God was touching a dark place within that He wanted to enlighten by His Presence when He showed me the condition of my heart. I was in a cave behind bars. There were two very ferocious dogs barking at me. I was terrified. Which would put me in a better state? To remain locked in the prison, or to be free and face the dogs? I pushed the gate and it opened. With the realization that the gate was never locked, the dogs disappeared and the vision ended.

What is it that we keep locked up inside for fear of “what happens next” if our hearts get unlocked and what is held inside gushes forth unbounded and unrestrained? What if love, joy, and praise bubble with new life and overflow the boundaries we created. Spilling out on the world around us? What would happen if we stepped outside of the dark world we built for ourselves by fear? I will tell you what will happen. The kingdom of God will manifest in power through you and me.

Unbelief is a prison. Unbelief is sin. Unbelief is mis-placed faith. Those barking dogs represent fear and they have names. The names of your dogs may be different than mine, but our fears have names. John the Beloved writes in 1 John 4:18 that there is no fear in love, but that perfect love casts out all (types of) fear. The only force that keeps us clinging to our unbelief is fear. And the only force that can conquer fear is the love of God. It is the love of God that transforms us into someone we know deep inside exists, but is being held captive.

I think that we fail to equate God’s love with power. The word used in 1 John 4:18 for “cast” can denote either violent expulsion or deliberate placement. God’s perfected love is a power that violently expels our fears and deliberately places us under the flow of His love. No other place is as desirable, powerful, or fulfilling. Therefore, it is God’s love, and only God’s love, that liberates us from our fears so we can walk out of our prison of unbelief.
When we release our grip on unbelief, we can then embrace faith. Mark 11:22 tells us that we have the faith of God. Faith that can speak universes into existence. Faith that can move mountains. Faith to trust in God who is for us and loves us.

The good news is that the prison of unbelief guarded by fear is not locked. Your heart is already unlocked. The love of God does not muzzle our fears but obliterates them and sets us free to express the fullness of all that is God within.

Prayer: 
God, I confess the sin of unbelief and ask for Your forgiveness, which I receive now by faith. Show me your tender mercies as I draw near to You, and You draw near to me. I desire to experience your tender mercies as I linger in Your Presence. Intimate knowledge of your kindness and mercy releases the power of your love to cast out fear. I loosen my grip on unbelief and embrace faith. The faith of God working in me. Faith that You love me and delight in me. Faith that You will never leave me abandoned and alone. Faith that You will lead me and guide me into all Truth. Faith in God who is bigger than my fears. Faith in God who takes my troubles and turns them into victories.  Faith that works by love. In Jesus name

In Mark 6, Jesus returned to His hometown, and the people asked, “Is this not the carpenter?” They meant it as a dismissal. They were looking for a reason to minimize Him instead of receive from Him. But what they said in unbelief, we can say in faith: Yes, He is the Carpenter. And that is very good news for us.

Calling Jesus “the carpenter” was not just about His earthly trade. It reveals something about how He works. A carpenter is not intimidated by rough edges, unfinished pieces, or damaged material. A carpenter sees potential where others see problems. He sees design where others only see disorder. That is how Jesus looks at our lives. He does not stare at our mess and wonder whether anything can still be done. He already sees what His grace can make of us.

So many people assume they need to get their lives cleaned up before coming to God. But when you look at the ministry of Jesus, you see the exact opposite. He moved toward broken people, not away from them. He touched lepers, restored dignity to the rejected, healed the sick, delivered the tormented, and stepped into places others avoided. Jesus is not distant or detached. He is hands-on. He comes near. He works personally in the places where life has become painful, chaotic, or disordered.

A carpenter also works according to design. He knows what something was made to become. That helps us understand the mission of Jesus. He did not come merely to make bad people act a little better. He came to restore what sin distorted. Sin damages identity, twists desire, disrupts peace, and fractures our relationship with God and others. The world often offers quick fixes and surface-level patches, but Jesus does something deeper. He restores original design.

That is why salvation is more than self-improvement. It is not behavior management or just trying harder. Jesus is after transformation from the inside out. Religion often focuses on appearances, but Jesus goes to the root. He heals what is underneath. He reforms a life until the image of God becomes visible again. God’s goal is not simply to help us survive. His goal is to transform us so that our lives reflect His nature.

This is where many people begin to resist. We want breakthrough, but we do not always want process. We want blessing, but not surrender. We want rescue, but not reshaping. Yet this is how the Carpenter works. He measures, cuts, sands, adjusts, and strengthens. When Jesus puts His hand on an area of your life, it is not because He is trying to shame you. It is because He loves you too much to leave you the way you are.

Sometimes that means He cuts things away. That part can be painful. Carpenters do not only repair; they also trim and remove what does not fit the design. God does the same in us. He deals with pride, fear, false identity, unhealthy attachments, self-reliance, and anything else that would keep us from becoming who He created us to be. But He never cuts at random. He removes what does not belong in your future.

That means some seasons are not punishment. They are pruning. Jesus taught that fruitful branches are pruned so they can bear even more fruit. Sometimes God cuts back what is unhealthy, unstable, or unnecessary so that your life can become stronger and more fruitful in the next season. If we do not understand that, we can misread His work and think He is against us. But often His pruning is proof that He is still deeply invested in what He is building.

Another beautiful truth is that the Carpenter wastes nothing. In the hands of Jesus, even painful seasons are not useless. He can take sorrow, failure, delay, disappointment, and loss, and work them into His larger purpose. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not all things are good, but God is so wise and so redemptive that He can weave even the hardest parts of our story into something meaningful.

We see this most clearly in the scars of Jesus. After the resurrection, He still bore the marks in His hands and feet, but those scars no longer spoke of defeat. They testified to victory. In the same way, God can redeem the places where pain once marked us and make them places where grace becomes visible. Your wound can become wisdom. Your trial can deepen your faith. Your hardest season can become part of your testimony.

And this may be the most comforting truth of all: Jesus finishes what He starts. Unlike us, He does not leave projects half done. Philippians 1:6 says that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Your confidence is not in your own strength or your ability to hold everything together. Your confidence is in the faithfulness of the Carpenter. He knew your weakness before He ever called you. He knew your struggles, your history, and your tendency to wander, and He still began the work.

So do not let your brokenness convince you that your future is over. Do not assume your weakness has shocked God. If He started the work, He intends to finish it.
The real question is not whether Jesus is able to work in your life. He is. The question is whether you are willing to yield to His hands. A piece of wood does not argue with the carpenter’s blueprint. It yields to the hand that shapes it. In the same way, breakthrough begins when we surrender our own plans and trust His design.

Jesus is the Carpenter. He restores original design, works closely and personally, cuts with purpose, redeems broken places, wastes nothing, and finishes what He starts. That is not something to dismiss. That is something to celebrate.

Closing Prayer
Jesus, thank You for being the Carpenter of our lives. Thank You that You are not afraid of broken places, rough edges, or unfinished work. Shape us, restore us, and remove anything that does not belong in Your design for us. Help us trust Your process and yield to Your hands. And thank You that what You have started in us, You will finish. Amen.

Peace is one of the most searched-for things in our world—and one of the most misunderstood. Many people think peace is what you feel when life finally settles down: when bills are paid, relationships are smooth, and your schedule finally breathes. But biblical peace isn’t the reward for perfect circumstances; it’s a gift anchored to a Person. Scripture calls Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), which means peace isn’t just something He offers—it’s part of His rule and reign.

That raises an important question: where does real peace actually come from? The Bible doesn’t point us first to better planning, stronger willpower, or “getting it together.” It points us to the cross. In John 19:30, Jesus spoke three words that changed everything: “It is finished.” Those words weren’t poetic. They were a declaration that the payment was complete—sin judged, justice satisfied, and redemption accomplished.

This is why peace is more than a mood. Peace has a foundation. If salvation is finished, then the believer isn’t living under a cloud of “maybe” and “what if.” The cross didn’t just open the door to heaven someday; it settled the conflict between God and humanity. Romans 5:1 says that being justified by faith gives us peace with God. Peace doesn’t begin with a calmer calendar—it begins with a reconciled relationship.

Once peace with God is settled, the peace of God becomes something we can actually live in. Many people struggle with inner turmoil not because they don’t love Jesus, but because they still carry the feeling that they’re on trial—trying to earn acceptance, bracing for punishment, or assuming God is disappointed. But condemnation is not the language of the gospel. The finished work means the verdict has already been decided. You’re not working to be loved—you’re working from being loved.

