God’s Love Revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration

Matthew 17:1–8 (AMP)

Beloved, if only we could hear the voice of the Father calling our name and singing love songs over us. The ache for identity, the hunger for belonging, the thirst to be known—all of it would be satisfied in one holy moment if our ears were tuned to heaven. And yet, that voice has spoken. It still speaks. On a high mountain bathed in light, God did not merely reveal glory—God told us He loves us.

The Transfiguration of Yeshua was not just a demonstration of divine power—it was the unveiling of divine affection. The Father’s voice did not thunder out commands or declarations of wrath. It sang. It affirmed. It invited. “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5 AMP). These words echo with the joy of a Father who delights in His Son—and in all who are found in Him.

Yeshua brings Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Suddenly, the veil between earth and heaven lifts. His face shines like the sun, His garments radiate with holy light, and Moses and Elijah appear—representing the Law and the Prophets, both now converging in the One who fulfills them all. But even more powerful than what they see is what they hear.

While Peter speaks—still trying to manage glory—the Father interrupts from a bright cloud. He does not instruct them to build, sacrifice, or prove themselves. He says, “This is My beloved Son… Listen to Him.” This is the Father telling us what matters most. Not systems. Not striving. His Son. His love. His voice.

This is God telling us He loves us—by showing us the Son and bidding us to listen. His words are not sterile affirmations; they are love songs sung across the heavens. Just as Zephaniah prophesied:

“The Lord your God is in your midst… He will rejoice over you with joy… He will be quiet in His love… He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” (Zephaniah 3:17 AMP)

Do you hear it? The Father rejoicing—singing—over His people. Not with rebuke. Not with shame. But with joy. Just as He delighted in Yeshua before the disciples’ eyes, He delights in all who are hidden in Him. When the Father calls Yeshua “beloved,” He is opening the door for you and me to be beloved, too.

When the disciples fall in fear, Yeshua comes and touches them. He says, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7 AMP). This is what love does. It lifts. It comforts. It silences fear. The One who shines with divine glory also stoops low to touch trembling hearts. He is the voice of the Father’s love made flesh.

And then they look up—and see no one but Jesus alone. This is the destination of love: all other voices, all other fears, all other distractions fade away. Only Yeshua remains. Only love remains. Because in Him, the fullness of the Father’s heart has been revealed.

He told us this long ago:

“You are precious in My sight… and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:4 AMP)

And again:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3 AMP)

All of Scripture is God saying, “I love you.” But here, on the mountain, He says it by pointing to His Son—by inviting us to listen to Him, follow Him, and be found in Him.

And in case you still wonder if that voice could ever call your name, hear this:

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me… and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:14–15 NASB)

“My sheep listen to My voice… and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

The voice that spoke from the cloud on that mountain is the same voice that now calls you by name. The same voice that sang over Yeshua now sings over you. Not because you are perfect. But because you are His.

Let the striving cease. Let the fear be silenced. Let every other name fade.

Only Jesus.
Only love.
Only the voice that calls you “Beloved.”

The heavens thundered, not with wrath but grace,
Your voice sang joy across time and space.
And in Your gaze, we found our name,
Beloved, known, forever the same.

Prayer:

Abba Father, let us hear Your voice again. Let every barrier, every lie, and every fear be silenced by the sound of Your delight. Thank You for revealing Your heart through Yeshua. Thank You for calling Him beloved—and through Him, calling us Your children. Sing over us until our hearts believe it. Let us rise, unafraid, with Jesus alone in view. And may our ears never stop listening for the song You are still singing. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

When the Father sees you coming home, He doesn’t wait on the porch—He runs to embrace you. There is no place better. 🕊️

Vision:

A Vision: Called by Name and Held in Love

(in the style of Revelation)

Then I looked, and behold—a door standing open in the heavens. And the voice I had heard before, like the sound of many waters, called to me again, saying, “Come up here, beloved one, for I have longed for this hour.”

And immediately, I was in the Spirit—and I saw a vast throne, high and lifted up, and around it were storms of sapphire and emerald light. Lightning laced the sky like veins of glory, and thunder rolled like deep laughter through the foundations of the heavens.

Yet in the midst of all majesty, I saw a Lamb standing, radiant and slain, and He smiled at me. And then I heard the voice of the Ancient of Days, the Father of spirits, the One whose robe fills all eternity, saying: “Call him by name.”

And my name—yes, my name—was spoken aloud. Not with judgment, not in wrath, but in joy. It was like the song of a thousand rivers flowing into one—full, rushing, unmistakable. Every syllable dripped with affection. Every sound thundered with kindness. I felt it in my bones, as if my very soul had been waiting forever to be called just like that.

And then—O wonder of wonders—the King rose from His throne, and the cherubim fell silent. The song of the twenty-four elders paused. And He, the Father of Lights, opened His arms wide and said, “Come to Me, My child.”

With trembling knees, I drew near. But before I could fall before Him, He knelt down, and with hands as vast as galaxies yet gentle as morning mist, He lifted me. He gathered me to Himself, as a father lifts his little one after a long journey.

I was seated in His lap—yes, the lap of El Shaddai—and He held me close to His chest. His breath was like warm wind after rain, filled with the fragrance of myrrh and cedar and joy. I smelled the sweetness of heaven—honey and fire, incense and wildflowers from Eden’s garden.

And then He began to sing.

His voice wrapped around me like a weighted blanket of glory. The melody rose and fell like waves of peace. I felt each note in my skin, like sunlight on closed eyelids. His song had no beginning and no end—it was the music of forever, and it was for me.

