Studying the Holy Bible is essential for every Christian’s spiritual growth. It is through the Scriptures that we come to know God more deeply, strengthen our faith, and receive guidance for life.

Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

Before opening the Bible, always begin with prayer. Ask God for wisdom and ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and interpreter of the Word.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Practical Steps to Study the Bible Deeply

1. Pray before and during your study Prayer opens your heart and mind to receive revelation. Make prayer a daily habit, not just during Bible reading.
2. Set a fixed time and place Daily life is busy, so choose a specific time (early morning often works best) and a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.
3. Read the Bible daily Start with at least one chapter a day. Over time, 30 minutes daily will make a huge difference in your spiritual life.
4. Create a study plan Define clear goals:
   • What is my purpose in studying the Bible?
   • Which topic do I want to explore?
   • What practical lessons can I apply to my life? A great way to begin is by choosing simple topical studies (prayer, forgiveness, faith, identity in Christ, etc.).
5. Keep a study notebook Write down everything: verses that impact you, questions, reflections, cross-references, and practical applications. This notebook will become a treasure over the years.
6. Use reliable tools
   • Study Bible with cross-references
   • Apps and websites like YouVersion, Bible Gateway, Blue Letter Bible
   • Trusted biblical commentaries
   • Video lessons, podcasts, and e-books from solid teachers Always check everything against Scripture itself.
7. Read the text in context Never isolate a verse. Read the entire chapter and, when needed, the chapters before and after. Ask: Who wrote it? To whom? When? Why? What is the main theme?
8. Compare different Bible translations Reading the same passage in versions like KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, or NASB helps capture nuances and prevents misinterpretation.
9. Read good Christian books and resources Authors such as Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, John Piper, and others are excellent companions — always verifying everything in the Bible.
10. Play soft worship music (optional) Many people concentrate better with gentle praise in the background. Choose instrumental playlists or songs that exalt Christ to create an atmosphere of peace and communion.

Conclusion: Persist in Knowing the Lord

Studying the Bible is not just about gaining information; it is about life transformation. The more you immerse yourself in the Word, the more the Holy Spirit will illuminate your mind and change your heart.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes at the beginning — we all do. The important thing is to keep going. As Hosea said: “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.”

Start today. One chapter a day, a sincere prayer, a notebook in hand. Soon you will see your faith strengthened, your mind renewed, and your relationship with God deeper than ever before.

In Genesis 2:4-25, the Word of God reveals precious details about the formation of the Garden of Eden and the beginning of humanity. Before everything, the text shows a scenario still without complete vegetation:

1. no plant of the field had sprouted,
2. the Lord had not yet made it rain on the earth,
3. and there was no man to till the soil.

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. (Genesis 2:4-6)

It was in this environment that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Only then did man become a living soul.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. (Genesis 2:7-8)

Soon after, the Lord made every tree grow out of the ground that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, highlighting two special ones in the midst of the garden: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)

A river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted into four heads: Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates (Genesis 2:10-14).

God placed man in the garden to tend and keep it, giving him full freedom to eat from all the trees except one.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

The death announced was not just physical, but mainly spiritual: separation from God because of disobedience. Paul explains this clearly:

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

Seeing that it was not good for man to be alone, God declared:

It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18)

After Adam named all the animals and no suitable helper was found among them, God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, took one of his ribs, and formed woman.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:21-25)

At that moment, Adam and Eve lived in perfect innocence. There was no evil or shame, because sin had not yet entered the world.

Final Reflection

The chapter shows us a personal God who creates with purpose, provides abundantly, gives responsibility, and completes man with woman a suitable helper. All this points to God’s perfect plan before the entry of sin and, at the same time, prepares the heart to understand the need for the Redeemer who would come through Jesus Christ.

Genesis is the book that opens the Holy Bible, and its first chapter contains the majestic account of the creation of the heavens, the earth, and everything in them. With impressive details, the text reveals God’s absolute power and the perfect method He used: His Word.

The First Day: The Light that Overcomes Darkness

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)

The word “form” (in Hebrew tohu) means something without shape, chaotic. God begins by commanding with a single expression: “Let there be.”