That’s where the idea of rest becomes so powerful. Hebrews 4 teaches that believers are invited to enter God’s rest. Rest isn’t laziness or passivity; it’s the ability to rely on what Christ has already accomplished. In many ways, rest is faith in its most mature form—choosing to trust when your emotions want to panic, and choosing to lean on God’s promises when your mind wants to control everything. Sometimes the spiritual battle isn’t “fixing everything” as fast as possible—it’s learning to stay anchored until peace takes over.
Jesus reinforced this when He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Notice that He called it His peace. The world’s peace depends on outcomes. Jesus’ peace is covenant peace—peace that remains steady even when a storm is still making noise. It’s the kind of peace that doesn’t ignore reality, but refuses to be ruled by it.

So how do we grow in that kind of peace? Scripture repeatedly connects peace to the Word of God. The Word isn’t just information; it’s seed. First Peter 1:23 calls it “imperishable seed,” and Isaiah 55 compares it to rain and snow that water the earth and produce fruit. In other words, God’s Word doesn’t simply inspire—it produces. It plants something in you that grows into stability, clarity, and confidence over time.

That production often happens quietly and steadily. Jesus described the kingdom like seed scattered on the ground: it sprouts and grows, and the farmer “knows not how” (Mark 4). This is a helpful reminder for anyone who feels pressure to “figure everything out.” Your job isn’t to manufacture peace; your job is to receive the seed—through Scripture, meditation, and truth-filled teaching—and let God do the growth. Peace doesn’t always arrive as a lightning bolt; sometimes it comes as a harvest.

If you’re wrestling with anxiety, heaviness, fear, lack, or even physical symptoms, one of the most practical spiritual steps you can take is to saturate your heart with God’s Word in the area you need breakthrough. Over time, what you consistently receive begins to shape what you consistently experience. The Word goes in, and a harvest comes out—joy, peace, direction, and resilience.

The Prince of Peace doesn’t call us to pretend life is easy. He calls us to build our inner world on what is true: the work is finished, the relationship is restored, and rest is available. When peace is rooted in Christ and nourished by His Word, it becomes more than a moment—it becomes a way of living.

Prayer:
Father, in Jesus’ name, thank You for sending Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Help us to build our lives on what is finished, not on what we fear. Where anxiety has been loud, let Your peace rule. Where our minds have been racing, steady us. Teach us to enter Your rest—not by denying reality, but by trusting Your promises. Give us fresh hunger for Your Word, and as we receive it like seed, let it produce a harvest of joy, peace, wisdom, and strength in our lives. Guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We receive Your peace today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When the Whole City Asked, “Who Is This?”
Matthew tells us that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred up and asked:
“Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10, ESV)
The crowd answered:
“This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11, ESV)
And what’s striking is this: these people had been prepared for centuries to recognize the Messiah. They had prophecy, teaching, and history—yet they still struggled to recognize Jesus when He showed up.

That’s a warning for all of us:
You can know about Jesus… and still miss Him when He comes near.
Jesus Walks Into the Temple—and Knows Something’s Off
As the city debated who Jesus was, Jesus walked into the temple and immediately recognized something was out of place.

Here’s the best way to understand it:
If it’s your first time at a church, you wouldn’t notice if anything changed. But if you’ve been there for a while, you can tell when something is different.
It’s like your home—if someone rearranged the furniture while you were out, you’d notice right away.

Why? Because it’s yours.
That’s what happens in the temple scene:
To most people, things probably looked normal.
But the Owner walked in.
What Jesus Couldn’t Find
When Jesus entered the temple, He didn’t just see “activity.” He saw misplaced priorities.

He couldn’t find what should have been there:

• Prayer
• Worship
• Servant-hearted devotion

But He did find what shouldn’t have been there:

• Money changers
• Religious performance
• People exploiting others

So Jesus did something dramatic:
He drove them out.
He overturned tables.

And He said:
“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13, ESV)

This is where we learn something important about Jesus:
Jesus cares deeply about what happens in His house.
And He cares about what happens under the banner of His name.
The Church Is a Kingdom, Not a Democracy
This moment reminds us: Jesus isn’t taking votes.

Church isn’t a democracy. It’s a kingdom.
Jesus is King. We don’t vote Him in or out. We don’t set the terms. He does.
And when people get confused about that—when we think we’re in charge—things drift. Mindsets move in. The wrong things take up space. Purpose gets robbed.

When God Feels Distant, “Thieves” Move In
The temple cleansing also paints a picture of what happens in our personal lives.
When God feels distant—after failure, heartbreak, offense, disappointment—our hearts can become vulnerable to the wrong things taking up position:

• negativity
• bitterness
• gossip
• entitlement
• compromise
• spiritual apathy

But here’s the hope:
God doesn’t leave us there.
Sometimes when we’re wondering, “Will God ever speak again? Will I ever feel His presence again?”—He shows up suddenly, closes the distance, and starts putting things back in order.
And often, He doesn’t do it gently.
Sometimes He “cleans house.”

New Covenant Reality: You Are the Temple
There’s a major shift from the old covenant to the new covenant:
God’s presence isn’t confined to a building anymore. Scripture says we are the temple.
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you…” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)

So here’s the personal question:
If Jesus is passionate about what happens in the temple…
and you are His temple…
what does that mean about what He cares about in you?
What attitudes would He drive out?
What patterns would He flip tables over?
What “doesn’t belong” would He confront?
The Point: Jesus Wants You Useful

This message isn’t meant to condemn—it’s meant to wake us up.
Jesus is not looking for a church that is busy but powerless.

He’s looking for people who are useful:
Useful with time.
Useful with gifts.
Useful with blessing.
Useful with opportunities.
Because what God puts in your life isn’t meant to stop with you.
When blessing turns inward, entitlement grows.
And entitlement kills usefulness.

A Simple Takeaway for This Week
If you want one practical next step, make it this:
Ask God:
“What have You placed in my hands right now that I can use for Your Kingdom?”

It might be small:

• a text
• encouragement
• a meal for someone
• a generous act
• a prayer
• an invitation
• a hug
• a moment of kindness

Never underestimate the power of small obedience.
Jesus is still asking the question—not just about temples and churches, but about hearts and lives:

Will you be found useful?

Closing Prayer
Father, in Jesus’ name, thank You for showing us who Jesus is—not only Savior and Shepherd, but Lord of His house. We invite You to search us today. If anything has taken up space in us that doesn’t belong—attitudes, habits, mindsets, distractions—cleanse Your temple. Restore prayer. Restore worship. Restore a servant’s heart.
Lord, we surrender our time, our gifts, our resources, and our opportunities to You. Make us useful for Your Kingdom. Show us what You’ve placed in our hands and give us courage to use it—whether it feels small or unseen.
Protect us from entitlement. Break every pattern of selfishness that turns blessing inward. And let our lives point people to Jesus this week—through love, generosity, compassion, and obedience.
We ask for fresh awe, fresh hunger, and fresh purpose. Use us, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Previously in this series we talked about Jesus the Caller—the One who shows up, speaks to ordinary people, and calls destiny out of them. Like the disciples fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus stepped in, performed a miracle, and then changed their future: “No longer will you fish for fish, but you will fish for men.”

That’s what Jesus does. He calls. He awakens purpose. He rewrites direction.

But today, we shift from Jesus the Caller to Jesus the Deliverer.
Because Jesus doesn’t just inspire you—He sets you free.

There’s a big difference between a powerful Sunday moment and a transformed Monday life. Someone once said, “It’s not about how high you can jump in church on Sunday morning—it’s about how straight you can walk on Monday afternoon.”

If all we ever experience is inspiration, but we leave still bound by the same chains we walked in with… has anything truly changed?

Jesus doesn’t leave people where He found them.
He breaks darkness. He restores dignity. He rebuilds lives.
Freedom Is Possible… and Freedom Is Personal

Sometimes we treat freedom like a vague idea—something for “other people” or “one day.” But freedom is not just a concept. It’s a Person.

Freedom has a name—and His name is Jesus.
You may have grown up thinking Jesus was mostly about learning information, behaving better, or trying harder. But the Bible gives us a much bigger picture:

Jesus steps into places nobody wants to go.
He confronts what no one else can control.
He restores what everyone else gave up on.

And here’s the best part:
He doesn’t negotiate with darkness.
He doesn’t fear what fears you.

What you’re afraid of doesn’t intimidate Him. That means the thing that feels impossible to you is not impossible to Jesus.

