*THE RESTORER'S DAILY GUIDE*

DATE: WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE 2025

THEME: *STAND OUT!*

MEMORIZE
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

READ
1 John 2:15-17
[15]Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
[16]For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
[17]And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
*Loving the world is proof of lack of love for the LORD.*

MESSAGE
God did not call us to like the world or to be liked by the world, He called us to be His light to this dark world; and we do that by standing out as godly people.

We are not called to fit into this world but to stand out and stand tall enough to make a difference with our Christ-like lives.

We can not be pleasing to this world no matter how much we seek its validation and approval.

This world hates Jesus Christ our Lord, we should never love the world that killed our Saviour. To love the world is to betray our dear Lord and Saviour.

A world that crucified a perfect man like Jesus Christ will stop at nothing to destroy all who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should, therefore, not be looking for anything else from this world other than to save its lost souls for the LORD.

If you live seeking the acceptance of this world, you will die suffering from the rejection of the world.

God's approval and applause are all you need to win in this life and be graciously accepted and celebrated in the world to come.

The only difference between us and this "sin-infested" world is Jesus Christ in us and the "Christ-lessness" in the world.

Therefore, my beloved, do not seek validation from the world that hated our Lord and Saviour enough to crucify Him.

If the world does not want my Saviour, I do not want the world either. It is strange to love the world that killed our Saviour and Lord and still claim to be following Him...

Who is on the LORD'S SIDE???

STAND OUT NOW!!!

ACTION STEPS
1. Prayerfully meditate on today's devotional guide.
2. Be determined to make a difference by strictly following the ways of the LORD always. Damn any consequences for following the LORD.
3. Fear nothing and no one else if you truly fear the LORD. He is the ultimate in the universe.

REMEMBER
*Loving the world is proof of lack of love for the LORD.*

PRAYERS
Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for today's devotional guide. I receive grace to truly follow you acceptably and faithfully to the end in Jesus' name. Amen.

AUTHOR: JEDIDIAH DAVID

DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 12-14; Psalms 115-117; Proverbs 14; Matthew 24-25; Revelation 12-14;

HYMN
Arise and follow Me !
Alas, my Lord, I hear Thy word,
But Thee Thyself I can but dimly see ;
Help me to rise and follow Thee.

2
Arise and follow Me !
But I am bound to earth's cold ground
By many a tie : Come, Lord, and set me free,
Then I shall rise and follow Thee.

3
Arise and follow Me !
The way is rough, but 'tis enough
That through my life Thou wilt my
Leader be ;
And I will boldly follow Thee.

4
Arise and follow Me ! [tomb,
In mist and gloom, through tears and
Up golden streets and by the crystal sea,
I shall forever follow Thee,

PLEASE SHARE

*SOME NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES+, 11/06/2025*

Tinubu returns to Abuja, inaugurates rehabilitated ICC

Deadly flood: Niger communities battle stench from decaying corpses

Mokwa flood: Borno, Taraba donate N350m to victims

NiMet workers finally receive minimum wage

NSCDC debunks fake recruitment on social media

Naira appreciates to N1,600/$ in parallel market

Trump unveils $1,000 investment accounts for newborn Americans

US to restore some medical research grants, says Trump official

17 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes near Gaza aid site

Seven dead, schoolchildren missing as storm hits South Africa

World Bank projects three-year steady economic growth for Nigeria

Saudi’s Aramco delays Nigeria’s crude-backed $5bn loan

Lagos court jails nine Chinese for cybercrimes

19-year-old Nigerian artiste beaten to death in Ghana


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*DID YOU KNOW?*

* Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. Two hearts pump blood to the gills while one pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Their blood is blue because it uses copper to transport oxygen unlike the red blood of humans which is transported with iron.

