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Saturday, July 18 Jehovah is on my side; I will not be afraid.—Ps. 118:6. We can face trials successfully if we remember that the living God is ready to assist us. We can build our confidence in that fact by considering what he has done in the past. (Isa. 37:17, 33-37) Also, consider reports on our jw.org website that illustrate how Jehovah has supported our brothers and sisters in modern times. Furthermore, recall times when Jehovah has acted in your behalf. Do not worry if you cannot point to some spectacular experience. Why not? The fact is, Jehovah has been involved in your life! He has drawn you into a relationship with him. (John 6:44) Why not ask him to help you to remember moments when he answered your prayers, gave you support at just the right time, or sustained you through a difficult situation? Reflecting on such experiences will strengthen your conviction that Jehovah will continue to act in your behalf. w24.06 21 ¶8

Friday, July 17 He does not give the spirit sparingly.—John 3:34. Jehovah loves you and wants you to be part of his family. That is true no matter what obstacles to baptism you are facing. Jesus said to a group of his first-century disciples: “If you have faith the size of a mustard grain, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20) Those present to hear this had been with Jesus for just a few years, so their faith was still growing. But Jesus assured them that if they developed sufficient faith, Jehovah would help them to move mountainlike obstacles. And Jehovah will help you to do the same! If you recognize obstacles that prevent you from getting baptized, take steps to remove them without delay. Dedicate yourself to Jehovah and get baptized. It is the best decision you could ever make! w25.03 7 ¶18-20

Thursday, July 16 We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.—Heb. 10:10. According to the Bible, a ransom is the price paid to bring about atonement and reconciliation. From Jehovah’s standpoint, it provides the basis to restore what was lost. In what way? Remember, Adam and Eve lost their perfect life along with the prospect of living forever. So the ransom would need to be a price of equal value to what was lost. (1 Tim. 2:6) It could be paid only by an adult man who (1) was perfect; (2) had the potential of living forever on earth; and (3) was willing to give up, or to sacrifice, that life for us. Consider three reasons why Jesus was able to pay that ransom price. (1) He was perfect—“he committed no sin.” (1 Pet. 2:22) (2) Because of that, he had the potential of living forever on earth. (3) He was willing to die and give up that life for us.—Heb. 10:9. w25.02 4-5 ¶11-12

Wednesday, July 15 Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid.—Heb. 13:6. No doubt the apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrews helped first-century Christians to prepare for the tribulation that they would face. Paul urged his brothers to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures. Doing so would equip them to identify and reject teachings that would undermine their faith. He encouraged them to strengthen their faith so that they would promptly follow the direction of Jesus and of those taking the lead in the congregation. And he helped Christians to build endurance by having the right view of trials and seeing the trials as an opportunity to be trained by their loving Father. May we too apply this inspired counsel. We will then be able to endure faithfully down to the end.—Heb. 3:14. w24.09 13 ¶17, 19

Tuesday, July 14 Rejoice with the wife of your youth.—Prov. 5:18. Jehovah is “the happy God,” and he wants us to be happy too. (1 Tim. 1:11) He has given us many gifts to help us enjoy life. (Jas. 1:17) One of those gifts is marriage. When a man and a woman get married, they vow to love, respect, and cherish each other. Maintaining a close bond can bring them real joy. Sadly, many married couples in today’s world forget the promises they made on their wedding day. As a result, they are not happy. How does Jehovah expect a husband to treat his wife? Jehovah commands husbands to honor their wife. Honor refers to the way we treat someone whom we respect. A husband who honors his wife will treat her in a kind and loving way.—1 Pet. 3:7. w25.01 8 ¶1-2; 9 ¶4-5

Monday, July 13 Give us each day our bread according to our daily needs.—Luke 11:3. We need to keep material things in their proper place. The apostle Paul highlighted this when writing to Christians living near the end of the Jewish systems of things. He brought up events from Israel’s past, including what happened near Mount Sinai. He warned Christians “not to desire injurious things, as [the Israelites] desired them.” (1 Cor. 10:6, 7, 11) The Israelites let their longing for food turn even Jehovah’s miraculous provisions into “injurious things.” (Num. 11:4-6,31-34) And in conjunction with a golden calf, they ate, drank, and had a good time. (Ex. 32:4-6) Paul cited their experience as a warning for Christians living before the end of the Jewish systems of things in 70 C.E. We now live near the end of a system of things, so we do well to take Paul’s counsel seriously. w24.12 6 ¶13

