“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10 NIV)

A well-known battle strategy is to divide people so they cannot use their combined strength and resources. When divided, they become weak, vulnerable, and easily conquered.

Jesus spoke directly about this: “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24–25)

Satan still uses this “divide them” strategy today—especially to weaken the church and the family.

To Weaken the Church

God’s Kingdom was never meant to be divided. Yet today, instead of working together as one strong body, the church is often split into many smaller groups and factions—separated by doctrines, traditions, and differences of opinion.

In many cities, churches sit near each other, yet operate independently rather than in unity.

Jesus warned about this kind of spiritual danger: “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition…” (Mark 7:13 KJV)

When tradition becomes more important than God’s Word, unity and power are lost.

To Weaken Marriages and Families

Jesus also said: “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

The family structure has changed dramatically over the years. What once were close-knit, God-centered homes have often become divided, distracted, and fractured. Division weakens the very foundation God designed to be a place of strength and protection.

Get Into Agreement So God Can Work

Paul wrote: “Each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided?” (1 Cor. 1:12–13 NASB)

God’s desire is unity—because unity releases His power

Jesus promised: “If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matt. 18:19–20)

Therefore

When we walk in agreement, God’s power flows freely. When we allow division, we weaken what God wants to strengthen. Choose unity. Protect it. Fight for it.

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:3)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14–15 NIV)

Boldly and Confidently

God invites us to come to Him with confidence in prayer—not fear, not hesitation, not uncertainty. But there is an important key: we are to ask according to His will.

How do you know what God’s will is?

You discover it in His Word. You read what He has promised, you believe it, and you bring your requests into agreement with it. When your prayers line up with God’s Word, you can pray with confidence.

Prayer is not about convincing God to do what we want—it is about learning to want what God has already said He will do.

God Gives Generously

If you are ever unsure what to do, God encourages you to ask Him—especially for wisdom.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)

God is not stingy! He is not reluctant. He is not annoyed by your asking. He is a generous Father who delights to help His children.

Therefore

Learn God’s Word. Pray in agreement with it. And come to God with confidence—knowing that when you ask according to His will, He hears you, and His answer is already on the way.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2 ESV)

Everybody dies—that is simply part of life in this world.

The Bible says:

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

It is easy to forget that we are only temporarily here. The longer you live, the more real this becomes. As the years pass, more and more people we love step into eternity—parents, relatives, friends, and loved ones.

But for those who belong to Christ, death is not the end—it is a homegoing.

Jesus Himself has promised that He has gone ahead to prepare a place for those who trust in Him. Not a vague place. Not a temporary place. A real, personal, prepared place—made by the Savior who loves us.

That means those who have died in Christ are not lost. They are home. And it means something wonderful is also waiting for us.

Therefore

Do not hold too tightly to this world. Live faithfully, walk with confidence, and rest in hope—because your future is not uncertain. Your Savior has already gone ahead of you and prepared your place.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20 NASB)

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” (James 4:6 NIV)

What Is God’s Grace?

Grace (from the Greek New Testament word charis) means God’s unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we do not deserve and can never earn. It is not a reward for good behavior—it is a gift from a loving God.

And if that were not enough, God promises something even more wonderful: He gives more grace.

According to this verse, God pours His favor especially on the humble—those who are meek, teachable, respectful, and willing to depend on Him instead of themselves.

God’s grace is not small or limited. It is abundant and overflowing

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

Through Jesus, we do not just receive grace once—we live in grace

“Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1–2 NIV)

Therefore

Stop trying to earn what God freely gives. Walk humbly, depend fully on Him, and rejoice—because no matter how great the need, He gives more grace.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5 NIV)

To take refuge means to find a place of safety—a shelter from danger, trouble, or pursuit. It means protection, security, and rest. And God promises to be exactly that for those who trust Him.

God does not merely give protection—He is your protection

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” (Psalm 3:3 NIV)

Run to God!

When the world feels unsafe, uncertain, or overwhelming, God invites you to run to Him, not away from Him.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” (Psalm 118:8 NIV)

His protection is not temporary or fragile—it is sure and complete

“The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.” (Psalm 34:22 NIV)

Therefore

Stop trying to shield yourself with your own strength. Run to the Lord. Trust Him. Rest in Him. He is your safe place, your defender, and your unbreakable shield.

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114 NIV)

“Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you… The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:4–8 NIV)

God never gets tired

He never looks away. He never misses what is happening in your life. While you sleep, He is watching. While you worry, He is working. While you feel alone, He is fully present.

Unlike us, God does not need rest. God is always alert, always attentive, and always available.

God Is Present Everywhere

You can never go where God is not.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there… If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.” (Psalm 139:7–10 NIV)

God Himself says:

“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jer. 23:24 NIV)

Nothing is hidden from Him

“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Prov. 15:3 NIV)

But this is not meant to frighten us—it is meant to comfort us. God watches in order to help, protect, and strengthen.

“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chron. 16:9 NIV)

And He is not distant or hard to reach:

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18 NIV)

Therefore

You are never alone. You are never unseen. You are never unprotected. No matter where you go, no matter what time it is, your God is awake, aware, and with you.

“Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 NIV)

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’” (Luke 11:28 NIV) 

In this promise, Jesus was responding to a woman who said, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He corrected her statement by saying clearly how to be blessed. Two things you must do: 1) Hear the Word of God, and 2) obey it.

Why you must “Hear the Word of God” 

It is because that is how you obtain faith!

 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NIV)

Why you must “Obey the Word of God” 

It is because God loves you when you do and God will “come to you” and “make His home with you.”

 “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” (John 14:23 NIV) 

Obeying will keep you from being deceived

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

Therefore

If you want a truly blessed life, don’t just admire God’s Word—listen to it, believe it, and live it. Hearing builds your faith, and obedience releases God’s blessing.

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17 NIV)

“God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” (Psalm 66:19 NIV)

You can have complete confidence that God listens to you and hears your prayers. You are never talking into the air. You are never ignored. You are never forgotten.

God not only hears your prayers—He understands your needs even before you ask. Sometimes, He is already arranging the answer while the words are still on your lips.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 NIV)

This tells us something wonderful about God’s heart: He is attentive, personal, and involved. Prayer is not about convincing God to care—He already does. Prayer is about aligning our hearts with a God who is eager to respond.

When you pray, you are speaking to a Father who is listening closely, not a distant God who must be persuaded.

Therefore

Pray with confidence, pray with expectation, and pray often—knowing that God hears you, cares about you, and is already at work on your behalf.

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” (Psalm 34:15 NIV)

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 NIV)

Complete assurance

God does not want us living in uncertainty or fear about our salvation. We do not have to hope we are saved—we can know. He wants us to have complete assurance.

Our confidence is not based on feelings or performance, but on God’s promise and God’s Word

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11–13)

Full assurance is what God invites us into:

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

Our salvation rests on Christ’s finished work, not our fluctuating emotions.

Therefore

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12)

You can rest—not in yourself—but in the One who holds your soul securely.