Tag: christianity

With the arrival of Savior Jesus, the only solution is life on God’s terms. Romans 8:1-2

Romans 8:1-2 Christian Standard Bible

The Life-Giving Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[a]  2 because the law[b] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law[d] of sin and death.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Praying for Repentance Without Shame

Shame can take up and occupy a large space in our hearts. When we feel regret or embarrassment over our actions, it can feel almost impossible to shake.

We convince ourselves that we do not deserve forgiveness, so we struggle to fully pray for the loving authentic embrace which the freedom Christ offers.

Instead, we tend to shove our shame and regret deep down where no one can see it or suspects it exists. But over time, we realize that no amount of hiding, ignoring, or covering it up or false pretenses can truly make it go away.

God calls us to authentic repentance. He invites us to bring our shame out of hiding and lay it at the foot of the cross. All of it. Not just the manageable parts or the not-so-bad parts, but the ugly, stingy, painful parts that make us cringe.

Jesus already knows those parts exist. He always has. And He loves us anyway.

Do you believe that?

Do we believe that Jesus not only loves us despite our mistakes, but that He also forgives us for them?

Not only that, but He loved us so much, He willingly bled and died on the cross on our behalf, taking all of the guilt and punishment for the sins we committed.

That kind of grace is difficult to fully grasp, and many of us wrestle to believe 0.0001% of what occurred and fathom its depths, that, it is truly meant for us.

The enemy would love nothing more than for us to carry around that burden of shame, guilt, preventing us from living in the abundant freedom Jesus offers.

He wants us to cower, to hide, disappear into the valley of the shadow of death, covering up our failures, and believing we are too far gone. But Jesus invites us to bring all of our mistakes into the light and allow Him to carry them for us.

In the Bible, Romans 8:1, Paul the Apostle wants readers to understand the true depths of God’s grace.

Romans 7:14-25 New Living Translation

Struggling with Sin

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[b] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The word therefore points us back to everything Paul wrote in chapter 7, where he describes the continuous internal struggle which we’ll all confront between wanting to obey God and still battling sin.

“I do not do the good I want to do, but instead I keep doing the very thing I do not want to do.” Romans 7:19

There is a tension between wanting to live a life that reflects Christ while still wrestling with those sinful desires and imperfect actions.

It is part of the human condition that we all experience.

But the beauty of Romans 8:1 is this: sin does not have the final word.

Shame does not win.

Darkness does not define you.

When we feel conviction, we can allow it to lead us toward repentance, healing, and restoration.

But condemnation no longer has any power over those who are in Christ.

God invites us to walk beside Him despite our failures.

He offers freedom instead of guilt, hope instead of hiding, and restoration instead of shame.

He is a God who restores, and He longs for you to live in the freedom only He can give.

Are you carrying around a shame that you can’t shake?

Is regret affecting your everyday life, threatening to take you down?

If so, this prayer is for you.

Let’s pray,

Lord, I struggle to fully believe in Your all-powerful ability to forgive and restore the things I have done in my life. I wrestle with the idea that You would so willingly lay down Your life to pay for sins I knowingly committed. I am not sure I will ever fully grasp the depth of the grace and forgiveness You offer, but please do not let my lack of understanding keep me from walking in the freedom You have for me.

I rebuke the spirit of condemnation rooted in my heart. Lord, please forgive me for all the ways I have fallen short, for the sin hidden in my heart, and for the ways I have disobeyed You. I want to come humbly before Your throne of grace, ready and willing to lay down everything that burdens my soul.

I rebuke the lies that tell me I am not good enough, that I am too far gone, or that my sin is too big for You to redeem. Your Word speaks the opposite. You love me no matter what, and You long for me to walk with You out of my pain, shame, sin, and the weight of guilt.

Show me Your ways, Lord. Lead me away from sin. Show me the better path, and give me the strength and courage to make choices that reflect my love for You instead of my love for the world.

Allow my life to be a light for You as I choose light instead of darkness. Give me the courage to share this truth with the people You place in my life. Lord, I know You desire for everyone to walk in the freedom You offer. Please help me to be effective in Your kingdom as I share the good news of Your grace and redemption.

Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for reaching into the depths of my soul and restoring what sin tried to take from me. Replace my shame with truth, light, peace, and the abundant life found only in You. Amen.

In your precious name we pray,

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Psalm 32 Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 32
The Joy of Forgiveness
Of David. A Maskil.

1 How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom
the Lord does not charge with iniquity
and in whose spirit is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was drained[a]
as in the summer’s heat.Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately.[b]
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9 Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.

10 Many pains come to the wicked,
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A tree planted by God, deeply rooted in Christ, transformed by trust: the truest blessings, trusting in our God. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:5-8 New International Version

5 This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

5 This is what the Lord says:

This passage of scripture presents two side of a coin.

It shows us what it looks like to place TRUST in God vs. man.

trust – hie for refuge[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

It is not a discouragement from our daily walk alongside God in community because throughout the Word, God calls us to value all of our brethren, live in full accord and bear each other’s burdens.

Rather, this message was intended to teach the people of Israel the danger of trusting, idolizing, worshiping the Asherah poles statues, false temple gods.

Certainly, it can apply to us today, as we can easily make our relationships with worldly sources of our trust our initial hie for refuge in place of God in Christ.

When you encounter trials and troubles, who do you run to first for protection and comfort? Do you first consult God or man? Is your first response, first act of defense, referring to scripture, praying to God or venting to a friend or a crowd?


“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

cursed – to receive what is harmful[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

Another human cannot sustain you as God can.

We are all just as flawed and weak as each other.

Therefore, placing a relationship above God, the ultimate and eternal source of strength, means forsaking the benefits of a relationship with the Almighty, All-powerful and All-knowing always available heavenly Father.

It also means opening ourselves up to more harm than good.

The one who makes man their primary source:

  • Will not grow much in their stature (remains as a shrub/bush)
  • Will not have vision of good and prosperous things (will not see prosperity)
  • Will not have a source of refreshing (dwell in parched places)
  • Will curate a life of dryness/barrenness (a salt land)

Your family, friends, business partners, collogues may seriously disappoint you and possibly betray you with their words.

They may not validate or challenge you in the times when you need it most.

They may not always do a great job of reassuring and encouraging you in the face of difficulty.

