Tag Archives: Spiritual Growth

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.

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The Pursuit

Walk Hand in Hand with God

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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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Silence

The Silence Before Joy

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Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
— Psalm 30:5b (NASB)

Joy comes in the morning. This is not a poetic phrase for difficult days—it is a declaration carved into the heart of every believer. This Saturday, the world waits in silence. The cross has done its work, and the tomb is sealed. The disciples are scattered, their dreams crushed beneath the weight of grief. But heaven is not anxious. God is not finished. And even in the shadows of uncertainty, He is still working.

This is the holy hush before the victory shout.

The Saturday before Easter is a mystery. Scripture is nearly silent about it, just as the tomb was silent. But the silence does not mean nothing was happening. On the contrary, behind that heavy stone, life was preparing to break forth. Yeshua, having cried out “It is finished,” had descended to the lower parts of the earth, proclaiming His triumph. “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (Colossians 2:15, NASB). In this silence, we know joy comes in the morning.

Let this be your confidence today: what looks like the end is often just a hidden beginning. What appears buried is not lost—it is planted. Yeshua told us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24, NASB). The Son of God was not defeated. He was planted in faith. And with Him, every promise of God was placed in the ground to rise again in power.

We, like the first disciples, often live through Saturdays—those in-between spaces where hope feels fragile, and answers are hidden. But the Spirit speaks still: joy comes in the morning. The Word of God is living and active. It does not end in a sealed tomb. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4, NASB). God is present in the waiting. He is forming resurrection where we see ruin.

And just as Yeshua rose on the third day, so shall He raise up every weary heart who clings to Him in faith. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NASB). Do not let your soul be discouraged today. Press into the promise. Our Redeemer lives. “Let us hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23, NASB).

This day may be quiet, but it is not hopeless. Joy comes in the morning. Not the fleeting happiness of men, but the eternal joy of God’s resurrection power. A joy that no man can steal, no tomb can trap, no devil can stop.

So, beloved of God, wait with purpose. Hold fast to hope. Your King is not in the grave—He is about to rise.

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Though night may cloak the promised light,
And grief may steal the song from sight,
Still will I trust the break of day,
For joy shall rise and chase dismay.

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Prayer:

Abba Father, we stand in the stillness of this holy day with hearts that choose hope. Though we do not yet see the dawn, we believe Your Word. You are the God who raises the dead, who speaks life into what was lifeless, and joy into what was broken. As we wait between Friday and Sunday, fix our eyes on Yeshua, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Let resurrection hope rise in us even now. Teach us to trust in Your silence and believe in Your goodness. Let every buried dream come alive again, for joy comes in the morning. In Yeshua’s mighty name, Amen.

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Personal Holiness, Prayers

Cleanse the Temple, Bear the Fruit

Beloved, come close and consider the steps of Yeshua on this Holy Monday. Every act was deliberate. Every word, weighty. He was not wandering—He was on a mission from the Father. His eyes were fixed on Jerusalem, and His heart burned with holy fire. He came to restore what religion had corrupted in the House of Prayer. He came to awaken what had fallen asleep.

A solitary fig tree along the ancient path from Bethany to Jerusalem, leafy yet barren—silent witness to Yeshua’s holy judgment.

In the morning, as He walked from Bethany toward the city, He was hungry. He saw a fig tree with leaves, signaling life—but when He came to it, He found no fruit. Then Yeshua spoke, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” (Mark 11:14 NASB). It was not just about the tree. It was a prophetic sign. Israel had leaves—rituals, traditions, temples—but no fruit. And the judgment was not delayed.

God does not delight in the form of religion. He desires the fruit of righteousness. As it is written, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”(Matthew 7:19 NASB). This is the hour to search your heart. Are there leaves but no fruit? Activity without intimacy? Noise without prayer? Yeshua is looking for the fruit of faith, humility, repentance, and love.

And then He entered Jerusalem, heading for the House of Prayer.

He found it loud with trade, thick with greed. The courts that should have echoed with songs of praise were filled instead with coins and bargains. So He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. He drove them out with authority, declaring, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13 NASB; Isaiah 56:7). That house was not theirs—it was His Father’s.