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5)

The light created here is not the sun (which appears only on the fourth day), but a supernatural light that already reveals the creative power of God’s Word. Throughout the chapter, the phrase “And God said” appears exactly 10 times (verses 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, and 29), showing that everything exists because He spoke.

Fingerprints of the Creator

The number three appears in a fascinating way throughout creation, reflecting the Trinity itself (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit):

• Water: 2 hydrogen atoms + 1 oxygen atom
• Earth: the 3rd planet in the solar system
• Human being: spirit, soul, and body
• Time: past, present, and future
• Space: length, width, and height
• Matter: protons, neutrons, and electrons
• States of matter: solid, liquid, and gas
• Music: melody, harmony, and rhythm

Everything points to the Triune God who reveals Himself from the very first verse.

The Second Day: The Firmament

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. (Genesis 1:6-8)

God creates the atmosphere, separating the waters below (oceans) from the waters above (vapor and clouds), preparing the planet to receive life.

The Third Day: Land, Seas, and Vegetation

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day. (Genesis 1:9-13)

Continents, seas, and all vegetation appear each plant with its own seed, according to its kind. Everything perfect and orderly.

The Fourth Day: Sun, Moon, and Stars

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)

Now the sun appears to rule the day, the moon the night, and the stars also serving as signs for seasons, days, and years.

The Fifth Day: Life in the Waters and in the Sky

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. (Genesis 1:20-23)

Fish, whales, birds every aquatic and flying creature is created and blessed to be fruitful and multiply.

The Sixth Day: Land Animals and Man

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:24-31)

Here the tone changes. For the first time God uses the plural: “Let us make”, revealing the Trinity at work. Man is created in God’s image and likeness, given dominion over all creation, and commanded to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth. At the end of the sixth day, God looks at everything and declares: “it was very good.”

The Seventh Day: Perfect Rest

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3)

God did not rest because He was tired, but because the creation was complete, perfect, and finished. The seventh day is blessed and sanctified the foundation of the Sabbath.

Conclusion: Everything Comes from God

The entire chapter of Genesis 1 shouts one undeniable truth: God is the absolute Creator. Nothing exists by chance. The light, the sea, the stars, the animals, and above all, you and I bear the fingerprints of the Creator. When God breathed the breath of life into man, He placed a little piece of Himself inside each one of us.

Have you ever stopped to think that if you are alive today, it is because you carry within you the mark of the God who said “Let there be” and everything came into existence?

The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. (Proverbs 14:1)

We know that to build anything solid, wisdom is required so the construction will be perfect. The wise woman knows the right moment to act, for her wisdom does not come from herself, but from God. A home that has the Lord as its center is a home of peace, refreshment, and true faith. To build means to raise a structure according to a pre-established plan, using the right materials. The wise woman uses the faith she has received from God to pursue a blessed marriage, to guard respect, to cultivate friendship and companionship, and to work together for the growth of her entire family.

“Foolish” means lacking intelligence, instruction, or knowledge, ignorant. When Scripture speaks of the foolish woman, we see a woman who throws away everything the family has achieved, a woman without patience in marriage, without patience with her children, and who does not walk according to God’s will. We have two opposite types: the wise woman, deeply interested in the material and spiritual well-being of her home, and the foolish woman, completely indifferent to the physical and spiritual growth of her family.

Seeking Wisdom from God

It is essential that every woman seek wisdom from the Lord. James teaches us exactly how:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

Not only the woman, but every member of the household needs this wisdom to face times of plenty and times of scarcity, joy and anguish. Life demands wise decisions in every season, and the best choices are those that keep the family united through any trial.

The Sacred Role of Women in the Home

God gave women the greatest gift: the ability to bear children and to care for the home, being a good mother and wife. In Eden, when God formed Eve from Adam’s rib, the helper was born, the companion who would assist man in everything. That assistance requires divine wisdom. Managing a family is not easy, but with wisdom from above it becomes possible to have a truly blessed home.

Biblical Examples of Wise Women

Deborah: Leadership and Courage

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. (Judges 4:4-5)

Deborah called Barak and delivered God’s command for battle against Sisera. Even when Barak hesitated, she went with him, showing that a wise woman protects and guides her home and even her nation under God’s direction.