Sunday, July 12 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.”—Rom. 12:19. When the apostle Paul urged Christians to “yield place to the wrath,” whose wrath was he referring to? According to the context, it is Jehovah’s wrath. We yield place to Jehovah’s wrath by letting him bring about justice in his own time and in his own way. After a brother named John was treated unfairly, he said: “I had to fight the urge to pursue righting the wrong in my own way. Romans 12:19 helped me to wait on Jehovah.” We benefit when we wait on Jehovah to correct a matter. If we do so, we will be spared the burden and frustration of trying to solve the problem ourselves. Jehovah offers to help us. He says, as it were, ‘Leave the injustice to me; I will take care of things.’ If we accept Jehovah’s promise “I will repay,” we can let the matter go, confident that he will handle it in the best possible way. w24.11 6 ¶14-15

Saturday, July 11 God loved the world so much.—John 3:16. Like Jehovah and his Son, we love people. (Prov. 8:31) We feel deep compassion for those who are “without God” and who have “no hope.” (Eph. 2:12) They are drowning in life’s problems, and we have the life vest that they need—the good news of God’s Kingdom. Our love and compassion for such ones motivates us to make every effort to reach them with the good news. That precious message can fill their hearts with hope, help them find the best possible life now, and give them the prospect of “the real life”—everlasting life—in God’s new world. (1 Tim. 6:19) Our love for people also moves us to warn them about the approaching end of this wicked world. (Ezek. 33:7, 8) We want them to know what will happen during the great tribulation—false religion will be removed and the destruction of the entire wicked system will follow at Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14, 16; 17:16, 17; 19:11,19, 20. w24.05 16-17 ¶8-9

Friday, July 10 Keep on asking, and it will be given you.—Luke 11:9. By means of his holy spirit, Jehovah comforts us when we suffer trauma or loss. If you are coping with a heartbreaking trial, you can pour out your heart to Jehovah in prayer as often and for as long as you want. (Ps. 86:3; 88:1) Ask Jehovah repeatedly for his holy spirit. He will never ignore your requests. Has a distressing ordeal left you weak? Holy spirit can empower you to continue worshipping Jehovah faithfully. (Eph. 3:16) How can you work in harmony with your requests for holy spirit? Share in activities that will allow God’s spirit to operate on you. These include attending meetings and witnessing to others. Fill your mind with Jehovah’s thoughts by reading his Word every day. (Phil. 4:8, 9) As you read, take note of Bible characters who experienced trials and meditate on how Jehovah helped them to endure. w24.10 9 ¶12-14

Thursday, July 9 You accepted it not as the word of men but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.—1 Thess. 2:13. Some people claim to have read the Bible dozens of times. But do they truly believe in the Bible? Have they applied it or allowed it to affect the course of their life? Sadly, often the answer is no. What a contrast with Jehovah’s people! We strive to demonstrate that it is at work in our life. Still, it is not always easy to read and apply God’s Word. We may struggle to find time to read. Or we may tend to read at a very rapid pace and not absorb much of what we read. Or we may feel overwhelmed by all the improvements we need to make. Whatever your challenge may be, it is not insurmountable. With Jehovah’s help, you can overcome it. May we be determined to become doers of the Word. Without a doubt, the more we read God’s Word and apply it in our life, the happier we will be.—Jas. 1:25. w24.09 7 ¶15-16

I’ve listened to the first talk 3 or 4 times today there is an awful lot in it and each time I hear something new!

Wednesday, July 8 The men who minister in a fine manner are acquiring for themselves a fine standing and great freeness of speech in the faith.—1 Tim. 3:13. A ministerial servant is a baptized brother who is appointed by holy spirit to help the elders care for many practical matters in the congregation. Ministerial servants are first and foremost spiritual men; they love Jehovah and live by his righteous standards. And they feel a deep love for their Christian brothers and sisters. (Matt. 22:37-39) How can a baptized brother reach out to be a ministerial servant? The Bible outlines the qualifications for those who may be appointed as ministerial servants. (1 Tim. 3:8-10, 12) You can reach out for this privilege by studying these Scriptural qualifications and then working hard to meet them. But first, you need to give careful attention to your motives for reaching out. w24.11 15 ¶4-5

Tuesday, July 7 Become imitators of God.—Eph. 5:1. What are some ways that Jehovah shows generosity? Consider a few examples. Jehovah gives us material things. We may not always have luxuries, but thanks to Jehovah, most of us have what we need. For example, he makes it possible for us to have food, clothing, and shelter. (Ps. 4:8; Matt. 6:31-33; 1 Tim. 6:6-8) Does Jehovah provide for our physical needs merely out of a sense of obligation? Not at all! Consider Jesus’ words found at Matthew 6:25, 26. Speaking of birds, Jesus says: “They do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses.” However, notice what he next says: “Your heavenly Father feeds them.” Then Jesus asks: “Are you not worth more than they are?” The point? If Jehovah cares for the needs of animals, we can be sure that he will provide for us! Like a caring human father, Jehovah provides for his family out of love.—Ps. 145:16; Matt. 6:32. w24.0926-27 ¶4-6

