JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

March 26, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Surrender to the Source

Father, I know that many times I act as if I were the one who is always right. How often have I trusted more in my own understanding than in Your wisdom, forgetting that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Today I surrender, recognizing that true wisdom does not come from within me, but from You. I confess my pride. Many times I struggle to accept correction, to listen, and to acknowledge when I am wrong. My ego speaks louder than Your voice. Therefore, I ask You—break in me everything that prevents me from having a teachable heart that is sensitive to Your direction. Teach me to trust less in myself and more in You. May my heart not be grounded in my own opinions, but in Your truth. As Your Word says, what I value directs my life, so align my desires, thoughts, and decisions with Your will, so that I will not lose my way by trusting in myself. Holy Spirit, work in me the humility to recognize when I am wrong and the maturity to accept and allow myself to be shaped by Your hands of love and justice. Even when […]

heart love-of-god obedience prayer

March 24, 2026·Rapha Abreu

The Owner of reason

Chapter 27 of the Book of Numbers presents one of the most striking scenes in the Old Testament: a moment in which God Himself affirms the justice of women who dared to stand up for themselves. Amid the preparation of the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land, a story emerges that profoundly reveals the Lord’s care for each of His daughters. The daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) appear in a context where culture and law favored only men. Even so, they rise up—not in rebellion, but with faith and a sense of justice—showing that God has never been indifferent to female dignity. Standing up against injustice “Our father died in the wilderness…. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” Numbers 27:3–4 The five women knew that, according to the law, they were not entitled to their father’s inheritance. However, they refused to accept silence as an answer. Instead, they went to Moses, the leaders, and the entire assembly to present their case. This moment reveals something powerful: faith is also about taking a stand. They were not challenging God, but […]

grace holy-spirit love-of-god wisdom

March 19, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: The sound of worship

Father, I praise You because all creation reveals Your greatness, and yet You have chosen to hear the sound of my worship. The heavens, the earth, and everything that exists glorify You, but You have given me the privilege of knowing You and responding with a praise that comes from the heart. Thank You because I can draw near to You not only as creation, but as a child. Teach me not to live a worship that is automatic, empty, or distracted. I don’t want to merely exist before You—I want to recognize You, love You, and honor You in a conscious and intimate way. May my worship not depend on circumstances, but on the revelation of who You are. Even in difficult days, may my soul choose to worship You. Thank You because my worship carries redemption through Jesus. I do not praise You only as Creator, but as Savior, as Father. Your love found me, restored me, and brought me back into Your presence. May I never forget this. May every word that comes out of my mouth carry gratitude for all that You have already done for me. God, awaken in me a sensitivity to hear Your […]

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March 17, 2026·Rapha Abreu

A sound that only comes from us

All of creation reveals the glory of God. The sky, the sea, the mountains, and even the wind express, in their own way, who He is. There is a constant praise happening all around us, often imperceptible to our ears because it is so commonplace in our daily lives, yet fully known by God. Yet, there is something unique about human worship. There is a sound, a surrender, an awareness that only we, as His children, can offer. Nature praises for what it was created to be. We worship because we know who created us, and that changes everything. Creation glorifies “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1 Nature lives in constant witness to the greatness of the Creator. The sun rises and sets in perfect order, the seas obey their limits, and all creation responds to the voice of God without question. Psalm 148 invites the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the earth to praise the Lord. This praise does not depend on choice, feeling, or circumstance. Creation fulfills its purpose automatically, reflecting God’s majesty simply by existing. It doesn’t need to understand in order to obey; it simply responds […]

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March 12, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Transformed