Mary and Martha: Choosing the Best Part

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet. The wise woman understands that, before any household task, the priority is the presence of the Lord.

Paul’s Instruction in Titus

That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. (Titus 2:4-5)

Titus summarizes God’s purpose: women are called to teach, care for, and be the pillar of the home, helping their husbands form children with a character of holiness and fear of the Lord.

Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

Jesus teaches that a tiny faith, planted in fertile soil, grows and bears extraordinary fruit. In marriage and family, we begin with that small seed: prayer, love, respect, and wisdom, and we reap children who walk with God, a husband who fulfills God’s will, and a home filled with divine peace.

Women are the rarest and most precious treasure God ever created. Each has her unique calling, but every wise woman shares the same mark: unshakable faith in the God who empowers her to build, day after day, a house that will stand forever.

We are here on earth to serve God, but do you truly know what it means to serve Him? To serve is to work on behalf of someone, and we have been called to work for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. When Jesus came to earth, He fulfilled His mission and empowered us so that we could continue His saving work.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12, NIV)

When the Lord Jesus returns to take His church or calls us home individually, He wants to find us watchful, serving with loyalty and love for His Word.

“Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:46, NKJV)

The Marks of a True Servant of God

1. Humility

Serving God requires genuine humility.

“The greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11, ESV)

Jesus Himself, being fully God and fully man, washed the disciples’ feet and laid down His life for us. He is the ultimate example of humility the world has ever seen.

2. Worship in Spirit and in Truth

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23, NIV)

To worship in spirit and truth is to offer God our whole heart with complete sincerity. True worship does not come only from the lips with empty or repeated words; it flows from a broken and surrendered heart. The Holy Spirit is our great Helper—He convicts us, shows us our dependence on God, and leads us into lives of reverence, obedience, and total devotion.

3. Obedience to God’s Word and Commandments

“You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.” (Deuteronomy 27:10, NKJV)

A servant listens eagerly to the Master’s voice because he loves Him. When someone once asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He summed up the entire Law in two:

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV)

Whoever loves God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and loves their neighbor as themselves, will naturally fulfill all Ten Commandments. Love is the master key that unlocks perfect obedience.

4. Genuine Love

To be God’s servant is to love—truly love—without seeking recognition.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal… If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NIV)

Doing good to be seen by others cancels the heavenly reward.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1, NIV)

Jesus taught: give in secret. Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing. The Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you openly.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34, NIV)

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:26, NIV)

God will honor His faithful servants. Our reward is not from this world—it comes from the Father Himself.

Serve God with all your heart. Don’t be just another believer—be the very best servant the Kingdom has ever known. The Author and Finisher of our faith is coming back, and He longs to find us working with joy, love, and unwavering faithfulness.

Who has never heard of God and the devil? God has been present since the creation of the universe. God presents Himself in the book of Genesis as the Creator of the universe. In the first chapters, we see an organized God who, each day, creates something that we now know as the universe and everything in it.

God is the One who creates, but who was not created. God presents Himself in the Holy Bible as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At a certain point in history, someone named Lucifer appears. He was not born to be the devil, but to be a cherub. However, he desired to be worshiped as God. Lucifer was banished from heaven to a place called hell.

Here begins our study today, where we will reflect: after all, whom have we chosen to serve?

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; (Joshua 24:14-16)

Who is God?

God presents Himself as the Creator and controller of everything in the universe. When He begins the process of creation, God blesses everything. God is Father, is Son, and is the Holy Spirit. Who created God? No one created Him. Even before the foundation of the world, God already existed.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Who is the Devil?

Many know him as the devil, but Lucifer was a cherub created by God. Before his fall, Lucifer was a powerful and beautiful angel, known for his light.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:13-14)

His garments were adorned with all precious stones, all carefully worked for Lucifer over the purest gold. They were given to him on the day he was created. Lucifer was anointed as the guardian cherub and had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the shining stones.

This cherub desired to be greater than God and, in his heart, wanted to attack God’s authority, taking His place. This was very serious and, therefore, he was punished. From being a cherub anointed by God, Lucifer became the creator of a rebellion, where he managed to gather one third of the angels in heaven to his side.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Lucifer’s heart was filled with pride because of his beauty. His wisdom was corrupted because of his splendor and, therefore, God cast him down to the earth.