On the other side, you will develop a life of people pleasing and valuing the word of man more than that of God.

It will not bring you God’s intended growth for your life, simply because no matter how close you are, your fellow men will never know you as well as God.

He knows your innermost thoughts and outermost expressions. He knows your past, present and future self! It is through the intimacy of His knowledge for us that he can provide us with just exactly what we need to flourish and to thrive.

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

blessed – to receive what is beneficial[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]

When God is the source of our trust and strength, we can be sustained by the One who is stronger than us, greater than us, wiser than us, more reliable than us, kinder than us, more trustworthy, … much better than us, in every sense.

Instead of depending in one who is just as flawed as you are, you depend on the one who is perfect and blameless!

Our shortcomings and weaknesses does not phase Him. He even promises us that His strength is perfected in our weakness. It means that he works best in the areas where we are at our worst.

Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT):

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

The one who makes God their source:

  • Will grow in their stature to great heights (like a tree)
  • Will dwell where there is a source of refreshing (planted by the waters)
  • Will grow deeper in their walk with God, be more firm and less shaken (spread its roots)
  • Will not allow fear to change your character, countenance or appearance in seasons of difficulty (leaves will be green even when the heat comes)
  • Will not allow anxiety to change your sense of purpose or service in seasons of difficulty (will not cease from yielding fruit)

This is because when God is your source, you always run to him regardless of the circumstance.

You will continue to pray, worship, read his Word and do what you must to remain in His presence.

Psalm 125:1-2 (NLT):

“Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord will surrounds his people, both now and forever.”

It is in his presence, that he challenges us to grow in obedience and surrender, encourages us to refresh our souls and affirms us in our identity in Him that we may stand and know we are safely sheltered, protected and be rooted deeply.

The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will raise my eyes to the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your [a]protector;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not [b]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will [c]protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will [d]guard your going out and your coming in
From this time and forever.

When God is your source, seasons of heat and drought will come, but how you show up in the world, plant your roots in Ministry and what more you choose to contribute to the world to advance, grow, His kingdom will continue to endure.

In essence, when we make God our source, we are sustained regardless of the circumstance and we can yield more success in our spiritual and physical lives!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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They are like young trees replanted in Eden, putting down its roots near the rivers—Praying to Connect with God in the Forest Glades and Quiet Rivers. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Christian Standard Bible

7 The person who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.

8 He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There’s something about walking in the woods that quiets the noise of this fallen world.

As soon as you step onto a forest trail, the busy pace of your life starts to slow down.

The sounds of traffic fade away, and so does the pressure of your stressful schedule and responsibilities.

Trees tower over you, leaves crunch beneath your shoes, and sunlight filters through the tree branches to scatter across the forest floor.

All of that can raise your perspective beyond your to-do list and inspire you to pay attention to your surroundings.

In the woods, it becomes much easier to notice God’s presence with you than when you’re inside chaos, because creation naturally points to the Creator. 

When you look at the trees around you, you can see that they aren’t running around anxiously or trying to rush to grow.

They simply live the way God designed them to live – with confident trust that their Creator will provide what they need.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says that the person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside water, sending its roots toward the stream.

When the heat comes, that tree doesn’t fear.

Its leaves remain green, even in seasons of drought, it continues to bear fruit. 

In the woods, some trees have grown for generations.

Over the years, they’ve faced storms, high winds, seasons of dryness, harsh winters, and intense summer heat.

Yet they remain standing, strongly rooted in the same place where they began.

Trees’ strength comes from their roots. Beneath the soil, an unseen network of roots stretches outward and downward, quietly, steadily drawing its water and nutrients from the earth.

Those roots work constantly, even though no one passing by ever notices them.

That hidden connection is what allows the tree to survive even in the harshest conditions.

Trust in God works in much the same way.

Most of the time, trust grows quietly beneath the surface of your life.

It develops in the everyday moments when you turn your thoughts toward God instead of letting worry take over.

It deepens more when you bring your concerns to God in prayer instead of trying to carry them alone.

It strengthens each time you remind yourself that God’s wisdom, knowledge of His Creation, reaches far beyond what you can know or see.

Just like roots slowly pushing through the soil, implicit trust develops over time through steady habits. Walking in the woods can help you remember that truth.

Every tree you pass is a living picture of what it looks like to stay connected to a source of life.

Those trees don’t control the weather.

They can’t stop the wind or make it rain.

Their stability comes from just remaining steadily rooted beside the water that sustains them.

God invites you to live with that same kind of connection.

Trusting God allows your life to become steady in that same way. You’ll still sometimes face challenging circumstances, but you’ll be able to overcome those challenges because you’ll be rooted in a strong relationship with God.

Whenever you need inspiration, take a long walk in the woods.

Notice the quiet dignity, majesty and strength of the trees around you, and how their branches stretch toward the sky with confidence.

Picture the tree roots beneath the soil, spreading outward in search of water.

God is inviting you to live with that kind of trust.

While you walk, connect with God in prayer, and he’ll meet you where you are.

God serves as our personal guide with every step we take through life, and we can trust him to meet all our needs – as he does for all the trees all around us. 

TRUST……

HOPE …..

These are precious priceless commodities…and not very plentiful, or common, in our day, are they?

There are just too many things we can’t or refuse to trust in or depend on!

But did you notice what they do for the one who TRUSTS in the LORD?…and for the one who’s HOPE is the LORD? 

That one is abundantly blessed…happy!!

He is like a tree whose roots reach all the way down to a continual source of life-giving and refreshing water.. always fully satisfied and nurtured by the GOODNESS of GOD!!

Can you imagine anything better in the heat or droughts that come our way–than to have infinitely more than maximum access to the real Source of Life!!

GOD offers that to you and me!!

We just need to reach for Him–as a tree sends it thirsty roots in search of life-giving water….

Really HOPING…..

Truly TRUSTING the LORD….


In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ……

Psalm 104

God the Creator

1 My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2 He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
spreading out the sky like a canopy,
3 laying the beams of his palace
on the waters above,
making the clouds his chariot,
walking on the wings of the wind,
4 and making the winds his messengers,[a]
flames of fire his servants.

5 He established the earth on its foundations;
it will never be shaken.
6 You covered it with the deep
as if it were a garment;
the water stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder they hurried away—
8 mountains rose and valleys sank[b]—
to the place you established for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
they will never cover the earth again.

