Tag Archives: spiritual preparation

Faith

Faith That Builds When Others Doubt

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“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, AMP)

O beloved, hear what the Spirit says: God is pleased by faith. Without it, no man can draw near to the heart of the Father. Faith that builds is not hollow sentiment, but living trust—birthed in reverence and expressed in obedience. It is the whisper of eternity placed into the soul of man, calling him to walk not by sight, but by the certainty of the unseen.

Noah believed. Before the skies grew dark. Before the earth cracked open. Before the warnings made sense to any but the righteous. He moved in holy fear—not because he saw, but because God spoke. And Noah obeyed. “By faith… Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark” (Hebrews 11:7, NASB). He did not argue. He did not delay. He did not waver. He built. That, dear reader, is faith that builds.

God is not silent. He still speaks to those who seek Him with undivided hearts. He rewards those who listen and move. For this is the way of the beloved: to live not for the favor of man, but for the glory of the One who sees in secret. “The world has not known Him,” John once said, “but we have known Him, for He abides with us and shall be in us” (cf. John 14:17). What He whispers, we obey. What He reveals, we treasure. What He commands, we do—even if it costs us everything.

Faith that builds is like the seed planted in the soil of a pure heart. It grows when watered by the Word and tended with obedience. Remember Abraham, who left all he knew, not knowing where he was going. Remember Moses, who chose the reproach of Christ over the riches of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-26). Remember the saints who “conquered kingdoms… shut the mouths of lions… received their dead back by resurrection” (Hebrews 11:33-35, NASB). Their faith was not theory—it was action. It built altars. It moved mountains. It offered sons. It faced fire. And it won.

What are you building, child of God? Do not wait for thunder to obey. Do not wait for applause to act. Begin now. Begin quietly. Begin when it costs you comfort. For “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10, NASB). God has ordained your steps. He has called you to build something eternal.

Perhaps He is calling you to build a refuge in your home—a place where His name is lifted up and peace reigns. Perhaps a ministry is stirring—one that will feed the poor, preach the Gospel, or restore the broken. Or maybe He is asking for your heart, to build in it a sanctuary not made with hands. Do not fear the mockery of men. Do not measure your task by human standards. For “the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever” (1 John 2:17, NASB).

Faith that builds is never in vain. It prepares for what is unseen. It anchors in what is eternal. It draws down heaven’s favor and causes even the heavens to rejoice. For our God is faithful. He sees. He remembers. He rewards.

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Prayer

Holy Father, You are righteous in all Your ways. You are worthy of obedience, even when no one sees. I believe Your Word. I believe Your warning. I believe Your promises. Strengthen my hands to build what pleases You. Let my obedience rise like incense before Your throne. As Noah prepared an ark for the saving of his household, may I prepare my life as a testimony of faith. Draw near to me as I draw near to You. Let my days declare this one thing: faith that builds pleases the Lord. In the name of Yeshua, my Redeemer and coming King, Amen.

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Worship

A Fragrance of Worship

O beloved,

I write to you not with ink alone, but with the weight of the Spirit pressing upon my heart. On this holy Wednesday—this silent eve before the uproar—let us consider a mystery too profound for the natural mind and too precious for the casual glance. Let us look again into that dimly lit room where oil lamps flickered, shadows whispered, and the eternal collided with the earthly through a woman’s hands and a broken jar.

Then came the hush.

I was taken there in the spirit, to a house not large but holy. A woman entered—her face lined with sorrow, yet shining with a light not hers. She bore an alabaster jar, sealed with the cost of years. And when she broke it—O saints!—Heaven leaned in. This was not extravagance; it was revelation. This was not waste; it was worship.

A fragrance of worship filled the house, and angels wept. For the aroma rising was not just perfume, but prophecy. It spoke of death and resurrection, of preparation and promise. The oil did not anoint a man merely for burial—it anointed a King for glory. I saw in the spirit: thorns dissolving into gold, blood into righteousness, sorrow into joy. That room became a throne room, and Yeshua—our Messiah—was crowned in the eyes of Heaven before He ever ascended the Hill. Truly, it was a fragrance of worship.

Beloved, do you see it? The world calls it foolishness, but the Spirit calls it power. That which she poured out in a moment was seen and remembered by the Eternal. Her worship was a holy defiance against despair. Where the enemy plotted destruction, she declared destiny.

Yet, not all who watched saw the glory.

Behind the fragrance lurked a foul spirit. A man named Judas—once counted among the disciples—stood cloaked in silence, his heart coiled by the serpent. I saw the whisper in his ear, the scales of offense hardening around his soul. His mind reasoned where worship surrendered. His hands reached for silver when they could have grasped grace. Thirty pieces of silver—the price of betrayal—fell to the earth like a curse, echoing through the courts of Heaven.

But Yeshua—O bless His Name—lifted His eyes. And though He knew what Judas would do, His eyes were pools of mercy. He saw the betrayal and still chose the cross. He felt the sting of coming abandonment and still gave His body. He beheld the serpent and still crushed its head.

And still, He loved.

So I charge you, brethren and sisters, to let your worship not be contingent on comfort. Pour your heart before the Lord, not with calculation but with consecration. Break your jar before Him. Let the fragrance of your sacrifice rise into the heavens until angels take notice. Let your love speak louder than logic and your surrender ring louder than silver. After all, it is a fragrance of worship that truly honors Him.

