Tag Archives: Intimacy with God

Personal Holiness

Call to Holiness

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The Path Back to the Garden

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
— Hebrews 12:14, AMP

Beloved, this is not a gentle suggestion—it is a holy command: without holiness, no one will see the Lord. The words burn with heavenly urgency. It is a call to the deepest part of your soul. It is a call to return to holiness.

In a world that waters down truth and trades purity for popularity, this verse stands like a flaming sword at the gates of Eden. For holiness is not just a command to obey—it is a memory your spirit longs to recover. Holiness is your spirit remembering how it was originally created in the Garden—unclothed by shame, unclouded by sin, walking with God in the cool of the day. You were formed for this. You were made for Him.

The Holiness of God: Our Pattern and Pursuit

The word holy is not merely religious—it is royal. It is the highest adjective ascribed to God throughout Scripture: Holy Ghost, Holy Lord, Holy One of Israel, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty. The seraphim do not cry loving, loving, loving, though God is love. They cry holy. They veil their faces, trembling in worship before the God who dwells in unapproachable light.

Holiness is the essence of God’s character, the very atmosphere of heaven. It is said that heaven is a holy place, and no unclean thing may enter it (Revelation 21:27). The angels who surround His throne are called holy ones, the watchers who behold His glory. Even they, created without sin, only partake of His holiness in a relative sense. But you, child of dust, are called higher still—not to observe holiness, but to wear it as you return to holiness.

The Call to Holiness Is a Call to See God

If you do not pursue holiness, you will not see God. This is the plain meaning of Hebrews 12:14. And this should disturb us. The absence of holiness obstructs our spiritual vision. It dulls the soul. It numbs the conscience. It closes our ears to His whisper. Many cry for revival but carry hearts untouched by repentance. They ask for fire but bring no altar.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8, NASB). And again, “Be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15–16, NASB). Holiness is not legalism. It is not perfection in the flesh. It is separation unto God—a life set apart, burning with desire for the One who is worthy.

Holiness Is the Journey of Intimacy

Holiness is not a burden—it is your birthright. It is not about sterile religion, but passionate relationship. Holiness is the path back to the presence of God. It is the undoing of everything that separated us from Him in Eden. To walk in holiness is to walk in the Spirit, to live as Adam once lived—clothed in glory, not garments, as you return to holiness.

When you yield to the Holy Spirit, He begins to restore you. He purifies your thoughts. He transforms your desires. Holiness is your spirit remembering Eden and longing to return. And in Christ, the way is open. The veil is torn. The blood speaks a better word. Do not resist the Spirit’s call. Do not cling to your chains. Listen to the call and return to holiness for true intimacy with God.

The Apostle James wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8, NASB). Let that cleansing begin now. Not tomorrow. Not when it’s convenient. Now.

The Spirit Makes Us Holy

You are not left to purify yourself. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of holiness, and He dwells within you to empower what your flesh could never accomplish. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NASB).

Ask Him to burn away every impurity, to renew the Eden-vision in your heart. The blood of Yeshua is not weak. It cleanses fully. It restores completely. And the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will sanctify you if you let Him.

This is the call to holiness. It is a call to return to the original purity. A call to intimacy. A call to see God.

Prayer

O Holy One, I have heard Your call. Cleanse me from every sin that clouds my soul. Strip away all compromise, all idolatry, all hidden pride. Return me to the purity for which I was created. Let my spirit remember Eden and burn to walk with You again. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and teach me to walk in holiness all the days of my life. I long to see Your face. Let nothing stand in the way. Help me return to holiness. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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Personal Holiness

Be Holy, for He Is Holy

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A Call to Purity from the Heart of God

Beloved, hear the call that has echoed through eternity: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16, AMP). This is not a suggestion or a poetic phrase for the spiritually elite. This is the voice of our holy God, spoken in love, spoken with fire, and written with His own hand across the pages of His Word.

I write to you, not with new revelation, but with the Word we heard from the beginning—that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5, AMP). If we claim to walk with Him and yet live in hidden sin, we deceive ourselves. This call to holiness is not external only; it is inward—down to the roots of desire, down to the meditations of the heart, down to the willingness of the soul. God does not call you to appear holy. He calls you to be holy.

The fire of God’s holiness cannot dwell in a heart that clings to what is unclean. And yet, how many of us come into His presence, lifting stained hands while asking for His nearness? How many songs have we sung that plead, “Draw me nearer,” while we have not repented in months—or years? We cry for revival, for intimacy, for revelation—but the Holy One will not fully manifest Himself to the impure.

