Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
I have to confess that I haven’t reached the stage in my spiritual journey where I rejoice during hard times. So, I imagined yesterday; God said, “Enough crying and feeling down.” While searching for a specific scripture in Luke 4, I decided to study the entire chapter. As I read the events that led to Jesus’ Rejection in Nazareth, I couldn’t get past verses 28, 29, and 30.
When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:28-30
I read these three Scriptures repeatedly, attempting to process and visualize an angry mob planning to push Jesus over a cliff. Why? Because He told the truth!
Yes, I understood the lesson that God was teaching to me, but I still have been wrapped up in my emotions during this challenging trial that I am going through. I can honestly say that “God is love, and full of grace and mercy.” Today, every hour, I have been praying. Immediately after I finished my 5 pm prayer, the words, “If you suffer, you will reign with him,” came into my mind. Since I had no prior knowledge of these words, I did an internet search out of curiosity.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us…” 2 Timothy 2:12
The Apostle Paul wrote the First and Second letters of Timothy to encourage the young believer to endure and persevere all trials because he would receive a great reward.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. So I am willing to endure anything if it brings salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:3, 10-13
Enduring hardships is part of the believer’s journey. If we desire eternal life, then we must embrace hard times. Jesus suffered, bled, died, and was resurrected for the redemption of our sins. Let us prepare to reign with him forever and ever. Amen.
Bible Study: 2 Timothy 2
God, we thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to teach us the purpose for suffering. We pray for strength and a change in attitude while we endure the hardships of life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.
A feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something or the safety and well-being of someone.
A mixed sense of dread and reverence [refers to God].
Countless situations initiate fear. We will not speak on the physical dangers of where someone or something threatens our physical safety because God has given us a “fight or flight” [stay or run] system in which the body prepares to protect itself.
The third definition of fear is one that all believers should challenge because it refers to God, our Creator, and Heavenly Father. When we love God, we do not have dread. Our fear is reverence and awe of God. But truthfully, if we believe that God is Omniscient and Omnipotent–that He is fully aware of our hardships, problems, and situations before they happened then what is the basis for our fears?
We have two issues: 1. Lack of faith. 2. Focusing on our limited abilities.
Fear is an age-old problem. Even with God’s countless promises, miracles, and deliverance, we still fear our circumstances. Our minds immediately become bombarded with the thoughts of how we will take care of yet another problem or life event.
The Israelites also lived with fear, and God comforted them: “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” Deuteronomy 20:1, 4
Jesus’ disciples who had seen the power of God through Jesus, the Son of God required comfort: That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19.
How is that possible? Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Matthew 26:40. The disciples also had the same deficit that many of us have: Limited time spent with God in prayer.
I asked my mother, who is 87 y/o this question: “Why do modern-day believers have so many doubts and fears?” She responded: “They do not pray enough. It is not enough to pray one or two times a day.”
Last night, I prayed for God to reveal the answer to alleviating all of our fears and wavering faith. This morning, my sister-in-Christ sent me the following devotional reading:
DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. – Isaiah 65:24
God who heard Daniel’s Prayer will hear ours when we come to Him in contrition [repentance]. … It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the Prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow, did we not thus ask. – Great Controversy, p.525. Ellen G. White
• A Point To Ponder •
The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray. – Samuel Chadwick
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is not an option when serving God. It is a privilege to pray to the God who sees all, knows all, and lovingly cares for us. God always answers prayers.
It is time for us to acknowledge the ceaseless love of our Heavenly Father by communicating more frequently. When hardships hit like a tsunami, pray prayers of faith and thanksgiving. Who else can comfort us as God can? Who else can provide the answers?
Develop the habit of praying more and more each day. Your faith will strengthen and you will be confident in knowing that God will bring victory. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
God’s Promise: I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24. Yes, God is aware of our challenges. Because we need reminders that we are to remain dependent on God, we are required to approach Him in prayer with reverence and humility. Be transparent and honest. God already knows that we are fearful with weak and wavering faith. Even so, verbalize your feelings in your prayers and thank God for hearing and answering your prayers. He knows, and He cares.
Bible Study: Deuteronomy chapter 20
Prayer: God, although you have taken care of our challenges in the past and performed mighty miracles, we are still are overwhelmed with fear. We acknowledge that we are not praying enough, nor do we have the faith and trust needed to serve you. Please forgive us for our lack of communication, our doubt and unbelief. Thank you for the privilege of prayer and thank you for being our Jehovah Jireh–our Provider. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Before my employment with the New York State Division of Parole, I took many strenuous psychological tests. One of the deal-breaker tests was the Skills of Observation exam that was pass or fail. Being raised by a Christian mother who always paid attention to the activities of her eldest daughter gave me the advantage of learning her skills of observation. Even so, keen observation is a skill that demands continuous work.