We do not worship Him because it is safe.

We worship because He is worthy.

And you—yes, you—are invited into the same offering. The world may scoff, and Judas may still linger in the corner, but the fragrance of true worship will never be wasted. It will fill the room. It will shake the heavens. It will prepare the way for the Lamb. And every act of worship we offer creates a new fragrance of worship that pleases the Lord.

Now unto Him who sees every tear and every jar broken in His name,

To Yeshua, the King of Mercy,

Be all the glory, honor, and power—forever and ever. Amen.

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Prayer

Abba Father,

Strengthen us in the inner man to pour out our hearts as fragrant offerings before You. May we not hold back out of fear or offense. Let our lives be a holy preparation for Your return. Burn away every Judas-spirit of calculation within us and replace it with the fire of first love. Help us to see Your eyes of mercy, even when the betrayal surrounds us. Crown us with worship. Flood us with Your presence. Let us break our alabaster before You, knowing it is never wasted. In Yeshua’s mighty name, amen.

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I broke my jar before the King,
While angels watched and hearts took wing.
Though serpents hissed and silver fell,
Your mercy rose, Emmanuel.

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Advent

Prepare the Way: Walking in the Light of Christ This Advent

Advent is a sacred time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Light from on high. In Luke 1:76-80 (AMP), the prophetic mission of John the Baptist serves as both a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s work and a call for us to align our lives with God’s purposes. When we look to the original Greek text, we find deeper layers of meaning that enrich our understanding of these verses and their relevance to our lives today. This helps us prepare the way for the Light of the World.

“And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways” (Luke 1:76 AMP).

The Greek word prophētēs reminds us that John was not merely a predictor of the future but a spokesperson for God, boldly proclaiming the truth and preparing hearts to receive Jesus. His mission, grounded in the authority of the Most High (Ὑψίστου), was to clear the way for the Savior. Similarly, Advent calls us to prepare—not just our homes and traditions, but our hearts and lives—so that Christ may reign fully in us. Hence, we must prepare the way for the Light of the World.

The Knowledge of Salvation and the Tender Mercy of God

John’s message was centered on salvation: “To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins” (Luke 1:77 AMP).

Here, the Greek word sōtēria (salvation) speaks of deliverance, preservation, and healing, emphasizing that salvation through Christ is holistic and life-transforming. This salvation is more than an intellectual concept; it is an experiential gnōsis—a deep and personal encounter with God’s grace. At its core is aphesis, the complete release from the burden of sin, offering freedom and reconciliation with God. Preparing the way for the Light of the World is paramount to receiving this salvation.

This salvation flows from the tender mercy of our God (σπλάγχνα, splanchna). The Greek imagery here is profound: it reflects a deep, visceral compassion—God’s very heart moved toward humanity. It was this mercy that prompted God to send His Son as the Anatolē, the “Dawn from on high,” to illuminate the darkness of our sin and despair.

The Light That Dispels Darkness

“To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79 AMP).

The Greek verb phōtisai (to enlighten) reveals the transformative power of Christ’s light. This is not a superficial illumination but a deep unveiling of truth and grace that rescues us from skotos (spiritual darkness). Isaiah 9:2 echoes this theme: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Advent reminds us to prepare the way for the Light of the World, as Jesus not only dispels our darkness but guides us into the hodon eirēnēs—the way of peace. This peace (eirēnē) is far more than the absence of conflict; it is a wholeness, harmony, and restoration that comes from being reconciled with God.

Strengthened for the Mission

The passage concludes with John’s preparation: “And the little boy grew and became strong in spirit” (Luke 1:80 AMP).

The Greek word krataiousthai (became strong) speaks of empowerment and resilience, developed through time in the wilderness (erēmois). The wilderness was not a place of isolation but of preparation, where John was refined and strengthened for his prophetic calling. Advent invites us into our own wilderness—a sacred space to quiet our hearts, listen to God, and allow Him to prepare us for the work He has for us.

Lessons for Us Today

1. Prepare the Way. Like John, we are called to prepare the way for Christ, not just externally but within our hearts. Advent is a time to remove distractions, repent of sin, and align ourselves with God’s will.

2. Experience Salvation. Salvation is not just knowing about God; it is encountering His grace personally. Through His tender mercy, God invites us to experience freedom, healing, and wholeness in Christ.

3. Walk in the Light. Jesus is the Light that dispels our darkness and leads us into the way of peace. This Advent, let us invite His light to shine into every corner of our lives, illuminating what needs transformation.

4. Grow Strong in Spirit. Spiritual growth requires time in the wilderness—quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and dependence on God. As we seek His face, He strengthens us for His purposes.

Advent Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your tender mercy and the Light from on high who has come to rescue us from darkness. As we journey through Advent, prepare our hearts to receive more of You. Help us to walk in Your light, experience Your salvation, and proclaim Your truth to a world in need. Strengthen us in spirit, as You strengthened John, so that we may live boldly for Your glory. Guide our feet into the way of peace and draw us ever closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Light has dawned. Let us prepare the way of the Lord and walk in His peace.

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