Freedom Isn’t Random—It’s a Kingdom Fruit
Freedom in the life of a believer shouldn’t be a rare, strange, unpredictable moment. It’s meant to be a fruit of living in God’s Kingdom.

Just like we say believers should show the love of God, we should also say believers should walk in the freedom of God.

Why?
Because the Kingdom of God is not just talk—it’s power.
Where Jesus went, things changed:
the oppressed were healed
the sick recovered
captives were set free

That wasn’t a side part of His ministry. It was central.

When Jesus Shows Up, Something Always Happens

Here’s a truth we forget:
The presence of God isn’t decoration—it’s weaponry.

Have you ever come into worship stressed, anxious, weighed down—and then suddenly in the presence of God, the heaviness lifts? You feel peace. Confidence. Clarity. Like, “Why was I even afraid?”

That’s not hype. That’s the atmosphere of God pushing back everything that doesn’t belong.

Then sometimes you leave, go back to normal routines, and you feel it creeping back again.

That reveals something important:
In the presence of God, what oppresses you cannot remain.

A Picture of Deliverance: Mark 5

One of the clearest portraits of Jesus as Deliverer is found in Mark 5.

Jesus arrives “on the other side” of the lake—an unfamiliar, uncomfortable place. And immediately He’s met by a man living in tombs, isolated, tormented, and self-destructive.

This is what bondage does:
it isolates
it torments
it injures
it steals dignity

The man is chained, but still not restored. Society tries to manage him, but nothing changes—until Jesus steps in.

And when Jesus speaks to the spirit, everything shifts.

The man who once screamed through the hills becomes a man sitting peacefully, fully clothed, and completely sane.

That’s what mercy looks like.
Jesus doesn’t just break chains—He rebuilds lives.

Freedom Isn’t the Finish Line—It’s the Starting Line

This man’s real “life” didn’t begin when he was born. He was existing, but he wasn’t living.

His life began when he encountered Jesus.

And that’s what happens with true freedom: you don’t just survive—you finally start living.

Many people are technically in a new season because time passed… but they’re still emotionally, spiritually, and mentally chained to what happened “back there.”

Jesus didn’t die so you could just cope.
He died so you could be free.

Three Revelations About Freedom
1) Jesus Goes to the Other Side

Jesus didn’t end up there by accident. He was on assignment.

Your darkest place is not off-limits to Him.

For some people, “the other side” isn’t a location—it’s a locked room in your heart:

trauma you never processed
anger you’ve justified
addiction you’ve hidden
shame you’ve carried
fear you’ve normalized

But Jesus keeps coming. He keeps knocking. He keeps pursuing.
Because He’s not content to let you live bound.

2) Bondage Has a Strategy

Bondage isolates before it destroys. It torments and tries to rename you:
“This is just who you are.”

But not every chain is visible.

Bondage can look like:
constant anxiety
shame that won’t lift
cycles you can’t break
numbness and apathy
rage you can’t control
secret compulsions

Here’s a simple test:
If it controls you, it’s a chain.
If you can’t stop it, it’s a chain.

3) You Can’t Evict What You Won’t Identify

Jesus asked the spirit, “What is your name?”
Not because He lacked information—but because He forces what’s hidden into the light.

Breakthrough often begins where pretending ends.

God can heal what you’re willing to reveal.

Oppression vs. Possession: A Helpful Clarity

This passage often raises a big question: Can a believer be demon-possessed?

There’s an important distinction:
Oppression is external pressure—harassment, torment, heaviness, influence.
Possession is internal domination—ruling from within, driving the person.

A believer can be oppressed, especially when trauma and open doors create pressure points the enemy tries to attach to.

But freedom comes the same way either way:
truth, renewal, prayer, healing, closing doors, and breaking agreement with lies.

Because oppression thrives on agreement.
Freedom thrives on truth.

The Cost of Freedom

One of the saddest parts of Mark 5 is the response of the crowd.

They saw the man restored… and they begged Jesus to leave.

Why?

Because freedom had a cost, and they decided staying the same was cheaper.

But here’s the truth:
Freedom may cost you something…
but bondage will cost you everything.

Sometimes freedom costs:
toxic relationships
secret hiding
comfort zones
excuses
“this is just how I am” thinking

But it’s worth it, because Jesus didn’t come to help you manage chains—He came to break them.

Stop Managing What Jesus Wants to Heal

The town tried to manage the man with chains.
Jesus restored him with power.

Many of us try to manage oppression with:
excuses
coping
hiding
self-help only
“it runs in my family”
But Jesus died so you can live free.

You don’t have to stay the way you are.

A Short Prayer for Freedom
Jesus, You are my Deliverer.
I renounce every lie, every cycle, every hidden shame, and every torment.
I break agreement with fear, addiction, oppression, and shame.
Bring peace to my mind, purity to my heart, and strength to my soul.
Restore my dignity, restore my clarity, restore my joy.
In Jesus’ name, I am free. Amen.

Jesus is not just someone you hear about—He’s Someone you follow. He’s not simply a message you listen to; He’s a voice you obey.
One of the quiet dangers of our culture is that we’re surrounded by so many voices. Opinions are everywhere. Advice is constant. Everybody has a viewpoint. And if we’re not careful, we can dilute Jesus down to just another voice in the noise—another option on the menu.

But Jesus isn’t an option. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

And there’s a moment I believe every believer must face—where you stop negotiating with God and start obeying.

Because your life changes when you shift from “I know” to “I will.”

Most of the time, we don’t struggle because we don’t know what to do. We struggle because we don’t do what we already know. The problem isn’t always an absence of information—it’s an absence of application. Sometimes you don’t need another sermon, another conference, or another inspirational moment. Sometimes you simply need to say:
“I’m going to start doing what I already know to do.”

Jesus Steps Into the Boat of Your Real Life
In Luke 5, Jesus is preaching, and the crowd is hungry. They press in so tightly that Jesus backs up toward the water. And then He sees something ordinary: two empty boats. Nearby, fishermen are washing their nets.
That detail matters, because washing nets is what you do when you’re done. It’s the end-of-shift routine. It’s the moment you’re tired, frustrated, and ready to go home—especially after a night of working hard and catching nothing.
And that’s when Jesus steps in.
Not in a temple.
Not at a spiritual retreat.
Not in some “perfect holy moment.”
Right in the middle of an ordinary, disappointing workday.

Jesus steps into Simon Peter’s boat and asks him to push out a little so He can keep teaching. But after He finishes speaking to the crowd, He turns to the men who will become His disciples—and He gives a command:
“Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
Peter responds with facts:
“Master, we worked hard all night and didn’t catch a thing.”
Then he says the line that changes everything:
“But if You say so… I’ll let the nets down again.”

That sentence is the sound of discipleship.
It’s the moment you stop arguing and start trusting.
It may not make sense.
The timing may feel wrong.
You may feel tired, disappointed, or unqualified.
But disciples learn how to say: “But if You say so.”
They go deeper. They let the nets down again. And the catch becomes so large that the nets begin tearing. They have to call partners to help. Their boats are sinking under the weight of blessing.

One act of obedience turns empty nets into overflowing boats.

Crowds Listen, Disciples Obey
There’s a difference between crowds and disciples.
Crowds are fickle. Crowds change. Crowds are moved by feelings. They can shout “Hosanna!” one day and “Crucify Him!” the next.
But disciples don’t just hear Jesus—they follow Him.
Crowds listen, but disciples obey.

Crowds admire, but disciples surrender.

Crowds want inspiration, but disciples choose transformation.
And that’s the invitation in this story. Jesus is calling you out of shallow, manageable living into deeper trust.

Because comfort lives in shallow water. But depth is where discipleship grows.

Invite Jesus Into Your Routine
This story also teaches us something incredibly practical:
Jesus steps into ordinary places.
He isn’t afraid of your routine. He isn’t intimidated by your stress. He isn’t bothered by your mess. He will meet you in the middle of real life—your job, your finances, your parenting, your pressure, your disappointment.
Some people only want Jesus in their “church life.”
But Jesus wants to be in the boat of your real life.
Because what you do every day shapes your future.

What you do occasionally inspires you, but what you do consistently transforms you.
Routine isn’t just boring repetition. Routine is how you aim your life. It’s how you build a platform strong enough to carry what you’re praying for.

And that’s why the simple invitation is this: let Jesus into the boat.

Facts vs. Truth
Peter had facts on his side:

• “We’re professionals.”
• “We were out all night.”
• “Nothing worked.”
• “There are no fish.”