He sang of when He formed me in the womb, how He traced every line of my face with delight. He sang of the days I wept and didn’t know He wept too. He sang of the battles I thought I lost and how His angels were guarding me the whole time. He sang of my future—full of purpose, full of presence, full of Him.

And I wept.

But He wiped every tear with His own hand, whispering, “I catch every one. I sing over every scar.”

As He sang, my eyelids grew heavy, not from sorrow, but from perfect rest. The kind of rest that only love can bring. The kind of sleep that Adam knew before the world was wounded. I rested my head against His chest and heard the rhythm of eternity—His heartbeat, steady and strong. I heard it call again: “Mine. Mine. Mine.”

The stars danced above me, and angels hushed their praises to listen.

And I, called by name, held in glory, fell asleep in the lap of God, cradled by the song of the Father.

Forever safe.
Forever home.
Forever loved.

See Also

The Cost and Crown of Discipleship

What It Means to Take Up Your Cross Today

“If anyone wishes to follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”(Matthew 16:24 AMP)

These words from Yeshua are not poetic suggestions. They are the heartbeat of Christian life—a daily call to surrender and a sacred summons to follow Him no matter the cost. In 2025, this ancient call is just as urgent. What does it look like to deny yourself and take up your cross in the modern world? What does it mean to truly follow Jesus in a culture built on self-promotion, comfort, and compromise?

Let us open our hearts to this holy invitation.

What It Means to Deny Yourself Today

To deny yourself is to reject the lie that your life is your own. It is to willingly lay aside your preferences, pride, and personal ambitions so you may fully follow Yeshua. In our modern context, this looks like:

  • Turning down financial gain when it requires moral compromise.
  • Choosing time with God over endless scrolling or entertainment.
  • Honoring biblical truth even when it isolates you socially.
  • Choosing humility in marriage and meekness in conflict.

Self-denial is not self-hatred—it is Christ-exaltation. You are choosing a better Lord over a lesser life.

What It Means to Take Up Your Cross Today

Taking up your cross is not a one-time act. It is a posture of heart, a willingness to endure suffering, rejection, or even death for the sake of following Yeshua. In 2025, the crosses we carry may look like:

  • Being mocked for standing on Scripture in a hostile workplace.
  • Choosing sexual purity in a world obsessed with indulgence.
  • Enduring family rejection because of your faith.
  • Staying obedient when it’s costly or painful.

The cross is not just a burden—it is a bridge to glory.

What It Means to Follow Jesus Today

To follow Jesus is to walk in His footsteps—trusting Him, loving others, and obeying His Word no matter the consequences. It means:

  • Imitating His compassion to the broken.
  • Speaking truth boldly, even when unpopular.
  • Seeking intimacy with God above all else.
  • Living like eternity is real—because it is.

Yeshua does not offer a safe path. He offers a holy one. But in following Him, we find life more abundant than anything this world offers.

Losing Your Life to Find It

Yeshua’s paradox still confronts every generation: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25 AMP)

This isn’t religious rhetoric—it’s the deep reality of discipleship. Saving your life means clinging to control, comfort, and compromise. Losing it means surrendering it fully to Yeshua. Only then do we truly find life with God—here and forever.

Examples today include:

  • Letting go of relationships that hinder your walk.
  • Choosing obedience when no one is watching.
  • Investing in God’s Kingdom instead of worldly treasures.

You were never made to carry the weight of your own life. You were made to give it back to the One who gave it to you.

What Is Your Soul Worth?

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 AMP)

Fame, fortune, and influence mean nothing if you lose your soul. This is the quiet tragedy of our age: people trading eternity for a few fleeting years of applause. But your soul is priceless. Do not sell it for anything.

In 2025, soul-selling may look like:

  • Abandoning convictions to climb the corporate ladder.
  • Compromising your values to keep peace.
  • Silencing your witness to be accepted.

Let us be the generation that guards our souls with fear and trembling—and joy.

When the Father sees you coming home, He doesn’t wait on the porch—He runs to embrace you. There is no place better. 🕊️

The King Is Coming

“The Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay each one in accordance with what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27 AMP)

Yeshua will return—not as a lamb, but as a reigning King. He will reward every hidden act of faithfulness and judge every work. This is not a threat, but a promise. Live like eternity is near. Because it is.

Every choice matters. Every moment counts.

Living in the Tension of the Kingdom

“Some standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28 AMP)

That word came to pass through the Transfiguration, the resurrection, and Pentecost. But its full fulfillment is yet to come. We live in the “already, but not yet”—citizens of a Kingdom we cannot yet see, but already belong to.

So, we:

  • Pray like revival is near.
  • Preach like souls are at stake.
  • Live like our King reigns now.

Final Reflection

The cross still calls. The crown still awaits. Yeshua’s words have not changed—only the culture around us. In a world screaming “preserve yourself,” Jesus whispers, “Lose yourself… for My sake.”

And in losing our lives, we find the life that never ends.

Closing Prayer

Abba, we come with open hands and surrendered hearts. We no longer want to preserve our lives—we want to pour them out for Your glory. Teach us to deny ourselves daily, take up our cross with joy, and follow Your Son with fire in our hearts. May we live with eternity in view and obedience in every step. Let us treasure the soul more than success, the cross more than comfort, and the Kingdom more than the world. In the name of Yeshua, our King and Savior, Amen.