How Does God Enter a Person’s Life?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Pay attention! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and, together, we will share a meal, like friends.

How Does the Devil Enter a Person’s Life?

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)

A person’s life consists of only two ways: either we serve God, or we serve the devil. A person can choose to obey God, obeying and following His Word, or live a life without commitment to God, living according to their own desires and delights.

What is God’s Purpose?

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

Even after man’s fall in the Garden of Eden, God still desires that man be saved. God does not rejoice that man goes to hell, but man’s choices lead him to hell, because often his choices are contrary to God’s will.

What is the Devil’s Purpose?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)

Every day, the devil desires to take someone to hell. The enemy induces people in various ways to leave the presence of God. And when we are outside of God’s will, the Word of God says there is only one sentence:

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)

God promises man to live eternally in a place of peace and happiness, where the old things have passed away. The devil wants man to live here a false happiness, enjoying all the delights and desires of the flesh, because what awaits man is an eternity where the fire never goes out and the worm never dies.

And you, have you chosen today whom you will serve?

The prodigal son is one of the most cited messages in the Holy Bible, bringing profound lessons for our current days. When we talk about the prodigal son, we see a young man who leaves his father’s house but returns some time later, after having squandered his entire inheritance.

Prodigal son means: The one who returns to his parents’ house or to family life after a long period, having led a dissolute, extravagant life full of squandering and waste. It is part of one of the three parables about loss and redemption: the prodigal son returns home!

The Premature Request for the Inheritance

And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. (Luke 15:11-12, KJV)

One of this man’s sons decides, for some reason, to ask for his share of the inheritance, and the father divides it between them. There is a great lesson here regarding receiving “blessings” before the right time. When we observe what happens to this young man later on, we understand that to receive God’s blessings, there is something called time.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV)

We see that the young man asks for his share of the inheritance. From then on, we can perceive the relationship between blessing and knowing how to manage what we ask from God. The young man desired to have possession of his inheritance, but he was not prepared to manage it, and now that inheritance becomes a curse.

Every time we receive something we are not prepared for, we face difficulties, as was the case with this young man.

An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. (Proverbs 20:21, KJV)

Here we understand the importance of waiting for God’s time and knowing how to wait so that we can receive God’s blessings correctly and at the opportune moment.

The Danger of Anticipating Blessings

Perhaps we are asking God for something, and until today, He has not granted it. When we anticipate the process of the blessing, we run the great risk of turning the blessing into a curse because we were not yet prepared to receive it. Imagine asking God for a car. Understand: before the car, isn’t a driver’s license necessary?

It is not possible to receive a car from God if we do not have the license to drive it. Even if we acquire the car, we will certainly be subject to causing very serious problems in traffic, for others and for our own lives. Can you understand how a blessing granted outside of time can generate serious troubles?

We must be careful when seeking a blessing from God, understanding that if we have not yet received it, it is because we are not yet prepared to manage it. The prodigal son asks for his share of the inheritance, but he was not mature enough to manage that asset. Due to poor management, he throws away everything his father had given him.

How many times are we inside God’s house and simply think we have some reason to leave God’s house and live according to what we think is right, according to our desires and wants? The prodigal son also thought he had a reason in his heart, something that motivated him to leave his father’s house.

Bad Influences and Leaving God’s Presence

When we stop to observe, we understand that we are prone to leave the Father’s presence due to the bad influences around us, the false “friends” who try all the time to pervert our beliefs and values.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33, KJV)

The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that there will be moments in life when we are surrounded by “friends,” but the true friend is God, our Father. While that young man was in his father’s house, he had everything; nothing was lacking for him. But when he leaves his father’s house, he begins to face difficulties.

Here we understand that when we are close to God, we have absolutely everything: we receive His provision and His care. But when we move away from God’s presence, we begin to die spiritually. We never have the same intimacy with the Father because we are distant from His will and His desire.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (Luke 15:14-15, KJV)

Look where this young man ended up! The young man who once had everything was now in need, even desiring to eat the same food the pigs ate.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. (Luke 15:16, KJV)

Far from God’s presence, the enemy can lead a human being to a state of extreme need and even shame. The prodigal son then remembers what life was like in his father’s presence. He recognizes that he erred and remembers that even his father’s servants had a blessed life.

