Tag Archives: Holiness

Personal Holiness

LAY IT DOWN: A Plea for Radical Surrender

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Beloved brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of God: Lay it down! Lay down every hindrance, every weight, every sin that so easily entangles your soul! For what fellowship has light with darkness? What union has Christ with idols? The Spirit cries out within you — “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). Let us lay it down for God and His glory.

Why do you cling to what profits you nothing? Why do you hold fast to that which weighs down your race toward the prize? The Lord of Glory has purchased you with His own blood; therefore, you are not your own. You have been bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20, NASB). Shall we then offer polluted sacrifices upon His altar — the remnants of divided affections, the spoiled fruit of worldly compromise? God forbid! He is a jealous God, burning with love for His people. He will not share His throne with another. Lay it down! Every secret idol, every hidden affection, every unclean thing must be cast away as dung if we are to know the surpassing riches of Christ. Truly, we must lay it down for God.

Hear me, beloved: the call to radical amputation is not cruelty; it is mercy. Our Lord said with holy fire, “If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away… If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29-30, NASB). These are not the words of a harsh Master, but the plea of the Lover of your soul, warning you of the eternal ruin that unrepented sin brings. Sin must not merely be managed; it must be killed. It must be uprooted, severed, cast far from you, that you may be free to run the race set before you.

And I testify to you, not as one who speaks from theory, but as one who has walked this road. I found that my collection of rock and roll albums, though pleasing to the flesh, did not draw me closer to God but absorbed my time and dulled my spirit. Therefore, I gathered them — thousands of dollars’ worth of CDs — and I threw them away without regret, that my soul might be freed to worship El Elyon alone. I found that there was nothing Godly on Netflix; it was a net that caught my time and distracted my heart. I canceled it, counting it loss for the sake of gaining Christ. I found that I was watching too much news, filling my mind with the fears and troubles of the world instead of the Word of Life. So I exchanged those hours for time in the Scriptures, in prayer, and in the secret place with my God. I found that I was listening to audiobooks from Audible at night to fall asleep, but it fed my mind with many voices instead of drawing me into the presence of the Lord. So I laid them down as well, and now I fall asleep with worship music, my heart lifted up in praise to the Living God. Lay it down for God to work wonders in your life. And God is faithful — oh, He is faithful! — and He redeemed the time, and He drew me closer to Himself, deeper than I had ever known.

O saints of God, what are the idols of this present age that He is calling you to destroy? Sexual immorality, which prowls like a lion on every screen. Greed, cloaked as ambition. Pride, parading itself as self-importance. Bitterness, gnawing at the roots of your soul. Social media addictions, endless scrolling that drowns out the whisper of the Spirit. The love of pleasure more than the love of God. O saints, lay it down! Lay it down while there is yet time! Embrace the call to lay it down for God.

The Spirit is calling for a holy people, a pure Bride without spot or wrinkle. Shall we then trifle with that which nailed our Savior to the Cross? Shall we entertain what pierced His brow and ripped His flesh? God forbid! Let us rise up with the sword of the Spirit and slay every work of darkness that wages war against our soul. Let us run unburdened, with eyes fixed on Yeshua, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Lay it down — not with sorrow, but with songs of deliverance! Lay it down — not with fear, but with the boldness of a child returning home! For what awaits you is not loss but the fullness of Christ. He will pour His Spirit into the vessel emptied of self. He will clothe you in righteousness. He will crown you with His steadfast love. He will make your feet like hinds’ feet and set you on the heights of His glory! Lay it down for God, and receive His blessings.

I write to you as one who has suffered the loss of all things and counts them but rubbish, so that I may gain Christ. Therefore, beloved, lay it down! Lay it down, and rise up in the power of the Spirit! Lay it down, and behold the beauty of the Lord! Lay it down, and run with joy into the arms of the King!

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Yeshua Messiah (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB).

Amen and amen.

See Also

Church Repentance

Torn Between Two Thrones

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Torn Between Two Thrones—this is the condition of much of the Church in America today. One throne is the seat of comfort, compromise, and cultural applause. The other is the throne of Yeshua, the crucified and risen King. And too many are trying to bow to both. But the Lord is speaking with clarity in this hour: You must choose. You cannot serve two masters. The time is short, and the shaking has begun.

My child, hear Me. I have seen your labor, your worship, your gatherings in My name. I have watched you weep at altars and lift your hands in praise. I know the love you once had for Me, the fire that once burned in your bones.