* Joal-Fadiouth, a district in Senegal, has an island and a beach entirely made of seashells.
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Tinubu mandates MDAs to pay for Abuja conference centre

National Assembly mulls extension of 2024 budget capital vote

Senate pushes to move presidential inauguration venue from Eagle Square to N’Assembly

Petroleum subsidy was a scam, Nigeria can’t go back – Orji Kalu

Alleged N5.2b fraud: Court rejects ex-JAMB Registrar’s no-case submission

Court to hear suit on proposed sale of Lafarge

Court jails Afriq System’s CEO, Michael, over alleged $854.4m, N590m fraud

Indian, Dangote workers arraigned for diverting N4bn diesel

Court jails three for vandalising IKEDC cables

Woman jailed three years for child abuse in Ekiti

Family, lawyer urge EFCC to release CBEX promoter

Army kills terrorist kingpin, Jidda, others in Yobe, Borno

NAF probes death of detained corporal

Army celebrates troops battling insecurity in S’East

Divestment key to oil sector growth- Lokpobiri

FG to train 100,000 youths annually in forex trading

FG budget cut leaves 1,500 health workers without pay

FG eyes private capital for infrastructure at PPP summit

SEC directs firms to honour unclaimed dividends

Maritime bank to upgrade major shipyards – CEO

Wike Renames International Conference Centre After Tinubu

UNIJOS ready to host 2025 NUGA Games, says VC

Gregory varsity inducts 83 medical doctors

Ugosimba chieftaincy title for First Lady Tinubu in Enugu

90% of Yoruba kings don’t believe in Yoruba gods — Seun Kuti

My business collapsed after public criticism of pastors – Daddy Freeze

No prayers can erase six million Igbo deaths, group tells Gowon

Youths kick as gunmen kill 58, burn 82 houses in Plateau

June 12: Ijaw youths ask Tinubu to restore democracy in Rivers

Tinubu has failed to improve governance after Buhari’s era – Baba-Ahmed

Diesel, petrol to cost more as four depot owners raise prices

TAJBank signs agreement for N20bn Mudarabah Sukuk bond issuance

Accion MfB opens new branch in Ilorin

Local telecom operators spend $350m annually on diesel – Report

Edo Line retruns 15 years after

10 startups emerge winners of JusticeTechNG

i-Fitness boosts expansion plan

Reconcile or face impeachment, Rivers APC warns Fubara

Obi, Otti responsible for our crisis, not Fed Govt, says LP

We will police our votes in 2027, Obi vows

Saraki, PDP reconciliation committee meet Makinde

Power play: PDP convention caught in Wike-Makinde camps crossfire

Ajayi, PDP set to appeal tribunal’s verdict affirming Aiyedatiwa

Makinde, Speaker mourn Adefope

Adeleke commiserates with Oke-IIa monarch over wife’s death

Sanwo-Olu urges parents to instill values in children

Ododo warns against politicising insecurities

Mokwa flood: We don’t know where waters are coming from – Niger gov

Residents seek intervention as erosion sacks nine Anambra villages

Low turnout in Kano as civil servants resume

Many escape death as petrol-laden tanker explodes in Oyo

Pastor Adeboye visits Alaafin of Oyo

Ondo traders get N43m, 150 solar lights to boost business

1 Killed, 3 Abducted As Gunmen Invade Cashew Warehouse In Kwara

Two Truck Drivers Gunned Down, Vehicles Set Ablaze In Imo


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*TODAY IN HISTORY*

* On this day in 1994, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola declared himself as Nigeria’s president in what is now known as the Epetedo Declaration. This was a year after the June 12, 1993, which it is now cofirmed he won, was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Less than 24 hours, he was arrested by the military government led by General Sani Abacha and detained without trial. He remained in custody till July 7, 1998 when he died under suspicious circumstances, just days after Abacha died.

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Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable. – Zig Ziglar

*Compiled by Hon. Osuji George osujis@yahoo

“Peter Obi is the leader that we need for Nigeria but not the politician that we need for us”

“They benefited from free education but we don’t have that”

~ Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

*Today, I pray for you a heart free of sadness, a mind free of worries, a life full of gladness, a body free of illness, and a day full of God’s blessings. Good Morning *

God is greater than any sorrow. Ask Him to free you from depression. Pray for His help & remember He has overcome the world. You're not alone; ask friends to pray for you. He will bring light & joy to your heart.