Clean the Temple
Jesus drives the merchants out of the temple

Beloved, you are now that temple, the new House of Prayer. The veil was torn. The blood was shed. And the Holy Spirit came not to dwell in buildings but in believing hearts. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you… and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NASB). So the question presses in—what tables must be overturned in your soul?What thieves have crept into your mind, stealing your time, your worship, your focus?

Yeshua doesn’t cleanse the temple to shame—it is always to restore. After the tables fell, the blind and the lame came, and He healed them (Matthew 21:14). The children began to shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and joy returned to the courts. When we cleanse the temple, we become the true House of Prayer, and the glory of God comes near. When we restore the altar, the fire of Heaven falls.

And when evening came, He returned to Bethany—not to isolate, but to rest in fellowship. He stayed among those who loved Him—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Even the Son of God drew strength from the warmth of believing friends. Let this speak to you deeply. You were not meant to fight alone. You were not made for isolated struggle. The joy of the Lord often comes through the fellowship of the saints.

As it is written, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 NASB). And again, “Let us consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together… but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB). In this hour, the enemy tries to isolate, but God calls you to the table of fellowship, to the circle of prayer, to the family of faith.

So today, beloved, walk the path Yeshua walked:

  • Examine the fruit of your life.
  • Let Him cleanse the temple of your heart.
  • Restore the altar of prayer.
  • And seek joy in the fellowship of believers.

Do not delay. Do not harden your heart. The Lord of the temple has come, and He still speaks: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Let it begin with you.

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Search me, Lord, and test the flame,
Burn the chaff, but leave Your Name.
Make this heart Your holy place—
A house of prayer, a throne of grace.

Prayer

Holy Yeshua, come into the temple of my soul and turn over every table that does not please You. Remove all idols, all distractions, and all false peace. I repent of fruitless works and distant worship. Cleanse me, Lord, and fill me again with the fire of Your Spirit. Let my heart become a house of prayer. Let joy and healing rise where once there was noise and compromise. Surround me with godly fellowship, and teach me to draw strength from Your people. I welcome You, King of Glory—come and reign in me. In Your precious Name, Amen.

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Holy Spirit

God’s Hand in Every Ministry

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:6, NASB

Church, we are being summoned—not by man, not by program, but by the living voice of God—to place every ministry under His hand. Not just what we do for Him but who we are before Him. He is asking for a deeper surrender, a fuller dependence, a cleaner altar, showing God’s hand in every ministry.

Before revival breaks out in our communities, it must be born in our homes. And before it can rest on our homes, it must begin in our hearts. We must first put our house in order—personally, then as families, and then as the Church. Yes, God in His mercy will use us where we are, as we are—but He longs to give us a greater measure of Himself. And that measure comes only when we lay aside the sins we’ve tolerated and bring them to the altar in repentance.

It is written, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an instrument for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21, NASB). God doesn’t want polished performance—He wants pure vessels. So we come to Him, not to impress, but to be transformed. We lay every prideful thought, every selfish motive, every hidden compromise at His feet. And we ask—Lord, fill us with Your fiery Spirit of Life!

To those who lead ministries: the Spirit is calling you to move at His pace, not your own. Seek His wisdom. Ask Him what is for now, and what is for later. Only the Lord knows the timing of the seed and the harvest. If you wait on Him, He will lead you with clarity, not confusion. If you trust His Spirit more than your strategy, He will build what no man can tear down. This reveals God’s hand in every ministry.

Let us look to the next generation—not with fear, but with fire. Speak life over them. Invite them into the kingdom, not as spectators, but as warriors in training. God is stirring up sons and daughters to prophesy, to worship, to carry His presence boldly. Will we make space for them? Will we believe for greater things?

And beloved, do not ignore the war for your own soul. The Lord is willing to break every chain, silence every lie, and lead you into freedom—but you must be willing to let go. Lay down every burden that weighs you. Cast off the sins that cling so tightly. For “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NASB). Trusting God’s hand in every ministry helps us find that liberty.

We must be united—not just in purpose, but in love. Real love. Not polite agreement, but supernatural, sacrificial love that covers offenses and binds the Church together. “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3:14, NASB). When we walk in this kind of love, the world will know who we belong to.

Above all, our cry is this: Come, Lord Jesus, dwell among us. Let Your manifest presence rest in every ministry, every meeting, every moment. Not a visitation. A habitation. We do not want the stories of Your glory—we want the weight of Your glory now. We want You, El Shaddai, to lead, to fill, to reign in every ministry, showing God’s hand in every ministry.