If the prodigal son had friends, when he lost the inheritance, they disappeared. If he had an abundant table, now he lived in the severest scarcity because he had no money, and there was famine in the land.

Repentance and Return to the Father

Many times, this is how it is in the life of a person who decides to leave God’s house. Various situations happen that lead to reflection on how good it was to be in God’s presence. Understand that no matter the reason you may have moved away from the Father’s house one day: reflect that, just like the prodigal son, you also lived good moments in God’s presence.

Everything we experience in God’s house is engraved in our hearts. When we leave God’s presence for some reason, at some point, memories come to the surface that generate feelings of longing to be back in God’s house. At that moment, we are similar to the prodigal son, where we recognize that the life we lead far from God does not compare to the moments we experienced when we were in His presence.

God desires that we make right choices. The prodigal son desires to return to his father’s house, to become just a servant. But upon arriving at the father’s house, he is received as a son.

We must understand that God looks not at what we threw away one day, but at the fact that we can recognize that we erred. God’s Word says there is a party in heaven when a sinner repents.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:20-24, KJV)

We see a father happy to see his son again, who one day left his house and went to live according to his desires and wants. The happiness here was because a much-loved son was now returning to the house he should never have left.

The Older Brother’s Attitude and the Father’s Lesson

In the same way with us: God allows someone to leave the Father’s house because there is free will, that is, the right to choose. So that, in the face of life’s situations and adversities, we may recognize that we erred and that we are dependent.

We may even stomp our feet, yes, but we will understand that we are dependent on His provision, His care, His correction, and that blessings must come at the right time. God does not want us to be like the other brother who remained, but He wants us to be like the father.

Understand that the younger son takes his inheritance and leaves for a distant land. There, far from everything, he abandons his father and his house, meaning he did not value what he had. The son who remains was even inside the father’s house, but in his heart, he was not able to release forgiveness and have compassion.

Now the father receives the prodigal son with open arms, teaching us to be releasers of forgiveness, teaching us not to look at our brothers’ defects but to embrace them and rejoice because one day he did err, yes, but he recognized his error and returned to the place he should never have left: God’s presence.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:25-32, KJV)

Unfortunately, there are people who behave like the prodigal son, who do not value what God gave, but at some point recognize their error and return. We will see people like that brother who stayed but could not celebrate the return of the brother who was once lost.

There will be people who will act like the father, who rejoices when seeing someone who was lost return home. May we not be like the sons but like the father, who did not look at the errors and defects but at the son’s recognition.

The Call to Return Today

Returning home is not shameful. Recognizing that we erred is not shameful. For this reason, today, if you read this post and at some point in your Christian life decided to abandon everything and stop, return. Do like the prodigal son: even after a life far from the Father, lost, recognize your error and return while there is time.

The time to return to God’s house is today, because yesterday does not come back. Today is what we have, and tomorrow we do not know if we will experience it, for tomorrow belongs to God. Many waited for tomorrow to come to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives and, unfortunately, did not have that opportunity.

Do not leave the Father’s presence to value Him only in His absence.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22 KJV)

What is Prayer?

Prayer is the form of communication used between believers and the Lord. We can find various derivatives of the word prayer in the Holy Bible.

I called on you, O God, for you will hear me; incline your ear to me, and hear my speech. (Psalm 17:6 KJV) Calling upon God.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26 KJV) Calling upon the name of the Lord.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. (Psalm 3:4 KJV) Crying out to the Lord.

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. (Psalm 25:1 KJV) Lifting our soul to the Lord.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 KJV) Seeking the Lord.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 KJV) Approaching the throne of grace with confidence.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 KJV) Drawing near to God.

Perhaps many do not know, but the Bible teaches us that there are reasons to engage in prayer. One of the main reasons why we pray is because prayer is a commandment from God. That is, God commands the Christian to live in prayer.

Prayer as a Commandment from God

The first commandment from God is for the believer to pray. The command to pray can be found in the Scriptures.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV) We must constantly seek God and ask for strength to face any and every difficulty we may encounter in the Christian walk. The Christian must continually be in the presence of God, for prayer is the communication between the believer and God.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41 KJV) The Lord Jesus Himself teaches this.