God is greater than any sorrow. Ask Him to free you from depression. Pray for His help & remember He has overcome the world. You're not alone; ask friends to pray for you. He will bring light & joy to your heart.

WHO ARE YOU TO TRUST.
Have absolute trust in your self, think of what to do and what you can freely do to change your life.
Never depend on anyone, but anyone helps you, fine.
Do not believe the world, for they will not give you Paradise.

Dear Parents

One of the best gifts you can give to your children is a good home. Creating a positive environment involves supporting their physical, emotional, and psychological development. Nothing stresses a child more than a home where parents are in turmoil.

Provide your child with a safe haven.
Ensure the home is safe and free from hazards, addressing both physical safety (like childproofing) and emotional safety (offering a non-judgmental space for self-expression).

Parent together as a couple to model teamwork. Children learn by observing, so demonstrate values you want them to adopt, such as honesty, kindness, and responsibility.

A PASTOR'S BETRAYAL
PART 2
Grace sat in the front pew of the church, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her lace scarf. The air smelled of polished wood and faint incense, and the stained-glass windows painted colorful patterns on the floor. She had come early, hoping to speak to Pastor Gideon before the service began.
Her heart pounded as she rehearsed what she would say. "Pastor, my marriage is falling apart over small things. Michael doesn’t talk to me anymore. We used to be happy, but now… I don’t know what to do."
When the pastor finally emerged from his office, his smile was warm, his eyes kind. He looked like a man who carried the wisdom of God in his voice.
"Sister Grace," he said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You look troubled. Come, let’s talk."
Inside his office, Grace poured out her heart—how Michael was always busy, how they barely spoke, how she felt like a ghost in her own home. She expected comfort, maybe even prayer. But Pastor Gideon leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard as if God Himself had whispered a revelation into his ear.
"My daughter," he said, his voice smooth as honey, "sometimes what we think is a trial is actually God’s way of redirecting us."
Grace frowned. "What do you mean, Pastor?"
He sighed dramatically. "Perhaps… this marriage is not God’s will for you anymore."
Grace’s breath caught. Not God’s will? After eighteen years?
The pastor continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "A man who neglects his wife is not a man of God. And you, Sister Grace, are too precious to waste your life waiting for love that isn’t there."
Her hands trembled. "But… we took vows. What about forgiveness? What about trying?"
Pastor Gideon shook his head sadly. "Some people are sent to test us, not to stay with us. Maybe God is calling you to let go."
Grace felt dizzy. This wasn’t what she had come for. She had wanted hope—a way to fix her marriage. Not… this.
The church doors closed behind her, and the bright sunlight felt like a cruel joke. Grace stumbled down the street, her vision blurred by tears.
"Leave him?"* How could that be God’s plan?
Yet the pastor’s words slithered into her mind, whispering doubts. "Michael doesn’t love you. You deserve better. God wants you free."
By the time she reached her house, her chest ached as if someone had reached inside and ripped out her heart. She barely made it to the bedroom before collapsing onto the bed, sobbing into the pillow.
Downstairs, Michael sat at the dining table, flipping through contracts. The sound of Grace’s cries floated down the hallway, but he didn’t look up.
When she finally came downstairs, her eyes red and swollen, he barely glanced at her.
"You, okay?" he asked absently, not waiting for an answer before turning back to his papers.
Grace stared at him, her heart breaking all over again.
He doesn’t even see me.
Pastor Gideon’s voice echoed in her mind: "You’re wasting your life."
For the first time in eighteen years, Grace wondered if the pastor was right.
That night, she couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw two paths:
1. Stay and fight for her marriage—but what if Michael never changed?
2. Leave and trust "God’s plan"—but what if the pastor was wrong?
Meanwhile, miles away, Pastor Gideon sat in his lavish home, counting the offerings from Sunday’s service. His phone buzzed—a message from a wealthy widow in his congregation. He smiled.
Then he thought of Grace. Vulnerable. Heartbroken. Married to a rich man.
Perfect.
He sent her a text:
"Sister Grace, God laid you on my heart tonight. Remember—He never closes a door without opening a window. I’m here for you."
Grace read the message in the dark, tears rolling down her face.
She had no idea the window the pastor wanted to open… led straight into a trap.
TO BE CONTINUED...