Father, I come before You with gratitude for the new life I have received in Christ. Thank You because the Gospel did not come merely to improve what we once were, but to transform us completely. You did not simply want to patch my failures, but to give me a new identity, a new hope, and a new path through Jesus. Many times I try to live this new life while still holding on to old habits, thoughts, and structures within me. I want to experience Your grace, yet I still carry parts of the old self. Forgive me when I try to place the “new cloth” of Your Word over the old garments of my pride, my sin, or empty traditions. Teach me to allow You to transform my heart completely. God, help me to deeply understand what it means to live the Gospel. Just as Jesus said that new wine requires new wineskins, prepare my heart as well to receive what You desire to pour into my life. Renew my mind, purify my thoughts, and shape my character so that I may live in a way that reflects the new life I have received in You. Lead my […]

follow-jesus grace holy-spirit love-of-god

March 10, 2026·Rapha Abreu

The Gospel is not a patch

The coming of Jesus was a turning point in human history. His message was not merely an improvement of the existing religious system, nor simply an adjustment to human traditions. The Gospel brought something completely new: a new covenant, a new way, and a new life for those who believe. Many times we try to live this newness while keeping old structures within us. We want to experience the grace of God, but without letting go of patterns, thoughts, and habits that belong to the past. However, Jesus made it clear that the Gospel is not a patch on an old life, but a complete and true transformation, through a deep pursuit of Him. The mew patch and the old garment “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16–17 The illustration used in Matthew 9 shows that the message of the Kingdom […]

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March 05, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Fruit of Life

Father, today we place ourselves before You, recognizing that You know all things. You know what we were, what we are, and what we will still become. Even knowing our failures, wrong choices, and weaknesses, You continue to call us close. Just as in the beginning, when You placed before humanity the choice between obeying or disobeying, You continue to offer us the path of life. We were not created as robots or forced servants, but as children who are free to choose to walk with You in love. Many times we are like Adam and Eve. We know what is right, yet we are still drawn to what seems easier, faster, or more pleasurable. Our hearts are fragile and easily deceived by our own desires. Forgive us for the times we chose the “fruit” that You told us not to touch. Forgive us for the times we preferred our own will instead of Your direction. God, teach us to choose obedience every day. May Your Spirit give us discernment to recognize the voices that try to pull us away from You. May we remember that Your commandments were never meant to limit us, but to protect us and lead […]

follow-jesus love-of-god obedience prayer

March 03, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Eating the forbidden fruit

From the beginning, God knew everything. He knew what had been, what is, and what was yet to come. He knew the lies we have already told, the sins we have hidden, and even the mistakes we will still commit. So the inevitable question arises when we read Genesis: if He knew that Adam would fall, that Eve would be deceived, and that the serpent would be there, why did He place the tree in the garden? This is one of humanity’s oldest questions. Some even ask: Was God inconsistent? Selfish? Did He create an unfair test? But perhaps we are looking at the story through the wrong lens. The tree does not reveal a divine flaw; it reveals the depth of God’s love. Love requires a choice “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17 The presence of the tree reveals something fundamental: God created children, not robots. Love without the possibility of choice is not love—it is slavery. For obedience to have value, the possibility […]

follow-jesus grace kingdom-of-god obedience

February 26, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Death that gives birth to life

God, I thank You because You do not merely allow me to dream about what is great, but You call me to live what is Eternal. I am taught every day that each new spiritual step requires the death of my own “self,” of my plans, desires, and will, so that Your will may flourish in me. Give me the courage to surrender completely, knowing that only in You do I find true life. Help me understand that the journey with You is not designed to be comfortable, but to be transformative. I do not want to measure my value by what I achieve or control; I want my surrender to be driven by the pursuit of a deeper and deeper relationship with You. May I not fear the “deaths” You allow—open my eyes to see them as doors leading to the purpose prepared for me by Your hands. When the world leads me to see the process of surrender as frustration or abandonment, remind my heart that You do not want to leave me empty-handed, but to create space in my hands to receive what is greater and Eternal, filling me continuously. Turn my struggles into faith, my surrender […]

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February 24, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Steps of death and life

The journey with God is not a ladder of personal achievements, but an altar of daily surrender. Every new spiritual level, every greater responsibility, and every deeper purpose require something from us: surrender. In the Kingdom of God, growth does not mean accumulating, but emptying. There is a truth we often avoid: every spiritual step carries a death. The death of pride, of personal plans, of human expectations, and often of what we insist on calling a “dream.” But it is precisely in this place—the death of our “self”—that we find true life. God never calls us to lose, but to exchange. He invites us to surrender what is limited in order to receive what is Eternal. The more we pour out at His feet, the more room we create for Him to live in us. Death that gives birth to life “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 Jesus made it clear that the principle of the Kingdom is death that produces life. The seed must be buried and seemingly “lost” in order to bear […]