10 He causes the springs to gush into the valleys;
they flow between the mountains.
11 They supply water for every wild beast;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky live beside the springs;
they make their voices heard among the foliage.
13 He waters the mountains from his palace;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of your labor.

14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock
and provides crops for man to cultivate,
producing food from the earth,
15 wine that makes human hearts glad—
making his face shine with oil—
and bread that sustains human hearts.

16 The trees of the Lord flourish,[c]
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
storks make their homes in the pine trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the cliffs are a refuge for hyraxes.

19 He made the moon to mark the[d] festivals;[e]
the sun knows when to set.
20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals stir.
21 The young lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises; they go back
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labor until evening.

24 How countless are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.[f]
25 Here is the sea, vast and wide,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships move about,
and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.

27 All of them wait for you
to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your breath,[g]
they are created,
and you renew the surface of the ground.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Imprisoned at the Intersection of our Expectations And Disappointments. Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11:1-6 New American Standard Bible
John’s Questions

11 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

2 Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is [e]any person who does not [f] take offense at Me.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

John was disillusioned when he questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah.

Studying this incident will assist us to avoid becoming disillusioned in Christ.

Who among us will ever dare to be honest enough to admit that more times than they can count, they have felt imprisoned at the ironclad intersection of their expectations and disappointments?

Matthew 11:1-6 sits at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You had your life mapped out, but somehow things didn’t turn out as you had planned.

Then you saw your doctor for your annual routine physical examination.

You thought everything was going swimmingly, but then there came that dark and rainy moment when your doctor told you you needed an urgent surgery if you were to survive until next month. Tests found several masses in your lungs.

Your life was transformed by the new reality and your dreams died that day. The surgery would mean long weeks of being in bed and weeks of therapy after the surgery. It meant pain—intense, constant pain whether you had the surgery or not. You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought your marriage would last forever, only to see your spouse walk out.

Your marriage crumbled, and you were left to pick up the pieces.

Now, you work multiple jobs at an income that is never quite enough, and you struggle to raise your children without any tangible help of your husband.

You have cried enough tears to fill an ocean and you wonder if your children will ever fully recover from the devastation they have just suddenly experienced.

Still, you realize that you’re the only person left standing between your children and self-destruction.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought you were set to enjoy your golden years but changing markets have all of a sudden forced you to scramble in order to survive.

Retirement!

Ha!

You’re working more now than ever.

You had hoped to take life easy, but now you’re working just to make ends meet.

You set aside what you thought would be needed, but somehow it hasn’t proven to be enough.

Those who sit at their dinner table to consume what they have thought to be sufficient now have to survive on a budget which is proving to be inadequate.

You didn’t expect to be forced to care for ageing parents, but someone has to sacrifice so your aging mother or father can have the medical care they need.

Modern medicine is a two-edged sword, extending our lives but imposing new necessities on our children.

Thus, you are saddled with the responsibility of caring for your parents at the time when you know you should be planning or preparing for your own future.

You stand imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

If we could only know what God has planned for us, we could perhaps be courageous. We can’t know what God will be doing, and so we feel that we must grapple with a dark unknown rather than walking with confidence through our chaotic situation. We are too “Christian” to admit that we sometimes struggle with doubt, but in our heart, we experience so very often times when we ask, “Is this really what life is all about?”

At such times, we are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You’ve been praying, and no answer comes.

You cannot help but wonder whether God hears you when you pray?

Does God care about your struggles?

Because the response of the Holy One seems non-existent, you find yourself questioning God; even find yourself asking, “Did Jesus really die for my sins?

If I am forgiven, why am I having such a hard time?

Why is there so much confusion in my life, if God is in control?”

Confusion seems to grow constantly, and you can’t help but wonder why God seems to ignore you.

It is almost as though He is unaware of who you are or what you are going through.

You are imprisoned at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

Questions come flooding into our minds: Why is there so much hurt in the world if God is good?

He could make things right if He wanted to do so.

He has the power.

Why doesn’t He do something?

The question sticks in our throat, but we are too tight lipped, stiff necked, embarrassed to let it pass beyond our lips.

Admit it!

Confess it!

We find ourselves to be imprisoned at our intersections of Expectations and Disappointments

We don’t want people to know that we have been locked up in the dungeon of doubt.

Has it all been worth it?

Has my sacrifice, my struggle, my sorrow made any difference?

Does Jesus care .001% that I am seemingly unable to move beyond my present condition of living in this rut that defines my life at the present?

You are imprisoned at the center in a jail of Expectation and Disappointment.

The message this day is for Christians, for followers of the Christ who have experienced disappointment or for those who will soon enter into despair.

13 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
With grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

The Psalmist’s message is also intended to offer an authentic expression of hope for the afflicted soul, when everything seems hopeless, hope in Christ.

5 But I have trusted in Your faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has looked after me. (Psalm 13:5-6)

The message is intended to be a source of encouragement for the people of God when imprisoned at the center of a dangerously rutted intersection called “my Expectations and my Disappointments.” Praying for any Help in this trouble.

Faith, the Scripture tells us, is active and relational.

It reaches beyond the visible, tangible world into the reality of God’s promises.

Religion, on the other hand, often remains visible—it is what you do, not whom you trust.

Illustration: Imagine two people standing on opposite sides of a wide creek of unknown depths. Religion may give you a map, a rope, and rules about how to cross it. Faith is taking the step because you trust the one who builds the bridge.

Dr. John Piper wrote, “Faith is not mere belief; it is a life surrendered to the will of God because we trust Him completely.”

Here, Piper reminds us true faith is personal surrender, not checklists of duties. Religion without faith can mark boxes but does nothing to transform the heart.

1: Faith is Relational, Religion is Ritual

Consider Micah 6:6-8 (NLT):

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should I offer my firstborn for my rebellion, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you: Only to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

The prophet Micah addresses Israel, who had become experts at religious ritual—sacrifices, festivals, offerings—yet their hearts far were distant from God.

The Hebrew word used here for “walk” here, ‘halak,’ implies a daily lifestyle of focusing on ongoing relationships, obedience, not merely ritual performances.

Faith focuses on relationship: “walk humbly with your God.”

Religion focuses on ritual: “burnt offerings, rivers of olive oil.”