Tozer was right: “A holy God cannot show Himself in full communion to an unholy Christian.” The Spirit is called Holy, not merely as a title but as a description of His very essence. If we are to be filled with the Spirit, then holiness must be our dwelling place—not just our aspiration. This is the call to holiness: a call to live set apart, sanctified, wholly surrendered, and burning with purity.

Let the Word pierce us:

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will [ever] see the Lord”(Hebrews 12:14, AMP).

“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).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, AMP).

This is not legalism. This is love. This is the purifying fire of a Father who longs to dwell with His children. Holiness is not the price of His affection—it is the pathway to His presence. You cannot live for the world Monday through Saturday and expect to encounter the glory of the King on Sunday. God is not mocked. The same God who struck down Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) is the God who still searches hearts and minds (Revelation 2:23).

So what must we do?

We must repent—not with shallow words, but with torn hearts. We must flee what defiles the soul, and run to the One who washes whiter than snow. The blood of Yeshua is not just forgiveness—it is cleansing. It removes the stain and restores the soul. And if you will humble yourself, He will lift you into His presence.

Let me urge you, as one who has seen the fire in His eyes: Do not settle for a compromised life. Let the Holy Spirit sanctify every desire, every hidden thought, every motive. There is no joy like the joy of walking with a clean heart. There is no power like the power of a consecrated vessel.

God is holy. Yeshua is holy. The Spirit is holy. Shall we be content with casual faith, when we are called to commune with consuming fire?

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Burn every shadow, O Flame of Grace,
Strip every idol from its place.
Make me a vessel, pure and true—
A house of holiness for You.

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Prayer of Consecration

Holy Father, I return to You. Cleanse me of every stain. I bring You not just my actions but my affections. Sanctify my thoughts, my motives, and my desires. I long to see Your face, but I know that only the pure in heart shall see You. So purify me, O God. Let the fire of Your holiness consume all that is unworthy. Make me holy as You are holy. Dwell in me, and walk with me. I surrender all. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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Holy Spirit

A Sound, Then a Voice, Then a Word

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Hearing the Spirit Speak is central to our faith journey.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].” — Psalm 91:1 (AMP)

Beloved, you who are called by the name of Yeshua, come now and sit still before the Lord. Set aside the frantic pace of the world and every noise that would crowd your soul. Draw near. For it is in stillness, in the secret place, that God speaks and we engage in hearing the Spirit speak.

In the beginning, God walked in the garden in the cool of the day, and man heard a sound—a Presence moving among the trees. Even now, when you quiet your soul before Him, the Spirit comes near, and the first sign is often this: a sound. Not yet a word. Not yet a revelation. But something holy draws near, and your heart begins to burn.

This is the path of hearing the Spirit speak.

First, the rustling Presence, like wind through leaves or the gentle stirring of water. Then, as your spirit grows still and attentive, you begin to discern a voice—not audible, but unmistakable. The Holy Spirit speaks not to your ears, but to your inner man. At first, it is vague, a whisper barely formed. But you press in.

You open the Scriptures.

And then comes the miracle: the Word. Not ink on a page, but fire to your bones. What was once a verse becomes a personal Word—warm, clear, intimate. The breath of God fills it. It pierces, it comforts, it reveals the Son. The Spirit illuminates, and the Word becomes life.

This is not a formula, dear one. This is fellowship. The Spirit of God draws near to those who draw near to Him. He longs to lead you not just to knowledge, but to intimacy. Not just to discipline, but to delight. And the pathway begins with a choice—to be still.

John, the beloved, once leaned upon Yeshua’s chest and heard the heartbeat of God. He wrote, “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things…” (1 John 2:20, 27, NASB). The same Spirit that taught John now lives in you. Embrace hearing the Spirit speak within you.

So do not rush past the sound. Do not fear the silence. God is near.

He speaks still.

But will you listen?

Will you let the Spirit turn sounds into voice, and voice into Word?

Will you allow the Word to turn your heart toward the Lamb of God again?

You are not just invited into truth—you are invited into fellowship with the Truth Himself.And every time you enter that secret place with an open Bible and a yielded heart, heaven leans in.

“Behold, I stand at the door and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” — Revelation 3:20 (AMP)

So today, beloved, turn down every other voice. Open the door. Embrace the sound, the voice, and the Word. Through hearing the Spirit speak, the Word will become flesh again in your life, and with it, life and light and rest.

