep crying. What we see on social media or in person when we go out is a very small part of the lives of the people around us; there is no way to base it solely on that. God has been acting in your life too, delivering miracles and blessings every day. Don’t look around, don’t compare your path with others. Understand what He has done for you individually, with a measure made especially for you. You are loved You are no less loved because you are crying while others laugh. Just like it doesn’t mean God loves you more because you’re smiling now while others cry. Battles are necessary; struggles exist to make us grow and teach us, and we all go through them. We let the world see what suits […]

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Prayer: Deciding paths
·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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Stand firm!
·Rapha Abreu

Stand firm!

A position defines your limits and ideals. We are generally afraid to take a stand, as it brings many changes. Change is scary, and the beginning is uncomfortable. But you are not alone! Free in Christ “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 Often, when making the right decision, we get the impression that everything is going wrong around us. This happens because the light turns on and reveals everything. What you previously couldn’t see in the dark is now clear and visible, fixable. When we do not position ourselves in the face of a situation, we allow it to remain covered in uncertainty and fear, generating trauma within us. We get stuck in situations that make us sick. God offered you freedom and wants to introduce you to a lighter way of living life. Allowing changes “Whoever watches the wind will not plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4 There will be times when your positioning will make you lose people, or it will be necessary for you to say goodbye to places and dreams. In other situations, He will not move you from place to place or keep you […]

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Prayer: Building tomorrow
·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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Where does the future begin?
·Rapha Abreu

Where does the future begin?

You know that dream you have? That goal you work so hard to achieve? God is working on it today! Molded now Many times we want something so much that we can only look forward, forgetting today. But don’t belittle what you’re experiencing now, because this is when God is working. He is using what you have today so that you can achieve what you want and need tomorrow. He wants who you are today to transform and shape who you will be tomorrow. For the next day to come, you need to wait for today to end. So, make this day count! Creating today What you have may seem little to you now, because what we dream of is usually greater than what we already have, and what God has for us is even greater. This makes us look forward to tomorrow and close our eyes to the present. But God will use what you have now. Everything He has already placed in your hands is crucial so that you have the tools necessary to build the future. Everything you will experience begins based on the way you live today, the choices and directions you take now. Don’t forget […]

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