Modern believers often fall into “religious checklists”: attending church, volunteering, giving, but lacking deep, trusting relationship with Jesus.

Faith invites us into an intimacy with God—through prayer, Scripture, study, obedience—not simply participation in activities.

2: Faith Impacts the Heart, Religion Controls Behavior

Let’s turn to Romans 10:9-10 (NLT):

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God — and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

Paul writes to the Roman church, a mixture of Jews and Gentiles steeped in both cultural and religious practices. The Greek word for “believe” here is ‘pisteuo‘, which conveys personal trust and commitment, not just intellectual assent.

Religion might prescribe outward actions—attendance, fasting, charity—but faith reaches the heart.

Faith is internal trust in Christ, resulting in external obedience. Paul clearly emphasizes a holistic transformation: belief leads to confession, confession leads to salvation, and salvation changes life.

In today’s world, it is easy to confuse being “religious” with being “right with God.”

One might pray, tithe, volunteer—but without heart-level trust in Jesus, these acts are empty.

True faith begins in the heart, flows outward, produces a life that honors God.

 “Religion is what you do; faith is what God does in you.”

This is profound. Religion without faith produces mere action; faith without religion produces authentic devotion that transforms communities and lives.

3: Faith Produces Freedom, Religion Can Produce Bondage

Consider Galatians 5:1 (NLT):

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Paul addresses believers who were tempted to return to legalistic observances—rituals, laws, and human traditions.

The Greek word for “slavery” here is ‘douleia‘, implying bondage, not simply obligation. Religion without faith often enslaves; faith liberates.

Religion can become burdensome with too many “hair-splitting” rules; faith produces joyful obedience.

Faith rests in Christ’s work; religion rests on human effort.

In the 21st century, believers are pressured by social expectations: “If you’re spiritual, do this, say that, attend here.”

True discipleship, born of faith, is freedom.

You are no longer bound by fear of judgment but empowered by the love of Christ.

A friend once described his faith journey like this:

“I spent years following religious rules, always anxious I’d fail God. When I finally trusted Jesus, I realised obedience was no longer a chain—it was wings.”

Charles Stanley said, “True faith never imprisons; it always liberates because it rests in the grace of God, not the efforts of man.”

Faith liberates.

Religion can constrict.

Understanding this is critical for authentic discipleship.

In the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Praying …

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

107 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
3 And gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.

10 There were those who lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And rejected the plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A voice said to, “Proclaim!” And so I answer, “What should I proclaim?” “All humanity is merely grass, all its kindness is like a field of wildflowers. Psalm 90:1-6, Isaiah 40:6-8

Isaiah 40:6-8 English Standard Version

The Word of God Stands Forever

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
    And I said,[a] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
    and all its beauty[b] is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
    surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

Psalm 90:1-6 New American Standard Bible

BOOK 4
God’s Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.
A Prayer of [a]Moses, the man of God.

90 Lord, You have been our [b]dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
[c]Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3 You turn mortals back into dust
And say, “Return, you sons of mankind.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
[d]Or like a watch in the night.
5 You have [e]swept them away like a flood, they [f]fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass that [g]sprouts anew.
6 In the morning it flourishes and [h]sprouts anew;
Toward evening it wilts and withers away.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Fragility of Life ….

Our text today emphasizes two solemn truths that point to the same fact.

There is no room for human vanity.

Human pride is nothing but utter foolishness.

Our bodies are as fragile as grass.

We have physical weaknesses that cannot be disguised.

Time carves wrinkles into our faces, and make-up cannot cover it. Our legs too become weak, our knees wobble, our hands droop, our eyes blur, and every gray silver hair that sprouts on our heads is a reminder of the shortness of our lives.

We also have emotional weaknesses.

There are times when we despair of life itself.

We cry, we moan, we sob, assailed by anguish.

We have moral and spiritual weaknesses as well.

We promise to walk in righteousness, and yet our feet often stray down winding paths taking us to all points of a compass and all of them take us into big circles.

We are ambiguous and contradictory people.

The good we want to do, we do not do; and the evil we hate, we practice.

Besides being fragile like grass, all the glory we achieve has a fleeting beauty like that of the flowers of the field.

The heat of the sun makes the delicate flower wither and dry.

Our glory is fleeting, and our accomplishments pass away.

Our achievements are lost in the dust of time.

We are too small, too fragile, too young!

But, thankfully, that doesn’t have to be our end.

In the Lord we can trust that our destiny is safe with him.

No Place for God?

Psalm 90:7-10 New American Standard Bible

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And we have been terrified by Your wrath.
8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You,
Our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a [a]sigh.
10 As for the days of our [b]life, [c]they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.

11 Who [d]understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear [e]that is due You?

Some time ago a chaplain at a public university heard one of the administrators saying, “No offense, but I think anyone who believes in God has a mental health problem. God has no place in a scientific institution such as a university.”

That administrator is not alone.

An article in a church magazine reported that a small group of students who were studying theology at a German university were convinced by their DMin. professor that “neither God nor the church were of much relevance today.”

Even though they were baptized members of Lutheran and Reformed churches, they felt that God had become irrelevant.

Some of the people I know have come to the same conclusion: If there is a God, he is far away and no longer matters.

About 2,700 years ago God’s people in Jerusalem and Judah felt the same way.

Many of their people had been taken into exile, and it seemed that the Lord had abandoned them.

But God told his ­prophet Isaiah to remind them that he was with them every step of the way.

Regardless of what anyone might think, God is here, and he is at work in our world still today.

Some 700 years after Isaiah spoke, God proved his presence through the birth of his Son, the Lord Jesus.

He “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Message).

Don’t think for a moment that God has become irrele­vant. Our God is here!

Each of us needs a healthy dose of comfort from time to time.

The child at play who trips and scrapes her knee badly needs comfort from a parent or other caregiver.

The young man or woman at college with its unfamiliar surroundings needs someone to talk to.

Consider also the young couple whose first child was stillborn, the middle-aged couple whose son died in an accident, and that elderly man whose wife of 60 years is slipping away because of Alzheimer’s. Who will dare to comfort them?

Thank God that there is good news in Isaiah’s song.

God himself says, “Comfort, comfort my people. . . . Speak tenderly. . . .”