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In silence You entered, a whisper at first,
Then thunder of mercy quenched all my thirst.
The Word became fire, it burned through my night,
Now I see You, my Savior, in fullness of light.

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Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I wait on You now. Still my thoughts, quiet my soul. Let me hear the sound of Your nearness. Let me recognize Your voice. Illuminate Your Word to me today until it becomes life and light. Let me see and embrace Yeshua more clearly, more dearly. Let my fellowship with Him be unbroken and full of joy. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. In the name of Jesus, amen.

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Return

Return to the Ancient Path

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Rediscovering Holiness in a Corrupt Generation

There is a cry rising from the depths of weary hearts—a cry for holiness, for purity, for God. In a culture that has abandoned truth and traded reverence for entertainment, many believers feel a sacred ache. It’s not for the past, but for something eternal. We long for the simplicity of walking with God, for the fear of the Lord to return to the house of God, and for lives that are marked by the power of His presence.

“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16, AMP)

What Is the Ancient Path?

This is the voice of the Lord. He is not calling you backward—He is calling you deeper.The ancient path is not tied to culture or nostalgia—it is the path of holiness, obedience, and intimacy with God. It is the way of righteousness, where God walks with man and speaks in the stillness of surrendered hearts.

The ancient path is not hidden. It is the way God has always desired His people to walk:
humble before Him, holy in conduct, and wholly devoted to His will.

“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NASB)

The ancient path was walked by Abraham when he obeyed without hesitation. It was walked by Moses when he met with God on the mountain. It was walked by David when he danced with abandon before the ark. It was walked by the prophets who wept for a wayward nation. It was walked by Yeshua, our Messiah, who fulfilled every step in righteousness, truth, and love.

This is not a call to ritual or rules. It is a call to relationship, reverence, and right living. It is the place where God’s fire falls, not on performance, but on purity.

Why We Stray—and Why We Must Return

The noise of this world drowns the whispers of God. We are bombarded with compromise dressed as wisdom and tolerance masquerading as love. Even within the church, the fear of man often outweighs the fear of God. But “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”(Proverbs 9:10, NASB), and without it, we are blind.

When we stray from the ancient path, our souls become restless. We chase peace, but it eludes us. We pursue success, but it leaves us hollow. Why? Because only God can satisfy the soul He created.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.”(Jeremiah 2:13, NASB)

We must return. Not just to church services or better behavior—but to God Himself.

The Promise of Rest

The ancient path is narrow, but it leads to life. It is hard, but it is filled with the presence of God. And it carries a promise: “you will find rest for your souls.”

Yeshua echoed this in Matthew 11:28–29 (NASB): “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

There is no rest apart from Him. There is no peace in the broad road. But when we return—when we turn off the noise, repent of compromise, and bow before Him again—we find what we were always meant to have: communion with our Creator.

How to Return to the Ancient Path

  1. Stop and Look. Don’t rush. Stand still before God. Ask Him to reveal the path you’ve strayed from.
  2. Ask for the Ancient Path. Pray like David: “Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24, NASB)
  3. Walk in It. Don’t just feel conviction—obey. Let holiness be your pursuit, not just your doctrine.
  4. Guard Your Heart. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NASB)

The Time Is Now

You were not born for this hour by accident. You are part of a remnant being called out of compromise into consecration. You are being invited into a deeper place, where the things of this world grow dim and the glory of God becomes your light.

Return to the ancient path. Return to the altar. Return to the Lord your God.

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Prayer:

Lord God, I have heard Your call. I no longer want to walk in the ways of the world. I want the good and ancient path—the path where You are my only pursuit, my highest joy, and my deepest peace. Cleanse me. Lead me back. Teach me to walk in Your truth again. Let my heart burn for holiness and my life shine with Your presence. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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Personal Holiness

LAY IT DOWN: A Plea for Radical Surrender

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.

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Worship

Answer the Call

A Lifestyle of Prayer and Worship

Beloved, hear the Spirit of God calling: return to the heart of true worship. Lay aside the noise of your busy days, silence the endless agendas, and come back to the one thing necessary—a lifestyle of prayer and worship.

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness” (Psalm 29:2 NASB). We were made for this—to magnify the Name above every name. O Church, we have become rich in resources but poor in reverence. We have mastered meetings and perfected programs, but we have forgotten the cry that touches heaven: worship that rises like incense, pure and unceasing.

