Blessed be the name of our Lord JESUS. God often speaks to us in our hearts, but many times we fail to pay attention to His voice. As a result, we end up in unnecessary troubles and hardships. The consequences of ignoring God’s voice are serious. Let us learn from the story of the prodigal son, who demanded his inheritance from his father. Luke 15:11–13 “Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.’” The son ignored the inner voice of wisdom and chose the path of self-indulgence. Scripture continues: Luke 15:14–16 “After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” But then comes the turning point: Luke 15:17–18 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’” The phrase “when he came to his senses” or literally “when he considered in his heart” shows us that God had already been speaking to him inwardly for a long time. His conscience was warning him that the path he had chosen was wrong, but he kept ignoring it—until the day he finally decided to listen. This is how God speaks to us today. Sometimes it is through His Spirit nudging our conscience, reminding us: “Do not go that way. Do not continue in that sin. Turn back to God.” But many of us harden our hearts and refuse to pay attention. The Bible says: Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” The Lord does not merely want our outward actions, but our hearts. When we ignore His voice, we walk into destruction. But when we yield, repent, and return to Him, we experience restoration—just like the prodigal son. Think about the examples: Jonah ignored God’s voice and ran away, only to face storms and the belly of a great fish (Jonah 1:3–17). Israel ignored the prophets, and judgment came upon them (2 Chronicles 36:15–16). But God is merciful. If you choose today to pay attention to His voice, He will welcome you back with open arms. Hebrews 3:15 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” So listen to the voice that urges you to pray, to fast, to study the Word, to forgive, to serve God, or even to leave a place or relationship that is not pleasing to Him. Ignoring that voice leads to pain, but obeying it brings life and blessing. May the Lord help us to always consider His voice in our hearts. If you desire to receive Jesus Christ into your life, open your heart to Him today.
Shalom! Welcome, let us study the Word of God together. There are difficult seasons every Christian will face—times of trials, tears, and hardships. These moments do not mean that God has abandoned you. Rather, they are part of our walk of faith. Scripture reminds us: “…that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.”(1 Thessalonians 3:3–4, ESV) So what should you do when you face trials or persecution—even when you know you are standing firm in the faith and have not turned back? There is only one answer: Stand your ground and move forward. Do not give up! Tears may come, but tears alone cannot carry you through. What you need is courage and strength in the Lord to press on. Learning from David’s Example Before David became king, he faced one of the darkest moments of his life. Scripture tells us that when he returned to his city of Ziklag, he found it destroyed by the Amalekites, his wives and the wives of his men taken captive, and all their possessions stolen. “And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.”(1 Samuel 30:3–4, ESV) Even David’s two wives had been captured (v. 5). After the men wept until no strength was left, things got even worse—his own men spoke of stoning him in their grief. Yet the Bible says something powerful: “…But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”(1 Samuel 30:6, ESV) Instead of remaining in despair, David turned to the Lord, sought His guidance, and was told to pursue the enemy. With God’s help, David defeated the Amalekites and recovered everything that had been taken (vv. 17–19). The Power of Strengthening Yourself in the Lord Beloved, there will be times when you feel drained and hopeless, but that is precisely when you must strengthen yourself in the Lord. As Paul wrote: “…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”(2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV) If David had only continued weeping without seeking God, he would have lost everything. But because he found strength in the Lord, he rose up in faith and saw God’s deliverance. Applying This in Our Lives If you are facing health challenges—strengthen yourself in the Lord. Continue in prayer, live with courage as though you are healed, and you will witness God’s wonders. If you are going through family struggles—strengthen yourself in the Lord. Keep praying, seek God’s wisdom, and He will make a way. If your children or marriage are in crisis—do not despair, but take courage in the Lord. If your ministry is under attack—strengthen yourself in the Lord and press forward. If your finances are under trial—strengthen yourself in the Lord, keep praying, and trust Him to open doors. No matter how long it takes, remember trials are temporary, but the courage you show in the Lord is what carries you through. Final Encouragement May the Lord help us to always remember that our strength is not in ourselves but in Him. When we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the power to overcome, just as He did for David. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”(Galatians 6:9, ESV) Beloved, share this good news with others. And if you have not yet received Jesus Christ into your life, we invite you to open your heart to Him today—He is ready to give you new life, hope, and strength. The Lord bless you.