Monday, July 6 Let us not give up in doing what is fine.—Gal. 6:9. At Psalm 15:2, a friend of God is described as “the one who is walking faultlessly, practicing what is right.” The terms “walking” and “practicing” imply action that is both constant and progressive. But can we really ‘walk faultlessly’? Yes. While no human is perfect, Jehovah will view us as “walking faultlessly” if we do our best to obey him. When we dedicate ourselves to God and get baptized, we are just starting on our journey with God. Note that in Bible times, merely belonging to the nation of Israel would not automatically qualify a person to be a guest of Jehovah. Some called on him but not “in truth and righteousness.” (Isa. 48:1) Sincere Israelites had to learn about Jehovah’s requirements and follow them. Similarly, to enjoy God’s approval today, more is required of us than getting baptized and associating with the Christian congregation. We must keep “practicing what is right.” w24.06 9 ¶4; 10 ¶6

Sunday, July 5 Zadok the priest . . . anointed Solomon.—1 Ki. 1:39. Zadok remained loyal to Jehovah despite High Priest Abiathar’s choice to support David’s son Adonijah, who planned to seize the throne. David never doubted Zadok’s loyalty. When Adonijah’s scheme was revealed, David turned to Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to anoint Solomon as king. (1 Ki. 1:32-34) Being with loyal worshippers of Jehovah, such as Nathan and other supporters of King David, must have strengthened and encouraged Zadok. When Solomon became king, he “appointed Zadok the priest in place of Abiathar.” (1 Ki. 2:35) How can you imitate Zadok? If someone close to you chooses to leave Jehovah, make your choice clear. (Josh. 24:15) Jehovah will give you the strength and the courage you need. Rely on him through prayer and by staying close to fellow loyal worshippers. Jehovah treasures your loyalty, and he will reward you for it.—2 Sam. 22:26. w24.07 6-7 ¶16-17

Saturday, July 4 Do not be afraid. I will help you.—Isa. 41:13. Throughout the ages, the message from God has strengthened his servants when they had a difficult task to complete. Take, for example, the prophet Jeremiah. He was hesitant when Jehovah gave him the assignment to preach. Jeremiah said: “I do not know how to speak, for I am just a boy.” (Jer. 1:6) How did he overcome his lack of confidence? He drew strength from God’s word. He said: “It became like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was tired of holding it in.” (Jer. 20:8, 9) Although Jeremiah had a difficult territory, the message he was assigned to proclaim gave him the strength he needed to do the work. Christians draw strength from the message in God’s Word. The apostle Paul said that taking in accurate knowledge would motivate his brothers “to walk worthily of Jehovah” as they continued “bearing fruit in every good work.”—Col. 1:9, 10. w24.04 14-15 ¶2-4

Friday, July 3 I, Jehovah, am searching the heart . . . to give to each one according to his ways.—Jer. 17:10. In Jonah’s day, the Ninevites had an opportunity to repent. Further, remember what Jesus said about the “resurrection of judgment.” It will include “those who practiced vile things.” (John 5:29) So it seems that there may be some hope for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah too. It is possible that at least some of those people will be resurrected, and we may have the opportunity to teach them about Jehovah and Jesus Christ. Jehovah has always been the one “searching the heart, examining the innermost thoughts.” When it comes to the future resurrection, he will, as always, “give to each one according to his ways.” Jehovah will be firm when necessary but merciful whenever possible. So we should not assume that a person has no hope of a resurrection unless we know that to be the case! w24.05 5-6 ¶15-16

Thursday, July 2 Concerning the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world.—1 Cor. 8:4. Immature Christians often struggle when faced with situations that call for reasoning on Bible principles and applying them. If no Bible law exists, some might feel that they can do whatever they want. Others might ask for a rule when no rule is required. For instance, Christians in Corinth apparently asked the apostle Paul for a rule about whether they could eat food that had been offered to an idol. Rather than tell them what to do, Paul acknowledged the role of the conscience and the fact that each person has a “right to choose.” He reasoned on principles that would allow each individual to be at peace with his conscience while not stumbling others. (1 Cor. 8:7-9) Paul was thus helping the Corinthians to grow up spiritually so that they could use their own powers of discernment instead of depending on someone else or simply looking for rules. w24.04 5 ¶14

Wednesday, July 1 I have not seen anyone righteous abandoned.—Ps. 37:25. Some of Jehovah’s servants are feeling the effects of old age, struggling with poor health, or living with a disability. That may cause them to feel uncertain of their worth in Jehovah’s eyes. They may ask, ‘Am I still useful to Jehovah?’ The writer of Psalm 71 expressed a similar concern. He prayed: “Do not abandon me when my strength fails.” (Ps. 71:9, 18) Nevertheless, the psalmist remained convinced that if he served his God loyally, Jehovah would guide and support him. As the psalmist learned, Jehovah finds pleasure in those who do their best to serve Him despite their limitations. (Ps. 37:23-25) Older ones, see your situation from Jehovah’s viewpoint. He can help you to thrive spiritually even though you may be struggling physically. (Ps. 92:12-15) Rather than focus on what you are no longer able to do, concentrate on what you can do. w24.10 28 ¶14-16