When we need comfort, we must remember, first, that God is the Sovereign Lord. He will meet us in every situation with his powerful arm.

As an old hymn puts it, “Oh, let me not forget that, though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.”

Never forget it!

1 This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

Second, our Father is a loving, compassionate God.

No matter what adversities you may be going through today, you can take comfort.

Like a shepherd with his sheep, God carries us close to his heart.

Remember Jesus’ parting words:

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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My letting Jesus meet me in my need. believing the idea of a good God gets perpetually challenged while we must encounter such hardships and pains. Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-11 New King James Version

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they [a]forsook all and followed Him.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. Inevitably these times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often retreat, feel far from God.

The idea of a good God gets mightily challenged while we must encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has repeatedly promised, and proven time and again exactly how his heart is with the poor and needy.

God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us.

He became a man to reach us where we were. John 10:10

Here in Luke 5 we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, acknowledged affirmed meeting both spiritual and physical.

Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him just meet us, invite us into the story.

First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he must to do—love us and join, to fill us with his light and life, both redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.

James 1:2-8 New Living Translation

Faith and Endurance

2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 

Sometimes our responses to a demand or request depends on who is ­asking.

Simon had worked hard all night without catching anything, so going out again and expecting a different result would not have been a likely plan for success.

By the time Jesus asked, Simon’s boat was moored, the nets had been washed.

It was time to call it quits.

So it is easy to imagine Simon brushing Jesus’ request aside.

What could a builder’s son possibly tell a fisherman about fishing?

But this was Jesus asking.

Jesus had been teaching people from the boat while Simon was cleaning his nets. Perhaps Simon had heard something that made him pay full attention.

So when Jesus asked him to put out into deep water and “let down the nets for a catch,” Simon said, “Because you say so, I will.”

As the clock continues to tick away, it can be easy to feel as if we have worked hard all night without catching anything.

For all our efforts we still struggle with the same problems and temptations.

Our boss demands a greater sacrifice of our time, our wife and children give us the same worries, and our neighbors seem no more open to Jesus than when we first befriended them. Even so, we will act right, keep on pushing out our nets.

Jesus has asked us for perseverance.

Sometimes our responses depend on who is doing the asking.

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 27
My Stronghold

Of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart will not be afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
I will still be confident.

4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
in the day of adversity;
he will hide me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you:
“Seek[a] his face.”
Lord, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.

11 Because of my adversaries,
show me your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.

13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Cast all your doubts aside! the god of this age has most assuredly darkened and blinded the minds of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 New International Version

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In context, Paul is talking about the glories of the New Covenant of God.

Paul is rejoicing in the wonderful promises founded on the blood of Christ – the gospel which removes all who confess with their whole hearts, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ from the condemnation of the Law, for the free gift of God is eternal life to all who believe on Christ. (Romans 10:9-13)

Because of the incalculable glories of the wonderful gospel of Christ, where the life and light of salvation flows to all who believe, a determined Paul rejoices to teach the good news of God’s saving grace and to set out the truth of Scripture because he knew that it was only by God’s grace that he himself had been saved.

Because of the indelible glories contained in the gospel of Christ, Paul does not get discouraged, even when those that he is teaching choose not to listen to the message of the good news, but flatly reject the truth of God’s amazing grace.

Paul knew that there was a host of reasons that many refused to listen to the gospel of God’s grace.

He knew that although they had heard the truth, they had renounced it.

Although they had heard the gospel, they chose not to believe it.

Although they had been given an opportunity to accept it, they had chosen to reject the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ.

When people hear the gospel and then willingly reject it, they unwittingly give the god of this world a strong foothold in their mind – as a result their unbelief becomes more and more firmly established in their hearts, until their minds are twisted, blinded, darkened to the glorious truth of the gospel of God’s grace.

It is not God’s will that anyone should perish, but that all come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus – and yet, God still gives every single man and woman a choice to ether believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved or to reject the gospel of grace and be condemned.

Men and women who choose to steadfastly close off their minds to the gospel of God’s grace are those that are perishing.

Mark 15:24-32 New Living Translation

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice[a] to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries[b] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.[c]

29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

Jesus was ridiculed by everyone present during his Passion – the crowds cried “Crucify him!” before Pilate.

The soldiers beat and mocked him, spit in his face.

People who passed by him hanging on the cross hurled their insults at Jesus.

The religious leaders mocked him.

Even one of the criminals who were dying beside the Lord threw in his own ridicule and scorn his way.

Jesus’ own closest followers had betrayed, denied, and abandoned him.

Our Savior faced the cruelty and the humiliation of the cross alone.

Don’t we know someone who still scoffs at Jesus like this?

Have we ever been that someone who scoffs at Jesus like this?

For the most part, Jesus impaled on the cross didn’t move either the crowd or the religious people, and for the most part, Jesus suffering, dying on the cross, doesn’t move a vast number of people today.

WHY?

Maybe because we cannot comprehend the sacrifice don’t understand how real, how graphic, how horrific, and how required the cross was for our eternal life.

He did it so you and I can have the confidence that he will never abandon us – even if everyone we hold dear abandons us, those hating us hurl insults at us.

Doesn’t it seem clear that the two crosses with the two thieves represent the required choice that each of us must make? We all begin the same with Jesus.

Jesus indelibly demonstrated he would pay any price to love us and redeem us.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to allow us to live in him.

Does the cross move you toward rejection of the gospel?

Does the cross move you toward proclaiming Acts 4:8-12 of the gospel?

8 Then Peter, [a]filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[b]Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are [c]on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to [d] how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [e]by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—[f]by [g]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [h]He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

The cross reveals the unconditional love of God for you like nothing else in all the universe does.

The horror and the intensity of the cross scream out to us that God loves us.

Has seeing God-in-the-Flesh on the cross, dying in our place, ever moved you?

Are we moved toward rejection or acceptance by the truth that the Lord of all Creation submit himself to the ugliness of dying on the cross out of his love?

In the Name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Praying ….

Psalm 22

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.
For the music director; upon [a]Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my [b]help are the words of my [c]groaning.
2 My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but [d]I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You rescued them.
5 To You they cried out and they fled to safety;
In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a person,
A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me deride me;
They [g]sneer, they shake their heads, saying,
8 “[h]Turn [i]him over to the Lord; let Him save him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from [j]birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 Do not be far from me, for [k]trouble is near;
For there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide at me,
As a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within [l]me.
15 My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery,
And my tongue clings to my jaws;
And You lay me [m]in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
[n]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
[o]They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing.

