When it comes to the Bible, some wonder which book carries more weight, Genesis, the first book of beginnings, or Revelation, the last book of prophecy and Christ’s return. Both are filled with vital truths, yet too often believers find themselves drawn to one while overlooking the other. Questions about creation, time, prophecy and eternity swirl in people’s minds, but the deeper issue may be how we approach Scripture as a whole.

Christian apologist Ken Ham recently addressed this question and offered an important reminder about the foundation of our faith. “Actually, every book of the Bible is important because it’s all God’s Word,” he said.

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Still, he noted that while “a lot of people…concentrate on the book of Revelation” and various end-time views, the opening chapters of Genesis are often neglected, even though they are essential for a right understanding of the rest of Scripture.

Ham pointed to the parable Jesus told about a nobleman who entrusted resources to his servants, saying, “I’m going to go away and then I’m going to come back. While I’m away, you do business.” According to Ham, this illustrates how Christians should live as they wait for Christ’s return: “It’s a reminder for each of us that God has entrusted talents to us, gifts to us, and we’re to use the gifts he’s entrusted to us until the King returns.”

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Part of that faithfulness, he explained, comes through rightly understanding the foundation of the Bible. “Genesis 1–11 is the foundation for everything. For the rest of the Bible, for all of our doctrine, for our worldview, it’s the foundation for everything,” Ham said. By contrast, “Revelation is not the foundation for the rest of the Bible. Genesis is. Revelation is not the foundation for all doctrine. Genesis 1–11 is. Revelation is not the foundation for the gospel. Genesis 1–11 is.”

Ham warned that dismissing or compromising on Genesis has led to devastating consequences in the church and culture. “There’s been a catastrophic generational loss because they’ve been told Genesis 1–11, you don’t have to take it literally. It doesn’t matter. You can believe in evolution, millions of years. Well, why should we believe the rest of the Bible?” he said. Once the foundation is removed, “many of these people today don’t understand what they should believe in regard to marriage or gender or anything else.”

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At the same time, Ham is careful to affirm that Revelation is also a vital part of God’s Word. “Genesis or Revelation, well, both are the Word of God. Both are vitally important, but they have different functions. And Genesis is actually the foundational book of the Bible.”

The discussion ultimately points to a balanced approach. It is good to study specific books of the Bible, whether Genesis, Revelation or any other, but not at the expense of the rest. Each book is divinely placed, interconnected and serves a distinct purpose.

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As Ham explains, beginning with Genesis lays the foundation for understanding the entire Word of God. But Revelation, along with every other book, gives us truths God intended for us to know. Every word serves a purpose, and together they provide the complete picture of God’s plan for humanity.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Few topics in Scripture stir up more fear and confusion than the question of the “unpardonable sin.” Many people wrestle with nagging thoughts like, “Did I mess up too badly for God to forgive me?” or “Have I committed the unforgivable sin that Jesus spoke about?” These questions can weigh heavy on the heart, leaving believers trapped in shame and fear. But Scripture offers clarity, and hope, on what Jesus really meant when He spoke about blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Kap Chatfield recently addressed this subject in a video teaching, reminding viewers that the context of Jesus’ warning in Mark 3 was directed at the Pharisees who had witnessed His miracles and still declared that He was working by Satan’s power.

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“It wasn’t just bad doctrine,” Chatfield explained. “This was actually willful, hard-hearted rejection of the Holy Spirit’s testimony about Jesus. It was witnessing a miracle, seeing the hand of God at work and saying, ‘That’s the devil.’”

Chatfield encouraged his audience not to live in constant fear that they’ve accidentally crossed the line. In fact, he said the very opposite is true: “If you’re worried, that’s actually proof that you haven’t done it. The unforgivable sin is not an accident. It’s not something that you slip into unknowingly. It’s repeated, willful, deliberate rebellion. So if you’re afraid that you’ve gone too far, that fear is proof that your heart is still soft. And that’s a gift from the Holy Spirit.”

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The difference, he explained, is between conviction and condemnation. “Conviction is from God. And conviction draws you closer. Condemnation on the other hand pushes us away from God. Condemnation is from the enemy. And it drives you and me away.” God’s character, Chatfield reminded, is one of mercy and forgiveness. Pointing to Psalm 86:5, he said, “For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you.”

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To illustrate this, Chatfield reflected on the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. “The father wasn’t waiting with crossed arms. He was running towards his son. That’s how God responds to you when you return to him.” He also shared Jesus’ own words from John 6:37: “The one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out.”