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February 19, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Strengthened by prayer

Father, I come before You, bowed down, recognizing that I do not have enough strength in myself to face life’s battles. Thank You for calling me close every day, not so that I would be ashamed of my limits and weaknesses, but so that I may find strength in You. May I seek You more and more, finding each day a deeper intimacy with You and the peace that only Your presence can give. I want to go deeper, God. Many times I want to move forward through my own efforts instead of through prayer that is born from a surrendered heart. Forgive me for trying to live the Christian life based on my own abilities and strategies rather than in constant dependence on You. Teach me that bent knees are not a sign of weakness, but of spiritual wisdom—where I find clearer direction than in any human plan. Holy Spirit, dwell in my heart and teach it to pour out worries, fears, and plans at Your feet. May I not seek only quick answers, but Your face and Your presence. May I not be led by my feelings or my own will; I want to live in constant communion […]

faith follow-jesus prayer wisdom

February 17, 2026·Rapha Abreu

On your knees

We live in a generation that desires quick results, supernatural experiences, and remarkable stories to tell. We want miracles, open doors, and powerful testimonies. But often, we are not willing to go through the process that produces them. In the Kingdom of God, our knees take us farther than our feet. The spiritual life is not sustained by haste, but by dependence. It is not about chasing opportunities, but about pouring ourselves out in His presence. Before great public victories, there are secret encounters with God. And it is there, in the place of prayer, that everything begins to be transformed. The pressure that produces oil “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5–6 “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). The prayer of the righteous is powerful because it is born from surrender. We want oil, but we forget that oil is only produced when the olive is pressed. A testimony is not born from comfort, but from process. In 2 Kings 4, the […]

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February 12, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Leave the future

God, I thank You because You teach me daily that true faith is not about knowing everything before acting, but about obeying what has already been revealed to us. Just as Abraham obeyed without having all the answers, I also want to learn to trust You even when I do not understand the whole path. Give me a heart willing to obey today. When anxiety about the future tries to paralyze me, teach me to rest in the present. I do not want to live calculating challenges that have not yet arrived, nor measuring my strength by what I imagine I will need tomorrow. Help me to live each day with the confidence that Your grace will be renewed according to every need, exactly as You have already promised me. Help me to number my days. I want to look at the “staff” that is in my hand, what has already been entrusted to me now, instead of becoming anxious about what has not yet happened. Teach me to recognize that obedience begins in the present, and that Your direction is revealed step by step, under Your constant providence. Holy Spirit, renew my faith and purify my heart so that […]

faith love-of-god prayer wisdom

February 10, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Return to the present

“By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed and went to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 We live in a generation that wants explanations before obedience. We want clarity, guarantees, and security before taking any step. But in the Kingdom of God, the path is often the opposite: first we obey, then we understand. The space between obeying today and God explaining later is called faith. Faith does not eliminate questions, but it teaches us to walk even while they remain. We will not always have all the answers before acting, but we will have enough direction for the next step. God allows certain uncertainties not to confuse us, but to form us. Obedience without immediate explanation builds trust. When we learn to trust God’s character, even without understanding His ways, our faith stops being circumstantial and becomes relational. Do not measure the future “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 A common mistake, in moments when we do not have clear or specific answers, is trying to calculate future challenges […]

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February 05, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: The full joy of presence