19 But You, Lord, do not be far away;
You who are my help, hurry to my assistance.
20 Save my [p]soul from the sword,
My only life from the [q]power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you [r]descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you [s]descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The [t]afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
May your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before [u]You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the [v]prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will kneel before Him,
Even he who [w]cannot keep his soul alive.
30 A [x]posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Sleeping, Walking or Sleep Walking, Immobilized or Standing Still in the Spirit in Dark Times. Psalm 22:1-8

Psalm 22:1-8 Complete Jewish Bible

22 (0) For the leader. Set to “Sunrise.” A psalm of David:

2 (1) My God! My God!
Why have you abandoned me?
Why so far from helping me,
so far from my anguished cries?

3 (2) My God, by day I call to you,
but you don’t answer;
likewise at night,
but I get no relief.
4 (3) Nevertheless, you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Isra’el.
5 (4) In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted, and you rescued them.
6 (5) They cried to you and escaped;
they trusted in you and were not disappointed.

7 (6) But I am a worm, not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
8 (7) All who see me jeer at me;
they sneer and shake their heads:

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Every day, we face a host of crises that try and shake our faith and character.

Confusion denies truth.

Political division ends relationships.

Wars and conflicts stir up fear.

Moral compromise and corruption grows louder, we get a constant pressure to conform to the things of this world.

Our phones and media bombard us with these constant issues.

It becomes easy to give in, react in anger, give up, and lose sight of the eternal reality.

But God doesn’t call us to deal with this darkness alone.

And we’ve been born again for such a time as this.

The Holy Spirit equips us to face the current darkness with both truth and love.

He gives a firm foundation in himself and truth, leading with ways to respond in love, wisdom, bravery, and grace.

He doesn’t lead us to fear but faith in Christ.

We don’t overcome darkness by responding with more darkness.

We overcome it by walking in the Spirit, clinging to God’s presence.

Walking in the Spirit in dark times means refusing fear, staying rooted in God’s love, renewing your mind with truth, depending on His power instead of ours.

This will help us think rightly, show compassion, stand firm in what is good.

What Does It Mean to Walk in the Spirit in Dark Times?

To walk in the Spirit in dark times also means to let God’s presence, truth, and power shape your response instead of fear, anger, or compromise.

It does not mean ignoring darkness.

It means facing it with a Spirit-led life marked by love, surrender, wisdom, courage, and trust in Christ. 

Suggested ways to walk in the Spirit in our dark days.
Live from Freedom, not Fear

The Spirit doesn’t drive us through coercion or control.

He leads us into the freedom Christ has already secured for us. 

Galatians 5:1 tells us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Fear shuts down our minds, allows lies into our hearts.

It causes us to react without thinking, hide from our responsibilities and opportunities, or just conform. 

When we walk by the Spirit, we act from an identity, who we are in Christ and his work for us.

We must renew our minds to the reality that Christ has already overcome sin, death, and the world.

That truth frees us from needing to please anyone.

We don’t need to fear loss or compromise biblical standards.

Often, our anxiety says, “What if everything falls apart?”

But with faith in Christ, says, “What has Christ already secured for us?”

Such a shift changes how we respond to temptation and suffering.

Freedom doesn’t mean we do what we want or live carelessly.

It means living Spirit-led, choosing righteousness because of freedom in Jesus, not because we feel forced.

As a practical step, choose one fear that shapes your decisions this week (rejection, fear, failure, etc.).

Write it down, then write down a Scripture that directly counters that fear, and speak it out every day.

Then pray to God to show you an action you can do to align with your Christ-identity.

Be Anchored in God’s Love

God’s love exists at the heart of all his work.

He is love.

Therefore, his actions and salvation flow from his love.

God’s love remains constant and unshaken.

The Spirit reminds us we aren’t defined by the chaos around us but by the love of God poured into us through Christ. 

Romans 8:38-39 says, “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This truth grounds our hearts while everything else is unstable. 

Anchoring ourselves in his love, we don’t seek to earn what he’s already given.

We don’t react out of fear or anger, but with confidence and peace.

The Spirit of God places his love within our hearts.

Instead of allowing the world to make us hate or lie, we carry his presence to respond in love. We can forgive, stand firm, and love with courage and tenacity.

This doesn’t mean we ignore the darkness.

It means we don’t let the darkness define us or what we do.

We respond and fight with love, to save others, and God’s love shows us how to live by this motivation, walking in grace without compromise.

As a practical step, take 5 minutes every day to meditate on one passage about God’s love.

Read it, speak it aloud, and thank God for how he has shown his love in your life.

Renew Your Mind with Truth

The Devil is a liar and murderer, from the beginning, and into today’s darkness, spreads lies and delusions to feed fear, pride, and worldly philosophy.

However, the Spirit works on our hearts and minds to transform our beliefs and thinking according to truth, fixing our eyes on things of heaven, what lasts. 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

Transformation begins with what you allow with our thoughts. 

Renewing our mind means replacing lies with truth.

We begin to see life through the lens of the eternal perspective and God’s kingdom.

The kingdom contains what will last, what matters, what will express Christ.

The Spirit uses Scripture to correct our thinking, strengthen our faith.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 Amplified Bible

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior), 4 he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]. He has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produces envy, quarrels, verbal abuse, evil suspicions, 5 and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—withdraw from them].

1 Timothy 6:20-21 Amplified Bible

20 O Timothy, guard and keep safe the deposit [of godly truth] entrusted to you, turn away from worldly and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], and the contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and by doing so have erred (missed the mark) and strayed from the faith.

2 Timothy 2:14-18 Amplified Bible

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen. 15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. 16 But avoid all irreverent babble and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have deviated from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they undermine the faith of some.

We compare our thoughts with God’s truth in the Bible and reject them quickly, casting them down.

We aren’t in bondage to our thoughts or the lies the Devil brings to us.

We are free, and the Spirit empowers us to live free in our thoughts, keeping us from compromise.

A renewed mind leads to renewed actions and true peace.