Chatfield closed with an encouraging reminder that God’s grace outweighs every failure. “Grace is still greater. You might be watching this thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can be forgiven.’ But if you’re reaching for Jesus, he’s already running towards you. Remember that fear that you had at the beginning? Let it turn into reverence. And let reverence lead you into relationship, full of conviction, but 100% without condemnation.”

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The truth is simple yet powerful, if your heart longs for God, He has not turned His back on you. His forgiveness is abundant, His mercy is ready and His arms are always open.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The month of August is filled with remarkable celestial events that Pastor Troy Brewer highlights in his latest edition of Heavenly Happenings.

On August 9, skywatchers can look forward to the big full moon. Brewer explained, “Remember the big full moon nights are not the night that you want to go out to see all the stars. It’s the night that you want to go out to see the full moon. And that’s going to happen on August 9th.”

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Later in the month, on August 23, the new moon will arrive, signaling what Brewer calls the true beginning of the lunar cycle. He noted, “A lot of folks don’t know what a new moon is. It’s actually the new beginning of the solar cycle and it is not when the moon is full. It’s actually when you can’t see it at all.” He went on to connect this with the Hebrew calendar: “For us a day starts whenever the sun comes up. For them it’s exactly opposite. The sun going down is when the day begins. And by the way, that was God’s design.”

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Brewer drew spiritual encouragement from this biblical pattern: “God likes to start off with building momentum for hope. He always wants to make sure that the worst thing is never the last thing. I just love that about King Jesus.”

Another highlight this month is the close appearance of Venus and Jupiter in the night sky. Brewer described, “On this date, you can go outside and what you can actually see is you can see Jupiter, you can see Venus together and they’re right there by each other and they’re just beautiful. So, you will be looking like just after sundown or just before sunrise on the 9th.”

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In addition to the moon and planetary events, the Perseid meteor shower will continue to light up the skies this month. As reported by Space.com, “The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. The shower is active from mid-July until late August and will peak on the night of Aug. 12, before dawn on Aug. 13, 2025.”

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Observers are encouraged to start watching around 11 p.m. local time, though the report notes that “the peak occurs just three days after a full moon, so moonlight may wash out fainter meteors.”

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The Temple Institute in Jerusalem stirred global attention this week with a striking Facebook post featuring a wristwatch with an image of the rebuilt Jewish Temple. The post read: “SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES! IT’S TIME TO BUILD!”

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The announcement was made during Tisha B’Av, the annual Jewish fast day commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. This solemn day is marked by mourning, prayer and reflection on the loss of the Temple as the center of worship. For the Temple Institute, however, the fast is also seen as a call to action, transforming grief over past destruction into preparation for rebuilding.

As outlined in the Institute’s Statement of Principles, the organization is dedicated to restoring “Temple consciousness” and preparing for the construction of the Third Temple on Mount Moriah. They argue that one-third of the commandments in the Torah revolve around the Temple and that Judaism without it is incomplete. The Temple, in their view, is not just a relic of the past but a divine mandate awaiting fulfillment in the present.

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From a Christian perspective, however, the significance of this post points in a different direction. Pre-tribulation believers understand that while the Jewish world anticipates a physical Temple, Scripture makes clear that Jesus Himself is now the final sacrifice and the true Temple (Heb. 9:11–12; John 2:19–21). The rebuilding of a Third Temple is not necessary for salvation, but prophecy indicates it will play a central role in the unfolding of the last days.

The apostle Paul warns that the “man of sin,” the Antichrist, will one day seat himself in the Temple of God and proclaim himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:3–4). Daniel likewise foretold that sacrifices would be reinstated and then cut off by the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27). For those watching the signs of the times, the growing movement to rebuild the Temple is a vivid reminder that prophetic events are aligning rapidly.

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That this call to “build” was issued on Tisha B’Av carries particular weight. For centuries, Jewish mourning on this day has looked back to the destruction of the Temple. The Temple Institute’s post flips that perspective forward, casting the fast not only as a memorial but as a countdown toward the future. From the lens of biblical prophecy, it signals the approach of the tribulation period when Israel will again have a Temple, though one defiled by the Antichrist before Christ’s return to establish His millennial kingdom.

