The Choice “I’m gonna blow your doors off!”  My frustration could no longer be contained on this particular morning’s commute in 1988 to teach at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. I was running late that day, and as was often the case, my three-year-old daughter, Sarah, was with me so she could attend the preschool classes. When we pulled out of our subdivision, we ended up behind an elderly man driving an old pickup truck at about 20 mph. After following him for about five minutes on a country road that offered no opportunity to pass, we finally turned onto a four-lane highway. By this time, I had totally lost my patience, and as I zoomed by his vehicle, I mumbled, “Man, I’m gonna blow your doors off!” Sarah was quiet for the next two or three miles, which I thought was rather unusual. Then, with great concern in her voice, she asked, “Daddy, why are you going to blow that man’s doors off?” While watching Sesame Street , she had recently heard the story of The Three Little Pigs  and the big bad wolf who blew their houses down. Now she was picturing me literally blowing the doors off this man’s truck! She had obviously been thinking about this nonstop since hearing my exclamation, and was rather alarmed and puzzled. Try explaining to a three-year-old why passing a person’s car is sometimes described as “blowing their doors off.“ Then, of course, she needed to know that I really didn’t dislike this elderly gentleman, just his driving.  After this enlightening experience, I realized I would need to be more careful about what I said around children. They are listening! We’ve been looking at Martha’s failure to listen to Christ as He taught in her home. Let’s take one more look at this powerful passage. There are still a couple more pearls hidden in it that are just too good to pass up. “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her,   ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her"’ (Luke 10:38-42). The Lord made an important statement to Martha, telling her that only a few things are really necessary in life. So far, so good. Food, water, shelter from the elements, oxygen - the list of essentials really is short. Then, He dropped the bombshell: “Really only one.”  He had me, then He lost me. I’m ready to admit that many of my “essentials” in life really are not. Most are for comfort, pleasure, or personal satisfaction. But the seemingly absurd claim that only one thing in life is really necessary is rather hard to swallow. But Jesus said it, and we have to deal with it. Connecting the statement to Mary’s decision to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to His words makes His meaning rather obvious. Here's my opinion of what Jesus meant by these words: “Martha, if you will truly connect with Me, everything else in life will fall into place. Order will be established; relationships will make sense; I’ll guide your steps into purpose and destiny; everything will work well if you’ll simply listen to Me. ” Astounding, incredible, wonderful, generous...and simple. Yet life gets complicated. The pace quickens, the to-do list grows, and the Martha side of our nature kicks in. The voice of the Master is then drowned out by the pace of life. When this occurs, and it will,  the solution is to return to the simple strategy of Mary: sit and listen.  The passage in Luke says that Mary “chose” the right activity. Most of us don’t believe, or we don’t take the time to consciously consider, that we always have the ability to choose the simple devotion demonstrated by Mary. But we do. Jesus then referred to Mary’s choice as “good.” That seems rather lame until the Greek word used is really understood. There are two Greek words that He could have used, agathos (1)  and kalos (2) . Kalos  means something is made well and looks good. It is even used for “beauty” or “handsome”; in our day, we use the phrase “good-looking.” Kalos can even include inner beauty or virtue. The word stops short, however, of suggesting practical usefulness. A good example of kalos  would be a beautiful picture - it looks good but has no practical use. When a word is needed, however, that adds the concept of usefulness or benefit, agathos  is chosen. To fully convey this aspect, agathos  is often translated “good works.” Essentially, kalos  is good looks, agathos  is good works. Jesus said Mary chose agathos . The irony of this is astounding. The person doing nothing was credited with doing the “good works,” not the person doing all the good works! That ain’t right, as we sometimes say. But it was, and it is. Christ was saying, “You look good, Martha, but your busyness won’t produce the good works you are looking for. Mary chose that which will enable her to truly do good works, and her fruit will remain.” We must always remember that it is Christ's life flowing through us that produces eternal fruit in others, not our abilities and self-chosen activities. I’m afraid all of us are seduced by this “good-looking” seductress of busyness once in a while. Jesus warned a group of believers in Scripture that this was happening to them. “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead,”  He said to the church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1). To the casual observer, their works must have been impressive. But the Lord looks not at our outward appearance, but at the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). His message to the Sardis believers was, “You’re kalos , not agathos . Stop with all the busyness and choose the good part - Me.” Christ is the source of all that is good - destiny, fulfillment, well-being. He offers us access to an infinite fountain of blessing. But we must make choices each day that will steer us toward accomplishing the good works He prepared for us. Choose to drink from His living waters. May our hearts never be led astray from a simple, pure, and steadfast devotion to Christ. Pray with me: Father, we pray for Your kids, so many of whom have become kalos  motivated. Many have bought the lie that polish, size, buildings, and “a name that we were alive” define success. Many have become so “good” at it, they no longer even need Holy Spirit. Yet, as our churches grew, no positive changes occurred in the divorce rate, crime rate, deaths from drugs, homelessness, human trafficking, government, and other concerns. In fact, we lost ground in all of these areas. We have epitomized kalos . But this is changing! A “sit at His feet” movement is occurring; a “tired of religion” company of believers is emerging.  We are hungry for You!  And we will pass on our insatiable hunger to a dissatisfied and hungry generation, an “I’ve tried it all and nothing has satisfied” company, desperate for the real thing. They are ripe for agathos, and You won’t disappoint them! Our decree: We decree that the great rescue is beginning! Today’s post was taken from my book   The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong’s Hebrew: 18. (agathos) -- Good, beneficial, virtuous.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/18.htm . May 12, 2025. “Strong’s Hebrew: 2570. (kalos) -- Good, beautiful, noble, excellent, honorable.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/2570.htm . May 12, 2025.