This brings heavenly living to earth.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 Amplified Bible

14 But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them, 15  and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As a practical step, choose a single verse or passage each week that focuses on an eternal reality.

Write it down and revisit it each day.

Memorize it through the week.

When negative or despairing thoughts arise, replace them with that verse.

Speak it aloud.

Pray over it louder.

Depend on the Spirit’s Power, Not Your Own

We must reject any reliance upon our own ability.

Too often, we come to God to save us, then try to live a divine life on our own.

Just like we need his power to save us from sin and death, we require his strength and grace to continue in walking out that salvation. 

The world celebrates personal strength, hustle, achievement, and talent.

But these things always fail.

God never intended us to resist sin or live faithfully in our own strength. 

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

When we depend upon the Spirit’s power, we stop trying to prove anything.

We can’t.

It humbles us rightfully when we acknowledge our limitations and invite God to work through us.

The Spirit provides power, love, and a sound mind.

Instead of pushing harder in our own effort, we learn to pause and pray to rely upon God alone.

Such humility brings us grace and power to remain faithful.

Even further, we can bless others.

In our dark culture, any self-reliance leads to burnout, frustration, anger, and compromise.

Spirit-dependence keeps us grounded and reliant upon the One who can save and sustain.

As a practical step, before starting any challenging situation (or when encountering one), take a moment to ask God for his help through the Spirit.

Name your weakness.

Be honest.

Then ask for his strength and trust that he will actively speak to you and work through you.

In this way, you will bring light to the darkness of the world.

How Can You Walk in the Spirit This Week?
  • What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
    Walking in the Spirit means living under the guidance, power, and truth of the Holy Spirit rather than being ruled by fear, flesh, or the patterns of the world.
  • How do you walk in the Spirit in dark times?
    You walk in the Spirit in dark times by choosing freedom over fear, anchoring yourself in God’s love, renewing your mind with Scripture, and depending on God’s power instead of your own. 
  • Why is it hard to walk in the Spirit right now?
    The article rightly points out that constant cultural pressure, fear, division, media overload, and moral confusion can make it difficult to stay spiritually grounded. 
  • What helps Christians stay spiritually strong in dark times?
    Practical surrender, Scripture meditation, kingdom focus, godly character, and Spirit-dependence all help believers remain steady and faithful.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Book One

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

1 [a]Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).
2 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
3 
And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season;
Its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

4 
The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so,
But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away.
5 
Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 
For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Making Converts to Love. Our call to action, transform our understanding, of what it truly means to be Christian. Are we able to Identify toxic religion? Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12 New Living Translation

Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b] 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c]

8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.[d] 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Religion can be a beautiful thing.

It can unite people, offer comfort in difficult times, and inspire individuals to lead more meaningful lives.

But when religion becomes toxic, it can do just the opposite.

It tears people apart, causes deep trauma, allows individuals to do unspeakable things in the name of their faith.

So, exactly what is toxic religion, how can you spot it, and why should you steer clear of it?

Let’s find out!

First things first, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a poisonous, harmful, and damaging version of spirituality that’s more about control than connection.

It’s the kind of religion which relies on, uses fear shame, and guilt to control, manipulate and coerce people into following its dogma.

It’s the kind of religion that tells you what to think, feel, and do without leaving room for questioning or doubt. It’s the kind of religion that thrives on power imbalances and hierarchies, with a select few at the top calling all the shots.

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but isn’t all religion kind of toxic?”

And sure, there are certainly elements of this in many religious traditions.

But harmful religion takes it to a whole new level.

It’s when religion becomes less and less about fostering love, compassion, and understanding and far more about enforcing rules and beliefs that benefit the people in power.

It’s when those in power use that religion as a tool of oppression rather than liberation.

Toxic religion can take many forms, but at its core, it is any belief system or religious practice that causes significant harm to individuals or communities.

This harm can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and it can come from a variety of sources, including congregants, leaders, doctrines, and traditions. 

So, why is it such a problem?

For starters, harmful and toxic theology can have severe mental and emotional consequences for those caught in its grip.

It can leave people second guessing themselves, their choices, and those around you.

When there is a strict line of black-and-white, it can create an us-versus-them thinking pattern dehumanizing people outside of the ‘in group.’

Perhaps you have experienced this while sitting in church if you are gay, and the pastor is condemning LGBTQIA+ from the pulpit, the desire to be safe and leave conflicts with the desire to belong, causing religious trauma over time.

People in toxic religious communities may feel intense shame, guilt, anger, fear and open hostility if they don’t adhere to the group’s rules and beliefs. 

When a religious leader or community or church or denomination insists on absolute certainty in their beliefs, questioning or dissent is not allowed.

Deep control can lead to groupthink, dogmatism, and even cult-like behavior.

People who disagree may be ostracized or seen as a threat for questioning authority or expressing doubts.

And in extreme cases, they may even be subject to crippling abuse or violence.

When any religion, denomination claims to be the only correct, legitimate path to salvation, it creates a dark toxic unfriendly environment where those who do not believe as they do are immediately considered inferior, misguided, and evil.

This invites discrimination, division, hostility, intolerance, and violence to flourish while reinforcing biased harmful stereotypes and prejudices, which promote bigotry and discrimination, hostility. It suffocates critical thinking and curiosity, growth preventing people from exploring new ideas and perspectives.

Another red flag is when a religious leader or community or church is not held accountable for their actions.

It allows dangerous abuses of power, corruption, and even criminal behavior to go unchecked. Reckless leadership which traumatizes followers and can lead to a loss of faith and spiritual disillusionment.

So, what can we do to avoid toxic religion? 

Well, for starters, we can educate ourselves about the warning signs.

A church or religious community is often never completely out of the blue toxic that no one saw coming.

There are usually multiple signs although some are more subtle than others, like who is in charge, if there are women or diverse people of color, ethnicity in the community or on the board.

Other signs could include what they expect from volunteers, how they treat volunteers, to even the way they speak about people when they aren’t around.

Listen to your gut, and see if the church lights you up with joy, or lights up your flight or flight response, they can feel similar, but they are very different.

If a religious community seems to be excessively controlling or demands absolute obedience, that’s a red flag.

If a religious leader or group is using fear, shame, or guilt to manipulate its followers, that’s a sign of toxicity.

And if a spiritual tradition promotes harmful beliefs or practices that cause harm to others, that’s a problem.

