JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

October 22, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Mirroring Christ

Let’s pray together about being good channels of God’s word? 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 Beloved Father, teach my heart to be an example of Your love and grace. May my life reflect the light of Christ, showing others the greatness of Your mercy. Guide my actions and words, and teach my steps. I want to honor Your name and bring glory to the Lord. Thank you for the opportunity to be used by You! God, I desire to become more like Jesus in thoughts and attitudes. May I be a living testimony of Your goodness, bearing fruit that glorifies Your name and draws others to Your Kingdom. Let my life be an invitation to the transformation that only You can provide. In moments of challenge, strengthen me to act with grace and compassion. I want to be a constant reflection of Your character. Help […]

follow-jesus grace prayer

October 17, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Have you been an example?

God uses people, places, and situations to teach each of us. And often, we are also the ones He uses to teach others. Honorable children “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you…” John 15:1-4 God uses you as an example in one way or another, either as a model of what to do or as a model of what not to follow. You were created and are being directed by God to produce for Him, honoring and bringing glory to His name. He will use you as an example. If you work for the Kingdom, you will be a child that God is proud of, like a father who speaks proudly of what his child has done and how honored he feels to have him. But if you work only to benefit yourself, you will be like someone we should not use as a basis or inspiration. Get up! “Therefore, I urge you, brothers […]

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October 14, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Transformed by love

Today, I want to invite you to set aside this time for us to pray together. We constantly receive undeserved grace, and through it, we are shaped and transformed by God and His mercy. 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, I thank You for Your undeserved grace that reaches my life and transforms my being. There is nothing I can do to earn this love, but through Your mercy, I am rescued and renewed by Your word. Your promises never change nor fail, You remain the same at all times, and I am grateful for this constant and unconditional love. Teach me to live each day aware of this precious gift. Help me to be humble and thankful for every detail. Transform my heart, Father. Shape my character into the image of Christ. Even in difficult moments, may I see Your hand working in me, […]

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October 10, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Transformative Grace

The presence of God comes to give new meaning to everything. He comes to redefine your life and your journey. It’s not the end! “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 Before, death only meant “the end.” Something that ceases to exist, no longer among us. It brought fear and uncertainty. But Jesus redefined death. Through Him, death became the beginning of everything, the fulfillment of God’s promise. This is the most wonderful part of grace: how it contradicts the obvious, how it doesn’t follow a pattern. It is poured out in a unique portion for each person, for each season, and for each situation. It is unique and incomparable! Comes from God “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25 To the world, it seems like foolishness. But for those who believe in God and know His Word, it is the power of God. Without Jesus’ death, the Christian faith would just be an ideology. An ideology can easily be created by intelligent people, but Christianity was not conceived by humans. Grace, mercy, and this […]

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October 07, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Towards the Extraordinary

Shall we pray for the journey towards the goal? That God may shape and transform us both on an ordinary day and on an extraordinary one. He is working! Prayer Lord, I thank You for every simple moment in my day and for each daily task that, even when it seems to lack purpose and significance, shapes my character and brings me closer to Your plan. May I recognize the value of small actions and details that transform me according to Your will. Teach me to be faithful in every task You entrust to me, knowing that obedience in the ordinary paves the way for the extraordinary. May I not seek only great achievements, but also have the humility to serve in what seems small, without constantly seeking what is considered great in the eyes of others. May Your Spirit lead me to be constant and persevering. Let me see Your purpose in every situation, developing patience and gentleness, just as Christ did in His simplicity. Just as the Son was prepared, prepare me for the promise You have given me. Increase my faith to see that You are present in all areas of my life, using the most common […]

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October 03, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Molded in the ordinary

God has placed you in situations that are not His ultimate purpose for your life, but that shape and prepare you for that greater plan. Daily “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” Hebrews 5:8-9 Jesus wasn’t made to be a carpenter, but for 30 years, He was in that position. He knew deep inside that carpentry was not His life’s purpose. He was created and destined for something much greater. God prepared His Son through simple, everyday activities for a supernatural calling, and He can prepare and transform you in your work and daily tasks as well. Constantly obedient “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us” 2 Corinthians 1:21 We often think that God only prepares us spiritually when we are in a spiritual environment. Of course, that strengthens our contact and relationship with God, but it is not the only place where He works. He is using your daily obedience and consistency to build the supernatural, not through extraordinary events. The one who is faithful in little is also faithful in much. The […]

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October 01, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Aligning the Focus

I want to invite you to pray together today, asking God to teach our hearts about the true value of things, so that we may prioritize the Kingdom and everything that leads us to Him and to Christ in our lives. 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 “Beloved Father, I come before You with an open and sincere heart, asking that my heart may find in You the true value and treasure. Teach me to have a pure heart, like David’s, who sought Your presence above all else. May I keep Your word within me, so that it may guide my thoughts, words, and actions. May my priorities be aligned with Your will, and may my goal be to seek Your Kingdom above all. Grant me wisdom to discern what is eternal and dedicate my life to it. I want to keep my heart focused on […]

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September 26, 2024·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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September 24, 2024·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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September 19, 2024·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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September 16, 2024·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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September 12, 2024·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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September 10, 2024·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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September 05, 2024·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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September 03, 2024·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 […]

faith grace heart prayer

August 29, 2024·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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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 […]

follow-jesus heart love-of-god prayer

August 15, 2024·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 […]

faith heart obedience prayer

August 12, 2024·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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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 […]

follow-jesus love-of-god obedience wisdom

August 05, 2024·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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August 01, 2024·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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