But I have this against you—you have drifted. You have let the noise of the world drown out My voice. You have allowed compromise to settle where conviction once lived. You have traded intimacy for influence, and truth for comfort.

You cry out for revival, yet you will not let Me revive you. You ask for My Spirit, but you resist when He comes to sanctify, correct, and burn away what does not belong. My eyes are like fire—not to destroy you, but to refine you. Yet many of you turn your faces from the flame.

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You have tolerated what I hate.

You call yourselves free, but many of you are enslaved:

  • to pornography and lust, which rot the soul
  • to greed, which hardens the heart
  • to bitterness, which poisons every relationship
  • to fear of man, which silences the truth
  • to idols of politics and race, which divide what I made one
  • to entertainment and comfort, which lull you to sleep
  • to a gospel of self, which denies the cross

You carry My name but not My nature. You boast in your freedom, but you use it as a covering for sin. You welcome prophets of profit and teachers who tickle ears. You tolerate Jezebel, and you have forgotten how to weep for your sin.

Have I changed? Am I not the same holy God who thundered at Sinai, who struck down Ananias and Sapphira, who walked among the lampstands?

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America, I blessed you, but you turned My gifts into gods.

I gave you liberty, and you used it to justify rebellion. I gave you abundance, and you forgot the Giver. I showed you mercy, and still you murder your unborn and parade your pride. You have exchanged truth for lies and celebrated what I call shame.

You have exalted the creature above the Creator and called it progress. You have cast off restraint and called it freedom. You have mocked My order, My design, My Word—and you think I do not see?

But I tell you the truth: I will not be mocked.

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Yet still I stand at the door and knock.

My mercy has not run out. My hand is not shortened. I have not forgotten the remnant who have not bowed to Baal, who still hunger for righteousness. I have heard the prayers of the intercessors, the groans of My watchmen, the brokenness of the hidden ones who weep between the porch and the altar.

To you who will humble yourselves, return to Me.

Tear down your idols. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Stop blending My Word with the world. Return to the ancient paths. Preach the cross again. Love the truth again. Walk in the fear of the Lord.

The time is short. The fields are white. My Spirit is ready to be poured out—but I will not place new wine in old wineskins.

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Church in America, return to Me—before the shaking becomes collapse.

Judgment begins in My house, but mercy is still flowing from My throne. If you will rend your hearts and not just your garments, I will restore what the locust has eaten. I will raise up sons and daughters to prophesy. I will inhabit your gatherings with My glory again.

I will not share My throne with idols. I am coming for a pure Bride, not a powerful brand.

I am calling you now—before the floodwaters rise.

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To you who hear, respond:

Fall on your knees. Confess your sins. Forgive your enemies. Love the unlovable. Preach My Gospel—not a cultural gospel, not a political gospel—but the Gospel of the crucified and risen King.

I AM the Lord. There is no other. My Word will not return void. I have spoken—and I will do it.

Let the Church arise. Let the Bride prepare. Let the fear of the Lord return. Let the fire on the altar never go out.

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Come back to Me. I am waiting.

—Yeshua, King of Glory, Lord of Hosts

See Also

Apostolic Prophetic

Sound the Shofar

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Beloved, listen.

This is not just another message—this is a cry from the Spirit of the Living God. Open your heart. Don’t scroll past. Don’t silence the stirring. The time is too late and the hour too urgent. These words are not ink—they are fire. They are bread for the starving soul, water for the parched spirit. Eat. Listen. Engage. Heaven is calling, not with suggestion but with summons. The Lord is seeking those who will not harden their hearts but will tremble at His Word. Beloved, return. Return before the door shuts. Return before the harvest ends. Return while there is still breath in your lungs. This is for you. This is for now.

Lay it down.

All of it—the noise, the endless scrolling, the fear-soaked headlines, the idols of comfort and control. Lay down the false peace of passivity. Tear from your hands the chains of distraction. The world is loud, relentless, and poisoned with deception. But the voice of the Lord still thunders above it all. The Shepherd calls. The Spirit groans. And the Father waits.

Sound the mighty spiritual shofar! Not the trumpets of man, not the hollow horns of politics or media spin—but the true shofar of Heaven, the sound that shakes foundations and splits the sky. And today, let everyone hear the call to sound the shofar. Let it echo across the nations, from mountain to valley, from city to wilderness. Let the angels ready their ranks. Let the demons flee in terror. Let it be declared boldly to every principality in the air:

This world belongs to the Lord—and your time is short.