And over West Boylston, we prophesy peace. We declare blessing. Let the name of Yeshua be lifted high in every street, every home, every heart. When God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from wicked ways, He heals the land.

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Put my house in holy line,
Every room by Your design,
Cleanse the halls with sacred flame,
That You alone receive the name.

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Prayer

Holy God, we yield. Search our hearts. Set our houses in order. Let repentance flow like a river and pride be cast into the fire. We lay every sin on the altar. Fill us with Your fiery Spirit of Life. Reign in every ministry—lead us in truth, timing, and love. Touch our youth with boldness. Heal our homes with unity. Dwell in our midst, not just as a guest, but as King. And may West Boylston be known as a place where Your hand is at work, and Your name is lifted high, showing God’s hand in every ministry.

In the name of Yeshua,

Amen.

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Spiritual Growth

The In Between

Faithful When the Role Fades

What Is The In Between?

The In Between is that quiet, often painful season when your role in ministry or service fades—but no new assignment has come. You used to serve actively, maybe even visibly. You saw what needed to be done and stepped in. But over time, others took over. You offered to help, but were turned away. Now you wait, uncertain, unseen.

This is not failure. This is not rejection. The In Between is God’s sacred pause, where He prepares your heart for what’s next.

God Sees You in The In Between

Even if man doesn’t see you, God always sees. He is El Roi, the God who saw Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 16:13). When your help is no longer received, and your hands feel empty, remember this: God hasn’t forgotten you.

“Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4, NASB)

Many of God’s greatest servants walked through The In Between.

  • Joseph was faithful in prison before being promoted to Pharaoh’s palace.
  • Moses spent 40 hidden years in Midian before returning to lead Israel.
  • Even Yeshua walked through 40 days in the wilderness before His public ministry began.

The pattern is clear: before the release comes the refining.

When Your Role Fades, Let Your Faith Rise

The In Between is not the time to retreat or complain. It’s the time to press into God. Your value was never in a position—it was always in your identity as a servant of El Shaddai.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23, NASB)

When no one calls on you, call on Him. When the tasks are given to others, pray for them. When the door closes, worship at the threshold. God sees your heart more than your output.

Don’t Miss the Purpose of The In Between

God may be pruning you—not punishing you.

“Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2, NASB)

This is your altar season. A time to offer Him the unseen moments. To lay down pride, offense, and fear. To choose humility when your gift isn’t received. To grow deeper when the spotlight is gone.

If you walk through The In Between with patience and faith, you will emerge with more maturity, more power, and a deeper love for God.

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When silence grows, and roles dissolve,
Still I will wait, though none resolve.
The whisper stirs where crowds have gone,
And there I find You, El Elyon.

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Final Encouragement

If you’re in The In Between, you are not stuck—you are being sanctified. You are not dismissed—you are being developed. Keep showing up. Keep seeking the face of God. Keep your heart clean and your spirit ready.

God is not done with you. He is just getting started.

Prayer for Those in The In Between

Heavenly Father, I surrender this quiet season to You. If You have hidden me, let me worship in the shadow. If others reject my offer to serve, help me to love anyway. Teach me to wait without bitterness, to pray without being seen, and to trust that You will move me again in Your perfect timing. Make The In Between a place of deep growth and quiet strength. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

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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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Christian Living

A Fragrance That Lingers

Living in the Goodness of the Holy Spirit

“The good man from his inner good treasure brings out good things.” — Matthew 12:35, NASB

Beloved, let your heart be still before God. Let the world’s winds pass by and lean in to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit. You are not called to be impressive by the world’s standard. You are called to be faithful. You are not commanded to be celebrated but to be good—good in the eyes of El Shaddai, filled with the fruit of His Spirit, a quiet blaze of holiness in a dark land.

The goodness of the Holy Spirit is not a performance but a posture. It is the outflow of a soul rooted in Jesus, the True Vine. When the fire of God’s presence abides within, He produces in you what the flesh never could: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23, NASB). This kind of goodness cannot be manufactured. It flows from the inner treasure stored up by the Spirit of God.