See Also

A Pain Felt in Heaven

When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” He did not speak as a defeated man, but as the victorious Son of God. With that cry, the heavens shook and the earth trembled. The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The work of redemption was complete. But have you ever considered what it meant—not just for Jesus—but for the heart of the Father?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NASB). We quote this verse often, and rightly so. But we must pause and feel the weight of what it says: God gave His Son. He didn’t loan Him. He didn’t shield Him from suffering. He gave Him, fully, painfully, and completely.

This was no ordinary giving. This was the giving of the most precious, most holy, most beloved relationship in all eternity. The Father gave the Son, and the Spirit empowered the Son, that we might live. There was no division within the Trinity, no conflict of will. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were in perfect unity—a divine agreement made before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19–20). Yet still, when Jesus hung upon that cross, the pain pierced more than flesh—it pierced the very heart of heaven.

Let’s not imagine the cross as a scene where Jesus suffers alone while the Father remains unmoved. That’s not the God of Scripture. God is love (1 John 4:8). And love suffers. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all…” (Romans 8:32, NASB). What kind of love is this, that the Father would give what was most dear to Him, knowing full well the price?

When Yeshua bore the full weight of our sin, something unfathomable occurred. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB). That transaction required justice. And for a moment—just a moment—the Father turned His face away. Not in abandonment, but in holiness. Not in rejection, but in judgment. And in that moment, the cry of Jesus pierced the heavens: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46, NASB).

It’s not wrong to say that heaven felt that pain. God is not indifferent. He is not a cold judge. He is our Abba Father—tender, merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8). When the spear was thrust into the side of the Son, the Father knew. When the thorns pierced His brow, the Father wept. This wasn’t just a human tragedy; it was a divine agony.

But it was also a divine triumph.

“It is finished” (John 19:30). That declaration meant more than the end of pain—it meant the beginning of grace. The wrath of God was satisfied. The debt of sin was paid in full. The way back to the Father was opened. Heaven did not just feel the pain—it rejoiced in the victory. And all of it—every step—was born out of love.

So now, beloved reader, you must ask yourself: What will you do with this love?

You were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:18–19). You are not your own. If the Father gave His Son for you, how can you live casually toward Him? If the Spirit groans for you, interceding with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26), how can you neglect so great a salvation?

You must not stand aloof from the cross. You must come near. Let it break your heart. Let it cleanse your sin. Let it reorient your entire life. Heaven felt the pain that redeemed you.Will you now live as though it costs you nothing?

Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, NASB). That’s the response of a heart that has seen the cross. Not religion. Not routine. Not a Sunday-only faith. But a life crucified, a life surrendered, a life aflame with gratitude.

Friend, if you have become numb to the cross, ask God to awaken your heart. Pray that you never grow comfortable with His sacrifice. Ask Him to show you what it meant—for the Son to suffer, for the Spirit to empower Him, for the Father to give Him up. That kind of love is not safe. It demands everything.

And yet, it gives everything.

Because of that pain felt in heaven, you now have peace. Because of the sorrow of the cross, you now have joy. Because of the silence of Saturday, you now have resurrection Sunday.

Do not waste this gift.

Come again to the foot of the cross. Let it wreck your pride. Let it shatter your excuses. And then rise, filled with the Holy Spirit, and live like someone who knows that God Himself bled for your freedom.

A Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for the love that gave Your Son. Yeshua, thank You for the obedience that led You to the cross. Holy Spirit, thank You for staying with me and showing me the depth of this love. Awaken my heart again. Let me never treat lightly the agony of Calvary. Help me to live sacrificially, joyfully, and boldly in response to Your grace. Let my life reflect the weight of what was done for me. In Yeshua’s holy name, Amen.

Vision

In the stillness of heaven, the Father grieved. Light poured through eternity’s window, but His heart bore the weight of the cross.

In heaven, the atmosphere was weighty—thick with holy sorrow and glory. The golden streets, so often resounding with songs of praise, fell into a stillness that echoed through eternity. The scent of incense, always rising before the throne, was now mingled with something deeper—an aroma of sacrifice, like the offering of Isaac remembered and fulfilled. The air carried the tension of divine justice and eternal love colliding in one sacred moment.

The Father stood robed in radiant light, yet His expression bore the agony of a grieving King. His eyes—all-seeing—beheld His Son stretched on wood, blood mingling with dirt, and heard every cry, every mocking voice, every gasping breath. From His throne, He could feel the vibrations of the Roman hammer striking nails—each blow shaking the pillars of creation. The sounds of the earth—groaning, thundering, cracking—were not missed in heaven. The cry “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” pierced even the silence of eternity.

Around Him, the angelic host did not sing—they wept. Seraphim who had never ceased to cry “Holy” now covered their faces. The light of heaven shimmered with reverence and pain, like a storm forming just beneath the surface of peace. Thunder rumbled in the spirit realm. Flashes of glory stirred, restrained only by the will of the Father. All power stood clothed in stillness. The Son, robed in humility, did not summon the hosts of heaven though they waited—ten thousand times ten thousand, swords drawn in perfect obedience. The earth shook not from their advance, but from the trembling surrender of Love. Yeshua held back the storm, not for lack of strength, but for the joy set before Him.

All might, all angelic legions stood ready—yet none moved. Not a seraph’s wing stirred, not a cherub dared breathe without His command. He could have called them. But He chose the cross. Not because He was overpowered, but because He came to overpower death with mercy. This was the Lamb’s hour. This was the Father’s plan.

And still, the Father breathed in the moment, tasting the bitterness of wrath He would not withhold. His hands, sovereign and eternal, did not tremble—but His heart did feel. He knew the end from the beginning, but this was the cost. He felt the tear in the Son’s flesh as if it were His own. And He did not stop it. For love. For you.