The throne of God is not up for debate. It cannot be silenced or censored. His kingdom does not rise and fall with human empires. The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1, NASB). And yet, so many have forgotten. We have traded His glory for entertainment. His truth for tolerance. His presence for convenience. The enemy has numbed the Church, lulled her into slumber with comforts, busyness, and fear. But the alarm is sounding—and it’s time to wake up.

You powers of the air—hear the sound!

Yeshua reigns. His cross crushed your authority. His resurrection sealed your defeat. And His Spirit now lives in us, the blood-bought, fire-baptized, uncompromising remnant. We are not afraid. We are not backing down. The King is coming, and His Bride is rising.

Today is the day.

Not next week. Not when it’s convenient. Not when the calendar clears or the kids are older or the crisis passes. Now. If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. You know the tug in your spirit—that’s God. You feel the ache in your chest—that’s your soul remembering its true home. You feel the heat in your bones—that’s the fire He wants to fan into flame.

The world is choosing. You must choose.

Will you serve the gods of the age—convenience, self, popularity—or will you stand in the fire and declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, NASB)? The days of playing Church are over. We need consecrated hearts, holy lips, and knees that bend only to the King of Kings. We need altars, not stages. Repentance, not performance. Fire, not fog machines. Sound the shofar today to declare this transformation.

The spiritual shofar is not just a call to arms—it’s a call to surrender. To throw down your idols and come trembling to the mercy seat. To rend your heart and cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, NASB). You were not made for survival—you were made for glory. You were not saved to be silent—you were redeemed to roar.

So rise up, Church. Sound the shofar. Fall on your face. Cry out for mercy. Let the tears fall. Let the fire come.

Let your worship shake the heavens. Let your life echo with eternity.

Yeshua reigns. The King is coming. And we belong to Him.

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Prayer

El Shaddai, sound the shofar of Heaven over our lives today. Tear through every layer of apathy and burn away what doesn’t belong. We lay down every idol, every distraction, every allegiance that isn’t to You. Let the kingdoms of this world tremble and the powers of darkness flee. Awaken Your Bride. Awaken me. Clothe us in righteousness, anoint us with boldness, and mark us with Your fire. We declare today: You reign, Yeshua. You alone.This is Your world. We are Your people. And this is the hour of Your glory.

In Your holy, powerful name—Amen.

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Our Response

We respond by seeking…

  • Holiness instead of compromise
  • Truth instead of convenience
  • Prayer instead of performance
  • Repentance instead of reputation
  • Worship instead of worry
  • Consecration instead of comfort
  • Obedience instead of opinion
  • Scripture instead of screens
  • Revival instead of routine
  • The fear of the Lord instead of the approval of man
  • More of God instead of more of the world

Let this be the cry of our hearts: “Lord, we seek You first.”

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See Also

Understand the Times

Call to the Beloved

A Cry from the Sons of Issachar

Beloved, hear the voice crying out across the winds of this age, for the sons of Issachar still speak. Their bones rest, but their wisdom lives. If they walked among us now—those anointed to understand the times and know what Israel ought to do—they would not whisper comforts or opinions, but proclaim the heartbeat of El Elyon. Their voice would shake pulpits and awaken sleepers. This is not the time for compromise, but for consecration.

Beloved, awaken! You are being lulled to sleep by convenience.

Comfort has become your comforter; preference has replaced presence. The fear of God has grown rare in the sanctuary. The gatherings of the saints have been treated as optional, as though the Lord Himself had not said, “Do not forsake assembling together” (Hebrews 10:25). But the call of Issachar thunders: “Return to the fear of the Lord!” Let the shofar sound once more. Let fasting be restored. Let solemn assemblies rise again to understand the times we are in.

“Blow the shofar in Zion! Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly.” — Joel 2:15 (AMP)

Beloved, discern the shaking. God is speaking.

The turmoil you see is not random. This shaking is divine. Earth and heaven tremble at His voice. Systems are failing. Foundations are exposed. Will you continue building upon sand? Or will you lay hold of the Cornerstone, Yeshua? Do not return to Egypt. Do not trust in chariots. Understand these tumultuous times.

“Once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” — Hebrews 12:26–27 (NASB)

Beloved, rise—not with influence, but with holiness.