The Distractions  Yesterday , we looked at the biblical account of Mary and Martha, two sisters who entertained Jesus in their home. While Martha was distracted as she prepared Him a meal, Mary was seated at the Lord’s feet, hearing and understanding His words. The passage is so pregnant with revelation that it merits another look. “Now as they were traveling along, [Jesus] entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving along? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her”  (Luke 10:38-42). I’ve already acknowledged my tendency toward Martha-ism. I am important, after all! Someone once gave me a double-billed cap - one pointing left, the other right - imprinted with the words, “I’m their leader. Which way did they go?” I still wear it proudly! How sadly appropriate is this cap. There was a time when I needed only two of me to accomplish all of the “urgent” and “important” things I’m “called” to do. Now, I need me in triplicate. And my Martha ministry is still growing - soon I'll need to be omnipresent! Jesus disagreed with this outlook on ministry. In a loving yet stern way, He told Martha she was “worried and bothered about so many things”  (v. 41). Not good, especially when we take a deeper look. “Worried” is merimnao (1) , which has in its root meaning the concept of dividing or separating something. It is revealing that worry is defined by a “divided” mind. When we’re worried about something, no matter how hard we try to focus on other things, a piece of our mind keeps being drawn back to our concern. Our mind, therefore, is described as being “divided”. Martha, it seems, had so much going on in her life that her mind was divided between many concerns; “so many things” was the phrase Jesus used. And like all of us at times, her balancing act wasn't working as well as she thought. She was “worried and bothered”. Martha was, in all likelihood, servant-motivated. She was probably one of those gifted people who can do several things at once, and was most likely a hard worker. In this instance, however, Mary had it right. Multitasking can be good, but not when Jesus is talking. The Lord appreciates hard work, and He knows that at times we are going to be very busy. But He also wants times when we're all His. Take the cap off and sit for a while. The word bothered  is also painfully revealing. It is the Greek word turbazo , which is derived from the Latin word turba , meaning “a crowd”. Webster says “disturb”, “perturb”, and “turbulent” are all derivatives of the same word. (2)   When life gets too crowded, we get disturbed . Perturbed comes next, followed by turbulence.  Like an airplane flying through a storm, our emotions bounce up and down, making us short-tempered and irritable. Our health suffers, as do our relationships. Martha was not only irritated at Mary, she was even a little miffed at Jesus. “Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me,”  she grumbled. Barking out orders to God in accusatory language probably created just a little bit of turbulence in this room full of people! Mary wasn’t the problem, however, and Jesus certainly wasn’t. Martha simply needed to take her cap off, slow down, and listen. Her “crowded” mind couldn’t shut out all the noise. Many offices nowadays have ambient noise generators. They admit a constant but quiet sound, low enough so as not to be disturbing, yet loud enough to drown out other noises. They’re used in phone centers to drown out other voices, in counseling offices to provide privacy, and in various other businesses. Martha’s ambient noise generator was her service for Christ. Amazing, but true. Believe me, I understand. Her generator was the rattling of dishes, the banging of cupboards, and the clanging of utensils; my generator is the internal noise caused by travel, preaching and teaching, writing, correspondence, meetings, Give Him 15s, and more. All good, but not when they muffle the voice of the Master. Your ambient noise generator may be running a business, driving nails, keeping books, raising kids, social media, or even a hobby. It doesn’t matter what it is, just turn it off once in a while. Mary didn’t have one of those contraptions. She was mesmerized by His words. Her attitude was, “If He wants something to eat, He’d better stop talking. Because until He does, I’m not leaving this spot.” Why did Martha feel differently? Perhaps it was her personality, or could it be that Jesus had grown a little too familiar to her? Scholars agree that Jesus was very fond of Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus, and stayed in their home when in the area. Had Martha heard Him enough that the excitement had worn off? Does this ever happen to us? In Christianity today, Philip Yancey writes: I remember my first visit to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. Rings of Japanese and German tourists surrounded the geyser, their video cameras trained like weapons on the famous hole in the ground. A large, digital clock stood beside the spot, predicting 24 minutes until the next eruption. My wife and I passed the countdown in the dining room of Old Faithful Inn overlooking the geyser. When the digital clock reached 1 minute, we, along with every other diner, left our seats and rushed to the window to see the big, wet event. I noticed that immediately, as if on signal, a crew of busboys and waiters descended on the tables to refill water glasses and clear away dirty dishes. When the geyser went off, we tourists oohed and aahed and clicked our cameras; a few spontaneously applauded. But, glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that not a single waiter or busboy - not even those who had finished their chores - looked out the huge window. Old Faithful, grown entirely too familiar, had lost its power to impress them . (3) I’m afraid this describes many Christians’ relationship with the one we call Faithful and True. We’ve known Him so long, become so accustomed to Him, well, you know... Don’t ever stop being impressed with Jesus! Get out of the kitchen once in a while. Slow down. STOP! Fight tenaciously for quality time at His feet and never lose your hunger for the pleasure of His company. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for desiring to communicate with us. But so often we let Your voice be drowned out by other noises. Help us to always remember what is most important - You. You are worthy of the highest affections of our hearts. The harsh yoke of busyness and heavy burden of over-activity, we remove now and lay them at Your feet. Holy Spirit, help us to continually break away from the bustle and shut out all the noise. Today, we choose to cease from striving, so that with singleness of heart, we can rest at Christ’s feet, and be washed in Your words and love. May busyness never crowd out of our lives precious opportunities to enjoy the pleasure of Your company. And Father, we want those now coming into the family to be born into a “presence” movement, an “I’ve tasted and I’ve seen” movement. May they be “Presence Junkies!” Addicted! Give us this type of revival!! We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Jesus is building a church that will listen first, then do  exploits. Today’s post was taken from my book   The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong’s Hebrew: 3309. (merimnaó) -- To be anxious, to worry, to care for.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3309.htm . May 12, 2025. 2. The Consolidated Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary (Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers, 1954), s.vv. “disturb,” “perturb,” “turbulent.” Philip Yancy, “What Surprised Jesus,” Christianity Today,   September 12, 1994, 88. Used by permission.