The woman you were when you had to survive was a force of nature. She did what needed to be done—no matter the cost. She built walls, armored her heart, and carried burdens no one even guessed she was holding. She learned how to hide her pain behind a smile, how to steady her voice when the world tried to shake her, and how to keep putting one foot in front of the other when the ground felt like it was crumbling.

You were the storm and the shelter at the same time. You found strength in places you didn’t know existed. You became tough, sharp, unbreakable—because you had to be. No one else saw the battles you fought in the dark, the times you cried in silence, the nights you wondered if you could keep going.

That woman was a survivor, and she deserves your deepest respect. She is the reason you’re here today. She is the reason you made it through. But survival is not the same as living. Those days required a certain kind of grit, a toughness that got you through the worst, but also left you exhausted, wary, and always bracing for the next blow.

You were always on guard, scanning every room for danger, expecting every kindness to disappear, and believing peace was just a pause before the next storm. Your heart became a fortress, your mind a battlefield, your soul a soldier. You survived because you had no other choice.

But hear this truth: you are not in that place anymore. You have crossed the rough seas and made it to new shores. The air is different now, the sky is clearer, the world is not as cold and hostile as it once felt. You are not the hunted anymore. You are the leader, the creator, the woman who owns her story.

You don’t have to live in survival mode any longer. You don’t have to flinch at every sound, tense up at every touch, or question every moment of peace. You are allowed to let your shoulders drop, to unclench your fists, to breathe deeply and freely, and to believe in safety.

You have earned the right to rest. Rest is not weakness. Gentleness is not surrender. You can let your heart soften now. You can let your guard down—not because the world has stopped spinning, but because you have become wise enough to choose who gets close, strong enough to walk away from what hurts, and brave enough to trust yourself.

You are smarter now, not just because you survived, but because you learned. Survival taught you resilience, but healing will teach you joy. You are allowed to step out of the armor that once saved you, and into the light that now calls you forward.

You are not that scared girl anymore. You are a woman who knows her power. You are a woman who can stand in a room and hold her own, not out of fear, but out of confidence. You are a woman who leads with both heart and mind, who knows when to be fierce and when to be gentle.

You are allowed to love again, to trust again, to hope again. The world may never be perfect, but you are not here to be small or afraid. You are here to live fiercely, to love boldly, and to lead without apology.

Let go of the need to control every outcome. Let go of the belief that you always have to be tough. Let the world see your softness, your laughter, your vulnerability. These are not weaknesses—they are the marks of a woman who has survived and chosen to thrive.

The version of you that survived was a masterpiece of strength. But the version of you that leads is a masterpiece of wisdom. She knows when to fight and when to rest, when to speak and when to listen, when to hold on and when to let go.

You are allowed to change. You are allowed to become more than what your past demanded. You are allowed to shape your life, not out of fear, but out of possibility. You are allowed to rise.

Do not be afraid of your own growth. Do not apologize for your healing. Do not shrink to fit an old story. The world is waiting for the woman who is not just a survivor, but a creator, a leader, a light for others still finding their way.

It’s time to step into your new power. It’s time to lead with the lessons you’ve earned, to love with the depth you’ve discovered, and to live with the freedom you’ve fought for.

You are not bound to the woman who only knew how to survive. She is part of your story, but she is not the whole story. You are allowed to outgrow her, to thank her, and to let her rest.