This is not the hour for branding, but for brokenness. Purity must return to the Bride. The sons of Issachar would weep at a Church content with giftedness but bankrupt of obedience. They would cry aloud: Let prayer altars burn again! Let Scripture reign supreme! Let shepherds feed the sheep and stop entertaining goats! They would urge us to understand these trials.

“Judgment begins with the house of God.” — 1 Peter 4:17 (NASB)

Beloved, this is a divine window—do not waste it.

Now is the time to walk in the Spirit. Now is the time to contend for awakening. Now is the time to sow the seeds of weeping that will reap eternal joy. This season will not last. The Beloved must move while the doors remain open. Understanding the urgency of the times is vital.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him while He is near.” — Isaiah 55:6 (NASB)

Beloved, stop looking for Pharaoh’s favor—look to God’s hand.

You cannot rely on Babylon and serve Zion. Jehovah Jireh is your source. Prepare your heart for manna, not menus. He will feed you in the wilderness, but not if you crave the leeks of Egypt. He is jealous for your trust. Understand that the times require complete reliance on Him.

“Come out of her, My people…” — Revelation 18:4 (NASB)

Beloved, disciple your children while there is still time.

The next generation will not stand by inheritance alone. They must know the God of Abraham as their God. Restore the family altar. Fathers, lift your voice in prayer. Mothers, guard the gates with fire. Raise warriors, not watchers. Ensuring they understand the significance of these times is crucial.

“Teach them diligently… when you sit… when you walk.” — Deuteronomy 6:7 (NASB)

O Beloved, wake up. You are not in a season of maintenance—you are in a season of war.

The time is short. The hour is late. The King is coming. Prepare the way. Understand the times. Know what to do.

Prayer

Father, awaken our hearts. Pierce through every false comfort and shake every counterfeit foundation. Teach us to walk in holiness, to love the truth, and to prepare for the coming of our King. Let Your fear return to our assemblies, and Your fire to our altars. May we raise up generations who know You, who worship in Spirit and in truth. May we understand the times and grow in wisdom. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

See Also

Personal Holiness

The Journey of Sanctification

Becoming Like Yeshua

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
—2 Peter 1:5–7 (NASB)

The journey of sanctification is the sacred path every believer must walk. This is not a casual stroll, nor is it a sprint—it is a lifelong ascent toward holiness, where the Spirit of God leads us from glory to glory. Yeshua did not die just to forgive your sins. He rose again to make you new. And that new life isn’t stagnant—it grows, transforms, and becomes like Him.

Peter’s words are a divine blueprint. He tells you to apply all diligence—to engage your whole heart. Faith is your foundation, but it must not stand alone. Add to your faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These are not random traits; they are steps on the staircase of sanctification. Each virtue lays the groundwork for the next. As you climb, you grow stronger in the Spirit and embark on the journey of sanctification to reflect Yeshua more clearly.

The journey is not easy. Holiness never is. But it is the call of every disciple. “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Peter 1:15, NASB). This holiness is not outward show—it is inner transformation. It flows from the throne of God and floods every corner of your life: your thoughts, your desires, your words, your responses.

The Vine and the Branches

Imagine a branch connected to a living vine. It doesn’t strain to bear fruit; it simply abides. As long as it remains attached, the life of the vine flows freely, producing fruit in its season. But when a branch cuts itself off, it withers—lifeless, powerless, fruitless.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
—John 15:5 (NASB)

Sanctification flows from abiding. You cannot manufacture holiness through effort alone. It is born in intimacy with Yeshua. The more you remain in Him, the more His life fills yours. And what begins in secret—prayer, surrender, Scripture—becomes visible fruit: love, patience, purity, humility.

Beloved, the journey of sanctification will cost you everything—and it will give you more than you can imagine. It will strip away pride, expose wounds, and challenge comfort. But in exchange, you receive the treasure of a holy life, the joy of communion with God, and the power to overcome the world.

Keep climbing. Keep adding. The Lord is forming Christ in you. And when He appears, you will see Him as He is—because you will be like Him (1 John 3:2).

Prayer

Father, take us deeper on the journey of sanctification. We do not want shallow roots or fruitless branches—we want to bear the image of Your Son. Teach us to abide, to obey, and to grow. Shape us with every step. Let faith grow into virtue, virtue into knowledge, knowledge into self-control, and so on until love overflows in us. Holy One, guide us through the journey of sanctification to make us holy. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

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See Also

Personal Holiness

Gentle Over Angry

God’s Answer to Wrath

“Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.” – James 1:19–20, NASB

Beloved, hear me now: anger will never do what only the Spirit can. Rage may stir your flesh, but it cannot produce righteousness. The wrath of man builds walls, not altars. It divides, devours, and destroys—but God’s answer to wrath is not more wrath. It is gentleness. It is the quiet strength of the Lamb who could have called down fire, but instead bowed low and washed feet.