Cults can look shiny and clean from the outside but can feel like a pit of vipers or quicksand once you are in. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

A church that only shares it’s doctrine after you get baptized may be an obvious red flag.

A church subtly guilting you repeatedly for not attending a weeknight service or for not being a part of a small group ministry may seem like an slight innocent kind nudge at first, but those yellow flags are waving.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge authority, especially if you feel something is wrong.

So what is toxic religion?

Toxic religion isn’t just a church we don’t like; it’s a genuine threat that harms individuals inside and outside of the church’s walls. 

But we don’t have to accept it, and we can choose to reject harmful and dangerous theology and seek a spirituality that promotes love, tolerance, compassion, and understanding.

Doing so not only holds space for our own healing, it prevents us from throwing our weight and resources into a toxic system. 

Is the Church Itself a Barrier?

Luke 11:46 The Message

46 He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.

Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices.

Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people.

We often hear of such cases in the news today.

Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people.

As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt.

Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders?

If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church.

That’s understandable.

What can you do?

Here are some suggestions:

(1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading.

(2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge.

(3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive.

(4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….

Praying …

Psalm 96 New American Standard Bible

A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.

96 Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are [a]idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 [b]Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
[c]Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 [d]Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an [e]offering and come into His courtyards.
9 Worship the Lord in [f]holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples fairly.”

11 May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice;
May the sea [g]roar, and [h]all it contains;
12 May the field be jubilant, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Watering, Working, Warning: About our Staying Rooted in Christ in this age of faith and Worldly Influencers? 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

1 Corinthians 3:5-15 Christian Standard Bible

The Role of God’s Servants

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one,[a] and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  9 For we are God’s coworkers.[b] You are God’s field, God’s building.

10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,[c] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience[d] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

I have often found that seeds are easier to grow in gardens than transplanted flowers.

One would think that the already growing plant would be simpler to add––dig a hole and pop the seed into the desired spot.

Yet when I tried to plant trays of marigolds, the small flowers quickly began to struggle.

The changes in soil, sun, and surrounding plants were too overwhelming for the young flowers.

Eventually, the leaves withered along with the petals. 

How much different when I sowed seeds!

Though preparing the soil bed required more work and planting the seeds took extra time, the result was worth the effort.

Not only did the flowers grow and survive, but they thrived.

Large, colorful blooms.

Greater height.

Fuller leaf growth made the patch of garden resemble a meadow.

Of course, there is a time to use transplanted flowers, and they can do well in the right circumstances, but some plants do poorly when transplanted.

Just because a route is easier does not always mean it is best. 

The same is true in our spiritual lives.

We can easily assume the best way to grow spiritually is through a premade, transplanted faith––one imported from the life of someone we admire.

We draw on their experiences, practices, and insights rather than prioritizing personal time with the Lord.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he noted that many of the believers had formed separate sects based on who they wanted to follow, whether Paul, Cephas (Peter), or Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4).

Christians today can do the same thing, aligning themselves with a particular teacher, pastor, author, or social media influencer.   

Yet, Paul warned them, of placing too much emphasis on human workers.

Paul, Apollos, and Cephas had merely been faithful in the task God had given them in spreading the gospel and discipling believers.

The Lord was the One who was ultimately responsible for any growth.

And none of the workers, us included, could replace the most important part: the foundation of faith, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 3:11). 

We may admire certain preachers, teachers and media influencers online and maybe even find that many of their insights and suggested practices helpful.

However, if we should rely only on the second-hand nourishment of the faith of others, our growth will look more like withered marigolds than healthy blooms.

We need a deep rootedness in Christ to properly grow.

For it is He who died to give us life, and it is only in Him that we can truly boast (1 Corinthians 1:28-31).

Nothing can, nor will, replace a strong, personal relationship with Him. 

God loves us enough to meet us where we are, and loves us too much to leave us there. ​Growing in God’s grace is a lifelong journey.

Several important foundational points to ponder and pray over:

  1. Following Jesus isn’t merely a one time decision but a way of life intended to change us from the inside out.  
  2. God heals and empowers us to increasingly love others the way that God has loved us in Jesus, and in the process we are transformed into the image of Christ and made a new creation.
  3. Following Jesus daily, we grow into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor, which changes the orientation of our hearts and how our soul sees the world.  
  4. How have you defined your identity in Christ?
  5. What steps can you take to deepen your spiritual roots this week?
  6. In what ways can you reflect Christ’s teachings in your daily actions?
  7. Pray for guidance to understand and embrace your identity in Christ fully.
  8. Ask God to help you remain rooted in His word and teachings. Examine your daily routine: Are there moments where you can connect more deeply with God?
  9. How can you make abiding in Christ a non-negotiable priority each day?
  10. Reflect on a time when staying connected to God changed the outcome of a situation for you.
  11. Pray for the ability to remain steadfast in Him, especially when facing challenges.
  12. Ask for opportunities to encounter God’s presence in new and transformative ways this week. How do you view the concept of grace in your personal faith journey?
  13. What are some areas where you can let go of the need for perfection and rely on God’s grace?
  14. Reflect on how salvation has transformed your outlook on life and your relationship with God.
  15. Thank God for the gift of grace and salvation, asking for continued understanding of its impact.
  16. Pray for wisdom to let go of self-reliance and embracing God’s grace more fully. Parts of “old self” need to be jettisoned to embrace the new creation?
  17. Reflect on how you can manifest this transformation in your daily life and interactions with others.
  18. How can you nurture the new creation you’ve become in Christ?
  19. Pray for strength to let go of old habits and embrace your new identity in Christ.
  20. Ask for God’s guidance in manifesting the change within you in a way that glorifies Him.
  21. How can you incorporate a regular practice of gratitude into your daily routine?
  22. What are some specific blessings you can give thanks for this week?
  23. Reflect on how gratitude has influenced your outlook on life and your growing relationship with others.
  24. Pray for a grateful heart and ask God to reveal new blessings to you each day.
  25. Offer prayers of thanksgiving for the specific ways God has impacted your life and the lives of those around you.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.….

Praying ….

Psalm 20

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble;
the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 send thee help from the sanctuary,
and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 remember all thy offerings,
and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart,
and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners:
the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed;
he will hear him from his holy heaven
with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen:
but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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