But truth stepped into the boat.
Facts describe what you see.
Truth declares what God says.

And what you see is temporary—subject to change. But truth overrides facts every time when you choose to trust and obey.
So don’t let the natural report become the final report. Don’t build your life on what you can see. Let Jesus speak, and let obedience follow.

One Step Deeper This Week
This week, don’t try to overhaul your whole life in a day. Just take one step deeper.
Cast one net.
Maybe it’s time with God.
Maybe it’s forgiveness.
Maybe it’s your words.
Maybe it’s obedience in a place you’ve been negotiating.
Small obedience is still obedience.
And keep this phrase close:
“But if You say so.”

That line can change your marriage, your mind, your money, and your future—because it marks the moment you stop negotiating and start obeying.

Prayer
Father, thank You that You don’t only meet us in big spiritual moments—you meet us in ordinary life. Thank You for stepping into our boat, even when we’re tired, disappointed, and frustrated. Forgive us for the times we’ve negotiated with You instead of obeying You. Today we surrender again: more of You and less of us.
Jesus, we invite You into our routine, our decisions, our stress, our work, our finances, our relationships, and every place we’ve been trying to handle things alone. Teach us to trust You deeper than what we can see. Give us courage to take one step of obedience this week—one “net” we need to cast again. Help us become disciples who don’t just hear Your Word, but live it.

We choose to say, “But if You say so.”
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Climb Higher: When You Can’t See Jesus, Don’t Settle

There’s a story in Luke 19 that many of us learned early—Zacchaeus, the “wee little man.” It’s almost funny how labels stick. But the real point of the story isn’t his height. It’s his hunger.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus—but he couldn’t. The crowd blocked his view, and his own limitations made it worse. And right there, he had a choice: settle or climb.
Most people would’ve settled. Zacchaeus didn’t.
Sometimes Jesus Feels “Irritating”
Not because He’s wrong—because He’s not controllable.

Jesus doesn’t always do things the way we want. He rarely lays out the entire plan. He often leads us step by step, and that can frustrate us when we want clarity now.
But there’s something important about that:
following Jesus isn’t about having control—it’s about having trust.

The “Crowd” That Blocks Your View
In Luke 19, the crowd is literal. In our lives, the crowd is usually mental and emotional:

• responsibilities
• stress
• disappointment
• shame
• routines that keep you numb
• comparison
• “this is just how I am” thinking

At ground level, everything feels loud. And when life is loud, it’s easy to lose sight of Jesus—even if you still believe in Him.
That’s why Zacchaeus is so relatable:
He didn’t stop wanting Jesus, he just couldn’t see Him from where he was.

The Turning Point: He Ran Ahead and Climbed
The Bible says Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree.
That’s not casual faith. That’s intentional pursuit.
Here’s the personal application:
If you can’t see Jesus from where you are, you don’t need new information—you need a new position.

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t that God moved. It’s that you did.

Jesus Stops for Hunger
Zacchaeus climbed for a glimpse, but Jesus gave him more than a view—Jesus stopped, looked up, called him by name, and said:
“I must stay at your house today.”
This is one of the most hopeful truths in the whole story:
Jesus responds to hunger.
Not perfection. Not performance. Hunger.
And notice this:
Zacchaeus didn’t get changed when people approved of him.
He got changed when Jesus encountered him.

What “Climbing Higher” Looks Like for You
Zacchaeus couldn’t change his height, but he could change his level.
That’s the invitation for you too.

Climbing higher means refusing to let limitations become excuses.
It means deciding, “I’m not staying stuck down here.”

Here are a few ways that plays out in real life:
1) Climb higher than your feelings
Fervency isn’t a feeling you wait for—it’s a decision you make.
Romans 12:11 (NKJV) says:
“Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
Feelings are real—but they’re not your leader.

2) Climb higher than your routine
Sometimes what you call “normal life” is actually spiritual drift.
Holy hunger breaks routine. It says, “I need God more than I need comfort.”

3) Climb higher than your excuses
“This is just who I am” can become a subtle agreement with what God wants to change.
Zacchaeus could’ve said, “I’m too short.” Instead he said, “I’ll climb.”

4) Climb higher through simple pursuit
Not complicated. Just consistent:

• prayer
• worship
• the Word
• obedience

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV):
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

A Question to Sit With
Where have you been trying to see Jesus… but staying at ground level?
Maybe you want peace, but you’re still living rushed.
Maybe you want freedom, but you keep feeding the same habits.
Maybe you want direction, but you won’t slow down long enough to pray.
Maybe you want revival, but you’ve settled into routine.

Zacchaeus shows us another way:
If you can’t see Him—climb.
Because when you move toward Jesus, you’ll find this is still true:
He stops for the hungry.
He calls names.
He comes close.
And He changes lives.

Prayer
Jesus, I don’t want to settle for a distant view of You. If the crowd has been blocking my sight, help me climb higher. Give me holy hunger again. Make me fervent in spirit. Teach me to pursue You even when I don’t feel it. I want You—not just information about You. Come close to my life, my home, my heart, and change me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

There’s a phrase that keeps repeating in the book of Esther: the king’s gate. It shows up again and again—almost like God is underlining it for us. Not because the gate is famous, but because what happens at the gate reveals something spiritual that still matters today.

Here’s the question the story forces on us:
Can you be found at the King’s gate?

When “everything is going right” but you’re still not satisfied
In Esther 5, Haman walks out of the palace “happy and in high spirits.” He’s on top of the world. He has position, influence, and now the ultimate honor—Queen Esther has invited him to a private banquet with the king. Not only that, she invites him again the next day.
But then he passes the king’s gate.
And he sees Mordecai.

Mordecai doesn’t stand. He doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t show fear. He refuses to bow. And the moment Haman sees that, all his happiness drains out of him. He admits it out loud:
All of his wealth, all of his recognition, all of his promotion—none of it satisfies him as long as Mordecai is still there at the gate.
That’s the hinge of the story. It’s also a picture of spiritual reality:
A whole crowd can be bowing… and one person standing can still disrupt the enemy’s peace.

Picture the gate
Imagine an ancient city gate—massive, imposing, public. In that culture, the gate wasn’t just an entryway; it was a place of authority. A place of business. A place where decisions were made. A place where you could be seen.
Now imagine people lining the streets. Everyone bowing as the powerful man rides by. Bowing everywhere.
And in the middle of it all—one lone figure who won’t bow.
That’s what Esther hinges on. And if we’re honest, a lot of our lives hinge on moments like that too.

You have an adversary—and he’s not a myth
The Bible doesn’t treat the devil like a metaphor. It treats him like an enemy. Not folklore. Not a boogeyman. Not a superstition.
Look at the destruction around us—abuse, violence, broken homes, shattered lives—and it’s not hard to see there’s a real adversary behind the chaos.
Scripture calls him many things: deceiver, destroyer, accuser, father of lies. But one picture stands out:
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)
That means the enemy doesn’t just exist “out there.” He targets. He studies. He looks for the right moment—especially when you’re tired, overwhelmed, worn down, or close to a breaking point.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: he shows no mercy.
Haman is the story’s “roaring lion”
In Esther, Haman functions like a living portrait of that roaring-lion nature—arrogant, ruthless, demanding honor, craving control, enjoying the scenery of fear.
He rides through the city with an entourage. People bow to him. Not because they love him, but because the system has convinced them they have no choice.
That’s how the enemy loves to operate—through pressure and intimidation until obedience to God feels “too costly” and bowing feels “easier.”
The enemy’s nightmare is one person who won’t bow
Here’s what’s fascinating: Haman gets everything he wants, but he can’t enjoy any of it because one man won’t bow.

He can’t stop thinking about Mordecai. He’s obsessed. It gets under his skin. He loses peace.
Why?
Because Mordecai is unbowed at the gate.
And this is where the message hits home: the enemy works overtime to convince you that you don’t matter. That your consistency doesn’t matter. That your prayers don’t matter. That your worship doesn’t matter. That your Bible reading doesn’t matter.

But hell loses sleep over one thing:
A believer who keeps showing up at the King’s gate every day.
What is “the King’s gate” for us?
Mordecai’s gate was a physical location. Ours is spiritual. The King’s gate becomes the daily place where we meet with God—where we refuse to bow to fear, pressure, compromise, or the demands of the flesh.