This is the great reversal of the Kingdom. While the world justifies fury and applauds revenge, God exalts the meek. The Son of God stood silent before accusers, not because He lacked power, but because He was filled with the Spirit. His gentleness shook the gates of hell and opened the door to eternal life. And now, you are called to walk in that same Spirit.

Wrath is not strength. Gentleness is. Do not believe the lie that anger gives you control. The truth is, when anger reigns, you have already lost control. What begins as frustration quickly becomes fire. It spreads through relationships, scorches your peace, and quenches the Spirit. But when you choose gentleness, you invite God’s hand to move. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1, NASB

Imagine a blacksmith forging a weapon. With every strike, he controls his fire. If the flame runs too hot, the metal warps. If it grows cold, it hardens before it’s ready. Only by skillfully managing the heat can he shape the blade. This is what God calls you to—meekness under the Spirit’s control. You are not to be cold and silent, nor are you to boil over in fury. You are to be tempered by the fire of Heaven and formed into a vessel of peace.

Look to Yeshua, who drove out moneychangers not with rage, but with zeal for His Father’s house. Look to Moses, described as the meekest man on earth, who interceded even for those who grumbled against him. Look to Stephen, stoned by a mob, yet praying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” That is the power of God at work—gentleness over anger, mercy over wrath.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9, NASB

God’s answer to wrath is a transformed heart, not a controlled temper. It is not enough to count to ten or bite your tongue. The root of anger must be surrendered. Bring it to the cross. Let the fire of His holiness consume every grudge, every harsh word, every memory that still ignites your flesh. Only the blood of the Lamb can quiet the storm within you.

Ask yourself: Does your anger serve God’s purpose—or your pride? Does it defend righteousness—or just your reputation? Lay it down. All of it. Be done with harshness, sarcasm, outbursts, and the spirit of offense. Let El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, be your defense. He sees. He judges righteously. He repays.

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31–32, NASB

God’s answer to wrath is not weakness—it is divine strength under perfect control. The Spirit of God leads you to respond with patience, to listen with compassion, and to speak peace over chaos. This is not natural. It is supernatural. It comes from abiding in the presence of El Elyon, being filled daily with His Word, and refusing to be mastered by emotion.

This world is burning with anger. But you, beloved, are called to burn with holiness. Choose gentleness—not to appease man, but to reflect the heart of your Father in Heaven. Let the world see something different in you. Let them encounter the power of a quieted spirit, anchored in God, unmoved by offense.

Prayer

Father, I surrender my anger at Your feet. Forgive me for every time I acted out of wrath and not love. Cleanse my heart. Fill me with the Spirit of gentleness. Make me a peacemaker. Teach me to respond as Yeshua did—with truth, but never with hate. I reject the lie that anger will accomplish what only Your Spirit can. Let my words bring healing. Let my presence carry peace. Let my life reflect the quiet strength of Heaven. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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Key Takeaways for God’s Answer to Wrath:

  • Human anger cannot produce the righteousness of God.
  • Gentleness is not weakness—it is the strength of the Spirit under control.
  • Meekness invites God’s power to move where wrath only causes damage.
  • Choose to be a peacemaker in a world ruled by rage.

Do not let anger define your witness. Let gentleness mark your life. God’s answer to wrath is not found in shouting louder—it’s found in kneeling lower.

See Also

Personal Holiness, Sin

Humbled to Rise

Defeating the Pride of Life

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

Brother, sister—hear me. This is not a word of condemnation, but a call to awaken. There is a sin that hides in plain sight, a spiritual cancer that often disguises itself as strength, success, or self-confidence. It is the pride of life. This sin does not shout—it whispers. But those whispers grow into lies that lead you far from the presence of El Elyon, the Most High God.

The pride of life tells you that you are enough without God. It causes you to depend on your own wisdom, your own strength, and your own reputation. Over time, it builds a wall between you and the Lord. Pride makes people think they don’t need God. It turns churches into stages for human praise instead of places where the glory of El Elyon is worshiped. It shifts the focus from the throne of Heaven to the applause of men. And that shift, beloved, is deadly.