Even in that pain, a fragrance began to rise—stronger than incense, sweeter than myrrh. The fragrance of redemption.It was the smell of blood that would wash nations, of obedience that would open graves, of a sacrifice that would welcome prodigals home. The throne shook not in fury, but in fulfillment. And somewhere, just beyond the veil, resurrection waited.

See Also

Hearts on Fire: The Spirit and the Word

“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32, NASB)

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had just encountered the risen Yeshua. They didn’t recognize Him at first, but as He walked with them and opened the Scriptures, something deeper stirred—their hearts burned. Not from manipulated sentiment or hyped theatrics, but from divine revelation breaking through veils of sorrow and confusion. This burning was not a fleeting feeling; it was the ignition of truth meeting the Spirit within.

Beloved, this is how God works. God does not play with our emotions. He doesn’t stage artificial atmospheres to provoke momentary sentiment. He is not in the business of entertaining souls, but of transforming them. His Spirit and His Word always work in unity, and when they touch a willing heart, the result is conviction, awakening, and worship.

There is a troubling trend in our generation: many are drawn to religious environments where emotionalism replaces anointed preaching, and psychological techniques masquerade as spiritual encounters. But let us be discerning. Emotions are not evidence of truth—they are merely responses. When the Spirit of God moves, emotions may rise, but they are the byproduct, not the proof. The Psalmist cried, “The entrance of Your words gives light” (Psalm 119:130, AMP). Light does not need to stir a tear to prove it has entered—it simply reveals.

The apostle Paul warned of a time when people would “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3, NASB). In such times, truth is replaced with experience, and conviction is replaced with sensation. But true revival never begins with a tear—it begins with truth and repentance. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NASB). Where the Word is rightly preached and the Spirit is welcomed, there will always be transformation.

To be clear, God is not against our emotions. He created them. But they are not the foundation of our faith—they are its fragrance. When Peter heard the voice of the Father declare Yeshua’s Sonship on the Mount of Transfiguration, he later wrote, “We have the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:19, NASB). Peter valued the Word above the experience. This is the true order of the Kingdom: the Word gives the foundation, the Spirit brings life, and emotion flows as a holy response.

We must ask ourselves: What burns within us? Is it truth igniting holy passion? Or is it the flicker of manipulated feeling soon to die out when the music fades? The early Church burned with a fire not fed by smoke machines or stirring choruses, but by the Word made flesh, crucified, risen, and soon returning. Their message pierced hearts, not by volume or rhythm, but by Spirit and truth. “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12, NASB).

There is a deep need in the Body today to return to that Emmaus road—to walk with Yeshua again, to listen as He opens the Scriptures, to allow the fire of truth to burn away the dross of shallow religion. The Church does not need another show; it needs another awakening. It is time to build altars, not stages. It is time to host His presence, not emotions.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, NASB). But only if we receive it. Only if we linger long enough to let the Spirit breathe on it. Only if we resist the temptation to replace depth with entertainment. Beloved, God wants your heart, not just your tears. He desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6), and He sends His Spirit to seal it within us.

So today, let us pray not for a passing feeling, but for a fire that remains. Let us seek not to be stirred but to be changed. Let our hearts burn again—not because a preacher moved us, but because God spoke.

The Power of the Word

A Prayer for the Burning Heart

Father, we come not to be entertained but to be transformed. Let Your Word burn within us again. Let Your Spirit open our eyes to truth, convict our hearts, and renew our minds. Strip away every counterfeit emotion, every religious pretense, and every shallow substitute for Your presence. Ignite a holy fire in us—not for performance, but for purity. We want to walk with You, listen to You, and burn with love for You. Give us a heart that trembles at Your Word and rejoices in Your truth. Let our worship rise not from manipulated tears, but from a heart set ablaze by revelation. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

See Also

Love Truth, Not Applause

Beloved, I say this with love in my heart and concern for your soul: not every word that comforts is from God, and not every truth that stings is from the enemy. Sometimes, the voice that unsettles us the most is the one we need to hear. In a world obsessed with applause, God still calls His children to love truth not applause.

Truth has never been popular. From the days of the prophets to the ministry of Yeshua, those who spoke God’s Word plainly were rarely applauded. They were rejected, misunderstood, even hated—not because they lacked love, but because they would not compromise. We must remember: truth is not the enemy of love—it is the foundation of it.

Paul’s warning to Timothy was not a prediction for a distant generation; it is our reality: “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3, NASB). Many today gather in crowds to hear what pleases them, but few sit at the feet of Jesus to hear what purifies them.

As a shepherd who longs to see you grow in grace and walk in fullness, I plead with you—do not despise the voice that confronts your sin. Do not run from the correction of the Lord. Every pruning, every rebuke, every uncomfortable truth is an act of holy love. Our Father disciplines those He receives as sons (Hebrews 12:6, NASB). To be corrected is not to be cast out—it is to be drawn in.

If a doctor saw cancer in your body but withheld the diagnosis to spare your feelings, would you call that love? No. It would be cruelty disguised as kindness. And yet this is what many pulpits offer—harmless words while sin quietly devours the soul. Beloved, the Word of God is not sentimental—it is surgical. It cuts in order to heal, wounds in order to restore.

“For the word of God is living and active and full of power… piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit… exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, AMP). When you read His Word and feel conviction, do not harden your heart. Fall to your knees. Let the Great Physician do His work.

