During the apostle Paul's second missionary journey, he was determined to go from the Galatian region to a place called Bithynia, in what is now northern Turkey, near the Black Sea. There was nothing wrong with Paul going to that place—the people there needed the gospel. And yet Acts16:7 says: "…they were trying to go to Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them." This must have been frustrating. The fire of the Holy Spirit burned in Paul. He wanted to tell more Gentiles about the salvation of Jesus. But the Spirit put on the brakes.
Our words have the power to build up and encourage others. However, they also have the power to tear others down. This is why the writer of Proverbs wrote, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21b). But what does that mean? The truth is, you will either bear the fruit of encouraging others and enjoying great relationships with them, or you will suffer the consequences of the harsh words you speak. The lesson for those of us who want to enjoy close relationships is to speak life to those we love.
Life is filled with moments that test our faith. We pray, wait, and sometimes wonder if God is listening. Yet, Scripture reveals a profound truth: God desires to move on our behalf, but He also calls us to take responsibility and step forward in faith. From the beginning, God has demonstrated His willingness to intervene in our lives. He is not distant or indifferent—He is actively working to bring about His promises. When the Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea, terrified by Pharaoh's advancing army, their cries reached God.
The thought that comes to mind is a meme often seen on social media that reads, "But first, coffee." I write it with a smile. I wake up gradually. I need all the help I can get before interacting with the world. The coffee, the quiet, the gentle rituals—they help ease me into presence. All joking aside, beneath every morning routine and every breath we take, two core questions reside within us. We instinctively ask them, though the noise of life often distracts us from hearing the answers. Most demands are loud and urgent. They expect our full attention, allowing little space for stillness. But first things must come first.
Christians often say that they feel "led" to do something, meaning that they think or sense that the Holy Spirit is leading them in a particular direction. Yet many struggle to discern whether it's truly Gods voice or just their own thoughts and desires. Being led by the Holy Spirit is being in tune with Him. The Lord desires for every believer to be led by the Holy Spirit. He wants to make His voice known and is releasing revelation to those who are positioned to hear it.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33 I'm sure you want the Lord to manifest Himself as the God of peace when you are fearful. So let's go deeper into what the "God of peace" means. Don't forget that Paul was Jewish, so when he said, "the God of peace be with you," he was saying "Jehovah Shalom be with you." "Jehovah Shalom" is Hebrew for "the God of peace." Now, the first appearance of the name Jehovah Shalom is in the Old Testament story of Gideon in Judges 6.
When it comes to operating in the principles of the Kingdom, Jesus gave us valuable information. In Mark chapter 11, verse 23, He tells us how to remove a mountain of adversity from your life. First, He tells us to have faith in God. "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;' and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith..."
What is it that "lights your fire"? What thought is it that awakens you in the morning more vibrantly than does your unwelcome alarm clock? What desire is it that causes you to jump out of bed with purpose and with passion? What is your final thought in the evening before you drift off into a sleep that is brimming with dreams of all that is possible simply because you have been given the gift of life? What is it that causes you to suck in another breath, to live another day, to move beyond the mundane toward the meaningful?
In this fallen world, the enemy attacks relationships, and unhealthy relations can create unhealthy soul ties–an unholy dependence and connection to a person that leads to bondage. Yet, we were each created with a deep capacity and need for a holy connection, reflecting God's design and desire for us to be in communion with Him and community with others–healthy and holy soul ties. Discover what unhealthy soul ties are, how they form, and how to break them off so you can live in freedom. As you tie your mind, will, and emotions to Jesus, joy will follow and equip you to establish godly boundaries out of love, creating healthy, enjoyable relationships.
We've all had a great idea or dream that ignited the desires of our heart. We pursued it with our time, talent, and treasure. But in the end, it didn't work, and in hindsight, it was obvious God wasn't in it. It wasn't just a personal failure, it revealed something missing in our relationship with God. Why did he allow this disaster when it all seemed so right? That collection of mishaps is not as damaging as success. Failures tend to clean our ears so we can hear the Spirit of Wisdom. Success is prone to lead to deafness, an I-have-need-of-nothing mindset. One is humble, receptive, teachable; the other is arrogant, independent, and self-ish.