The Decision  “Now as they were traveling along, [Jesus] entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”’  (Luke 10:38-42 NASB) This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture - and one of my least favorites. While it confirms the affections of my heart, it also convicts the decisions of my mind. I’m a Mary at heart, loving my quiet times and the moments when I find myself reveling in the Lord’s presence. At other times, however, life forces me into Martha mode, and I find myself trapped in the maze of a merciless schedule with seemingly no way out. Life is a constant balancing act, and too often the scales tip the wrong way. The most important things - God, family, and good health - are sometimes outweighed by the proverbial tyranny of the urgent. If we are not careful, the American Dream can become a nightmare.  This passage concerning Mary and Martha is loaded with helpful insights to aid us in overcoming this tendency. To find the nuggets, we must dig below the surface and do a few word studies, but I assure you, the treasure buried there is well worth the effort. Let’s begin with two Greek words used in the simple statement, “Mary...was listening to the Lord’s word.” “Listening” is akouo (1) , and has a broad range of meanings, depending on its context. It can mean simply “to hear,” but at times it carries the stronger meaning “to understand, hear with the ear of the mind; to hear effectively so as to perform what is spoken.”  “Word” is logos (2)   - Mary was listening to Christ’s logos.  This is not the normal   Greek term for spoken words (that is rhema ) (3) . Logos , which includes spoken words, has the added meaning of “connecting” or “linking” words in order to communicate thoughts and messages. Logos, therefore, embodies the logic that words are communicating - the meaning, message, or content. It’s easy to see the connection to our English word “logic,” which is indeed derived from logos . Mary was sitting quietly, listening intently to what Jesus was saying, and therefore was hearing more than mere words. She understood   the  message they were conveying. She was making the connection. Jesus’ words were penetrating her heart and mind, bringing knowledge, creating paradigms, and shaping beliefs. Martha, on the other hand, was busy working. She was so busy, in fact, that the Lord said she was “distracted” (perispao) (4) . The literal meaning of the Greek word used is much stronger than simply being distracted. In fact, the picture it communicates is brutal: “to drag around in circles.” Ouch! Busyness can indeed be a real drag. Okay, that was bad. But the point is important. Martha was more than just distracted. Her tendency toward busyness had gotten her life out of balance.  Ecclesiastes, the book of Scripture in which Solomon delineated his frustration with life, tells us, “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated ” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 GNT). We allow life to get out of control and far too complex. We must de-complicate things. Paul said to the church at Corinth,  “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). While Mary was enjoying the simple pleasure of His company, Martha was allowing it to further complicate her life. Be like Mary - do some simplifying at His feet! There is an interesting word in the passage that adds tremendous insight to the Lord’s gentle but revealing correction to Martha. Jesus told her she was distracted by all her “preparations.” The word used here ( diakonia ) (5)  is also the Greek word for “ministry.” In the Scriptures, there is no distinction made between serving or ministering to someone in a general sense, or doing so in what we’ve come to call “the ministry.” As far as God is concerned, whether we’re serving a family member, a friend, or a congregation, we’re all ministers. (Tell your friends to start calling you reverend!) The words used by Holy Spirit in this passage were chosen carefully in order to convey a critical understanding:  No matter how important or noble our activities may be, including working for Him, they don’t trump time with Him. Nothing we could possibly do in life is more important than Christ, our first priority. His words provide us with equilibrium - they keep our lives balanced. They form the beliefs, understanding, and wisdom we can use to build our lives. They provide structure and strength.  If our foundations are not laid with the strengths and wisdom found in His words, they will crack under pressure. The Lord used this analogy with Joshua as he was about to take over Moses’ leadership role (see Joshua 1:1-9). What a daunting task! Yahweh told Joshua to carefully listen to His words and remember them, reminding Israel’s new leader that they would bring him success and prosperity.  The Lord then gave him an interesting command: “Do not tremble or be dismayed” (v. 9). “Dismayed” is translated from the Hebrew word chathath (6) , meaning “to break.” Hebrew scholar Spiros Zodhiates says, “The meaning ranges from a literal breaking to abstract destruction, to demoralization, and finally to panic.” He likens it to the concept we use nowadays of “cracking under stress.” (7)  God was telling Joshua to “chill out,” to not let the stress get to him. The Lord knew Joshua’s assignment would be difficult. Possessing the promised land would be more demanding than camping in the wilderness. The latter involved the stress of day-to-day life; the former would add to this the struggle of war. The pressures on Joshua would be extreme. How could he keep from cracking under stress, maintain freshness, and joy? The solution would be listening to ( akouo ) the words ( logos ) of God. For you and me, it will be the same.  No matter how hectic your life has become, slow down for a few minutes each day and listen to Him. Get off the treadmill of life and spend some quality time enjoying the pleasure of His company. Let nothing stop you. With childlike simplicity, hang out with God.  Young Tommy had been an unexpected “bonus child” to his parents, and he continued to surprise and delight his family with his spontaneous expressions of love. Shortly after he turned five, Tommy asked his mother, “How old were you when I was born?” Upon learning she had been thirty-six, he exclaimed, “What a shame!” A little puzzled, his mother asked him what he meant. Tommy’s reply: “Just think of all those years we didn’t know each other.” (8)  Take a lesson from Tommy. Don’t allow another day - let alone another year - go by without getting to know Him intimately.  Pray with me: Father, we repent for letting the busyness of life keep us from the most important thing - time spent with You. Jesus, we don’t want to be casual listeners; we want to sit at Your feet and listen as You speak. Be it a loud trumpet call or a gentle whisper, we want to hear and follow every leading of Your heart. Father, we ask for wisdom and revelation, that we may truly come to know You. Holy Spirit, help us to apply our hearts to understand the messages Abba conveys, such that they’ll penetrate and transform every part of us. Let our lives be founded upon the wisdom of Your Word.  Jesus, we choose to slow down and connect with You, heart to heart. Once again, let us enjoy the pleasure of Your company. Our decree: We declare that we will sit and listen to Christ, Abba, and Holy Spirit. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong’s Hebrew: 191. (akouó) --  To hear, to listen, to understand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/191.htm . May 12, 2025.  “Strong’s Hebrew: 3056. (logos) --  Word, speech, message, account, reason, doctrine.” https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm . May 12, 2025.  “Strong’s Hebrew: 4487. (rhéma) --  Word, saying, utterance, matter.” https://biblehub.com/greek/4487.htm . May 12, 2025.  “Strong’s Hebrew: 4049. (perispaó) --  To be distracted, to be pulled away, to be over-occupied.” https://biblehub.com/greek/4049.htm . May 12, 2025.  “Strong’s Hebrew: 1248. (diakonia) --  Service, ministry, office, relief, support.” https://biblehub.com/greek/1248.htm . May 12, 2025.  “Strong’s Hebrew: 2865. (chathath) --   To be shattered, dismayed, terrified, broken.” https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2865.htm . May 12, 2025.  Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: New American Standard (Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1990), 1729. Adapted from Alice Collins, “All Those Years,” in Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, ed. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1997), p. 20.