A lifestyle of prayer and worship is not an event or a performance. It is a daily dwelling. It is a heart posture that says, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” As we spend the week continually in prayer and worship, when we gather together, we explode into His presence because we have already been dwelling with Him all week. We do not come to start something—we come to overflow. We pray for what He wants us to pray. We seek to Honor Him. We seek His face, not His hand.

Jesus declared, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23 NASB). The Father is seeking you. He is not looking for programs; He is searching for hearts ablaze with adoration. The prayer and worship of the saints is the fragrance that fills the throne room of heaven. It is written, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)—this is not a burden, but the river of life flowing through every believer who longs for more of God.

O Spirit of God, come and awaken Your Bride! We cry like David, “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4 NASB). Let every sigh, every word, every labor be soaked in worship. Let our lives be a continual offering, a sweet aroma rising before Your throne. To know God is to worship God. To love Him is to fall before Him with reverence and awe.

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29 NASB). Beloved, the time is short. The King is at the door. Will He find you living a lifestyle of prayer and worship? Will He find you pressing into His heart with relentless love?

Choose now. Answer the call. Cultivate the lifestyle of prayer and worship, and be made ready for His glory!

Seek the Lord while he may be found

What Does This Look Like in My Daily Walk?

A lifestyle of prayer and worship is not confined to the sanctuary; it invades every part of your life. It looks like starting your morning with whispered adoration before your feet hit the floor. It looks like letting songs of praise rise on your commute and speaking to God in the secret places of your heart during the busyness of your day. It is choosing to respond to trials with prayer instead of panic, lifting up the Name of Yeshua when you are tempted to complain. It is walking in constant awareness that God is near, God is holy, and God is worthy.

What Is the Next Step I Can Take to Draw Closer?

Begin by setting aside a daily time to seek His face—not His hand. Start small if needed, but be faithful. Open the Word and let it ignite your worship; pray aloud, even if your words are halting at first. Commit to keeping a spirit of prayer throughout the day, turning your thoughts often toward God, thanking Him, honoring Him, and crying “Abba!” from deep within. Join with others who hunger for more of Him, gathering not out of obligation but to overflow His presence together.

Today is the day to answer His call. Today is the day to live a true lifestyle of prayer and worship.

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The Pursuit

Walk Hand in Hand with God

Beloved, you have set your heart to seek the Face of God, and I tell you now, He sees you. He who is from the beginning, who holds the stars in His hand, bends low to meet the one who longs for Him. The Holy One is not far from you. He is near, nearer than your own breath.

Do not be troubled by the pace of men. Do not measure yourself by the steps of the crowd. For the Lord of Glory calls you to walk with Him, not behind Him, not ahead of Him, but hand in hand, heart to heart.

The frustration you feel is not your failure; it is the stirring of His Spirit within you, pulling you closer to the fullness of life in Him. You are not forsaken. You are not cast off. You are being drawn into the secret place where the Lamb walks with His own.

The world may race ahead to build kingdoms of dust. The churches may lag behind in sluggishness and doubt. But you, beloved, fix your eyes upon His Face. Set your heart to know Him as Moses did, who cried out, “Show me Your glory!” and was hidden in the cleft of the rock. So now you are hidden in Yeshua, sheltered by the blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Be still, and do not fear the aching within you. It is a holy yearning. It is the mark of His hand upon your soul.

The God who called you is faithful. He will not leave you longing. He will reveal Himself to the pure in heart.

Therefore, walk hand in hand with God.
When He moves, move with Him.
When He waits, wait with Him.
When He weeps, weep with Him.
When He rejoices, dance before Him.

Do not turn aside to the right or the left. Stay close. Stay low. Stay hungry.

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB).

This is the promise of the Everlasting God. This is your inheritance.

Let nothing steal it from you.

Walk hand in hand with God, beloved. Walk hand in hand with God.

Prayer

Father,

I long to walk hand in hand with You. Not ahead, not behind — but close, steady, faithful. Teach me to match my steps with Yours. Tune my heart to Your heartbeat. Make me sensitive to Your movements and stillness alike.

When I grow restless, anchor me in Your peace. When I grow weary, lift me with Your strength. When I am tempted to run or lag behind, draw me back by the whisper of Your love.

I seek not the works of Your hand, but the light of Your Face. Let Your nearness be my portion, and Your presence my delight.