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6, NASB

You were not created to be independent from your Maker. You were formed from the dust, and it is only by the breath of Yahweh that you live. The way of the Kingdom is not like the world’s way. The world says, “Lift yourself up.” But God says, “Bow down, and I will lift you.” To defeat the pride of life, you must choose the lower road—the road of humility.

Let me tell you a story. There was a skilled craftsman, admired by many for the beauty of his work. One day, a curious boy asked him, “How did you become so great?” The man smiled gently and said, “I only became great when I stopped trying to be. I surrendered my talent to God. I asked Him to shape the work of my hands, and it became His, not mine.” That is the secret. When you humble yourself, God takes over—and what He builds will last.

You were not saved to impress men—you were redeemed to reflect the holiness of Yeshua. Defeating the pride of life begins with surrender. You must choose, daily, to lay down your ego, your rights, your desire to be seen. You must become like the Lamb—silent, obedient, and wholly dependent on the will of the Father.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” – 1 Peter 5:6, NASB
Examine your heart. Do you bristle at correction? Do you crave the approval of others more than the presence of God? Do you rely more on your gifts than on the Spirit? Pride is subtle. But the Spirit will reveal it if you ask—and when He does, don’t delay. Repent. Get low. Open your hands. Humility is not weakness—it is the pathway to true authority in the Kingdom.
God is not looking for the proud. He is searching for those who tremble at His Word, who bow before Him in secret, who do not grasp for platforms but long for His presence. Will you be that one? Will you walk low so that He may raise you up, defeating the pride of life in the process?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3, NASB

Defeating the pride of life is not a single decision—it is a lifestyle. It is choosing the cross daily. It is remembering that every breath you breathe is mercy. It is standing before God, not with your résumé, but with your hands lifted in worship. The humble will see God. The proud will resist Him and fall. Let us be those who fall on our knees now, so we may rise with Him in glory.

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Prayer:

Father, I humble myself before You now. I confess the pride that has crept into my heart—every thought that made me feel sufficient apart from You. I surrender my plans, my gifts, and my desire to be noticed. I choose the way of the cross. Let me be poor in spirit, that I may be rich in Your Kingdom. Lift me up only when I have bowed low before You. Be glorified, not me. Be praised, not my name. Let me rise only by Your hand, and for Your glory. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

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Key Takeaways for Defeating the Pride of Life:

  • Pride of life distances us from God, but humility draws us close.
  • God resists the proud but pours grace on the humble.
  • Daily surrender is the key to true spiritual authority.
  • Humility opens the door to revival and the presence of El Shaddai.

Let your heart burn not for applause, but for His glory. Let your life become an altar where pride dies and holiness rises. It is time to bow low—so you can rise in Him.

See Also

Personal Holiness, Sin

Mastering the Flesh

Replacing Lust with Self-Control

Lust is a fire that consumes without ever satisfying. It stirs within the fallen nature, promising pleasure but delivering bondage. The world celebrates lust as freedom, but the Word of God reveals the truth: lust enslaves the soul. And yet, we are not left defenseless. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to walk in holiness, mastering the flesh and replacing lust with self-control.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 (NASB)

To master the flesh is to choose surrender over struggle, discipline over desire, and intimacy with God over indulgence in sin. We must understand that lust is not just physical—it’s spiritual. It is rebellion against the order of God, a longing for fulfillment apart from Him. The flesh says, “Take what you crave.” But the Spirit whispers, “Wait on the Lord.”

A War We All Face

No believer is exempt from this battle. Even Paul confessed the tension in his own body: “For I do not do the good I want, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” — Romans 7:19 (NASB). The war between flesh and Spirit rages daily. But God gives us weapons to fight.

To master the flesh:

  1. Guard your eyes – What you allow through your eyes reaches your heart. Shut the door to temptation.
  2. Renew your mind – Replace distorted thoughts with the truth of Scripture. Fill your mind with God’s Word.
  3. Flee temptation – Don’t linger in the presence of sin. Run with holy urgency.
  4. Fast and pray – Teach your flesh to submit through spiritual discipline and intimacy with God.

Illustration: Joseph Ran

When Potiphar’s wife cornered Joseph with seductive intent, he didn’t entertain the thought. He didn’t weigh the consequences or try to pray in the moment of temptation. “But he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside.” — Genesis 39:12 (NASB).

He ran. Why? Because Joseph feared God more than he feared man. He knew staying even a second longer would be a second too long. In fleeing temptation, he preserved something far more valuable than his reputation—his righteousness.