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The renewed urgency to rebuild the Temple serves as a reminder that the prophecies of Scripture are unfolding exactly as God declared they would. Comfort is found in knowing that every promise in His Word is true, and as history moves toward its climax, God’s plan is firmly in place. These signs assure that Jesus is coming soon, and there is confidence in the unshakable hope of His return.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

India’s Catholic bishops have issued a sharp rebuke of Maharashtra state authorities for their inaction after a ruling party legislator publicly offered cash rewards for assaults on Christian leaders.

In a statement released Monday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) decried the failure to prosecute BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar following his June 17 speech in Sangli District, in which he pledged up to ₹500,000 (approximately $5,756 USD) for those “bashing up missionaries” and ₹1.1 million (about $12,663 USD) for attacks on Christian leaders.

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The CBCI expressed “deep anguish and alarm over the growing climate of hostility and violence directed against minority communities in the country,” calling Padalkar’s remarks “a clear instance of incitement to religiously motivated violence, amounting to a grave offense under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.”

As reported by The Christian Post, the bishops added that Padalkar’s tiered reward system “warrants immediate and decisive legal intervention, particularly when the incitement is explicit, direct and poses an imminent threat to public order.”

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Open Doors has ranked India 11th on its 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.

Despite widespread protests, including a six-hour demonstration on July 11 in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan attended by thousands of Christians and prominent political figures, the CBCI lamented that “law enforcement authorities have reportedly failed to register even a First Information Report (FIR). This inaction stands in stark contrast to the swift legal response often seen against students, activists and opposition leaders for far less serious expressions, such as social media posts or peaceful dissent.”

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Church leaders from across India have condemned Padalkar’s rhetoric. The Rev. Vijayesh Lal of the Evangelical Fellowship of India warned, “No elected representative should ever incentivize attacks on any citizen based on their faith,” while Raphael D’Souza, former president of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, noted the “lack of response” even as the state assembly sat in session. BJP representatives have distanced the party from Padalkar’s statements, labeling them his “personal views” and “highly irresponsible.”

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Let us join in prayer for all Christians enduring persecution around the world, asking God to grant them hope and strength amidst their trials, and to move the hearts of those in power toward justice and compassion.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Sometimes life’s most pivotal turns come in the midst of routine. You know the scene: an open practice field, the steady thud of a football meeting cleats and an athlete locked in on perfecting one more kick. Nothing about that afternoon hinted at a life-altering encounter, until every goalpost faded away, and something deeper broke through.

It was on Sports Spectrum with hosts Matt Forte and Jason Romano that Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion unfolded the rest of the story. He spoke candidly about how a random visit to his high school field became the backdrop for his spiritual awakening, tracing it all back to a journey that began long before that afternoon.

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Pinion grew up “going because my family was going, but it wasn’t because of my choice,” he said of his church-filled childhood. When his parents divorced, he found refuge in football, confessing, “At that point in my life, my god was football. It was my escape.”

As recruitment offers rolled in, he reached a crossroads not just about where to play college ball, but whether to test this “God guy” he’d only heard about in Sunday school. “I remember thinking in my head, let me test this God guy and see what He’s about,” he recalled, even praying aloud during a solo drive in his ’94 Sonoma.

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That test led him to the practice field instead of the weight room, just another decision, until a stranger in a Clemson-orange shirt approached and asked, “Are you the kicker at Northwest Parish High School?” What felt like a two-hour conversation instead lasted minutes, yet it cut to the core. The man shared Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,” then slipped away.

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Pinion tried to resume kicking but “shanked everything left and right,” finally retreating to his truck in tears. “I cried the whole way home,” he said, and it was in that moment of brokenness that he believed “God sent an angel to me because I said that prayer.”

His heart may have flipped in an instant, but his life aligned more gradually. “I felt my heart transforming before my actions did,” Pinion admits, noting it took until college’s junior year to fully unite belief and behavior. Since then, he’s leaned into vulnerability, leading mission trips with Compassion International, opening his locker room to honest conversations, and living out the very freedom he found that day on the field.

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We may never predict where or when God will send someone our way to redirect our steps. But when He does, through a stranger’s timely word, an inner nudge in a lonely moment or an unplanned meeting on an otherwise ordinary day, the impact can echo through every choice that follows.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

Kel Mitchell, best known for lighting up Nickelodeon as a breakout star on All That, Kenan & Kel and in the Good Burger movies, recently celebrated a truly memorable milestone with his youngest daughter, Wisdom “Wizzy,” on her eighth birthday.