Father, I thank You because Your joy does not depend on my circumstances, nor on the places, achievements, or failures of this world. Even when my heart feels heavy or when situations change, You remain unchanging, and Your joy is available to me—not by merit, but by Your grace and mercy poured out over my life. May my joy be rooted in You and in You alone. Lord, help me understand that true joy is not a passing feeling, but the fruit of Your presence, and I want to live seeking that presence. Even when my feelings change and emotions fluctuate, keep my faith in You unshaken, for You are the source of joy that never runs dry. Renew in me the joy that comes from communion with You and from recognizing that You are greater than any situation. I ask that You fill me with this joy every day, even in the midst of difficulties. May I experience the contentment that is born from trusting You, knowing that You are with me in every step of the journey. May the joy I receive from You also be strength for my days, encouragement for my walk, and a testimony of […]

follow-jesus happiness kingdom-of-god prayer

February 03, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Circumstantial joy

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 We live in a world that associates joy with places, people, positions, and achievements. We believe we will only be happy when something changes: a relationship, an environment, a job title, or a season of life. But this way of thinking carries a silent trap. If joy comes from external sources, it will always be unstable. When we expect others to make us happy, we are asking of them something they may not even possess. We demand that people, churches, jobs, and situations supply a need they were never meant to fill. This expectation generates frustration, abandonment, and a cycle of empty new beginnings. Scripture confronts us with a deeper truth: true joy does not arise from circumstances, but from the presence of God. If we do not believe this, we fail to access what has already been offered to us. The temptation to give up “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 We tend to give up when something stops making emotional sense. This is one of the greatest […]

faith follow-jesus grace love-of-god

January 28, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Close to Christ

Father, we place ourselves before You, recognizing that many times, when we fail, we allow shame to speak louder than Your grace. Instead of running into Your arms, we hide, believing that our mistakes have made us unworthy of Your presence. Today, however, we choose to hear Your voice calling us by name, just as You called Adam in the garden, reminding us that Your love has never stopped seeking us. Forgive us for still believing, even subtly, that we are accepted because of what we do and not because of what Christ has already done. Free us from a mindset of merit, from the attempt to negotiate dreams with You through works, and teach us to rest in the truth of the Gospel—that we were loved before any action of our own. May the cross once again be the center of our hearts and our faith. Lord, help us to live according to the true order of love. May we not seek You in order to be accepted, but run toward You because we have already been received by Your love. May our prayer, obedience, and surrender flow from gratitude, not fear. Teach us to live as children who […]

follow-jesus grace love-of-god prayer

January 27, 2026·Rapha Abreu

From discomfort to purpose

God does not always lead us to purpose through comfortable paths. Often, what awakens us to obedience is not tranquility, but discomfort. The story of Jonah reveals that God, in His love, allows uncomfortable environments not to punish us, but to reposition us. Discomfort, when guided by God, becomes an instrument of alignment. Fleeing from the calling “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” Jonah 1:3 Jonah received a clear command: go to Nineveh and proclaim repentance. But instead of obeying, he chose to flee toward Tarshish, in the opposite direction. His escape was not only geographical, but spiritual. He tried to distance himself from the calling because he did not agree with God’s plan. Many times, we do the same. When God’s will confronts our emotions, desires, or sense of justice, we try to choose paths that seem more comfortable, acting as if obedience depended on our agreement with the Word. But running away never leads to true peace. Disobedience may feel like temporary relief, […]

follow-jesus grace love-of-god obedience

January 22, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Love that draws near

God, I thank You because even when I fail and guilt tries to pull me away from You, You remain faithful and continue to pour out Your grace. When Adam and Eve experienced shame and hid from You, they were not rejected. You called them by name. Show me that shame does not have the final word in my life, because Your grace has already spoken louder at the cross. Forgive me for the times I believed, even subtly, that I am accepted by my efforts or my works. Free me from the false idea that I am loved because of what I do, and not simply because I was loved first. Teach me to live in the truth that I seek, pray, and obey because I have already been loved by You — not to earn that love. Father, when guilt comes as accusation and tries to paralyze me and distance me from Your presence, remind my heart that the Gospel is not a system of merit, but a message of redemption. May I not hide my heart from You out of fear or shame, but run into Your arms, knowing that there is no condemnation for those who […]

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January 20, 2026·Rapha Abreu