It looks like three simple things:
Prayer.
Showing up and saying, “Lord, I need You. I have needs. I need protection. I’m drawing a line over my family and my mind and my home.”
Worship.
Realigning your heart: “You’re on the throne. I’m not. You’re in control. I’m not.”
The Word.
Opening your Bible and saying, “Speak to me. Revive me. Strengthen me.”
“It is the Spirit who gives life… The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63, ESV)
The enemy doesn’t fear your success nearly as much as he fears your consistency.
The secret is not intensity—it’s “every day”

Some days you run to the gate. Other days you crawl. Some days you’re energized. Other days you’re drained. But the deciding factor isn’t your feelings. It’s your faithfulness.
Hell doesn’t fear your intellect.
Hell doesn’t fear your accomplishments.
Hell doesn’t fear your bank account.
But hell does fear a man or woman who can be found at the King’s gate—every day.
Daniel proves the battle shifts when you keep showing up
There’s a moment in the book of Daniel that matches this perfectly. Daniel prays, and for days it looks like nothing is happening. Day one—nothing. Day five—nothing. Day ten—nothing.

Then the breakthrough finally comes, and he’s told something he couldn’t see: the battle was real, and resistance was happening in the unseen realm.
“Fear not, Daniel… from the first day that you set your heart… your words have been heard… The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me…” (Daniel 10:12–13, ESV)
In other words: your consistency was moving a battle you couldn’t see.
When the enemy realizes you’re not going to stop showing up, it starts turning.

The King’s Gate attitude is to keep getting up
That’s why the Rocky Marciano illustration works so well. He was bloodied, cut, written off—people calling it over. But he kept getting up every round until the opponent wore down.

That’s the King’s Gate attitude:
I might lose a round, but I’m not losing the fight—because I’m going back to the gate.

The reversal begins when the King can’t sleep
In Esther, the turning point comes when the king can’t sleep. The chronicles are read. A forgotten act of faithfulness is remembered. And suddenly the story reverses.
The man who was about to be executed is honored. The enemy who tried to destroy ends up forced to promote.
That’s what God can do when you stay at the gate—when you remain faithful—when you keep showing up.

Finish strong
Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you’ve felt pressure. Maybe you’ve been under attack. Maybe you feel like you’re losing rounds.
But the call is simple:
Show up again.
Go to the gate again.
Be found again—every day.
Because the enemy can handle a believer who visits occasionally. But he cannot handle a believer who lives there.

Closing Prayer
Father, I thank You that You are waking Your people up to the secret power of daily devotion. As we show up at the gate—in prayer, worship, and Your Word—strengthen us, revive us, and turn battles in our favor. For the exhausted, give grace to get up again. For the pressured, give courage to stay planted. For those who need a miracle, meet them at the gate. We draw near with confidence to Your throne of grace, and we trust You to do what only You can do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Choose Joy!  

Proverbs 15:15;  (TPT)   When you choose to be cheerful, every day will bring you more and more joy and fullness.  

Every year I seek the Lord for a “word” and this year that word is “joy.”  I heard a woman once say that “you don’t have to wait until everything is perfect to choose to be happy.” That woman had stage four cancer and was dying.   I have never forgotten that!  Joy is a choice—no matter what is going on.  What will we choose?  For me, I choose joy this year and here are a few things that may help:

• Put on a smile! Proverbs 15:13   A cheerful heart puts a smile on your face.  We are going to have to be intentional with this!  As an act of faith let’s choose to put on a smile and to be pleasant and let God change what needs to be changed on the inside or in our circumstances.  Let’s not wait for everything to be perfect!  Let it begin with a smile.
• Be a good friend!  First in my in my friendship with God, and second in the friendships God has blessed me with. 
• Proverbs 27:9  Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.  Any good relationship is developed and grown by spending time together.  In today’s busy world, we will need to be intentional to invest a little more time with the Lord and with our friends.   
• Shift Your Focus!  Focus on things that are beautiful and bring you joy.
• Proverbs 15: 30  Eyes that focus on what is beautiful bring joy to the heart, and hearing a good report refreshes and strengthens the inner being.
• Philippians 4:8 Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind.  And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. 
• Put on your favorite music, read a good book, take a walk, or do something creative—whatever you decide, let it be something that brings you joy!  It’s ok to check the news, but it’s not ok to listen to evil reports all day every day!  Turn off the noise! 
• Cultivate Gratitude.  Maintain a thankful heart even in the midst of life’s ups and downs.  1 Thessalonians 5:8 says Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Count your blessings!

Father, we choose joy!  Help us to remember to smile and to be pleasant to others, and to be a good friend—this begins in the secret place with You!  Help us to remember that we have so much to be thankful for so we will count our blessings and focus our thoughts there!  We thank You for sending Your seasons of refreshing, and for all of the good that You have planned for us!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Don’t be Weary

Galatians 6:9   Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (faint).

The Greek word for faint means “to relax, to weaken or loosen the grip and then to let go.” Satan will work tirelessly at attempting to wear you down and tire you out so that you lose hope and let go of the promises God has made you—so that you give up and quit!  So you ask, what do I do if I’m already weary?  I’m glad you asked for the level of weariness described above is complete exhaustion and if you were already at that level of weariness, you wouldn’t be doing this fast in  Pursuit of God!  You may be tired, thirsty, and beyond ready for God to refresh your soul but you still have fight in you!  You are still here!  So, here are a few things you can do to strengthen yourself until…

• Don’t battle alone—call someone!  We need each other!  Remember how Moses grew weary in intercession, while Joshua led the Israelite army in battle.  Every time Moses lifted his arms as he prayed, the Israelites would be winning the battle but when his arms grew tired and weary and he just couldn’t hold them up anymore, the battle would turn and the Israelites would begin to lose the battle.  Because Aaron and Hur were watching and paying attention, they saw this and they joined in the battle by holding up Moses arm until!!!  Until when?  Until the battle was won!  It wasn’t just one fighting that battle!  It took everyone doing their part.  
  
  
• Refresh Others!  Proverbs 11:25 says those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Take some time and pray for someone else that’s struggling; encourage  others; give something away to someone else in need; for a time, take your focus off of your battle and help someone else in theirs.  Pray for others and know that God will move others to pray for you! 
• Pray prayers of Agreement.  We are commanded to pray always but where one can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand to flight—this is multiplied power!  This can be done in person or on the phone.  Matthew 18:19-20 says,  “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.      
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Father, according to Your Word, if we do not faint and quit in doing good, we will reap a harvest!  You know every battle and you know we are but flesh!  Strengthen us today and we are determined not to quit!  Help us to stand with one another and to refresh others knowing that we will also be refreshed!  In Jesus Name, Amen! 

Do You Not Know?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20    Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, whom you have received as a gift from God?  You are not your own.  You were bought with a price. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17    Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Paul was addressing the young Corinthian believers and twice he asked them, “do you not know that your bodies are temples?”  This was a congregation of carnal Christians who listened more to their flesh than to the Holy Spirit. In his letter, he addressed several issues but the one we want to look at today concerns our bodies.  Are we honoring God with our bodies?  Does everything we do with our bodies bring Him glory and honor?    

There are many ways we can harm our bodies—drugs and alcohol abuse; cigarettes and vaping; gluttony and ingesting things that are bad for our health; lack of exercise; lack of rest; fear, anxiety, worry—the list goes on!  The one we are going to look at today—the one Paul specifically mentions is sexual immorality.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed].  Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. When we commit sexual sin, we defile our bodies causing sickness, disease and even death.  Our body is God’s temple and is to be a holy place.  Has He not commanded us to be holy for He is holy?  Sexual sin defiles the temple.  When sin comes into the Presence of God, it is judged!  Jesus takes it even deeper and said that if one even looks lustfully at another, he commits adultery in his heart!      

Today, let’s allow the Spirit of the Lord to examine us.  Have we rightly cared for our bodies and been thankful for the gift He has given us?  Is there any area of sexual sin that we are committing—in either our thoughts or actions?
 
Father, your Word says that Your Spirit dwells within us and our bodies belong to You.  You live inside of us and it is there in the secret place that we minister to You—that’s holy.  Forgive us for not taking better care of our bodies.  Forgive us for all sexual sins—for this harms us inside and out.  Forgive, cleanse and heal us, Lord.  Let there be a fresh infilling of Your Spirit—fill Your temple with Your glory!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Create, Renew, Restore

Psalm 51; 10 & 12  Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a right spirit within me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.