Lead me on the ancient path where Your footsteps still echo, and cause me to walk it with joy and trembling.

I am Yours, Lord.

Hand in hand with You, forever.

In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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Worship

Worship Comes First

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” — Matthew 4:10 (NASB)

Children of the Most High, let your hearts be still before the weight of this command: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” It is not a suggestion. It is not a light instruction for the casual believer. This is the cry of Heaven—the heartbeat of the throne. God demands first our worship, then our work. He who fashioned us in the secret place calls us not to build, not to strive, not to labor first—but to bow, to behold, to burn with holy love.

This is Palm Sunday. The streets once filled with voices shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” Palms waved. Cloaks fell to the dust. They worshiped with their words, but their hearts were far off. In a week’s time, the same crowd would cry, “Crucify Him.” They celebrated a King, but not a cross. They loved the moment, not the Man. They wanted victory, but not surrender. Worship that does not lead to obedience is only noise.

Yeshua, tempted in the wilderness, responded not with might or miracle, but with adoration: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Satan offered Him dominion without devotion, but our Savior would not trade intimacy with the Father for influence in the world. The Church must not either.

O beloved, how quickly we forget. A soul is stirred, and we say, “Now go! Preach, teach, build!” But God says, “Wait. Sit. Worship.” The disciples, even after walking with Yeshua, were not released to the nations until they tarried in Jerusalem. Not because they lacked knowledge, but because they lacked power. And not just power to work—but power to worship. Power to be undone in God’s presence. Power to love Him rightly.

The Holy Spirit did not fall in a marketplace. He descended upon worshipers in an upper room. Tongues of fire rested on heads bowed low. The power they received was not primarily for signs, but for surrender. Not first for proclamation, but for praise. God’s greatest works are born in the womb of worship.

Hear the truth plainly: A worker without worship becomes a performer. A servant without adoration becomes a slave. But the worshiper—he cannot help but serve. He is caught up in the beauty of God, and his hands move only in response to the heartbeat of Heaven.

This is why many burn out. This is why churches grow cold even as programs multiply. Because they have built altars to usefulness and forsaken the altar of awe. They labor without gazing. They produce without presence. But the Spirit of God will not bless what bypasses worship.

Let your soul be gripped by this: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” The order is divine. The pattern is perfect. The power flows from it.

Speechless in the Presence of God
Speechless in the Presence of God

When Moses met God on the mountain, he worshiped. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he was undone. When John, the beloved, beheld the risen Christ, he fell as though dead. Before they moved, they worshiped. Before they spoke, they trembled. Before they led, they adored.

Do not seek the assignment until you have seen His face. Do not run into the world with empty hands and distracted hearts. Let the fire fall first upon your altar. Let your soul be enraptured, admiring, adoring. Then, and only then, go.

For the work done by the worshiper carries eternity within it. It is not of man, but of God. It bears His fragrance, His power, His authority. The worshiper serves from overflow. His mission is an echo of Heaven. His labor, an act of love.

So return, child of God. Return to the secret place. Return to the feet of Yeshua. Lay down your tools. Set aside your ambitions. Lift your eyes. Worship comes first.

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Before the hands, let hearts arise,
To seek the flame that never dies.
No greater work than this I find—
To love the Lord with all my mind.

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Prayer

Holy Spirit, awaken me again to the glory of worship. I repent for running ahead without resting at Your feet. Draw me near to the altar, where the only fire that matters falls. Teach me to serve not out of striving, but out of surrender. Let my lips burn with praise before they speak of You. Let my heart be pierced before my hands are used. Restore to me the wonder, the awe, the holy fear that comes from seeing You rightly. Yeshua, You are worthy of all. My life is Yours—first in worship, then in service. In Your holy name, Amen.

See Also

The Pursuit

Face to Face with God

The Friendship You Were Made For

“So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” — Exodus 33:11, NASB

There is no higher calling than this: to walk in deep friendship with God. Not as a servant fearful of punishment, but as a friend who knows the heart of his King. In this sacred place, the soul awakens. The noise of the world fades. And the heart begins to burn—not for answers, but for the presence of El Shaddai Himself.

Talking with God face to face is not a poetic phrase. It is the invitation extended to every son and daughter of the Kingdom. Moses stood on holy ground not because of his greatness, but because of his desire. He longed to know God’s ways, not just His works. He dared to ask, “Show me Your glory,” and God drew near.