The guilt that distances us

Many times, when we fail, the first feeling that arises is not repentance, but shame. It makes us retreat, fall silent, and distance ourselves from God, as if our mistake had made us unworthy of His presence. However, this reaction reveals something deeper: at some level, we still believe that the Gospel revolves around us. But the center was never us. It has always been Christ. Accepted by works “Hearing the man and his wife the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” Genesis 3:8–10 Since Eden, shame has been a human response to sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, they did not run toward God—they hid from Him. Guilt produced distance, and distance produced fear. Shame is born when we believe God looks at us through our failure rather than through His love. When we fail and find it difficult to draw near, it reveals that […]

follow-jesus grace holy-spirit love-of-god

January 15, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Beyond the answers

God, I recognize that many times I run after answers, spiritual maps, and clear directions, but You call me first of all to Your presence—and that is what I want to seek. Help me understand that it is not merely knowing plans, but knowing You deeply, that transforms my steps and my heart. May I never seek decisions before truly seeking You. Father, I ask that You teach me to hear Your voice—not just occasionally, but continuously, with sensitivity and courage to follow You in faith. Jesus said that His sheep hear Your voice and follow You (John 10:27), and I want to be someone who recognizes Your voice in the silence, in everyday life, and even in the simple choices of life. Enable me to trust You with all my heart, not only when answers are easy or quick. I want to find You first, and then have the paths and calling revealed. Teach me not to depend on my own understanding; I want to align my ways and steps with Yours, according to Your paths and dreams. Lord, I ask that Your presence be the center of my daily life. When I seek first the Kingdom of God […]

follow-jesus grace kingdom-of-god prayer

January 13, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Remain in His presence

It is common to ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” In the midst of decisions, expectations, and dreams, we seek clear, quick, and definitive answers. We want to understand our calling, our mission, and the next step. However, many times God does not respond with a complete map, but with an invitation: remain in His presence. God’s will is not, most of the time, revealed all at once. It is discerned along the journey, through daily obedience that builds intimacy with Him. Before revealing destinations, God shapes hearts. Before showing the “where,” He works on the “who.” The presence of God is not a reward for those who get it right, but the path for those who desire to walk with Him. When we understand this, we stop running after answers and begin to rest in the One who guides every step. God’s will is born in His presence “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4–5 Moses did not ask for direction first; he asked for presence. In Exodus 33:14, God […]

follow-jesus kingdom-of-god obedience wisdom

January 08, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: God’s dreams

Lord God, we thank You because even when our plans fail and our paths seem uncertain, You remain in control of everything. We are grateful because we are not abandoned in the face of frustration, but we can trust that You are Sovereign and care for every detail of our lives. Help us to recognize that our dreams, even when they are good, need to be placed in Your hands, trusting that Yours are far greater. Forgive us for the times when we trust more in our own understanding than in Your guidance. When frustration arises because things do not happen as we imagined, remind our hearts that Your eyes see far beyond what we can comprehend and that You are always redirecting our steps toward something better. Teach us to rest in You and not in our own efforts. Father, teach us to respond biblically to frustration and anxiety. Instead of lamenting or complaining, may we bring everything before You in prayer and with gratitude, knowing that the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts. May our faith not depend on circumstances, but on the certainty that Your hands are at work even when we do not […]

faith follow-jesus grace prayer

January 06, 2026·Rapha Abreu

Frustrated

Each new “cycle” is usually accompanied by well-defined plans, goals, and expectations. We dream, organize paths, and imagine outcomes. However, when reality does not align with what we planned, frustration arises. Everyday Christian life teaches us that frustration is not the end of the journey, but it can be the point where God begins to lead us into something much greater. God remains in control “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 Frustration arises when we place too much trust in what we have planned and forget that God sees beyond what we can see. When our plans fail, it does not mean that God is late, but that He is redirecting us. Surrendering our plans to the Lord is an exercise of daily faith. Psalm 37:5 invites us to trust, rest, and wait for God to act. Frustration becomes lighter when we understand that we do not carry the weight of the future alone. God not only knows the way—He walks with us. In everyday Christian life, learning to deal with frustrated plans is learning to depend less on our own control and more on divine direction. The failure of an […]

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