This word create, or “bara” in Hebrew, means “to make something from nothing, to bring about new conditions and circumstances that previously did not exist.  The scriptures tell us that the heart is deceitful above all things and David became aware of his sin and the deception of his own heart, cried out to God to forgive him and to create in him something that didn’t exist—a clean innocent pure heart.  This is exactly what happens to us when the blood of Jesus covers our sins—it creates in us a heart that is made clean and pure and spotless.  Though our sins be as scarlet His blood makes us white as snow!

The word renew means to repair or to make new again.  When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin and what God had to say about it, David’s spirit was broken within him.  He saw the truth and the seriousness of what he had done and he was truly heartbroken by how far his sin had taken him.  He cried out for God’s mercy and forgiveness; he cried out for a clean pure heart; and he cried out that God would renew his broken spirit and make him right with God again.  The thought of broken fellowship with God truly broke his heart.  The word says that God loves a broken and contrite spirit; that kind of heart and repentance moves Him to repair and mend the broken hearted and to clean up (restore) the mess that they have made.  He runs to meet them with love, mercy, and compassion and makes new again their relationship with Him.

The word Restore comes from the same root word as renew but goes even further—it means to bring back to its original state; to build again; to refresh; to repair; to bring back to full capacity; to take back what has been lost. The joy of friendship David had with the Lord had been broken when he gave into lust and committed adultery with Bathsheba.  We can see this clearly because instead of running to God and asking for His help and forgiveness, which is what he had always done—he tried to cover up what he had done and fix things on his own and it led to the murder of an innocent man.  It took the prophet confronting him for him to realize what he had done.  He cried out that God would restore their intimate friendship which was the joy of his life.

Father, as we humble ourselves and draw near, search our hearts and forgive our sins.  Be merciful to us and create in us clean hearts; renew right spirits within us!  Restore to us the joy of Your salvation!  Fill us fresh with Your Holy Spirit and fill our lives with love, joy, peace and truth!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Faith Has A Voice

Mark 10:47   He began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more!

When Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, he called him Son of David.  This was the voice of his faith revealing that he believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.  He believed the Messiah could heal his blind eyes and cause him to see and there was no way he was going to be quiet!  His faith shouted out loud and clear who Jesus is and what He can do!  In the middle of your need, what is your faith proclaiming?  Does it cry out loud how big your problem is or how big your God is?  Your faith has a voice—what’s it saying?

In Isaiah : 62: 6-7 we see the watchmen intercessors crying out day and night, giving God no rest until Jerusalem was saved!  This reminds us that we are called to pray continually and with great passion—constantly reminding God of His promises.  We don’t just sit passively by waiting to see what will happen.  We keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking until God answers our prayers!  With Bartimaeus, there was no way Jesus was going to pass him by, no matter what others thought of him—no matter how much they tried to get him to be quiet—there was no way he was going to remain quiet!  He got louder and more desperate for his miracle.  He knew who was passing right by him!  He was grabbing the altar by the horns and was not going to let go until Jesus either healed him or Jesus denied him but there was going to be no way that Jesus could miss or ignore him!  He wanted his miracle! His faith was so loud that day that he threw off his beggar’s garment—his old identity and only hope for provision-- and moved towards His miracle.  His faith had a voice—a loud voice that could not be denied!
 
How about you?  Is there an area in your life or your family that you desperately need God’s help and intervention?  I encourage you to watch the words that you speak.  Speak out and cry out loud to your circumstances who God is and what He can do!  Ask Him for your miracle knowing in your heart that He is well able to accomplish that for you!

Father, we read the many stories of the miracles performed while Jesus lived here on the earth—miracles of great compassion and unlimited power.  Nothing was too hard or impossible with You.  You cursed a fig tree and immediately it withered; You broke a few loaves of bread and blessed it and fed thousands.  You spoke to winds, waves and storms and they obeyed You.  You raised the dead back to life; At the sound of Your voice miracles occurred.  You revealed that all authority and power is Yours and You revealed Your heart for people—a heart of deep compassion and care.  This is still who You are today and who You will always be.  Move in power in our lives and families today!  Let us grab hold of You and never let go—let faith arise in us and faith’s voice be heard loud and clear!  To God be the glory!  In Jesus Name!

In Returning and Rest

Isaiah 30:15 AMP     For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.  But you would not.

For some time now I have been hearing in my spirit, “In turning and returning you will be saved.”  Then the Lord showed me this scripture—He knows how to confirm His word!  I believe this is what the Spirit of the Lord is crying out in this hour!
Turning and returning signifies repentance and repentance leads us to have a change of mind and heart concerning sin, so that we turn away from the sin and return to God and His Word.  To return means that we were there with Him at one time, but somewhere along the way we wandered away and got off track.  Beloved, the scripture above ends with “but you would not,” and we see in the next two verses that this led to their downfall.  God loves us enough that He gives us a warning and a choice.  His heart for us though is that we would choose wisely—we would choose to return and live—and not just to live and barely get by—but to thrive; to live life abundantly!

Resting and quiet confidence means that we look to God for our provision, protection and help; We place no confidence in our own or anyone else’s abilities, wisdom, or resources, for flesh is very limited and will fail, but God will not!  He is faithful and He is to be trusted!  When we encounter difficulties, we have a choice.  Do we run out in our own ability, strength, and intelligence and try to fix it ourselves, or do we run into the secret place to meet with the Lord and quietly (not frantically or in a state of panic and fear) wait to hear from Him in what we should do.  As we wait upon Him, we know He hears us and answers our prayers, we receive His strength and His peace.  When we put our confidence in the right source, the Word tells us we are made strong.  We trust the Lord God to help us and to lead us into places of refreshing and peace because of who He is and because He is well able to keep us and because He loves us!  This is where real peace comes from—not as the world gives—but Perfect peace which comes from His Presence and from His Heart and makes us strong.
 
Father, search us and reveal to us any area in which we have sinned and turned away from you and have become separated from You.   Lord, show us where we have attempted to solve our problems or do life without you.  Show us any area where we put our faith and hope in anything or anyone beside You.  Father, today we choose to turn away from our sin and to return to You.  We put our hope and confidence in You Lord.  We believe that everything we will ever need comes from You and that in You Presence there is joy and we are refreshed and renewed!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Tetelestai--“It Is Finished!”  John 19:30

Tetelestai!!  This is the Greek work for It is finished!!  The marvelous words of our Savior as He breathed His last breath, surrendered His Spirit to His Father and completed His earthly assignment!  It was not the sound of defeat!  It was the cry of victory—the shout of Triumph!  The work the Father had given to Jesus to accomplish on earth was completed and His mission was successful!!  He was sent to seek and to save that which was lost and to destroy the works of the devil!  Through His obedience to the Father and for the joy that was before Him (that’s us—knowing He would be with us) He overcame the suffering and humiliation of the cross!  And because He did—we are (triumphant, saved, cleansed, forgiven, favored, blessed, etc)!  He is the voice of Triump!  He is our victorious Champion Savior!  And as He is—so are we in this world—now!!

Because of the Triumph of Christ, we have favor with God and no longer live as His enemies, under a curse of sin and death, but we live blessed and highly favored.  We have been made children of God!  Sin no longer has power over us.  Colossians 2:14-15 says He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us.  He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—He deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved!  It also says that Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness; stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and governmental power to accuse us!  By the power of His cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph.  We have the authority of Christ to enforce His Triumph!  Christ in us—the victory won!  So heads up, shoulders back and hearts devoted to the One who Triumphed—we stand in His Finished Work—Tetelestai!!

Father, Thank You that we have been born of Your Spirit and made new creations.  The old “me” died with Christ on His cross and we have been raised up with Him to New Life as a New Creation in Your Kingdom.  Therefore, there is no guilt or condemnation for us!  We ask that the accuser be silenced—that a gag order be issued against him!  We plead the blood of Jesus or His blood speaks “Mercy” and Your Word says that mercy triumphs over judgment!  Because of Jesus and His obedience to You Father, we have been saved and the works of satan have been destroyed.  He no longer has power or authority over us.  We submit ourselves to You and we resist the devil so he must flee!  Help us by the power of Your Holy Spirit to stand firm in the powerful finished work of Christ as victorious overcoming children of God! Help us to remember who You are and who we have become in Christ!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Free from Offenses

Matthew 5:23-24  So, if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar.  Go and be reconciled to that person.  Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

In our desire to be close to God, we offer up to Him our prayers, worship and fasting. While we are seeking God, in our pursuit to be near Him, if we realize that there are any unresolved issues with anyone—then we are instructed to leave our gift (our time of seeking Him) and go and resolve the issue first.  Look!  We don’t even have to be the offended party!  He says if we remember that someone else has an offense against us!   If we are unaware of any hurts or offenses that someone has against us, then we are free to pursue God with a clear conscience and a clean heart.  But if we know or are prompted by the Holy Spirit that someone is offended with us, whether that offense is real or just wrongly perceived, let us go to them quickly and do our best to resolve the issue.  
 
