When you are finding life to be challenging, you are probably seeing life as a duty, not the MINISTRY that it is. You are a new creation now, not the old anymore! When burdens come, you have to ask the Lord what He wants you to do. This means you have to look to Him and be open and teachable. You don't know everything, so you cannot be The Judge.
There's a truth so simple, yet so profound, it could change the way we see the world: you will never…. ever look into the eyes of someone God doesn't love. Not once. Not ever. Every person you encounter: the stranger, the friend, the rival, the one you struggle to understand — all of them are seen and cherished by God. His love is not rationed, not conditional, not selective. It is relentless. Think about that.
Recently, I was presented with a very interesting question by a dear friend. This question has been boiling in the crevices of my heart for weeks, and I am not sure if I am qualified to answer this amazing, complicated question. The friend who posed it is a deep thinker, a true disciple and is on a passionate journey to follow Jesus in all seasons of life. Although she is younger than I am – I want to be more like her. This is the question that has simmered in my soul…
A few years ago a prominent evangelist gained a wide following when he said an angel was visiting him regularly during his televised revival meetings. This angel was supposedly dispatched to unleash the next great healing revival in the United States. One big problem: The revival wasn't real. It was all hype. Yet month after month, the tales of this evangelist's wild spiritual adventures grew more and more incredible. At one point he claimed to have met the apostle Paul in heaven—and then said that Paul told him he was the author of the book of Hebrews.
The journey to transforming your destiny—unlocking the doors to true freedom, lasting success, and Kingdom influence - begins now. Not tomorrow, not someday, but today. The moment you choose to take decisive action, your future starts to shift. Fundamental transformation requires more than good intentions; it demands purposeful steps rooted in proven wisdom and faithfulness.
Everyone I know is needing wisdom these days. They're seeking wisdom for job transitions, school choices for their kids, and wisdom for their relationships. Right? You probably need wisdom in some area of your life as well. Our temptation when we need wisdom is to turn to Google. I remember when one of our daughters said to me, "Mom, how did you raise us without Google?" We laughed over that. My answer was, "Your dad and I learned early in our parenting journey to get on our knees and ask God for wisdom."
I recently asked the Lord about the specifics of following Jesus, the Lamb. I am naturally prone to be independent and to take initiatives that occasionally turn into dead works, so I'm interested in having the spiritual agility to move with the cloud and to keep in step with the Spirit. Sonship is voluntary. God's Kingdom isn't built on obedience and compliance. Jesus calls us friends, sons, and family instead of servants (Jn 15:15).
Prayer is one of the most powerful forces on earth. James 5:16 (AMPC) says, "The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." Yet I've spoken to countless people who aren't satisfied with their prayer lives. They are longing for a deeper, richer, more dynamic relationship with God, but they're just not sure how to do it.
"So the Lord said to him, 'What is that in your hand?'" Exodus 4:2 (NKJV) When Moses stood trembling, unsure of himself and afraid of failure, God didn't give him a sword, an army, or a new voice. He asked a simple question: "What is that in your hand?" Moses looked down and saw a rod. Just a stick. It had no power, no glory, no worth in the eyes of Pharaoh. But God saw something else. He saw the beginning of miracles. He told Moses to throw it down, and when he did, it became a serpent.
There is a heightened sense of spiritual warfare and opposition in the atmosphere that seems to be escalating within the past few weeks. In the midst of all the chaos, confusion, and turmoil in the world right now, Jesus is saying "Peace Be Still." People are panicking and wondering what is going to happen next, but I hear the Holy Spirit whispering "Be Still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."
Follow Up