Why is it so easy for humanity to fall into sin? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor And set him over the works of Your hands. Hebrews 2:7
Do you believe that we have an enemy that seeks to attack us from within?
We must never forget that Satan was Lucifer. Although he is a fallen angel, he has the power to create chaos in every life of a believer. Many individuals blame Satan for their secret desires and believe that he can possess our minds because we are entirely helpless. Not so! No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
There is another false teaching: Satan has the power to read our minds. Only the three persons of the Trinity Godhead [God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit] are Omniscient–all-knowing. Humanity would be doomed if Satan and his evil angels could read our minds. Our Heavenly Father, who bent down, picked up dust, and created a perfect man in His image, would never give Satan the power of Omniscience to use for evil.
So, if that is truth, then how do we fall into the very temptations that we detest? We embrace the unholy and the ungodly things of this world because they are the deep, hidden desires of our hearts. Like Eve, we are deceived and fall into temptation because Satan and his angels have observed our behaviors. We read books that promote financial success, watch movies that contain profanity, justify adultery, believe in sex outside of marriage, and the people we have in our friendship circle are not praying and having Bible study with us.
There is an area where many believers fall hard and fast, being involved in unequally-yoked relationships. God created human beings from unconditional love. We have the innate ability and desire to give and receive love. But when we attempt to eliminate loneliness by any means necessary, we open ourselves to deception.
And that great deceiver, Satan, is always ready to send the wolf in sheep’s clothing. You know, the smooth talkers who are skilled in saying the right words that are meaningless. They are the men and women whose outer appearance and spoken words reflect a good character. Still, Satan is using them to distract us, and to sin against God. Visual imagery is the most effective weapon that Satan uses to entice us intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.
Eve was not afraid of a beautiful serpent, an animal that she probably saw every day in the Garden of Eden. But this one was special, the serpent could speak. Eve was mesmerized as he told her the lie of deception, “…then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5. Satan used all three components: Visual imagery, along with intellectual and emotional stimulation. He is still using the same old methods to make humanity doubt God, and we are continuously falling for Satan’s lies. If God said it, and we believe it, then do not engage in debates or verbal sparring concerning the Word of God.
In 2021, we are the easy marks that the con-artists boast about. Satan preys on our weaknesses. Best-selling books and blockbuster movies are created by people who have the talents of developing imagery and writing scripts that easily pull us into the storyline, mentally and emotionally. If human beings can write songs and music that penetrates our soul and produces feelings that we were not aware of, please accept that we are no match for Satan. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
If you follow my blog, you know that I am old-school, but I am also a seeker of knowledge. Yes, I am tech-savvy (not an expert, still learning). It is true, I love social media; Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are three of my favorites. I also have a couple of online games that I enjoy.
But yesterday, I had a spiritually eye-opening experience. While I was caught up in having fun, the Holy Spirit gave me a deeper insight of the content that I was watching. Was this person promoting an ad for sexy designer clothing or perfume while speaking about Jesus Christ? Some of the individuals that I was following under the label of #christiantiktok are sending mixed messages. Do we need to see an individual dressed in tight, suggestive clothing–both men and women–to say, “Jesus died for us?” Yes, Jesus did give His life for us, but we cannot use the cover of sexy and enticing to witness and spread the plan of salvation.
Although it was easy to hit the unfollow icon, not falling into temptation is impossible without God. Our Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses. He is aware that we are gullible [easily persuaded to believe something] because of the desires of our hearts. The year 2020 left many with broken spirits and caused them to see their lives as hopeless. With the adversities that we have faced, it doesn’t take much to give in to sin. Total dependence on God is necessary to sustain our spiritual, mental, and emotional strength.
Beware of your words! We are too transparent, disclosing feelings and situations that we should only tell to God. Even so, I would like to encourage you to stay prayed up! Decide to give God your all, your everything, and you will receive power! Satan is easily defeated when we stay connected to the source. We have come too far to lose our reward of eternal life. Prayer brings power, healing, and spiritual discernment {the ability to see situations through spiritual eyes].
Let Satan know, “You, are not in control of my life!” No more deception! We are soldiers in God’s Army, marching forward to God’s voice. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. Hallelujah! We will not be deceived!
Bible Study: Revelation chapters 21-22
God, we need you in every aspect of our lives. We are tired of being deceived because of broken spirits or the secret desires of our hearts. We pray to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Please give us discernment and the strength to walk away from all temptation. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Sharing this morning’s daily devotional from another author. Pray that you will be blessed.
He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed. MARK 14:35
Some Christians are satisfied to have only a surface relationship with Christ. Others desire to share the holiest moments with Him. On the night Jesus spent in sacred prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the people responded to Him in various ways. There were those who were so indifferent to Jesus that they were unaware He was even in the garden. Then there was Judas, who knew where Jesus was but was too busy with his own schemes to join Him. The rest of the disciples joined Jesus in the garden, but they were distracted by sleep.