Let us also check our own hearts.  Is there anyone that we are offended with—anyone we are holding a grudge against and refusing to forgive?  We are instructed in Ephesians 4:27 in our anger not to sin--not to give the devil a foothold (an opportunity to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, nurturing anger, harboring resentment which if left unchecked can become a root of bitterness which can defile many)!  Come on now—we’ve got to deal with—don’t let the sun go down without resolving the issue!

Holy Spirit, we ask You to examine our heart and reveal any areas where we might have given the devil a “foothold,” any areas of unforgiveness, anger, bitterness or resentment that we may be carrying in our hearts and help us to deal with it.  We ask that You reveal any hurts or wounds that we have stuffed down deep inside our hearts and as we forgive those who have hurt us, we ask You to heal and restore us.  Show us if there is anyone who is carrying an offense towards us and wherever possible we will go and attempt to resolve these issues.  You are the God of peace and wherever possible you have called us to be at peace with all men—so we repent for all strife and contentions.   Heal every wound and fill us with your peace.  In Jesus name, Amen!

What’s In Your Heart?

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Here our heart is seen as a treasure chest; and our words help us to recognize the treasure that we have filled our hearts with—either good or bad.  What we have stored up in our hearts is heard in our speech!
 
Words carry creative power—the power of life and death.  The words we speak are capable of building up or tearing down.  Our words are seeds and every word we speak plants something in our lives or in the lives of others.  Every spoken word will grow into a future harvest of either positive (life, faith, joy, healing, hope, etc) or negative (hurt, doubt, poison, death, discouragement, etc) outcomes.  The life we are living now is the harvest of words we spoke in the past and the words we speak today will bring forth a harvest in our future.  Our words affect our destinies and our words affect others—either for good or for bad!
James 3 speaks about the power of our words and that growing up into spiritual maturity and godly character requires that we learn to control our tongues!  He says that the tongue is a fire!  It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our body—unable to be tamed!  He says that with our tongues we praise God and then we turn around and curse people—this should not be!  The Word also says in Matthew 15:11, 18-19 that what goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, for what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.  It is in our hearts that our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, doubts, fears, hatred, etc. are stored up and that treasure produces fruit.
 
It is our words that reveal the true condition of our hearts, so today let’s examine our words and really look at our heart’s condition.  God tells us we can be sure that we will be held accountable for every word we have spoken.  God takes our speech seriously and so should we.
 
Holy Spirit, search us today and reveal what is hidden in our hearts.  Let there be no wicked way in us—no hidden sin, and like Isaiah who stood in Your holy presence and was overcome by the fear of the Lord because of the sins of his mouth—we also cry out Father forgive us for we have sinned with our words!  Forgive every wrong word, every idle word, every lie, every word of doubt and unbelief, every unkind, slanderous, profane word, every curse and accusation that has come out of our mouths; we have sinned!  Let every ungodly word lose its power today and become null and void.  Cleanse our lips; may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You O Lord our God.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen!    

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us
Yesterday we looked at David and Joseph, and the time span that it took for the promises and dreams to happen that God gave them.  In both of their situations it looked beyond all hope; and in both cases, it took many years for them to see their dreams and promises come to pass—but God kept His Word!

Today let’s look at Abraham.  He was 80 years old when God made him a promise to give him an heir through his wife Sarah, who was well past child-bearing age.  He also promised that through that son, Abraham would become a father of many nations!  According to scripture, this looked beyond all hope!  Twenty years later that son, Isaac, was born.  

Romans 4:18-21 says, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘so shall your offspring be.’  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead (she was 90).  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”

Abraham did not deny the facts—he knew that he and Sarah were too old to have children, but the word says he was fully persuaded.  Regardless of the facts—Abraham was certain that God had all power to do what He had promised.  He looked at the facts but his faith declared God’s ability to supersede or change them!  This is our example of faith—we look at the people and situations in our lives—we face the facts—perhaps it’s an illness, an addiction, or a difficult relationship—then in faith we pray and ask God to help.  We keep on asking, seeking and knocking until He answers our prayer.  Then the  Word He speaks becomes our anchor of hope!  Maybe it’s been a minute since God made you that promise—don’t give up!  Keep believing what God told you—by faith declare what He said.  Hope is a confident and joyful expectation of what is coming!  Take time today to remember something God has promised you and meditate on it, settle it in your heart as though it is already done.  As you do, I pray that hope springs up fresh in you and faith arises strong in you to believe that with God all things are possible!
 
Father, You love us and invite us to cast all of our cares upon You.  We come confidently to You asking for Your help.  We know that Your Promises are great and precious—they give us hope and strength to stand.  We wait on You Father knowing that You are working on our behalf and we will see Your Word come to pass!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Luke 7: 44-47
Jesus said. 44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” (NLT)

1. The feet of those entering His Presence need a washing of water. Jesus told His apostles in John 13:10 that they were clean except for their feet. We are to walk in the love of God, but, like me, we don’t always obey that command. We act and speak (or don’t act and speak) in ways that deny the love of God. We become impatient, unkind and unmerciful, complacent and disengaged from the Holy Spirit. We speak in ways that do not edify ourselves and others. etc…As we approach His Presence, the feet of all need a washing through repentance and forgiveness.

2. We approach the feet of Jesus and offer an offering or our thankfulness and gratitude for His merciful forgiveness and extravagant love. As the woman in the above Scripture washed His feet with her tears and hair.

3. There is a welcoming of His Presence corporately and individually, with an intimate kiss.
Kissing as a Sign of Affection and Family Bond

• We are welcoming a Father into a Living room filled with sons and daughters.

Kissing as a Greeting and Sign of Respect

• An atmosphere of recognizing that our place of worship has become His throne room and Honor towards Him must ensue.

Kissing as a Sign of Devotion and Worship

• The atmosphere becomes charged with devoted hearts expressing adoration and worship of His glorious presence in our midst.

Kissing in Romantic Contexts

• The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating love and marriage, includes references to kissing as an expression of romantic love. Song of Solomon 1:2 states, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine."
• Intimacy and love being exchanged from the Lord of Glory to His worshipers and from His worshipers to Him.

4. Allow the fragrances of our extravagant love and worship to pour out of our alabaster boxes onto Him. Our anointing oil of worship washing over Him.

We all have an alabaster box. The place in our hearts where all that is precious to us is stored. This is what we open and pour out upon Him. A heart of extravagant love towards Jesus is the fuel of worship. Our spiritual alabaster boxes become full as we live in the realization of the mercy and forgiveness God has shown towards us in our individual lives.

In The Waiting

Psalm 27:13-14 TPT Yet I believe with all my heart that I will see again Your goodness, Yahweh, in the land of life eternal!  Here’s what I’ve learned through it all:  Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord (wait upon the Lord).  Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.  Yes, keep on waiting—for He will never disappoint you!

This Psalm was written by David while he was waiting for the promise that God had made when he was a teenager and was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king of Israel. From the time of the promise until it was fulfilled, he fought Goliath and many other battles, was banished by Saul and lived life on the run from the present king who wanted him dead!  It took about 15 years from the time that he was anointed until he actually became king.  During the time of waiting God tested him and prepared him for his destiny; he was raised up from being a shepherd who led sheep to becoming a king who led God’s people.
 
We see the same pattern with Joseph, who as a teenager had a dream that his family would bow down to him.  When he shared the dream with them, his brothers hated him so much that they plotted to kill him.  One of his brothers interceded for his life so instead of murdering him, they sold him into slavery.  He was later falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  It looked hopeless for Joseph.  But even in the dark lonely dungeon, God was with him.  It took about 14 years from the time that he had his dreams (his promise) until he left prison and became second in command of all of Egypt.  14 Years until he saw his dream come to pass.  During the wait God tested and prepared him to save not only his family but the nation of Israel during a time of great famine.  Another pattern I see is that the promises God makes us are not intended to just to bless us—but that through us many will be blessed!