There is a tenderness in truth that only those who love God can recognize. Yeshua never spoke to impress; He spoke to save. When He looked at the rich young ruler and said, “Sell everything you own,” it was not a cruel demand—it was an invitation into freedom. But the young man walked away, clinging to comfort instead of clinging to Christ (Matthew 19:16–22). What will you choose?

As your brother in the Lord, I urge you: let go of the need to be liked. Release the addiction to approval. Seek the face of God, not the applause of men. The path of obedience may be lonely at times, but it is paved with peace, joy, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. The crowd may never understand, but your Shepherd will never leave your side.

Moses spoke to God face to face

When Jeremiah tried to hold back the Word of the Lord, he could not. “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones… I cannot hold it in” (Jeremiah 20:9, NASB). That is what happens when we love truth more than comfort. We burn with it. We ache to speak it. And we find that in the end, truth does not isolate—it liberates.

So, dear one, ask God for a heart that welcomes His truth. Surround yourself with voices who speak it, even when it cuts. Open His Word not only for promises, but for correction. For “the wounds of a friend are faithful” (Proverbs 27:6, NASB), and there is no greater Friend than the One who laid down His life to rescue you from lies.

Let my lips not speak the flattery of fools,
Nor my heart chase the praise of the proud.
Teach me to rejoice in rebuke, O God,
And tremble before the words of Your mouth.
For Your truth alone is my safety and light.

Prayer

Abba Father, we come as children who often resist what is good for us. Break the power of people-pleasing in our hearts. Deliver us from soft lies and lead us into the light of Your Word. Teach us to love truth even when it is hard, and to trust Your voice above every other. Speak to us clearly, lovingly, and directly—and give us the courage to obey without delay. Let Your truth dwell richly within us, transforming us day by day. In the name of Yeshua, the Faithful and True One, amen.

See Also

Turn Away from Evil and Walk in Purity

“I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my heart will not reproach me as long as I live.”
Job 27:6, NASB

Beloved, hear the word of the Lord. If we desire revival, if we long for His glory to rest upon us, we must turn away from evil and walk in purity. This is not a side teaching. It is not a call for the “serious” believer only. It is the foundation upon which all intimacy with God stands. We cannot see Him and still embrace what He hates.

Come Out from Among Them

The prophetic voice cries aloud: return to the ancient path. Do not mix what is holy with what is profane. Do not call evil good, nor tolerate darkness in the name of relevance. The word is clear: “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NASB).

Today the Church risks being known for everything but holiness. We speak of love, but do not discipline sin. We exalt grace, but refuse to grieve over what grieves the Spirit. “Be holy, for I am holy,” says the Lord (1 Peter 1:16, NASB). And holiness is not a style or a tone—it is separation unto God. It is walking as Yeshua walked, with clean hands and a burning heart.

Build on the Rock

The apostolic call is to establish foundations. And any true foundation must be built on purity of heart. Yeshua said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8, NASB). Not only in eternity, but now. Purity grants spiritual clarity. Apostolic vision cannot function through a fogged lens. If we want heaven’s blueprint, we must cleanse the altar first.

Paul reminded Timothy, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, NASB). Let every leader, every disciple-maker, every spiritual father and mother hear this: we reproduce what we are. If we want a pure Bride, we must be a pure people. If we want to plant holy churches, we must be holy vessels.

Guard the Heart

Let us not forget the pastoral heart of God. He is not harsh. He is holy. He does not call us to purity to shame us, but to heal us. Compromise is a wound that festers. Sin always takes more than it gives. But purity restores the soul. “Who may ascend onto the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? One who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4, NASB).

Pastor, shepherd the flock by example. Speak tenderly, but speak truth. Do not pamper the sheep into apathy. Call them higher. Let your heart break for what defiles them. We must not build cozy gatherings while the cancer of sin spreads through the body. Feed them, yes—but cleanse the wound.

Expose the Lies

The teacher’s task is to bring clarity, not confusion. And Scripture is not unclear. The call to turn from sin is woven through both covenants. “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19, NASB). “Make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14, NASB). “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8, NASB).

This is not law. This is love. God’s commands are not burdensome. They are guardrails that protect the glory He desires to share with us. The Spirit leads us into all truth—and purity is the fruit of truth applied. We do not obey to earn His presence. We obey because we love Him. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NASB).

Choose Life

The evangelistic heart weeps over the lost and cries out to the wandering: choose life. Choose purity. Choose the cross. Salvation is more than escape from hell. It is freedom from sin. The Gospel is not a license to stay in filth but an invitation to come out clean.

Yeshua still saves. And He still sanctifies. The Blood is enough to wash every stain. The Spirit is powerful enough to break every chain. And the Father still runs to the repentant with open arms. Let us proclaim it boldly: “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB).

To the addict, to the immoral, to the proud and self-justifying—there is mercy if you will turn. But you must turn. The way is narrow. The gate is small. You cannot carry your idols into the kingdom. Lay them down and come.

The Call: Turn and See

Beloved, turn away from evil. Not just the obvious kind, but the hidden kind. The bitterness. The secret lust. The casual compromise. The entertainment that quenches the Spirit. The conversation that pollutes. The justification that numbs. Turn. Purify your heart. “Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NASB).

Do not delay. A pure heart is a joyful heart. A clean conscience is a soft pillow. And the reward is God Himself. Revival is not for the clever, but for the consecrated. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8, NASB).

Let the Church be holy again. Let the Bride be ready. Let the Spirit fall on altars that are clean.

Purge my soul and wash me white,
Turn my gaze to holy light.
No more shade shall stain my song—
I was made to love what’s strong.