This is your season to live. To lead. To become the woman, you always dreamed you could be—not just a survivor, but a force. Not just a fighter, but a builder. Not just a protector, but a creator of a life worth living.

You are not just here; you are fully alive. And that, after everything, is your greatest victory."

Deep Feelings
credit to the artist via Pinterest

IF I WAS A DEBTOR, THE BANK WOULD BE AT EVERY GATE HERE TELLING PEOPLE "ANY OFFERING YOU ARE BRINGING TO GOD, FIRST PAY HERE BECAUSE YOUR CHURCH IS OWING."

BORROWING IS TELLING GOD HE IS TOO SLOW FOR YOU, HE DOESN'T KNOW YOUR SIZE.

IT IS NOT THAT I WENT INTO DEBT AND CAME OUT, I AM IMMUNE TO DEBT

TILL I MEET JESUS, WHATEVER GOD CANNOT DO, LET IT REMAIN UNDONE

- Bishop David Oyedepo

Bishop Oyedepo while ministering during the Second Sunday Service at Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland spoke against borrowing. He said ""But thou shall not borrow" (Deuteronomy 15:6). That's where I caught it. He said when you borrow, you are only saying I am too slow for you. Lord, you don't know my size. If you knew my size, is this the kind of car I should be riding? You don't know my size. Church Gist A is riding this kind of car. B is riding this kind of car. C is riding this. I am above them. I am smarter than them and they agree and I am riding a Volkswagen Beetle. How? You don't know my size so I will borrow. God explained it to me in a manner that I lost eternal thirst for borrowing."

Speaking further on the subject, he said "I entered into a covenant. It is not that I am debt free, I am debt immune. Not that I went to debt and I came out, I am immune to debt. Can you imagine if I was a borrower, the bank would be at every gate here telling people "Any offering you are bringing to God, first pay here because your Church is owing." Till I meet Jesus, never. Whatever you cannot do for me, let it remain undone. Church Gist. Whatever you can't give me, may I never have it. Wherever you can't take me to, may I never get there. So our first office was ₦100 a month. That was the amount budgetable for it. Everybody will answer for himself. You better refuse to let any devil disconnect your life."

IF I WAS A DEBTOR, THE BANK WOULD BE AT EVERY GATE HERE TELLING PEOPLE "ANY OFFERING YOU ARE BRINGING TO GOD, FIRST PAY HERE BECAUSE YOUR CHURCH IS OWING."

BORROWING IS TELLING GOD HE IS TOO SLOW FOR YOU, HE DOESN'T KNOW YOUR SIZE.

IT IS NOT THAT I WENT INTO DEBT AND CAME OUT, I AM IMMUNE TO DEBT

TILL I MEET JESUS, WHATEVER GOD CANNOT DO, LET IT REMAIN UNDONE

- Bishop David Oyedepo

Bishop Oyedepo while ministering during the Second Sunday Service at Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland spoke against borrowing. He said ""But thou shall not borrow" (Deuteronomy 15:6). That's where I caught it. He said when you borrow, you are only saying I am too slow for you. Lord, you don't know my size. If you knew my size, is this the kind of car I should be riding? You don't know my size. Church Gist A is riding this kind of car. B is riding this kind of car. C is riding this. I am above them. I am smarter than them and they agree and I am riding a Volkswagen Beetle. How? You don't know my size so I will borrow. God explained it to me in a manner that I lost eternal thirst for borrowing."

Speaking further on the subject, he said "I entered into a covenant. It is not that I am debt free, I am debt immune. Not that I went to debt and I came out, I am immune to debt. Can you imagine if I was a borrower, the bank would be at every gate here telling people "Any offering you are bringing to God, first pay here because your Church is owing." Till I meet Jesus, never. Whatever you cannot do for me, let it remain undone. Church Gist. Whatever you can't give me, may I never have it. Wherever you can't take me to, may I never get there. So our first office was ₦100 a month. That was the amount budgetable for it. Everybody will answer for himself. You better refuse to let any devil disconnect your life."