Make It Serve You I have shared posts on the subject of forgiveness for the previous two days  [ May 12  & May 13 ]. Today’s post reveals, to some extent, the sense of humor God has. A couple of years after insisting that I forgive a man I blamed for so much pain in my family, and giving me the grace to do so (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas.   Shortly after arriving, to my complete surprise, I ran into the son of this man, who was also  there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be in the cluster of 15 or 20 students who became my inner circle.   He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place  a few years prior to this . Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to him with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment. About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the strict policy of the Bible College. The school was not a rehabilitation center equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. To violate the policy meant dismissal, along with suggestions for finding a place more suited to helping them. Of course, if Holy Spirit led otherwise, they made exceptions. The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was quite strict regarding the school’s policies, He was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office. He explained what happened with Tom, and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I feel I am to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is pure and repentant. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance. NOT! “I’ve seen you spending time in the prayer room,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but  was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must accompany him to the prayer room every day and pray with him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.” Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man’s father. Nothing! But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room dumbfounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but they were something like this: “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.” “I do,”  He answered. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.” I was able to  do this assignment. I led  this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as  making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and, as far as I know, was able to remain free. The word “overcome” in the verse above (Romans 12:21) is the Greek word  nikao . (1)  It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us. Romans 8:37 tells us : “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,”  (NASB). The KJV says we are more than conquerors. As this revelation was breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he could pass it on to us, Paul was overcome by the strength of what he was seeing. As he searched his mind for the correct word, he came up empty and finally had to take two words and make them one: hupernikao , translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The prefix  huper  means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our ability to conquer is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants us to overwhelmingly conquer our past and anything else satan throws our way.   “Through Him who loved us,”  Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a Giver, a Blesser, a Healer, a Destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of your pain. Let me have it.”  Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, working it for your good, making it serve you! You can do this. Let it go! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist,  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated “way of pain.”) Reveal any pain in us that could hinder our destiny. We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with the pain of past experiences. Help them let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father, and You will release and heal them completely. And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You that through our wholeness, we will produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people, then anoint us to release Your healing. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ and minister His wholeness to those in need. Click on the link below to watch the full video. “Strong ’ s Hebrew: 3528. (nikaó) -- To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm . May 12, 2025.

The Power of Forgiveness Yesterday ,  I spoke with you about offenses and forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “offense” actually came from animal traps. This word was the stick upon which a piece of raw meat was placed. When an animal reached for the meat, the trap was sprung, and they were captured. It is very revealing that the word for “offense” basically means to “take the bait.” This is also why it is called “picking up” an offense. Regarding forgiveness,  in yesterday’s post , we mentioned that the New Testament word means “to release.” A good translation of Luke 6:37 would be “Release, and you will be released.” When we release the person who has offended or wounded us, we can then be released from the bruises and pain they caused us. Releasing them releases us. We also said yesterday that forgiveness is a choice - a decision - not a feeling. My Testimony When I was 17 years old, my family went through a very difficult time. The Board of Directors of the church my father had planted removed him and took the home where we were living. The house had been given to our family, but for tax purposes, it was put in the church’s name. We were left penniless and homeless. I didn’t know at the time that they had removed my father because of immorality. Shortly thereafter, he divorced my mother and married the other woman. Our family was devastated once again. Circumstances had gone from bad to catastrophic.  I became bitter at Dad for his role in this, and at the church that abandoned my family, especially the chairman of the church board. I focused much of my anger upon him, an anger that soon became a bitter hatred. After all, he kicked us to the street. I said on several occasions that I could not kill this man, but I would rejoice if someone else did. Though it was irrational, I also became bitter at the church, in general. I associated my pain and my family’s disintegration with religion, and swore I would never darken the door of another church. Becoming very rebellious, I ran from God and turned to drugs and alcohol. God was incredibly patient. He protected me and, for two years, waited patiently for me to come to a point where I could respond to Him again. I returned to Him and have enjoyed a wonderful walk with God since that time. Around six months into my renewed walk with the Lord, He began dealing with me about my hatred for the man I had blamed for many of our problems. I heard Holy Spirit very clearly telling me I needed to forgive him. I did not angrily resist the Lord, but I did not believe I could ever truly do so. The bitterness I had against this man was so strong, I had no confidence whatsoever that I would be able to forgive him; I told the Lord this.  Holy Spirit was gentle with me, not condemning. His promptings always came as a gentle nudge deep in my heart. He was, however, insistent and persistent:  “You will have to do this if you want My best for you and to truly be free from all of the pain this caused.”  When my heart softened to the point that I was willing to try, Holy Spirit began teaching me how to do it. Some of what He taught me I shared in yesterday’s post . He revealed to me that I could have emotional feelings  of anger, hurt, etc., and still choose to forgive from my heart , overruling my emotions. As an example, He said, “You don’t like to get up early some days and go to work, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your responsibility . You don’t like to exercise, but you do it anyway because you know that you need to.” Then came the final blow, “Jesus did not want to go to the Cross, but He did so anyway, for the joy He knew it would produce later”   (Hebrews 12:2 ). “Choose to do this because it’s right, even though you don’t want to. Don’t allow your feelings to rule you. If you will make this choice and maintain the decision daily, I’ll be able to release you from all the pain, resentment, and hatred. Your responsibility is to let go; it’s My responsibility to heal your emotions and release you from every effect of this. Choose life!” Somehow, the dots connected in my thinking. I realized I could overrule my “feelings.” I didn’t have to “feel” like it, and I didn’t need any positive feelings toward this man. I simply needed to “release” him to God, trusting Him to do what was right. I did so daily, saying something along these lines (it’s important to say it), “I choose to release David [not his real name] from all he did to hurt my family.” Every time he came to mind, and unpleasant feelings began rising up inside of me, I would say it again, “I choose to release David from all he did to hurt my family.” Some days I had to do this multiple times. After a couple of weeks, he was rarely coming to my mind, and when he did, I felt less emotion. I continued this process. A week or two after that, he came to mind again, and I realized that I felt no pain or anger whatsoever. I was shocked! I knew God had released me from all the effects of what had occurred two years earlier. The Proof However, Holy Spirit wanted to show me that I was truly healed. One Sunday night, my mom and I were returning home from a church service and stopped at a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat. There were no tables available, and we were waiting for one when I noticed this particular man and his wife seated across the room. He noticed us at the same time. I also saw that he and his wife were seated at a table for four people, and two of the chairs were empty. He jumped to his feet and headed in our direction.  