Jesus told them the urgency of the hour, but they did not comprehend it. There was the inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John. They initially prayed with Jesus, yet even they could not grasp the significance of the moment. Ultimately, Jesus prayed alone. He went father than His disciples and prayed longer. At the greatest moment of intercession in human history, there was no one willing to go with Jesus and watch with Him.
God is calling you to go deeper in your prayer life with Him. If you are willing to be that person Jesus can take with Him into the most sacred moments, you will experience things only the angels shared with Jesus in the garden that night.
From Today’s Devotional-Experiencing God Day-by-Day
Bible Reading: Mark 14
God, we pray for a deeper relationship with you. We commit to increasing our communication with you through prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Identity according to the dictionary and psychologists:
Identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make a person or group. One can regard the awareness and the categorizing of identity as positive or as destructive. A psychological identity relates to self-image, self-esteem, and individuality. Wikipedia
God’s definition of our identity:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Are you living as a victorious overcomer?
Unless we affirm daily that God has chosen us, then our arch-enemy, Satan, will bully us mentally and emotionally as often as he can. Never forget that Satan was Lucifer, an angel who fell because of pride and jealously against Jesus Christ. If he could convince angels in heaven to go against God, think about his ability to manipulate the unbeliever’s mind easily. It is the unbeliever who mistreats us and attempts to remind us of our past sins that God has cast into the Sea of forgetfulness. He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 AMP
Proof of our identity: Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” Genesis 1:26
The hierarchy of created beings: For You have made him a little lower than the angels. And you have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5
Do you not remember? We are made in the image of God! King David tells us that we were crowned with glory and honor. The Apostle Peter reminds us that we are chosen by God as royalty to live holy and praise and worship our Heavenly Father. Why do we need to remember this vital information? Because God’s Son, Jesus Christ, paid a high price to redeem us from the darkness of sin. It is only through Jesus that we can live in the light because Jesus Christ is the light of the world, John 8:12.
Whether we care to admit it, human beings require constant validation. The issue is that we look for it in all the wrong people and places. Real validation is spiritual! We are who God says we are, and our identity is only found through the Trinity Godhead–God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. We tap into the Source by studying the Word of God and through prayer. Daily action keeps us connected to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
What about the concept of self-validation? If empowering ourselves is all that we required, then the human effort would not be necessary to maintain a relationship with God. Yes, we can and should encourage ourselves. But God created us with a spiritual umbilical cord. And when we fail to seek the nutrients required for spiritual growth, we lose our focus, and give in to our circumstances. It is then that our emotions overpower us, and Satan enters through the open door labeled “uncontrolled feelings.”
Studying the scriptures is for our benefit! The Holy Spirit cannot bring to our remembrance God’s promises of victory or never being alone if we do not possess knowledge of the Word of God. We may not acknowledge the fact that our minds are feeble…You see yourself (in the mirror), walk away, and forget what you look like. James 1:24, but God continually warns us of our limitations.
If we forget what we look like, then we concede that we are in dire need of our spiritual team’s help. Prayer, diligent study of the Bible, and asking God for wisdom are the daily activities to keep us connected to the source of our life, health, and strength. Because of never-ending distractions, our minds require daily repetition to train and discipline ourselves to redirect our focus on Jesus.
Pray for the little things. While unpacking, I put away things in their designated places, but due to fatigue, the location for many of the items became a blur. I took a deep breath, stopped and asked the Holy Spirit to help me find the things that I needed. Although my prayers were answered, I realized that my mind and body needed rest. Human effort plus Divine Intervention=Victorious Outcomes!
There is no room for anxiety, depression, or worries when we stay connected to God. While many modern sermons focus on validation techniques and feel-good sermons, our relationship with God is up-close and personal.” I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. To maintain a thriving relationship with Christ requires constant effort. It is not enough to hear weekly sermons or glance at the Bible occasionally. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—Ephesians 6:14-18 NKJV.
Ephesians chapter 6 gives us the answers to fend off the satanic attacks against our identities. Yes, we belong to the Most-High God. Perseverance along with righteousness by faith can only come from a daily walk with God. Even through the struggles of life, we must never forget that we are royalty. Wear your crown with humility on bended knees. And God will give you His perfect peace, which transcends any circumstance or situation we will ever face during our lifetime.
Bible Study: Ephesians 6
God, thank you for loving us and creating us in your image. We realize that we need you to sustain our spiritual identities. Please create a clean heart and renew the right spirit within us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Imagine having this conversation between yourself and a coworker:
Coworker: “I have been thinking about becoming a Christian. I already believe in God and know that Jesus died so we can be saved from our sins. But I heard that it’s tough being a Christian and that you have to suffer. My life is already hard. I really don’t think that I could take any more problems on top of the ones I have.”