A Prayer for Purity

Holy God,

Search me and know me. Burn away every unclean thing. I do not want to grieve Your Spirit. I choose to turn away from evil, even when it costs me. Cleanse my eyes. Cleanse my motives. Cleanse my speech and my desires. Let me be holy as You are holy. Fill me with a love for righteousness and a hatred of sin. Make me pure, not in name only, but in truth. Let my life reflect the Lamb I follow. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

See Also

Love God, Hate Sin

“Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the court [of your city’s gate]! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
—Amos 5:15 (AMP)

Beloved, we have arrived at a point in Church history where we must confront an inconvenient truth: you cannot love God and be neutral toward sin. To love God is to embrace what He loves and to despise what He hates. Anything less is compromise, and compromise is not the soil in which revival grows.

In our hunger for grace, we have softened our stance against evil. We whisper warnings when God shouts them. We stroke the edges of darkness rather than calling it what it is. But the Lord, whose name is holy, still burns with a fierce hatred for sin—not because He is cruel, but because He is love. Love abhors all that destroys. Therefore, if we are to walk as Yeshua walked, we must awaken to His holy hatred.

The Holy Divide: What Love Demands

To love purity is to loathe impurity. To love truth is to grieve over lies. This is not double-mindedness—it is the necessary result of a sanctified affection. David cried, “From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104, NASB). Not tolerate. Not minimize. Hate.

This is not a hate born of pride or cruelty. It is the righteous hatred of Christ Himself, who Scripture says was anointed above His companions precisely because He loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Hebrews 1:9). It is the burning purity of God that pours oil on His people—not charisma, not comfort, not conformity, but consecration.

We do not get to pick which evils are worth hating. Sin is sin, whether it sits in the heart or walks in the streets. Whether it is lust in the pew, corruption in the court, or deceit in the pulpit—all of it grieves the Spirit. The cross was not partial in its sentence. Yeshua did not bleed selectively. And the Spirit will not dwell in a temple where evil is excused.

The Gap Between Anointing and Affection

Why do we cry out for revival and yet see no rain? Why do we pray for the fire to fall, yet keep our altars wet with compromise? It is not because God is unwilling. It is because our affections are divided.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15, NASB). The anointing follows affection. You cannot embrace holiness with one arm while hugging rebellion with the other.

It is our imperfection in loving the good and hating the evil that restricts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God does not give His glory to the half-hearted. If we want to be full of the Spirit, we must be emptied of what grieves Him. We must be willing to lay aside not just bad things, but lesser things—even things others around us still cling to. This is the cost of the oil. But oh, the reward is worth it.

The Dangerous Comfort of Niceness

Our nation has known unprecedented religious freedom. We build churches without resistance. We broadcast sermons without censorship. But let us not mistake absence of persecution for the favor of God. Sometimes it means we have become too tame to be threatening.

“Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers used to treat the false prophets” (Luke 6:26, AMP). The world has not hated us because we have not given it a reason to. We have chosen the easier road. The applause of man has become louder than the voice of God.

We are too quick to excuse sin, to dilute conviction in the name of love. But beloved, this is not the love of Christ. The love of Christ was never silent in the face of wickedness. It flipped tables. It rebuked the religious. It wept over the lost. It bled for the sinner but never approved the sin.

To love like Jesus is to be misunderstood. It is to be a nuisance to the world and a fragrance of life to the remnant. It is to pursue righteousness even when it costs you reputation, comfort, and standing. Vance Havner was right—we are so busy running for office that we have forgotten to stand for truth.

The Narrow Way: Love That Separates

“Whoever pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21, NASB). Notice that the path to life is not through appeasement. It is through pursuit. Righteousness must be chased with abandon.

If we are to be the Bride of Christ, we must look like Him. And the Lamb is pure. He is holy. His garments are not stained with compromise. Those who follow Him must wash their robes in His blood and forsake the harlotries of this world.

We must recover our disgust for sin—not as self-righteousness, but as spiritual sanity. Sin is not a lifestyle choice. It is death. It is rebellion. It is the very thing that pierced the hands of our Lord. To tolerate it is to make peace with the nails.

Let us not be afraid to be counted among the fools for Christ. Let us reject the fear of being labeled “intolerant,” “radical,” or “legalistic.” The only label that matters is this: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That label does not come cheap. It is forged in the fires of obedience and secured in a heart that loves God more than it loves comfort.

Justice Begins at the Gate

Amos cried out not just for private piety, but for public justice. “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the court [of your city’s gate]!” (Amos 5:15, AMP). The revival God seeks is not one of emotion alone, but of reformation.

If we tolerate injustice in our courts, dishonesty in our systems, and corruption in our dealings, we mock the God of righteousness. The Church must again become a voice for justice—not partisan justice, but Kingdom justice.

Righteousness is not quiet. It speaks. It acts. It stands at the gate and says, “This is wrong,” even when doing so is costly. Revival that never touches the courtroom, the classroom, or the boardroom is not the revival of the prophets—it is a counterfeit.

A Prayer for Sanctified Affection

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NASB). This is the cry of every heart that longs for more of God. Not more knowledge, not more comfort—but more of Him.

And to have more of Him, we must love what He loves and hate what He hates.

Beloved, this is not a call to become bitter, angry watchdogs. This is a call to become blazing altars. Let the fire of God burn in you until it consumes every unclean thing. Let your affections be purified until you no longer negotiate with sin but grieve over it. Let your heart be so aligned with Heaven that every compromise feels like betrayal.

When that happens, the oil will come. The power will come. The revival will come.