Well,  I thought to myself, he wants to say hello . I’m about to find out if this is real.  He wanted to do more than just say hello. “Would the two of you like to join us at our table?” he asked. “Sure,” said my mother, “that’s very kind of you.” I kept waiting for that angry, bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that used to surface when I thought of him. I expected at least a few negative emotions. But there were none. I was not having to feign being nice to him while burying my anger and hatred. It was actually easy - it felt normal to treat him with kindness. I felt no pain whatsoever. I thanked the Lord for delivering me from my chains of bitterness. No, this man did not become my friend, but he was no longer my enemy. Friends, regardless of the level of your pain, who hurt you, or when it occurred,  God can and will do this for you. Let’s pray. Pray with me: Father, it is impossible to go through life and not have many opportunities to forgive. You said offenses will come. You did not tell us to forgive only if we felt like it; You simply said to do so. You never ask us to do anything You will not enable us to do. So we choose this day to honor Your word and obey it from our hearts, our spirits, regardless of how our emotions feel. As we obey what You have said, our emotions and feelings must come into alignment with the Word-based decision we make. They must…and they will. As we release, we will be released. Father, we ask for tremendous grace to everyone praying this prayer with us now. Give them the grace to forgive and release. Let a process of healing begin for those who have been abandoned, abused, rejected, betrayed, and wronged in any way. Release a strong revelation that forgiveness is a choice we can all make. May today mark a new beginning for them, and all the negative results of what they have suffered be reversed. Let this begin today. We ask that You heal bodies through this. Mend hurting hearts and minds. Tear down the walls we’ve built to protect our emotions. Cause victims to be victimized no longer. Let the abused go free. Release captives, mend broken hearts, and restore hope. We ask that today truly be a new beginning. And we ask it all in the name of the great healer, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we will walk in forgiveness to all. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

It’s A Trap In Luke 17:1, Jesus tells us that offenses are inevitable; they WILL come. The Greek word for “offense” is skandalon . It is also translated as a “stumbling block,” a word or event which causes an individual to stumble or fall, figuratively speaking. This word is very fascinating.  Skandalon literally means “a trap-stick.” (1)  It was the trigger of a trap (usually made of wood) on which bait was placed; when the bait was taken by an animal, the trap was sprung. Skandalon  is also the Greek word from which we get our English word, scandal. When we, like an unsuspecting animal, take certain types of bait, we are trapped and often find ourselves in a scandalous situation. It also became the word for an “offense” since an offense results from “taking the bait” when wronged. Thus, the phrase, “pick up an offense.” When we have been wronged or mistreated, the key to remaining free from bitterness and lasting pain is to not pick up the offense - don’t take the bait. Jesus told us very clearly that we WILL be baited - offenses WILL come. We must not pick them up - they are traps! The bait used in an animal trap is food the creature finds appealing, something it desires to eat. How else could the trap actually be successful? Likewise, we pick up offenses because it is desirable; it feels good to pick it up. When treated poorly or unfairly, stolen from, spoken to harshly, abused, or mistreated, it is appealing to take the bait. We “deserve” to be angry, to feel resentful, to take up an offense. After all, they wronged us.  But it’s a trap! Years ago, in a certain part of Africa, monkeys were trapped by placing a banana in a jar that was tied to a tree or stake. The opening of the jar was just large enough for the monkey’s hand to fit through when open. However, when the hand was closed into a fist, it was too big to remove it. The monkey wanted the banana so badly that it would not let go of it, and consequently could not remove its hand. It was now trapped by its desire. If you have picked up an offense, if you have taken the bait, let go of it. It’s the only way to be free. If you hold on to it, you will become a captive to the effects of the wound, and to satan. Forgiveness - The Key to Freedom This brings us to the subject of forgiveness. Jesus told us in Luke 6:37 to forgive and we would be forgiven. In the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus again instructed us to forgive our debtors, or “those who trespass against us.”  The word forgive also means to release. “Release and you will be released,”  Luke 6:37 says. The key to being freed from the effects of being wronged - pain, fear, emotional walls, and more - is to release the person who hurt us. Let go of the banana. It may feel good to resent or hate the offending party, but it’s a trap. Here are three truths that will help you “let go.” Firstly, one of the biggest hindrances for those needing to forgive is a misconception of forgiveness itself. Most people tie it to their feelings. But forgiveness doesn’t come from our feelings or emotions. It is a decision we make based on truth, not how we feel. God did not intend for our feelings to lead or control us. They should not define us. Being angry at someone we love doesn’t mean we no longer love them. We may not “feel” the love at the moment - in our emotions we feel anger - but we still love the person. In the same way, forgiveness isn’t a feeling. We can make a genuine decision to forgive/release, while still feeling anger, hurt, pain, etc. We do so as an action of our will, based on truth - God said to do it. And if we maintain our decision, it allows God to work the process of releasing and healing us from the pain and hurt. Another hindrance to forgiveness is failing to realize that when doing so, we are not saying that the offending person did nothing wrong, or that they deserve  to be forgiven.. We are simply releasing them to God - He reserves the right to judge individuals. We are trusting Him to do what is right. Still, another hindrance to forgiving is the belief that if we have truly done so, we will then only have positive thoughts or feelings toward the offender. This is simply not true. There are people I have forgiven that I still do not trust or like as a person. Some are mean, unkind, and unrighteous. But I have chosen to forgive them, releasing them to God, though they will never be my friends. Roots of Bitterness When we pick up an offense, it will become a root of bitterness if not released. The fruit this bitter root produces is destructive: sickness, emotional disorders, anger, loss of joy, and a breach between us and God. It also spreads to others. Hebrews tells us that a root of bitterness in us defiles many.  “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15; KJV). The Greek word for “defiled” is also the word for a stain on clothing. When we become bitter, we stain others with our bitterness. We’ve all seen entire families separated through bitterness. How tragic. In tomorrow’s post, I will share the story of my hatred toward an individual, and God’s healing of my hardened heart. I truly hated this man and would have loved to see him destroyed. God, however, showed me I could release him, and would have to, to be released from my own chains. He will grace you to do the same. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for modeling love and forgiveness. While we were still sinners, You sent Your Son to die for us. Jesus, You forgave those who crucified You. We want Your forgiving nature to control us. We want to walk in love. We ask for grace now to do so. As You taught us to do, we choose to forgive those who have hurt us. We release them. As we do so, we believe it will release a healing process in us. Wounds will heal, sickness will leave, and emotions will no longer control us . We desire to forgive and release so You can forgive us (Mark 11:25).  And Lord, we know healed people heal people. Make us healers. Help us to spread healing love, not stain-causing bitterness. Heal our land of racial wounds, political division, and cultural divides. We want to see the accuser cast down in our nation. We bind spirits of division and strife, declaring their hold broken.  We desire to be ambassadors and examples of Your love and forgiveness toward others. Help us represent You well. We pray these things in Christ’s powerful name. Our decree: We decree that we will love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven by God. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Spiros Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - New American Standard  (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984; revised edition, 1990) p. 2274.