When God gives us a promise—there is a time of testing; usually the greater the promise, the greater the test.  God uses these tests to grow us in character and maturity to accomplish His divine purposes.  This takes patient endurance.  Will we believe God and wait for Him to do it?  We are instructed in Habukkuk that though the promise tarry—wait for it, for it will surely come!
 
Father, while we wait upon you we put our hope and confidence in You.  We are gaining new strength; Our power is being renewed.  As we wait we will rise up close to You Lord, like eagles rising toward the sun; we will run and not become weary; we will walk and not grow tired.  Create in us a right spirit and pure hearts while we wait upon You Lord.  Accomplish Your will in our lives and do all that You said You will do!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

John 14:16-17 (TPT) Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like Me—and He will never leave you.  The world won’t receive Him because they can’t see Him or know Him.  But you know Him intimately because He remains with you and will live inside you.  

When I saw the word savior, I looked at the footnotes in The Passion Bible and this is what it says: The Greek word used here is parakletos, a technical word that could be translated “defense attorney.”  It means “one called to stand next to you as a helper.”  Various translations have rendered this “counselor,” “Comforter,” “Advocate,” “Encourager,” “Intercessor,” or “Helper.”  However, none of these words alone are adequate and fall short in explaining the full meaning.  This translation has chosen the word Savior, for it depicts the role of the Holy Spirit to protect, defend, and save us from our self and our enemies and keep us whole and healed.  He is the One who guides and defends, comforts and consoles.  Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, our Savior.
 
Jesus told us that it was important that He return to His Father in heaven so that He could send us the Holy Spirit.  He promised that no matter what we may face in this world, that we will never be alone but that we would have a helper.  He has given us His Spirit to not only be beside us at all times, but He actually lives inside of us!  Think of it!  The All-powerful Spirit of the Living God lives inside of you and the very same power that He used to raise Jesus from the dead has been made available to you any time you have need of it!  The Holy Spirit knows exactly what is needed at every moment of every day!  He is with us—He is in us—He is for us!  What a gift!

Father, thank You that every good and precious gift comes from You—even the gift of Your Spirit who is always with us and inside of us!  Holy Spirit, that You for all of Your help—Your wisdom, Your strength and Your counsel!  You know us intimately and You love us!  You are our dearest friend!  You are the One who is working in us to bring us to spiritual maturity and to make us ready in purity and holiness for Jesus.  You lead us into all truth, you warn us of things to come, you protect us, you strengthen us, You lead and guide us in the ways of the Kingdom.  Thank You for all You do!  We love You Holy Spirit.  Forgive us for every time that we have grieved You by not trusting You; for not listening and obeying You; for every time we resisted Your leadership.  Father, today, we ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit upon us.  Fill us fresh today with Holy Spirit’s power that we may live lives that are pleasing to You and are worthy of the Lord Jesus and it is in His Name, Jesus, that we pray, Amen!

Listen to Hear Wisdom’s Voice

Proverbs 8:32-35 (TPT) So listen, my sons and daughters, to everything I tell you, for nothing will bring you more joy than following my ways.  Listen to My counsel, for My instruction will enlighten you.  You’ll be wise not to ignore it.  If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say. For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.

I love this passage of scripture in the Passion Translation!  The Lord desires to fill our lives with His Wisdom!  James tell us that He gives wisdom generously to those who ask and believe without doubting that He will give it to them.  He makes it available to all who value His wisdom like it’s treasure; they listen carefully to what He has to say.
 
The Lord invites us to draw near to Him every morning.  He promises that when we long to meet with Him, are willing to slow down and wait to hear His instructions for the day, that joy will break forth within us!  He knows all things, including the direction we need each day.  This is how we command the morning and receive revelation knowledge and understanding (enlightenment) needed for the day ahead.  We do not run ahead without first listening to His instruction and commit our plans and thoughts to Him; not our wills but His today.  We do not lean on our own understanding but in all of our ways—in every area of our lives—we acknowledge Him and what He wants and He makes all of our paths straight (clear).    

When we seek Him with all our hearts, He tells us we will find Him and when we find Him—then He pours His life into us every time!   This is the refreshing we need!  We are the branches and Jesus is the vine.  His life energy and power are flowing to us as we stay connected to Him and we receive everything we need for the day ahead!
 
Father, thank You for the invitation to draw near to You every day.   We are thankful that You are already in the secret place waiting for us to come!  You call us to Yourself daily that we may receive Your wisdom that enables us to rule and reign in this life!  There is no way we could do this on our own!  Therefore, You have instructed us to stay connected to You and to feed on Your Word—then we will experience great joy in our lives.  As we live to bring You pleasure, Your favor continues to expand in our Lives!  Thank You Lord, in Jesus Name!  Amen!

 Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.
John 10:271 Samuel 3:10

There are many ways the Lord can speak to us but the two main ways are through the Scriptures and through the inward voice of the Holy Spirit.  It is an inward voice because that is where He dwells—on the inside of us—and when He speaks to us it comes through “thoughts or impressions.”  The more we are led by the Holy Spirit and learn to listen to Him, the easier it becomes to recognize those “thoughts” as the Holy Spirit’s voice.  The more time we spend with someone the better we know them and the more familiar we are with the sound of their voice.

Take a moment and read the first three chapters of 1 Samuel. Samuel was young and he was being mentored and raised up to serve as a priest by the high priest, Eli.  In chapter 3 we read of the first time Samuel heard the voice of the Lord.  One night, while he was resting in his bed, the Lord called his name. He thought it was Eli calling him for He didn’t recognize the Lord’s voice yet.  He got up and went to Eli and asked what he wanted.  Eli, knowing that he didn’t call the boy, instructed him to go back and lay down, and when he heard the voice again, he was to respond with “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”  
In the quiet stillness while he laid on his bed—Samuel heard.  We read in the first few verses of chapter 3 that Samuel was already attending to the service of the Lord under Eli’s leadership.  He was already learning to do the work of the ministry, but now it was time for the next part of his ministry training—to hear the voice of the Lord and listen to what He was saying.  Notice that God spoke to him when he was resting—not working. It is always easier to hear when we are still and quiet.  Doing the work that God has given us to do is important but it is also important that we make time daily to be still—to quiet our thoughts and give God our full attention.  

In the gospels we see that Jesus often withdrew from others and went off by Himself to pray; usually in the early morning or late evening.  We follow His example—as He did, so do we.  There is a time for work and there is a time to be still before Lord.  When we intentionally listen to hear His voice we will receive His wisdom, strength, joy and power to do what He wants us to do.    

Father, thank You for giving us ears to hear and know Your voice.  Today we come boldly to Your throne asking You to speak to us; we are listening to hear what You say.  May Your voice be clear and every other voice be silenced.  Lead us by Your Spirit into all truth and show us the direction we need to go today.  Empower us with Your strength to accomplish Your will in every place You send us!  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Daniel 10:12-13  Then He said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven.  I have come in answer to your prayer.  But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.

Daniel’s prayer was heard on day 1 and heaven’s response was initiated, even though it wasn’t made visible or known until day 21 of Daniel’s pursuit for understanding through prayer and fasting.  I want to encourage you that even if you don’t see the results yet of your prayers, don’t quit!  When Daniel set his heart to seek the Lord, something supernatural was set in motion!  When we set our hearts to pursue God for spiritual refreshing, renewal, revival, the restoration of our nation, the salvation of others, something BIG was set in motion!  The scriptures are clear that we will reap a harvest in due season (at the appointed time) if we do not grow weary in well doing and lose heart!  Don’t quit in the middle, don’t lay down during the battle, don’t walk away from your field while the seed is still in the ground!  Ask God for His perspective, meditate on His Promise and set your face like flint to stand and pray UNTIL!

Father, give us a passion in prayer that will enable us to “always pray and never give up.”  Will you put a resilience in our spirits that will enable us to stand firm in the faith like Daniel; to believe like Abraham—knowing that when You speak a thing, You will perform it!  And like it says in Habakkuk, though the promise tarry, we will wait for it, for it will surely come!  

We don’t place confidence in ourselves but in You and Your Word!  If You speak it, You will do it!  We set our eyes—our focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and we will not grow weary as we wait upon You!  Refresh us in these seasons of waiting and seeking.  

Thank You Father that You have promised that those who wait upon You will grow in strength and will be renewed; we will walk and not stumble, run and not faint, and with wings like those of an eagle, we will soar to New Heights for You have called us to rule and reign with You from the High Places of Your glory!  In Jesus Name we are the head and not the tail, we are the lenders and not the borrowers, we are above and not beneath! We are blessed to be a blessing!   Amen!