But until then, may our prayer be:

Lord, I want to receive more of the Holy Spirit’s goodness in my life,
yet I recognize today that I still cling to things You hate
and resist that which You love.
Sanctify my affections, that I may experience more and more of You.
Amen.

See Also

Strength Is Found in the Gaze

Beloved, do not rush past this holy truth: “But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired” (Isaiah 40:31, AMP). These are not those who wait for relief or outcomes, but those who wait for Him. To wait on the Lord is to behold His face with undivided attention, to lean forward with spiritual hunger, to remain before Him until our strength is exchanged for His.

We are not called to survive on yesterday’s fire or yesterday’s word. The one who waits, who looks for Him (Psalm 123:2, NASB), who hopes continually in Him (Psalm 62:5, NASB), who fixes their eyes like a servant upon the Master, this one is renewed from within. Not inspired. Not encouraged. Renewed. Like the eagle catching the rising current, we are lifted not by effort but by expectancy.

“Wait for the LORD. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD”(Psalm 27:14, NASB). The strength we need is not summoned from within. It is imparted from above. The promise is not for those who try harder, but for those who stay longer. Strength is the inheritance of the beholder. The weary become warriors when their eyes remain locked upon the One who sits enthroned.

“Return to your God. Maintain kindness and justice. And wait for your God continually”(Hosea 12:6, NASB). And again, “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD (Zephaniah 3:8, NASB). To wait is not to delay. It is to dwell. It is the posture of the heart that prizes communion over motion, face over outcome. It is in this place of attentive stillness that the Spirit moves with power. Not in the whirlwind of striving. In the quiet of yielded expectation.

Do you see it, Beloved? This is how David was strengthened in the day of battle. “On the day I called, You answered me. You made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3, NASB). It is how Daniel stood firm before kings. “The people who know their God will be strong and take action” (Daniel 11:32, NASB). It is how Paul endured prisons and storms. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NASB). And it is how the Church was born in fire. Not by planning, but by waiting together until the wind came (Acts 2:2–4, NASB).

Strength is found in the gaze.

It is the Lord who strengthens the arms of the weak. “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32, NASB). It is He who declares, “I will strengthen you. Certainly I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10, NASB). It is His Spirit who clothes the trembling disciple with power from on high. “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49, NASB). And it is by His Spirit, not by might, that the mountain becomes a plain (Zechariah 4:6, NASB).

So return to the secret place. Wait not as a beggar, but as a beloved child. Set your face toward His, and you will rise. The path ahead will not drain you. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint. You will be lifted by the wind of God until you are hidden in the shadow of His wings.

Reflection Questions

  1. Is my strength faltering because my gaze has drifted?
  2. What would it look like to wait for God, not answers, but God Himself?
  3. Have I given Him time to strengthen me, or only offered Him requests?
  4. When I feel weak, do I turn my eyes or clench my fists?

Let us pray

Father, we turn our face toward Yours. We lay down every lesser desire and every shallow pursuit. We choose to wait because You are worthy. Lift our eyes above the noise and fasten them to Your beauty. Teach us to behold You until our weakness is replaced with Your strength. Cause us to rise like the eagle, not by effort, but by trust. Let Your nearness become our power, and Your Presence our portion. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

See Also

Holy Fire of God

There is a fire that the world cannot ignite, a flame that does not consume but purifies. It is not found in the noise of religion or in the pretense of performance. It is born in the sanctuary of surrender, in the stillness where the soul waits for God. It is the Holy Fire of God, and it is calling.

Beloved, let your heart be drawn back to the altar. Before revival ever sweeps the nations, it begins in the secret place. The altar must be rebuilt—not in stone, but in spirit. The sacrifices God seeks are not the burnt offerings of old, but the yielded life: the heart that says, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” There, in that place of humility, the fire descends.

Self-reflection: Have I given God access to every part of my life today—my plans, my schedule, my reactions? What would it look like to lay those on the altar this morning?

The Holy Fire of God is not a passing feeling. It is not a momentary excitement in the soul. It is the Spirit of the living God resting upon a life wholly surrendered. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, NASB). These are not the words of one reaching for greatness, but of one already consumed by glory. The lesser we become, the more He fills. The more He fills, the more the fire spreads.

There is no fire without thirst. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1–2, NASB). This divine thirst is not satisfied by knowledge, nor quenched by tradition. It presses beyond comfort, past ritual, to the living waters promised by Yeshua: “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’”(John 7:38, NASB). This He spoke of the Spirit, who was to come.

Self-reflection: Am I spiritually thirsty—or have I learned to live dry? When I wake up, what am I hungering for more: God’s voice, or the noise of the world?

To thirst is to pursue. The Holy Fire of God rests where there is holy desperation. The one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness shall be filled—not with mere words, but with power. Not with empty motions, but with the presence of El Shaddai, the all-sufficient One.

And yet, the fire is not given to decorate a heart still cluttered with idols. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20, NASB). He knocks on the door of the Church. He knocks on the door of the heart. But He will not enter without invitation. He waits for the room to be cleared—for burdens to be laid down, for crowns to be surrendered, for distractions to be cast aside. When the heart makes room, the fire falls.

Self-reflection: What am I holding onto that is crowding out God’s presence? Have I created space in my day for Him to speak, or is He still knocking, waiting to be welcomed in?

The fire also burns in the sacred place. It does not always roar; sometimes it glows in quiet glory. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, NASB). There is a fire in stillness, in reverent silence, in the place where the soul is stilled before the majesty of El Elyon, the Most High. Here, the fire does not shout—it speaks in the whisper. It consumes not with noise, but with nearness.