The Importance of Honoring Our Mothers  In America, on this upcoming Sunday, we will celebrate our Moms. Exodus 20:12 lists the fifth of the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”  Ephesians 6:2-3 echoes the commandment:  “Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” An article on the website CompellingTruth.org  shares interesting insights on honoring our parents: “What does it mean to ‘honor’ one’s parents? In the Old Testament, the word translated honor is the Hebrew kabad.  It means to be heavy, weighty, rich, and glorious. In other words, our parents should be a significant priority in our lives. They should not be ignored or taken lightly. Our choices should take their needs and wishes into serious consideration. “The Greek word used for honor in Ephesians 6:2 is timao.  It means to determine the value of something; in this case, determining that the value is high. We should give our parents a high value, even higher than those in ministry (Mark 7:9-13), and treat them accordingly. “What, specifically, does this look like? Basically, we are to take every passage that describes how we should treat others and apply it to our parents. Love them with agape love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Treat them with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Speak of them and to them with respect (Ephesians 4:29). Forgive them wholeheartedly (Matthew 18:21-22). And seek reconciliation when issues and misunderstandings get in the way (Matthew 18:15-17).” (1) Interesting thoughts. Our late friend, Quin Sherrer, shared some great insights a while back on honoring mothers, and on the history of this special day: “Did you notice that mother is singular in Mother’s Day? Special honor for YOUR special mom. You shower her with hugs and gifts. A phone call. Maybe even a meal out. “On Mother’s Day, you may honor your birth mom, an adoptive mom, foster mom, stepmom, grandmother, or even an aunt who ‘mothered’ you. Or perhaps you thank a special “spiritual” mom who taught and encouraged you in your Christian walk. I’m glad there is a day set aside nationally to pay tribute to them. History of Mother’s Day “In America, the ‘original’ Mother’s Day was observed in St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908 - spearheaded by Anna Jarvis as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. (2) “On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a national day to honor motherhood on the second Sunday of every May. In his first proclamation, he stated that ‘the holiday offered a chance to [publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’ He also saw it as a way to honor mothers who had lost sons during World War I. (3) “‘Therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution, do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.’ (4)  “Restaurants report it as their best day of the year. More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year. We do it to honor those women who loved us - and put up with us - all those years. We display flags, wear white carnations, buy gifts, and take mom out to eat.” (5)  “What about those of us who no longer have our precious moms with us? We can still remember and honor them by thanking God for their sacrifices, influence, and prayers. “Have you thought about sending a note of appreciation to a mom who influenced you? Maybe they counseled or prayed for you during a difficult season of your life? Or encouraged you in your career, or Christian journey? Perhaps someone else’s mom, who took time to care for you? Cards and phone calls can brighten their day and make them feel appreciated and special.” Signs of Motherhood I thought I would attempt to bring a few smiles to the moms joining me today. In the book Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul , Liane Kupferberg Carter shares an article listing several signs in moms that indicate what she refers to as “Advanced Mommydom.” (Don’t worry that you don’t understand some of these, guys. Just defer to the ladies.) Liane states: “You know you’ve crossed the threshold into advanced mommydom when: You count the sprinkles on each kid’s cupcake to make sure they’re equal. You hide in the bathroom to be alone. Your child throws up, and you catch it. You’ve mastered the art of placing large quantities of pancakes and eggs on a plate without anything touching. You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it’s the only one your child eats. You can’t bear the thought of your son’s first girlfriend. You find yourself cutting your husband’s sandwiches into unusual shapes. You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi’s mother. You become a member of three aquariums because your kid loves sharks. You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, “ Not  in your good clothes!” You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you. You use your own saliva to clean your child’s face. You say at least once a day, “I’m not cut out for this job,” but you know you wouldn’t trade it for anything.” (6) Honor a mother this week, especially this Sunday. You’ll be glad you did. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our mothers who brought us into this world. We are so grateful for them and the sacrifices they made to see us through our good seasons as well as our trying ones, challenging times as well as triumphant and joyous times. Show us creative ways to honor them. And help us teach our children and grandchildren how to bless the mothers and grandmothers who have gone before them, especially for those who left footsteps of faith for them to follow.  For the last couple of decades, it seems that we in America have failed to teach the important principle of honor. Whether it be our nation, its flag, our military, others who sacrifice for us, or even our fellow man in general, we have lost ground in this area. Help us to recover it. You told us to “in honor, prefer one another” (Romans 12:10) and give “honor to whom honor   is due”  (Romans 13:17). This is not an insignificant issue to You. And lastly, we honor You above all others. Thank You for Your love and blessings. And all of this we pray in the name of Your great Son and our Savior, Jesus. Amen.  Our decree: We declare that we will honor our parents, as God has instructed us to do.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. Www.Compellingtruths.org    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-proclaims-the-first-mothers-day-holiday Ibid. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff, Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.), pp. 135-137.