You may lose something when you flee—a position, an opportunity, the admiration of others—but you gain what cannot be bought: a clean conscience before God. Joseph lost his garment, but he kept his purity. And God raised him up in due time.

Fleeing isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. When lust comes knocking, run. Don’t reason with it. Don’t try to prove your strength. Don’t linger and pray that the feeling fades. Flee. And in your running, run straight to El Shaddai, your refuge and strength.

Replacing Lust with Self-Control

“Now as for you, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…” — 1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)

Lust can’t be managed—it must be crucified. And self-control is not the absence of desire but the redirection of desire toward God. When we walk in self-control, we’re saying, “I trust God’s timing. I believe His ways are better than mine.” That trust produces peace.

Self-control is not behavior modification. It is Spirit transformation. It grows in the soil of surrender. It blooms when we delight in the Lord more than in our impulses. It’s not about being less human—it’s about becoming more like Yeshua, who was tempted in every way, yet without sin.

The one who replaces lust with self-control learns to enjoy the beauty of purity, the strength of obedience, and the freedom of walking in the light. Every time you say no to the flesh, you’re saying yes to something greater—the fullness of life in the presence of God.

You Were Made to Walk in Freedom

You are not a prisoner to your cravings. If Yeshua lives in you, the chains have already been broken. The flesh may shout, but the Spirit empowers. It is possible to walk in victory. But you must be intentional. You must guard your gates, feed your spirit, and run from sin.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age.” — Titus 2:11–12 (NASB)

Grace does not excuse lust—it teaches us to overcome it. God is holy, and He calls you to be holy. He will never leave you to fight alone. When you fall, get back up. When you’re weak, call on His strength. When the fire of temptation rises, run—because victory waits on the other side of obedience.

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Prayer

Abba Father, I come before You confessing my weakness. I cannot master the flesh without Your Spirit. I renounce every craving that sets itself against Your will, and I choose to flee temptation like Joseph. Fill me with power to walk in self-control. Make me pure in thought, pure in heart, and pure in action. Let the fire of Your holiness burn away every impure desire. Teach me to crave Your presence more than pleasure, and help me walk in victory every day. I want more of You, Lord, and less of me. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

See Also

Repentance, Revival, Seek the Lord

Arise, Return, Seek Him

For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in faithfulness. Every word God speaks is true, unshaken, and just. There is no deception in Him, no shifting shadow of doubt. His Word established the heavens, set the boundaries of the earth, and upholds all things by His power. What He declares, He fulfills—His promises do not waver, nor does He act in error. Everything He does is clothed in perfect faithfulness. What He has spoken over your life, He will bring to completion. Trust in His Word, for it is the foundation that cannot be moved. In His faithfulness, you will never be forsaken.

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. God does not turn a blind eye to the affairs of men—He delights in righteousness and upholds justice. He is the righteous Judge who sees every heart and executes His will with perfect equity. Though the world is filled with corruption, His lovingkindness remains, reaching into every dark place, offering mercy to all who will receive it. From the beauty of creation to the mercies renewed each morning, His steadfast love surrounds you. Even in trials, His presence does not waver. He calls you to trust in His justice, to abide in His love, and to live in the confidence that His goodness is not scarce but overflowing, filling the earth with His unfailing grace. Arise and seek Him, for His justice and righteousness are unfailing.

Yeshua, You are the bridge—the only way to the Father. When sin separated us, You made a way where there was none. You stretched out Your arms on the cross, bearing the weight of our sin, paying the price to reconcile us to God. Your righteousness and justice demanded atonement, but Your lovingkindness provided the sacrifice. Now, through faith in You, we are no longer bound by sin but covered in Your grace.

Lord, let us never take for granted the mercy You have shown. Draw us deeper into Your presence, that we may walk in righteousness and live in the fullness of Your love. Teach us to trust in Your faithfulness, to stand firmly on Your Word, and to reflect Your justice in all we do. Let our lives shine with the light of Your kingdom, a testimony of Your unfailing goodness. Arise and seek Him daily, and your life will be transformed.