Child of God, do not overlook the power of a life of quiet faithfulness. You may not be known in the gates of this world, but your prayers shake the heavens. You may not speak before kings, but El Roi sees you when you kneel. You are the first to rise when the church doors open and the last to leave when the Spirit moves. And though your name may never trend, your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life—etched by the blood of Yeshua, sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul urged Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God within him—not for fame, but for faithfulness (2 Timothy 1:6). Likewise, the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, bore witness to those who walked in truth, not with trumpets, but with testimony. He wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4, NASB). The goodness of the Holy Spirit is revealed in daily obedience, the quiet constancy of a soul set on God.

A.W. Tozer wrote of such men and women. Not pastors or prophets. Not singers on stages. But the ones who sweep the sanctuary floor, who weep in intercession when no one sees. Their fragrance lingers long after the applause of men fades. These are the “plain people,” but they are rich in the Spirit, the marrow of the church, the ones who carry revival in their hearts, not in their headlines.

Dear reader, you are called not to be great in your own strength but to be good through the Holy Spirit. When you store up His Word in your heart, He will bring forth fruit in season. When you walk with integrity, pray in the secret place, and love those around you with Heaven’s compassion, you reflect the image of Christ.

The world exalts celebrities, but Heaven honors saints. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first (Matthew 20:16). So let us set our hearts not on being seen, but on being pure vessels filled with the goodness of the Holy Spirit.

Even now, Yeshua watches over you, not with the eyes of man, but with eyes of fire. He rejoices not in your platform but in your purity. He sees you serving, sowing, praying, and pressing on. And when your race is finished, the fragrance of your life will remain—a testimony that the Holy Spirit was here.

Prayer

Holy Father, I thank You for the call to be faithful and good. I don’t seek the praise of men—I long for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Cleanse me by the blood of the Lamb and fill me anew. Let the fruit of the Spirit overflow in me, especially the quiet and constant goodness that reflects Your heart. Use my life—even in hiddenness—to be a fragrance of Christ to all who encounter me. May I carry Your presence well. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

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See Also

Discernment

God-Given Discernment

The Lamp of Conscience and the Love That Compels

Beloved, you who are called by His name, listen—

For the Lord searches not the surface, but the soul. He weighs the heart. He pierces between thought and intention. And He has placed within you a flame, small yet sacred—your God-given discernment. It is the lamp of conscience. It is the witness of the Spirit that testifies when truth walks by, and when lies disguise themselves as light.

Let your conscience not grow dull. Let your flame not flicker. Tend it, O child of God, and awaken to the fear of the Lord, for it is the beginning of wisdom and the secret path to His presence.

The Fear of the Lord Makes You See

We know the fear of the Lord—not as dread, but as delight. It is the trembling awe of standing before the Holy One, the I AM, the consuming fire. It is the heart bowed low in worship, lips trembling with obedience, soul stilled in reverence. And because we know His holiness, we cannot stay silent. We urge others to be reconciled to Him, because we ourselves have been pierced by His truth.

He sees us, beloved. We are plainly known to God (2 Corinthians 5:11, AMP). Nothing is hidden from His eyes. And now I ask you: do we live plainly before one another, before your conscience—your God-given discernment—that voice inside you that the Spirit has sanctified? Can you feel the pull of His Spirit within you even now, calling you closer?

Cast Off Appearances—Come Into the Light

Do not be like those who boast in outward things. They decorate themselves with religion, but their hearts are far. They speak of virtue, but know not the One who is holy. You, however, are not called to walk by sight. You are called to walk by the fire of discernment, fed by the oil of His Spirit.

The world will mock you. They called Paul mad. They will call you strange. But let your conscience be ruled not by their voices, but by the voice of the Shepherd. If we are out of our minds, let it be for God. If we are steady, it is for your strengthening (v.13).

Love Is the Fire That Consumes the Self

Hear this—the love of Christ controls and compels us (v.14). This love is not weak. It is not shallow. It is not selfish. It is consuming, jealous, holy, and eternal. It burns away all lesser loves. And it becomes the reason we no longer live for ourselves.

Yeshua died for all, and so we count ourselves already dead. We have no right to our own lives anymore. We belong to the One who rose again. Therefore, we live not for comfort, not for applause, not for success, but for Him who died and was raised for our sake (v.15).

O soul, are you still living for yourself? Lay it down. Die to it. Let His love compel you, let His flame consume the old. Let Him teach your conscience to beat with His burden and burn with His purpose.