You:_______________________________________
What would you say? Would you give an opinion, or would you be able to provide scriptures from the Bible and a real-life explanation about the help that we have from our spiritual team, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Many scriptures contain God’s promises to help us through our daily challenges. I will share a few of my favorite ones that are easy for a new believer to understand:
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart (have courage), because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Never stop praying! 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
I admit that my biggest problem is spiritual attention deficit. I know God’s promises, but when those severe trials and sorrows come and stay for a while, I begin to lose focus on God and start to stare at my challenges. It takes much prayer, opening my Bible, and continually reminding myself that I am not faithful to God by focusing on the trials that He is allowing me to go through.
Still, I am a work-in-progress. It’s not that I don’t turn to God, my timing is off. When I recognize the first sign of discouragment, that is when I should start praying. Today, I did good. When I felt myself hit that low point, I began an immediate prayer, “God, I need your help. Please send the Holy Spirit to help me now. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” Did our Heavenly Father answer my prayer?
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24. By the time, I said, “Amen,” I felt like someone had given me a big hug. The Holy Spirit, prompted me to read my evening devotional right then. It was on feeling weary. As soon as I saw the title, I thanked and praised God. Our God is awesome!
Human Effort + Divine Intervention = Victory!
Bible Study: Galatians 6
God, you are aware that we quickly become weak when we need to persevere through our trials. Please help us to keep our focus on you by increasing the time that we spend worshipping you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
King David was surrounded by enemies throughout his reign. The book of Psalms is filled with prayers of protection. It is time for the Believers of the Most-High God to pray as David did for the protection of our country, for the protection of our families, and for ourselves.
6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. 7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. 8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.[a] Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 9 Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me. 10 They are without pity. Listen to their boasting! 11 They track me down and surround me, watching for the chance to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart— like young lions hiding in ambush.
13 Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword! 14 By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. Psalm 17:6-14 NLT
God, we pray for your Divine Intervention against our greatest enemy, Satan who has planted evil in the minds of men and women to have armed rallies from January 16-20th at every Capital building in the United States. You promised to be a shield for all who look to you for protection. This is your world that you created for us to live in. Therefore, it is in faith that we pray this prayer, and we claim the victory in your Holy Name. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Do you listen to the radio? Among all forms of media, radio is still the most popular. Invented by Guglielmo Marconi: an Italian inventor, he proved the feasibility of radio communication. Marconi sent and received his first radio signal in Italy in 1895. https://public.wsu.edu/~bryan.mclaughlin/Radio/Who_Invented_Radio.html
Is radio still relevant today? Listener habits have changed, but our love for radio hasn’t. Discover why radio is still popular, outperforming podcasts and TV in the digital era. Across all demographics, Nielsen demonstrates that radio is still the most popular form of media in America. Radio reaches 90% of adults aged 18-34, 94% aged 35-49, and 91% aged 50 and older. That being said, here are our thoughts on why radio is still popular today. https://radio.co/blog/radio-still-popular
As much as we enjoy radio broadcasts that have stood the test of time, there is one element that plagues radio, static interference.
Static is the noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or natural, or man-made electrical disturbances and the electrical disturbances producing this noise. http://www.merriam-webster.com
Yes, static is something that remains entirely above our technological capabilities. Even so, we have adapted and readily expect noise interference to occur at some point during our listening enjoyment.
Daily I pray and ask God to reveal the thoughts and behaviors that prevent me from fulfilling my divine purpose to live righteously. I will share the answer that the Holy Spirit placed in my mind: As Believers, we have too many concerns that have nothing to do with serving God.
Like the radio that will forever be plagued with static interference, we have also placed ourselves in a position to suffer from static. We have allowed people, our day-to-day challenges, and our fluctuating emotions to create ongoing interference. The noise that we allow in our lives stands in the way of our commitment to establish and maintain an unwavering, faith-based relationship with Jesus Christ. Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 1 John 3:7
In 2021, reduce the static interference of too many concerns by redirecting your focus. Begin by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Use your Facebook page, TikTok, Instagram, youtube, etc., to help others. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT. If you believe that God helps us to overcome, then share your testimony. Let others know that there is a loving God who can help us gain victory over the static noise in our lives.
Living by the Word of God can only be done by diligently studying the Bible. Remain faithful to Jesus by whispering a prayer throughout your day. Have a meaningful praise and worship session with God at least twice a day. And most importantly, Jesus says, “If you love me keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Without obedience, we fall back into our old habits from a former lifestyle of sin.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
God, we thank you for the ability to develop a strong relationship with you. We desire to eliminate the static interference that prevents us from serving you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Please help us to guard our thoughts and become more aware of the distractions that pull us away from you. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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