The Lord God communicates with the Christian through prayer, for only through prayer do we maintain our relationship with God. Blessings, as well as the fulfillment of God’s promises, will be poured out only on the life of those who seek God in prayer.

When Jesus promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, He taught that for it to happen, everyone needed to be in constant prayer in the upper room until the Holy Spirit was poured out with power on the day of Pentecost.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 KJV)

We must be in constant prayer, knowing that not always will we immediately receive what we seek. For it is extremely necessary to persist in prayer so that God can answer our request.

Every Christian who perseveres in prayer receives, for the Word of God says in the parable of the importunate friend and the promise to ask, seek, and knock.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Luke 11:5-13 KJV)

The apostle Paul often asked for prayer on his own behalf, knowing that his ministry would not prosper without the prayers of his brothers in Christ.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. (Romans 15:30 KJV)

We can understand here that for the growth of the kingdom and for God’s purposes to come into existence on earth, it is necessary for the Christian to live a life of constant prayer, interceding with God for the manifestation of God’s power on Earth.

We must constantly pray to God, asking that His purposes be fulfilled in this world. We must be in constant prayer for those in the field preaching the gospel and for the churches that are open announcing the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

James teaches us that we can receive healing through prayer made with faith in the name of the Lord Jesus. God still heals today, but we must understand that there is our degree of faith and believe that God will heal us, linked to God’s will to perform such a miracle.

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:15 KJV)

And even if we pray for physical healing and do not receive it immediately, we must persevere in prayer, believing that in due time, God will intervene, granting the desire of our heart.

Requirements for Effective Prayer

The first requirement for effective prayer is faith, for as we well know, our prayers will never be answered without faith in our hearts. The Lord Jesus Himself openly declared:

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24 KJV)

Jesus is saying that when we believe we have already received what we are still asking for, anything we ask in prayer will be granted to us. The secret is to trust first and ask God with the certainty that He is ready to answer the prayer that will be made.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23 KJV)

We must draw near to God with a true heart, a heart that has full certainty and conviction of faith, for without faith it is impossible to please and receive anything from God.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 KJV)

Every prayer must be made in the name of Jesus.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 KJV)

Here we understand that every prayer must be made in harmony with the person, character, and will of the Lord Jesus.

Prayer can only be effective if done according to the good, perfect, and pleasing will of God. For this reason, we have the model prayer left by our Lord Jesus, the Lord’s Prayer, which confirms this: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV).

We must pray according to the will of God, and we must be within the will of God, so that prayer may be heard and answered by God.

Biblical Principles and Methods for Effective Prayer

For us to pray effectively, we must first praise and worship God sincerely. A sincere confession of known sins is vital to the prayer of faith. We must ask according to our needs. We must intercede heartily for one another with intercessory prayer.

We can pray in various ways: in silence, aloud, or crying out, using our own words or even direct words from the Bible. We can pray mentally, and we can also pray through the Spirit. It is also possible to pray through groanings without using any human words, and finally, we can pray through songs to the Lord.

What is the Appropriate Body Position for Prayer?

There are various ways to position ourselves for prayer. In the Holy Bible, we see that countless people prayed in different positions: standing, sitting, on their knees, lying down, bowed to the ground, prostrate on the ground, and with hands stretched out to heaven. In other words, what matters is entering into the presence of God through prayer. Nothing prevents us from praying except ourselves.

And we can summarize that the church depends on each one’s prayer, and each of us depends on one another’s prayer. We must constantly intercede with God for ourselves and for the growth of the kingdom of God. Prayer generates intimacy with God. It is the only key we have to make the invisible visible. Prayer is the only way we have to dialogue with God and, in the same way, hear Him speak to us.

Do you know what sin is? Sin is the transgression of God’s law and commandments. Sin originated when humanity chose to disobey God’s will.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4, KJV)

Sin entered humanity in the Garden of Eden through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Sin brought severe consequences to the human race, including: death, labor pains, physical and spiritual death, disease, murder, envy, and so on.