Tuesday, June 30 God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones.—Heb. 6:10. None of us should feel that we are entitled to receive Jehovah’s mercy even if we have spent many years in his service. Of course, Jehovah appreciates our record of faithfulness. He gave us his Son as a free gift, not as payment for services rendered. If we were to claim that we have earned mercy or that we are entitled to special consideration, we would, in effect, be saying that Christ died for nothing. (Compare Galatians 2:21.) The apostle Paul knew that he could not earn God’s favor. Why, then, did he work so hard in Jehovah’s service? Not to prove himself deserving, but to show appreciation for Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. (Eph. 3:7) Like Paul, we continue to serve zealously, not to earn Jehovah’s mercy, but to show appreciation for it. w25.01 27 ¶5-6

Monday, June 29 To the extent we have made progress, let us go on walking orderly in this same course.—Phil. 3:16. After reviewing the qualifications to serve as elders, some ministerial servants might feel that they could never qualify. But remember that neither Jehovah nor his organization expects you to display these qualities perfectly. (1 Pet. 2:21) And it is Jehovah’s powerful spirit that helps you to develop these qualifications. (Phil. 2:13) Is there a particular quality that you would like to improve on? Pray to Jehovah about it. Research the topic, and ask one of the elders for suggestions on how to improve. Reach out! Ask Jehovah to train and mold you to be even more useful in serving him and the congregation. (Isa. 64:8) May Jehovah richly bless your efforts to qualify to serve as an elder. w24.11 25 ¶17-18

Sunday, June 28 There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.—Acts 20:35. We know from experience that we feel good when we receive a gift. Still, we feel even greater happiness when we are the giver. By creating us the way he did, Jehovah allows us to influence our happiness. We can increase our joy by looking for additional opportunities to give. Is that not a wonderful aspect of how we are made? (Ps. 139:14) The Scriptures assure us that giving brings happiness, so it is little wonder that the Bible describes Jehovah as “the happy God.” (1 Tim. 1:11) He is the original and greatest Giver. Because of him, “we have life and move and exist,” as the apostle Paul stated. (Acts 17:28) Indeed, “every good gift and every perfect present” comes from Jehovah. (Jas. 1:17) All of us would probably like to experience even more of the happiness that comes from giving. We can do so by imitating Jehovah’s generosity.—Eph. 5:1. w24.09 26 ¶1-4

I came here to say that! It’s down to algorithms… they follow you around the internet and give you content that it thinks you would like to see ! I’ve never come across an apostate account on Instagram etc, the only time I may see any kind of apostate on FB is if they’re commenting on a news article and then I avoid it like the plague! I came here to say that! It’s down to algorithms… they follow you around the internet and give you content that it thinks you would like to see ! I’ve never come across an apostate account on Instagram etc, the only time I may see any kind of apostate on FB is if they’re commenting on a news article and then I avoid it like the plague!

Saturday, June 27 Go on bringing them up in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah.—Eph. 6:4. What about baptized minors—those under 18 years of age—who engage in serious wrongdoing? The body of elders will arrange for two elders to meet with the minor and his Christian parents. The elders will find out what steps the parents have already taken to help their child come to repentance. If the minor has a good attitude and the parents are reaching him, the two elders might decide that it is not necessary to take the matter any further. After all, it is the parents’ God-given responsibility to provide loving correction to their children. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Prov. 6:20; 22:6; Eph. 6:2-4) The elders will thereafter occasionally check with the parents to make sure that the minor is getting the help he needs. However, what if a baptized minor unrepentantly persists in a wrong course? In that case, a committee of elders will meet with him along with his Christian parents. w24.08 24 ¶18

Friday, June 26 You will . . . see the distinction between a righteous person and a wicked person.—Mal. 3:18. The Bible names more than 40 men who ruled as kings of Israel. The good kings did some bad things. Consider good King David. Jehovah said: “My servant David . . . walked after me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.” (1 Ki. 14:8) Yet, that man committed sexual immorality with a married woman and conspired to have her husband killed in battle. (2 Sam. 11:4, 14, 15) On the other hand, many of the unfaithful kings did some good things. Consider Rehoboam. In Jehovah’s eyes, he “did what was bad.” (2 Chron. 12:14) Yet, Rehoboam obeyed God’s order to have ten tribes break away from his kingdom. He also benefited his nation by fortifying its cities. (1 Ki. 12:21-24; 2 Chron. 11:5-12) How did Jehovah determine whether a king was faithful in His eyes? Evidently, He took into consideration his heart condition, his repentance, and his adherence to true worship. w24.07 20 ¶1-3