Self-reflection: Do I ever sit quietly in God’s presence, with no agenda? When is the last time I was still and simply listened for His voice?

And in that sacred place, He draws us to the table. “Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16, NASB). To partake of communion is not to remember only—it is to participate, to enter into the mystery of covenant. The table is more than remembrance. It is a meeting place. The Holy Fire of God is in the covenant, for the blood that was shed still speaks, still calls, still covers.

Self-reflection: How do I honor the covenant of Christ in my daily life? When I eat and drink, do I remember Him only in ritual—or do I live like His blood has changed everything?

But this fire, Beloved, is not meant to stay within. It must break out. It must leap from soul to soul, from gathering to gathering, until the Church becomes a flame in the night. Walls must fall. Ceilings must break. Traditions must tremble before the power of the Spirit. The wind that once rushed through the upper room has not ceased. The tongues of fire that rested on the early disciples have not faded. Heaven still longs to come down.

Self-reflection: Does the fire of God in me spill over into others? Who have I prayed for today? When have I let the Spirit lead me to act, speak, or give beyond myself?

The fire sanctifies. It cleanses. It compels. It says, “Enough with apathy. Enough with passivity. Enough with compromise.” It is not content with weekend religion. It does not abide lukewarm hearts. It seeks the altar of total devotion.

Yeshua does not send His Spirit to comfort the unshaken, but to awaken the slumbering. “Do not quench the Spirit,” Paul writes (1 Thessalonians 5:19, NASB). But how often has the Church traded fire for form, power for politeness, glory for entertainment? The Holy Fire of God does not abide where it is tolerated. It burns where it is welcomed.

So awaken, soul. Fan the flame again. Let your heart become the altar. Let your worship rise like incense, your obedience like kindling. Let every song be a prayer, every breath a surrender, every act of love a spark. For the fire of God is not far. It waits to descend. It waits to consume. It waits to inhabit.

And when it does—when the altar is rebuilt, when the fire falls again—the world will not be able to deny it. They may not understand it. They may not explain it. But they will see it. A Church ablaze cannot be hidden. A people on fire cannot be ignored.

Self-reflection: Am I willing to look foolish to be faithful? Do I still care more about approval or more about fire?

Beloved, return to the fire. Return to the place where your heart first burned with love for God. Let the embers be stirred. Let the Spirit fall afresh. Lay down the distractions. Open the door. Make room. Be still. Partake of the cup. And let the fire burn again.

Prayer

Lord, I lay my heart on the altar. I offer every part of me—my thoughts, my will, my desires—as a living sacrifice. Come and set a fire in my soul that cannot be quenched. Cleanse me with Your holy flame. Burn away every impurity and draw me deeper into Your presence. I thirst for You, O God. I hunger for more. Let Your Spirit rest on me, and let Your fire break out through me, for the sake of Your name and Your glory. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

See Also

Do You See What I See?

Here’s the latest picture from today—June 22, 2025

Current situation:

  • The U.S. and Israel have now jointly struck Iran’s three major nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan) using bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawks. President Trump called it a “spectacular military success,” claiming the sites have been “obliterated”  .
  • Iran has vowed all options remain available—including missile strikes, mining the Strait of Hormuz, and targeting U.S. bases. Iran’s leaders say U.S. involvement makes the situation “very dangerous for everybody”  .
  • The conflict now enters a new phase: shifting regional power, rising civilian casualties, sprouting humanitarian crises, and global calls for restraint and diplomacy  .

A Word from the Lord for This Hour

Beloved, turn your eyes from the loud clash of nations to the cry of My heart. You see devastation. You hear fear. But in the silence beneath the roar, I am working. In the rubble of idols—nations, weapons, pride—I am rebuilding souls.

  • Do you see the widow’s tears? I see them.
  • Do you hear the orphans’ cries? I hear them.
  • Do you behold the trembling soldier? I behold him.

I am not distant. My eyes search the earth. I weigh what is done—from behind the Oval Office to the cities of Tehran and Haifa. But I desire more than military might—I desire broken hearts that turn to Me.

This is not a moment to cheer victory. It is a moment to offer mercy. Where fear sprawls, raise high the cross. Where swords are drawn, let intercession rise like incense. For in the prayer of My saints, greater power is released than in bunker busters and stealth jets.

Choose the Land of Peace

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares… nor shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, NASB)

This war will end not by more bombs, but by the transformation of hearts. Let your side be the side that builds, not burns. Let your voice be the one that pleads, not the one that exalts in destruction. Pray for peace—even in the heart of war.

Return to the Creator — the Eternal King reigns. Let His glory fill the earth and His presence awaken the hearts of His people.

Intercede, Surrender, Hope

  • Intercede: Stand in the gap. Pray for Iran’s government and its oppressed—with purity and clarity.
  • Surrender: Let go of certainties and partisan loyalties. Come humbly before Me, knowing My ways are higher.
  • Hope: Expect revival. In moments of fracture, the greatest Restoration begins. I will use this crisis to draw a harvest of souls.

Beloved, the world needs you to be My watchman. Don’t merely echo the headlines. Let your life reflect what is yet unseen: the coming of My Kingdom, where even war’s roar will bow at the sound of praise.

In This Hour, Pray:

Father God, we lift this broken world into Your hands. We pray for Israel, for Iran, for America. We plead for Your mercy. Break the hearts of the powerful. Calm the storm. Let revival spring up from the ashes of this conflict. Stir up a generation that prays not for victory of nations—but for victory of Your Kingdom. Come quickly, Lord of Hosts.

See Also