Therefore, let us shake off the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB) – “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith.” Do not carry what Yeshua has already set you free from. Break off the chains the enemy has placed upon you—chains of fear, doubt, complacency, and compromise. Have you settled into a life of comfort, trapped in a rut that keeps you from pressing into the fullness of God? Now is the time to arise. No more passivity. No more lukewarm devotion. Return to the Lord with all your heart! Isaiah 55:6-7 (NASB) – “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked abandon his way, And the unrighteous person his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” He is calling you to seek Him—not casually, not when it is convenient, but with urgency, with hunger, with a heart that refuses to be satisfied with anything less than His presence. Truly, arise and seek Him, for His presence is your refuge.

Joel 2:12-13 (NASB) – “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And tear your heart and not merely your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in mercy, And relenting of catastrophe.”

“And My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NASB) This is the invitation. This is the promise. But notice the condition: humble yourself, pray, seek His face, and turn from sin. This is not a suggestion—it is a call to action. Yeshua will heal the land, but He will do it through us. We are His vessels, His hands and feet, but we must first be made right before Him. How can we call for revival if our own hearts remain cold? How can we stand in the gap for our nation if we are still entangled in sin? The work begins in us. Humble yourself. Repent. Pray. Seek His face with desperation. He is ready to move, ready to pour out His Spirit, but He is waiting for a people who are fully surrendered, fully consecrated, and willing to be purified in His refining fire. Arise and seek Him, for He is faithful.

This is not about empty words or religious actions—it is about a heart posture that cries out, “Lord, cleanse me, use me, and let Your glory flow through me.” We cannot expect transformation in the world if we are not first transformed by His presence. The land will be healed, but first, the Church must arise in holiness. First, the remnant must return in full devotion. He is calling you deeper, calling you to be set apart, calling you to be an instrument of His righteousness. Will you lay down everything and seek Him with all your heart? The time is now. Arise. Return. Pursue Him, and watch what He will do through you- seek Him with all your heart, and you will find His grace and guidance. 

In Yeshua’s mighty name, Amen.

See Also

Faith, The Pursuit

Stand Firm in God

Beloved, do you not know that God has called you to Himself, to stand firmly in His truth and walk in His ways? He has called you by name, not for your glory, but for His. And yet, how can you stand firm in God if your heart remains divided? How can you stand if sin weighs you down, keeping you from the fullness of His presence?

Listen carefully: “If My people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NASB). This is His promise to you—a promise that requires your response. God desires your whole heart, not fragments of your attention. Stand firm in God and His promises.

To stand in the Lord, you must first repent. Do not turn away from this word, for repentance is life. To repent is to surrender, to bow low before El Elyon and confess your sins, trusting in His mercy. He does not delight in your destruction but in your restoration. Beloved, turn now! Lay your sins at the foot of the cross where Yeshua bled for you, for “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NASB).

But do not stop at repentance. God calls you to pray and seek His face. Prayer is not a ritual; it is a relationship. When you pray, you step into the presence of the Almighty, El Shaddai, who is eager to meet with you. Are you seeking His face or only His hand? Do you long for His presence, or do you seek only His blessings? Beloved, He is your greatest treasure. Seek Him with all your heart, and you will find Him. Stand firm in God through persistent prayer.

Faith will sustain you in this holy pursuit. To stand in the Lord is to believe in His promises, even when circumstances tempt you to doubt. To walk in His ways is to trust in His character, even when the path seems unclear. Faith is the anchor of your soul, the firm foundation on which you stand. Without it, you will falter. But with faith, you will rise above every storm, for “the one who trusts in Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11, NASB).

And, beloved, you must submit to the sanctifying work of the Ruach HaKodesh. Sanctification is not a work of man but a work of God in you, transforming you day by day into the image of Yeshua. Do not resist His refining fire. Do not cling to what He seeks to remove. Holiness is not an option for the child of God—it is your calling. “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16, NASB). Stand firm in God as He sanctifies you.

Beloved, this is your charge: repent, pray, seek His face, and submit to His sanctifying hand. Stand in the Lord, unmoved by the storms of life, anchored in faith, and driven by His love. The God who calls you is faithful. He will finish the good work He has begun in you. Do not delay. Humble yourself before Him, for His mercy is abundant, and His love is unchanging. Stand firm in God and remain steadfast in His love.

Prayer:

Abba, we humble ourselves before You. Search our hearts and reveal every sin that separates us from You. We turn from our wicked ways, and we seek Your face, longing for more of You. Strengthen our faith, Lord, that we might stand in Your truth. Refine us, sanctify us, and make us holy as You are holy. Draw us closer, that we may walk in Your ways and glorify Your name. In the name of Yeshua, our Savior, Amen.

See Also