I once read an intriguing excerpt from a book; paraphrasing, it says: "A very prosperous and divided nation is about to implode. Many hold to a form of godliness but deny the true God. As drunkenness and addiction spiral out of control, sexual sin and perversion have captivated the minds of millions." It continued: "Marriages are crumbling, families deteriorating, and children are suffering. There is little hope for justice when oppression and abuse run rampant. The cry goes out, 'Is there any hope'?
The true active Church (global) that we know today is going to face some changes. The ones who are working to maintain it and increase it for His Glory are doing well. But not all churches are doing that! Some have slacked off, some have gotten into wrong doctrine, and some are just dying off. Some have gone on to Glory, which is to their benefit, but some have just gotten lazy and complacent and let "others" just do it for them. They will toss in some money gifts, but pretty much let all the others do the work!
What does it mean to be spiritually disciplined? In short, spiritual disciplines are the habits and patterns you walk in that produce spiritual maturity and growth. Yet not all spiritual disciplines are created equal. Many spiritual disciplines have been misused, hindering the growth and life they were intended to bring. As Jesus taught, we must discern people and practices by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). The fruit of true spiritual discipline is holy transformation–becoming more alive, more whole, more purposeful, and more like Jesus. They are habits and patterns that produce spiritual maturity and growth. They feed your faith and starve your fears.
The Lord is looking for people who are desperate for Him. Some of you are like Elisha, who slaughtered his yoke of oxen, burned his plowing equipment, and cooked the meat to feed the people, then set out to follow Elijah. The Lord says, "I will honor your sacrifice." Others are like Jacob, who wrestled with the angel saying, "I won't let you go until you bless me." The Lord says: Your perseverance will be rewarded. And some are like Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree just to see Jesus walk by. The Lord says, "I will come to your house today to visit you."
John 10:10 has been a favorite scripture of mine for many years now. It says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]" (AMP). This verse opened my eyes to the truth that Jesus gave His life so I could have a good life now, here in this world, and not just when I go to heaven someday. But the question was: How can I actually have an abundant life in Christ. There were many years when I was a Christian, yet I struggled and strived much of the time to live the way Jesus teaches us to live in God's Word.
Here is the great reversal, the truth that changes everything. Your mind tells you that life is about figuring it out, getting as much information and knowledge as possible so you can finally understand and control your experience. Your heart whispers you something entirely different which is that you need to discover what is already within you. The mind shouts stay in control. The heart invites you to trust and release. The mind drives you to build your own salvation plan by trying to get it right every time. The heart shows you that wholeness is already present and you just need to wake up to see it.
There's a phrase that echoes through both American history and the human soul: "the better angels of our nature." Jon Meacham revisits it in The Soul of America, drawing from Abraham Lincoln's appeal during one of the nation's most divided moments. Meacham's point is not naive optimism. It's a sober recognition that we are always capable of our worst instincts: fear, division, self-preservation, but we are also capable of something higher. The "better angels" are not automatic. They must be chosen, summoned, embodied. History does not drift toward justice on its own; it moves when people decide to live from their highest values instead of their lowest fears.
Throughout Scripture, God is revealed as one who is forever on the move. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord is consistently portrayed as advancing toward a divine and Glorious destination—the conclusion of His transcendent Plan. His triumph, already secured at the Cross, is approaching its fullness. Psalm 68 makes a notable and remarkable statement: "They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary."
Across history, societies drift when truth is compromised and leaders pursue power over righteousness. The biblical warnings found in Micah, Nahum, and the legacy of Omri reveal a pattern of generational compromise that can shape cultures and nations. Yet Scripture also points to another path of spiritual and moral awakening. In a time when America stands at a crossroads, the call remains the same: return to God, renew the heart of the Church, and awaken compassion in our communities.
In a dream the other night, I was watching a gathering where a woman was beginning to lead worship. She was describing her situation which was bleak and dry. I saw a rock sticking out of the ground as she described a hardness of soil and things not going well. And yet in spite of this, she began to speak of her faith in God and her unwavering hope in His promise to come through. She was standing alone, and yet her faith was resolute in a God that would not let her down. She began to weep and I woke up feeling the depth of her cry in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation.
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