After the sin of disobedience by Adam and Eve, humanity began to be born with original sin.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23, KJV)

We understand that there is no such thing as a small sin or a big sin, because for God, sin is always sin. But we must also understand that there are sins that lead to death and sins that do not lead to death.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16, KJV)

Sins that do not lead to death are those we commit without realizing it. John is saying that the person in need of prayer must be a brother, that is, a believer who did not deliberately desire to sin and whose sin was not a deliberate rebellion against God’s will.

This believer that John mentions still has spiritual life within him, but is spiritually weak, repentant, and seeks to free himself from everything that displeases God. It is for these people that John recommends praying.

For those who were once believers and now commit a sin “unto death,” the church cannot pray with the assurance that God will give them more grace and life. We understand that sins committed unto death are deliberate sins, stemming from continuous disobedience to God’s will.

These people are spiritually dead and can only receive life if they repent of their sins and truly turn back to God. The only thing the church can do for those who commit a sin unto death is to pray that God directs the circumstances of their lives so that they may have an opportunity to accept God’s salvation in Christ again.

Sins that do not lead to death are those that occur unconsciously, or without the person intending to commit them. Sins unto death, however, lead immediately to spiritual death, for terrible sins that show rebellion against God and His Word result in spiritual death, meaning they lead a person to separation from the life of God.

The Battle Between the Flesh and the Spirit

When we do not sin and choose a life of righteousness toward God, we produce good fruits, but when we choose sin, we begin to produce bad fruits.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17, KJV)

Every day, we fight a daily battle between obeying or disobeying the voice of God. The spirit and the flesh are always in opposition to each other. The flesh desires us to fulfill its lusts, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who seek to obey God and His Word are led by the Spirit and, besides walking in the Spirit, also produce fruits, which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. When we walk according to God’s will, we crucify our flesh with its passions and lusts to live according to God’s good, perfect, and pleasing will.

When they were in the garden, Adam and Eve committed only one sin, but the consequences of that sin were countless. Sin is like an abyss that calls another abyss, and the Word of God says:

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7, KJV)

When we look at the mistakes made in the past, we draw some points that help us understand the consequences that sin generated. The serpent became cursed among all domestic and wild animals. Man was now subject to physical and spiritual death.

Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden. Eve would now have labor pains. The ground became cursed, and for the rest of his life, man would have to work hard to draw sustenance from the earth.

The Works of the Flesh and Their Consequences

So that the list of consequences generated by sin is not too extensive here, let’s reflect again on:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21, KJV)

We understand here that the works of the flesh described abovesome already had reports of occurrences long ago, where we can clearly highlight enmity, wrath, envy, which together contributed to the first murder on earth, where Cain killed his brother Abel because his sacrifice was inferior to what Abel offered to God.

The sin was only one, but the consequences of sin are countless, and just as Adam and Eve sinned and faced their consequences, people today, when they sin, are also subject to the consequences of their sin. When we disobey God and His ordinances, we are subject to consequences.

The apostle Paul says:

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things shall not have dominion over me. (1 Corinthians 6:12, KJV)

There was a false theology preached by Paul’s enemies, where they thought they had the right to do whatever they wanted. The apostle Paul warns in the verse above about slavery, for we know and understand that sin makes a person its slave, and the Lord Jesus Himself says about it:

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34, KJV)

Only the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to free those who seek forgiveness for their sins.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36, KJV)

If we allow Jesus Christ to truly free us completely from our sins, so that we no longer commit them, the Word of God says that we will truly be free, meaning we will no longer be slaves to sin, because God has freed us through His Son Jesus.

The enemy of our souls works tirelessly every day so that God’s children live a life of sin, for he knows that when we sin constantly, we are distanced from God’s presence to the point of reaching the sin unto death.

God desires that we live a life of holiness, and God knows that we will be prone to error, that is, to unconscious sin those we commit without even realizing it but every day in our prayers, let us ask God: “Lord, forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

God is ready to forgive us, and what God loves most is when we acknowledge that we are faulty, sinners, and urgently need to change our lives through the forgiveness that only God can grant.

No matter what your sin is, surrender today at the feet of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and say to Him: “Father, forgive my sins, make me Your child again, purify my body, cleanse my mind, purify my thoughts, my soul, and my heart, and dwell in my life. Amen.”