Keep the Lamp Burning

There was a lampstand in the temple, made of pure gold, fed by oil, tended daily. That lamp never went out. It gave light to the priests in the holy place. That is your God-given discernment. It is your conscience lit by the Holy Spirit. If you neglect it, it will flicker. If you grieve Him, it will dim.

Tend it with prayer. Clean it with repentance. Feed it with the Word. Guard it with obedience. Let nothing unclean cross your heart without confession. The fear of the Lord will keep the fire burning. The love of Yeshua will make it blaze.

A Call to Walk Closer

You cannot walk near to the Lord with a numb conscience. You cannot follow Him with a heart half-alive. Come closer. Let the fire of discernment expose what’s false in you and what’s real in Him. Live for the Audience of One. Let His gaze be enough. Let His Spirit guide your every step.

This is not a time for shallow living. This is a time to burn. This is the hour to awaken your conscience and walk boldly in truth. God-given discernment is your gift, your guard, and your guide. Receive it, protect it, and live by it.

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Prayer:

O Holy One,

Light the lamp within me. Let my conscience burn with Your truth. Awaken me from shallow living. Make me tremble again at Your Word. Teach me to live no longer for myself, but for Yeshua, who died and rose for me. Let the fire of the fear of the Lord burn in my bones. Let the love of Christ compel me forward. I surrender my heart to You—search me, know me, purify me. Let my life shine as a lamp in the holy place. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

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See Also

Faithful Living, Testing

God in the Trial

Finding His Hand Through the Fire

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing…
— 1 Peter 4:12–13 NASB

The fire came uninvited. It came as a word—cancer—and that word pierced deeper than a sword. What followed was a battle not just for the body, but for the soul. Weeks turned to months. Doctors, chemotherapy, surgery. In that furnace, hearts turned to El Shaddai, God Almighty. Prayers rose like incense. Tears watered the floor like offerings. And now, with the worst behind them, a quiet, aching question rises: Where was God in the trial?

The answer, beloved, is nearer than breath. God was there in the fire.

God is never absent in suffering. We serve the God who walks into furnaces (Daniel 3:24–25), who enters the storm (Mark 6:48), who weeps at the tomb even when He plans to raise the dead (John 11:35). He does not always take away the pain, but He sanctifies it. Every chemo session, every sleepless night, every moment of anguish was not wasted. He was refining them, shaping something eternal through temporal sorrow.

We must never see doctors as hindrances to God’s will. They are His servants—whether they know Him or not. Luke, beloved physician of the New Testament, served God not in a pulpit but with a stethoscope. God can work through a Word, through prayer, through anointed oil—or through medicine, wisdom, and skilled hands. All healing belongs to God, whether by miracle or by means. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17 NASB).

So then, what is their testimony? It is not simply survival—it is transformation. To be crushed and yet not destroyed. To feel the shadow of death, and yet walk through it with Yeshua at their side. Their testimony is not merely what God did to the tumor—it’s what He did to their hearts. He taught them to trust when the outcome was unclear. He stripped them of every false comfort. He called them to Himself.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67 NASB). Affliction became the shepherd’s rod.

So how do we find God in the trial? We press in. We stop looking for escape and start looking for Emmanuel—God with us. We find Him in the peace that made no sense, in the strength that showed up when theirs was gone, in the unity between husband and wife forged in the furnace. We find Him not just in healing, but in hope that does not disappoint(Romans 5:5 NASB).

Beloved, you may not understand it all now. But God wastes nothing. Even this will bear fruit—perhaps a deeper ministry, perhaps compassion for others walking the same valley, perhaps a hunger for eternity that burns brighter than before. Keep your eyes on Him. Thank Him for what He’s done, even as you ask Him what He’s doing still.

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (Romans 8:28 AMP)

God in the trial is still God on the throne. Let the testimony rise—not just that you were healed, but that you found Him in the fire.

Prayer

Father, we thank You—not just for outcomes, but for Your presence through the process. You are the Healer, the Sustainer, the One who never leaves. We praise You for every doctor and every prayer, every battle fought and every peace granted. We ask that You complete what You have started—not only in the body but in the soul. May this trial produce endurance, and endurance proven character, and character hope. Use this testimony to awaken others. Let them see You in the fire. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

See Also