Beloved, God has not changed. He still meets face to face with those who seek Him, just as Moses experienced talking with God face to face.

In the age of noise and distraction, the Lord is calling His people back to the tent of meeting—back to the quiet place where friendship is kindled in the fire of His presence. The veil has been torn. The Spirit has come. Through the blood of Yeshua, we have been given access to approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16, NASB).

But we must come.

The Spirit says, “Come closer. Linger. Don’t rush away. Don’t settle for shallow prayers or rehearsed devotion. Come to Me, and I will give you rest—not just rest from labor, but rest in communion.” Talking with God face to face truly begins when we stop performing and start beholding.

Let your prayers become conversations. Let your worship become wonder. As John the Apostle laid his head upon the chest of the Master, so must we lean in. God desires nearness. Not a moment. Not a meeting. A dwelling. He wants to make His home in you (John 14:23, NASB).

And when you do draw near, everything changes. You will hear His whisper in the chaos. You will sense His leading in the silence. You will carry His presence into your workplace, your home, your church. You will no longer live as one chasing God—but as one walking with Him.

This experience of talking face to face with God is not reserved for the elite. It is the birthright of the redeemed.

He calls you friend. Not from afar. Not with conditions. But with love that burns like fire and welcomes you into the holy.

So draw near. Turn aside from every lesser thing. Close the door. Still your heart. And speak—speak to the One who already knows you, and longs to be known by you.

Come. He is waiting.

Prayer

Abba, I want to walk with You like Moses did. I want to know You—not just Your words, but Your heart. Strip away every distraction and draw me into the quiet where I can hear Your voice. I choose to enter the secret place and stay until I am changed. Let me speak with You face to face, as Your friend. In Yeshua’s name, amen. And let me experience the joy of talking with God face to face.

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See Also

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a Person

Do you truly know who the Holy Spirit is? If you’ve ever mistaken Him for a feeling, a force, or a sudden burst of energy, you’re not alone. Many believers are confused about the identity of the Holy Spirit. But today, let’s clear away the confusion and anchor our understanding in Scripture: the Holy Spirit is a Person.

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, NASB). This simple yet sobering command carries weight. You can’t quench a force. You can’t grieve an emotion. But you can hurt, silence, or shut out a Person—and that’s exactly what we risk when we misunderstand or ignore the Holy Spirit.

Spell this out in your heart: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is not courage. He is not the personification of goodness. The Holy Spirit is not an “it”—He is God. He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), speaks (Acts 13:2), loves (Romans 15:30), intercedes (Romans 8:26), and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He knows. He feels. He leads.

Jesus spoke of the Spirit as “another Helper”—the Greek word Parakletos, meaning advocate or counselor—“that He may be with you forever” (John 14:16, NASB). The Son promised One like Himself, not a mere power surge from heaven. And just as we would never treat Yeshua as a nameless force, we must not reduce the Holy Spirit to an emotional experience or a vague sense of conviction.

To quench the Spirit is to resist His leading, to silence His voice, or to shut Him out of your daily decisions. Imagine Him as a guest in your home, present and willing to help, but ignored. Or worse—treated with suspicion and skepticism. Can a guest like that stay long? The Holy Spirit desires intimacy, not toleration. He seeks fellowship, not mere acknowledgment.

Paul writes, “Now we have received… the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12, NASB). You are not meant to walk in confusion, trying to “feel” your way through your faith. You are invited to commune with the Person of the Holy Spirit, to hear His voice, receive His comfort, and follow His direction.

This truth will change your walk: the Holy Spirit is not waiting for your perfection—He is waiting for your invitation. He is not fragile, but He is holy. He is not distant, but He will not force Himself into a life that will not listen. Don’t quench Him by busyness, by sin, or by doubt. Welcome Him.

Right now, stop and ask yourself: Am I treating the Holy Spirit like a Person? Do I listen for His voice? Do I make room for His presence? Do I respond when He convicts, prompts, or encourages?

The Holy Spirit is a Person. And He desires to walk with you, speak to you, and fill you with the life of God every day. He is not an “it” to be controlled. He is God to be worshiped, Friend to be loved, and Guide to be followed.

Prayer

Ruach HaKodesh, Holy Spirit of God, forgive me for treating You as less than who You are. I welcome You—not as a feeling, but as a Person. Speak to me. Lead me. Fill my life with Your presence and power. Teach me to walk in step with You and to never quench Your voice. I want deep, intimate fellowship with You. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

See Also