As a youth pastor at his church, Mitchell had the privilege of assisting in her baptism, marking not only her birthday but the day she publicly chose to follow Jesus.

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Mitchell’s wife, Asia Lee-Mitchell, shared her pride on Instagram: “Baptized in Christ. Wizzy did something I am beyond proud of. She gave her life to Christ and asked to be baptized for her Birthday! I am so blessed to be her mommy.” She went on to thank their church home for making Wizzy feel free “to learn, love and express her faith in Jesus” and prayed that “she never forgets this day.”

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Reflecting on the ceremony, Kel Mitchell wrote, “This weekend you gave me the greatest gift—I watched you get baptized and I cried tears of joy. A moment I’ll never forget.” After the service, the family kept the celebration lighthearted with mini golf, pancakes and a trip to see The Smurfs movie—complete with plenty of hugs, laughs and love all around.

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Despite his decades in the spotlight, Mitchell says fatherhood remains “awesome.”

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As he told the National News Desk at the Kids’ Choice Awards, “Kids have so much honesty. And I love the fact that they love what I do and they’re excited about it and that makes me happy.”

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From supporting Wizzy in her faith journey to cheering on his other children, Honor, Allure and Lyric, in their own pursuits, Kel Mitchell’s heart for family continues to shine brighter than any spotlight.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

A common misconception holds that the Bible makes no mention of dinosaurs, placing these ancient giants firmly in the realm of modern paleontology rather than Scripture. In reality, however, the original Hebrew and Greek texts refer to colossal “dragons” and mighty beasts whose characteristics align remarkably well with what science today identifies as dinosaurs.

Daniel Maritz of DLM Christian Lifestyle unpacks this surprising overlap. With careful attention to language and context, Maritz demonstrates how modern translations have obscured references to creatures that ancient cultures knew well.

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Maritz begins by pointing out that “the word dinosaur… did not exist before the 1800s.” Coined in 1841 by Sir Richard Owen, dinosaur combines the Greek deinos (“terrible”) and sauros (“lizard”). Before then, people simply called these massive animals “dragons.” In the Old Testament, Maritz explains, the Hebrew term tannin is consistently rendered “dragon,” though many Bibles substitute phrases like “great sea creatures” or even footnote Behemoth as a hippopotamus, despite the clear detail that its “tail [is] like a cedar tree.” As Maritz observes, “These were real creatures, beasts, dragons,” not symbolic visions.

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The books of Job offer two vivid portraits. Behemoth, described with “bones like bronze, a tail like a cedar tree, limbs like bars of iron,” stands first among land beasts in strength and stature. Leviathan follows as a formidable sea monster whose “back is made of rows of shields” and who scoffs at swords, spears, and javelins. Maritz notes that natural defense mechanisms, such as the bombardier beetle’s explosive spray, suggest how ancient observers might have recorded fiery breath in marine reptiles or other prehistoric animals.

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Beyond biblical text, Maritz highlights a wealth of historical testimony. Cultures around the globe produced cave drawings, carvings, and written records of encounters with dragon-like creatures. Even classical historians tell of armies slaying enormous serpents 100 feet long and shipping their skins back as trophies.

According to Maritz, “The fact remains there are many historical writings about human encounters with dragons,” pointing to a past when humans and dinosaurs walked side by side.

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When we read these passages with fresh eyes, apparent conflicts between science and Scripture fade. Instead, we see a consistent testimony: the same Creator who breathed life into Adam also fashioned beasts of colossal size and power.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

As summer continues on and the temperature climbs, another, smaller threat makes its annual advance: the tick. Once confined to deep woods and rural pastures, these tiny invaders now lurk in our backyards, parks and hiking trails, transmitting Lyme disease and other illnesses with a single, nearly invisible bite. Health officials warn that 2025 could rival the worst years on record for tick-borne infections, and doctors emphasize recognition of early signs, “fatigue, fever, joint pain and the telltale bull’s-eye rash,” so that “if diagnosed early, Lyme disease can be treated effectively” before it becomes “chronic or life-altering.”

But what if this uptick in tick activity echoes something far more ancient?

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As reported by Israel365 News, Jewish tradition has long taught that the plagues of Egypt will return in magnified form at the time of final redemption. The Old Testament prophet Micah wrote, “I will show him wondrous deeds as in the days when You sallied forth from the land of Egypt” (Mic. 7:15). Midrash Tanchuma expands on this, declaring that “just as God struck the Egyptians with 10 plagues, so too He will strike the enemies of the Jewish people at the time of the Redemption.” Rabbi Bahya ben Asher adds that in Egypt, “God used only part of His strength. When the final redemption comes, God will show much, much more of His power.”