Our God Loves To Save! I want to follow yesterday’s post  with three encouraging facts regarding God’s desire to save the lost and restore prodigals. As you think and meditate on these truths, not only will they encourage you, but your faith will grow, causing your prayers to be more powerful. In later posts, we will teach specifically on how to pray for the unsaved. FACT #1: God Desires that Everyone Be Saved The beginning point of faith is to know God’s will - what He desires and has said. Regarding unbelievers, the Scriptures tell us He is  “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”  (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). We don’t have to wonder about God’s desire or willingness regarding the lost; He could not have made His will any clearer. The Lord wants every person to believe upon Christ and be born again. FACT #2: God Is Able to Save He CAN deliver and save. “ Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save” (Isaiah 59:1).  Not only is God willing to save the lost, He is capable of doing so. He has sufficient power and knows how to bend, shape, and change the perspective of unbelievers, bringing them to a revelation of Himself. Holy Spirit can break off every satanic stronghold and bring them to a knowledge of the truth. Allow the following story to encourage you: “While hitchhiking home, Roger Simms was picked up by an older gentleman in an expensive car. They talked about many things, including Mr. Hanover’s business in Chicago. Roger felt a strong compulsion to share his faith, but was apprehensive about witnessing to a wealthy businessman. Finally, nearing his destination, Roger spoke up. “‘Mr. Hanover, I want to share something very important with you.’  “He explained the way of salvation and asked if Mr. Hanover would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment, the businessman pulled over to the side of the road, bowed his head, wept, and prayed the prayer of salvation. He thanked Roger, saying, ‘This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.’ “Five years later, while in Chicago on a business trip, Roger went to Hanover Enterprises. The receptionist told him it would be impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but Mrs. Hanover was available. A little disappointed, he followed her into an office. “After exchanging greetings, Roger explained how Mr. Hanover had kindly given him a ride years ago. Suddenly interested, Mrs. Hanover asked when this had happened. When Roger told her it was on May 7, five years earlier, she asked if anything unusual had happened during his ride. “Roger hesitated, wondering if giving his witness had been a source of contention. But, feeling the prompting of the Lord, he told her that he had shared the gospel message and that her husband had accepted the Lord into his heart. “She began sobbing uncontrollably. After a few minutes, she explained that she had thought her prayers for her husband’s salvation had not been answered. After leaving Roger at his destination, Mr. Hanover had died that day in a horrible head-on collision.” (1) God is faithful! He knows how to unlock people’s hearts, how to convince them of their need and Christ’s provision, and when the time is right for them to be presented with the opportunity. And this certainly does not have to occur in a house of worship. God knows when to orchestrate hitchhikers’ travel home; He can cause unbelievers to drive the right highway, at the right time, and can motivate them to pick up the “evangelist.” God knows what He is doing! Don’t miss the fact that Mrs. Hanover had been praying for her husband’s salvation. Our prayers release God’s power; never forget this. (I will teach on this later in this series.) FACT #3: Christ’s Very Name Is Savior Another faith-building truth is Christ’s very name. “And you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “Jesus” comes from the Hebrew word Yehoshua,  from which we also get Yeshua. Both names mean “Jehovah/Yahweh is salvation,” (2)  originating from yasha, which means “save”. (3) Christ is called Yeshua because He is the Savior. Think about that: Jesus chose to name Himself, “the Lord who saves.” He wanted no confusion, no ambiguity, no doubt as to His heart and desire. I like to imagine the conversation that may have occurred as the Godhead was planning our salvation: After discussing the unimaginable truth that Christ would have to become a human, suffer, and die to redeem us, the Father asks Christ: “What name shall we have people call you when you become human, Son? Most High? Creator? Omnipotent One? Everlasting God?…” Perhaps pausing to consider the question, the Lord simply replies, “Let’s not complicate it. I just want them to know I’m coming to save them from the Fall, from the curse of their sins. Just have them call me Jesus, Yeshua, ‘Yahweh who saves.’ In fact, let’s just shorten it to ‘Savior’”. And that’s what they did.  The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11) “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:10). The Greek word for Savior adds further insight. It is soter,  meaning “a deliverer that is God.” (4) It comes from  sozo,  meaning “save, rescue, deliver, or make whole.” (5)  Whether it be Hebrew or Greek, Jesus proudly wears this name as His title! He loves to save! He WILL save your loved one, your friend, your neighbor! Charles Finney shared the following testimony of a father who came to a realization of the Lord’s intense desire to save his family: “I knew a father who was a good man, but who had misconceptions about the prayer of faith. His whole family of children had grown up, without one of them being converted. One day, his son grew ill and seemed ready to die. The father prayed, but the son grew worse and was sinking into the grave without hope. The father prayed until his anguish was unutterable. There seemed no prospect of his son surviving, so he poured out his soul as if he would not be denied. “Then, He received an assurance that not only would his son live, but he would be converted. God also assured him that not only this son, but his whole family would be saved. He came into the house and told his family his son would not die. They were astonished at him. ‘I tell you,’ he said, ‘he will not die. And no child of mine will ever die in his sins.’ Sure enough, the son lived, and the man’s children were all converted.” (6) Believe in the heart and power of the Savior! What He did for this father, He will do for you. Tomorrow, we will look at a few more passages of Scripture that will build our faith as we pray for unbelievers. Pray with me: Father, we pray today that faith will arise in the hearts of believers throughout the world. Awaken faith in them that You want to see people saved, and that You are well able  to do so. You are mighty to save. We pray today for those who don’t know You. We ask You to awaken unbelievers to their need of You, and to Your provision and love. We release Holy Spirit’s power to break every stronghold and frustrate every strategy satan is using to keep them deceived and bound. We loose them from all demonic control and all deception.  We prophesy to the wind of Holy Spirit: blow on the dry bones, giving them life (Ezekiel 37). Save and deliver them, in the name of Yeshua. Release Your power, revelation, and salvation. Send the appropriate believers to share with them. Pour out Your Spirit in homes, on campuses, in our churches – do it everywhere. We ask for this not just here in America, but around the world.  All of this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that “the Lord who saves” is coming with another wave of revival to redeem a billion people here in America and around the world.  Today’s post is adapted from my book How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones, published by Baker Books.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. Alice Gray, Stories for the Heart  (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1996), pp. 225-257. James Strong,  The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3091. Ibid. Ref. no. 3467. Ibid. Ref. no. 4990. Ibid. Ref. no. 4982. Charles G. Finney, How to Experience Revival  (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1984), p. 58.