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The third plague, ‘kinim,’ is traditionally rendered “lice,” yet several medieval sages suggest a broader reading. The 11th-century North African scholar Rabbeinu Chananel identifies kinim as karatzim, blood-sucking creatures “such as ticks,” while Rashi’s vivid depiction of pests “emerging from dust” and tormenting man and beast mirrors the invasive nature of modern tick infestations. Ibn Ezra and Radak allow kinim to be “small biting insects arising from dust,” and Rav Saadiah Gaon literally calls them “tiny creeping things,” a term broad enough to include ticks or mites.

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In our era of red carpets and streaming platforms, these tiny pests have claimed a number of celebrity victims. “High-profile individuals such as Justin Timberlake, Bella Hadid, Ben Stiller and Shania Twain have publicly shared their struggles,” raising awareness and empathy for this creeping scourge according to People magazine. Timberlake is the latest star to speak out, describing his diagnosis as “debilitating” and joining a growing list of celebrities whose battles remind us that no one is immune.

Hollywood is not exactly renowned for its embrace of biblical values, so perhaps these headlines beckon us toward spiritual introspection. The plagues in Exodus were not mere punishments, they were wake-up calls. Today’s tick-borne upswing could similarly prompt us to examine our spiritual health and moral choices. As one rabbi quipped, “The U.S. isn’t just entering tick season, we might be entering the Third Plague.”

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Whether or not we view this as divine warning, the lesson rings clear: small things matter. And if we ignore the creeping dangers, physical, moral or spiritual, they may soon find their way under our skin.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

The Hebrew month of Av has long been marked by sorrow, and by deep opportunity. Though it falls in the height of summer, Av carries a weight of destruction and remembrance that calls believers to pause, reflect and realign their hearts with God’s purposes. It’s more than a calendar note; it’s an invitation to see how history’s darkest days can sharpen our faith.

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On a recent Curt Landry Podcast episode, Rabbi Curt Landry and Darrell Puckett dove into Av’s significance. They explained that “there are patterns and shadows of patterns inside the Hebrew calendar where you see things happen…in a cycle and they happen around the same time,” while reflecting on how recognizing these patterns “helps you plan for your personal life and your goals to grow.”

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Historical tragedies on the 9th of Av include:

• The 10 spies’ negative report from Canaan (Num. 13–14)
• Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Solomon’s Temple (586 BC)
• The Romans’ destruction of the Second Temple (70 AD)
• The fall of Betar fortress in the Bar Kokhba revolt (c. 132 AD)
• Massacre of Jews in York, England (1190 AD)
• Expulsion of Jews from England (1290 AD)
• Expulsion from Spain (1492 AD)
• Outbreak of World War I—leading toward the Holocaust (1914 AD)
• Gaza’s Gush Katif expulsion (2005 AD)

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Five practical responses for the month of Av:

1. Repentance.
   “This is a month when you say things like father god search me and know me for I desire truth in my inward parts.” Use this season to reflect, confess, and close doors to anything that leads you away from obedience.
2. Listening to the Spirit.
   “This is a time when you need to purposely get some quiet time where you can practice hearing the voice of the Lord and the presence of God.” Turn down the world’s clamor so you can tune in to His guidance.
3. Waiting on the Lord.
   “Do not change plans. Stick to the path…do not turn to the right or the left. Be like a Clydesdale. Put on the blinders…and just keep moving forward.” Trust God’s timing—even if it feels like everything around you is collapsing.
4. Protecting your ears.
   “This is a month where you need to be very careful to protect your ears…be careful to what you’re listening to and who you’re listening to.” Guard against complain­ing voices and toxic negativity.
5. Avoiding impulsivity.
   “Don’t act impulsively. And do not make decisions angry. If you start to get angry, then disengage.” When frustration flares, step back—don’t let harsh words or rash choices steal your peace.

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Though Av’s history is heavy, the season also brims with grace. As Christians, Av reminds us that even the darkest cycles can point us back to the light of Jesus. Let this month be your invitation to deeper repentance, clearer hearing of the Spirit and renewed trust in the Lord, drawing ever closer to Him in every step.

James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.