“Doctor, When Do I Die” We are focusing this week on prayer for unbelievers. Yesterday , we shared three biblical truths that will increase our faith for this. Our faith grows by reading, hearing, speaking, and meditating on God’s Word. Today, we will look at five more faith-building truths regarding God’s heart for unbelievers. FACT #1: God Is Hungry to Save While on earth as a flesh-and-blood human being, with very real human appetites and needs, Jesus demonstrated that His hunger to save sinners was greater than His hunger for food. In John 4, He went out of His way to minister to a confused, immoral Samaritan woman, married and divorced five times, and currently living with yet another man. Jesus forgave her, poured His living water into her, and introduced her to God as Father. Immediately afterward, when encouraged by His disciples to eat, Christ simply said, “I have food to eat that you do not know about” (John 4:32). He was so excited about what happened with this seemingly hopeless lady that He had lost His physical appetite! She shared her testimony with the village, and many of them believed upon Him because of her words. They asked Jesus to remain in the village for a while, and He agreed to stay for a couple more days to teach and share with them.  “Many more believed because of His word, and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world”’  (John 4:41-42; NASB). Jesus hasn’t changed; He still loves to rescue the lost. FACT #2: Jesus Was Willing to Become Human and Die to Save Us Another powerful faith-building truth is that Jesus chose to become human in order to redeem humanity. No one, absolutely no one, could possibly imagine what it entailed for Christ to do so. He loves us so much that He chose to pay this price, rather than have us remain outside His family. When faced with the agony of the Cross, Jesus stayed the course choosing torture, humiliation, and death, rather than angelic deliverance. He could have called upon legions of angels to deliver Him (see Matthew 26:53). However, His desire to save us was and is so strong that no price or sacrifice was too great. He did this for YOUR family and friends! Put a face to the price He paid! In his book Written in Blood,  Robert Coleman tells the story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor had explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor. “‘Would you give your blood to Mary?’ the doctor asked. “Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, ‘Sure, for my sister.’ “Soon, the two children were wheeled into the hospital room—Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. “As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny’s smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube. With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence, ‘Doctor, when do I die?’ “Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he’d agreed to donate his blood. He’d thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment, he’d made his selfless decision.” (1) Johnny didn’t have to die to save his sister. However, this was not the case with Christ. Our condition required Jesus to give His blood and His life. And He did it gladly. That’s how much He loves us.  FACT #3: God Delights in Showing Mercy Still another important truth is that the Lord delights in showing mercy (Micah 7:18). It isn’t a stretch of God’s righteous nature to give mercy to unbelievers; He delights in doing so! Nineveh was a wicked city whose level of sin reached a point that demanded judgment (Jonah 3:4). However, when the people of Nineveh repented, God delighted in changing the verdict and releasing mercy! His heart hasn’t changed! He is just as excited to show mercy to your family member or friend. FACT #4: Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost (see Luke 19:10). Our holy and infinite God humbles Himself to seek fallen man. Unfathomable. I can wrap my finite mind around we humans being told to seek God, but every brain cell goes into overload when told He seeks us. God pursuing those who hate and reject Him? Where does such incomprehensible love come from? There simply are no words. God is on a quest. Every day, He looks down the road, waiting for another prodigal to crest the hill. When He sees one, He runs - yes, He RUNS to them - and embraces them even while they’re still covered with slop and mud. Then He restores the prodigal’s inheritance and throws a party saying, “My child is home!” (Luke 15:11-32). And His love is just as great for those who have never known Him.  FACT #5: Our Restoration to God Is the Theme of the Bible! And finally, think about this: the entire Bible is the story of God’s plan and desire to save the fallen human race, to restore them into His family. Genesis brings us very quickly to the Fall - chapter 3. The remaining 1186 chapters of the Bible are the story of God’s quest and plan to redeem the human race. After Adam’s fall, He didn’t run from us; we ran from Him (Genesis 3:8). He’s been chasing us ever since. God‘s heart is to save. Meditate on, feed your heart with the truths we shared yesterday and today. You will soon be filled with faith, fully convinced that the God who seeks and saves will do so for those you desire to see saved.  Pray with me: Father, satan’s plan to capture us began with him distorting Your heart. He has never stopped. The deceiver paints You as legalistic, mean-spirited, hard to please, one who loves to judge harshly, and who is distant and unapproachable. You, however, are the essence of goodness and kindness. Your merciful heart is to redeem. You desire intimacy with us, always seeking our companionship. Yeshua is the ultimate proof of Your love and compassion. You said in Your Word that we have power to demolish the mindsets satan and sin have planted in unbelievers, and to stop his schemes and plans from succeeding against them (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Therefore, we bind the lies, deceptions, mindsets, and beliefs he has ingrained in our prodigals and unbelievers for whom we pray. (Matthew 16:18-19). According to Luke 15:17, You can and will bring them to their senses. You will lift the veil from their eyes and shine Your light into the darkness (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). We use Christ’s keys of authority and release this now! (Matthew 16:18-19). We open the door for truth and light to reach them, and close the door to deception (Isaiah 22:22). We have been offered no less by You, Father, and by Your grace and power, we will accept no less! We ask and release these things in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that unbelievers and prodigals - by the millions - are coming to their senses and will come to the Heavenly Father.  Today’s post was adapted from my book How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching  (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993), p. 25.

The Harvest is Ready “It was 1973, and I was attending college, traveling fast but going nowhere. I had been running from the Lord for two years, serving the gods of alcohol, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. Though I had been raised in church (Dad was an evangelist and then a pastor) and had surrendered my life to Christ at a young age, at age seventeen, I rebelled from the Lord. Our family had gone through some devastating circumstances, which resulted in me becoming extremely bitter and disillusioned. The pain was so great and my confusion so strong that I did not know how to cope with it. I rebelled, turning away from God and the life I had known. “God was very patient with me, knowing my pain had caused the rebellion. He loved me through my pain-filled responses and didn’t take them personally. Then, in 1973, at a bar named The Boar’s Head—aptly so, since I was a prodigal and this was my pigpen—while I was listening to a rock band and stoned on marijuana, Holy Spirit spoke to me.” (1)  This was not the first time He had done so. God would often speak to me through my thoughts when I was alone. He was never condemning, only affirming. Often, I would lie in bed at night, when the world around me finally became quiet, thinking thoughts about God, life, and what I was doing with mine. I know now that Holy Spirit was stirring those thoughts, reaching deep into the hidden places of my heart, keeping me tethered to Him. On this night in the Boar’s Head, however, His tactics were different. He shouted through the clamor and noise around me, drowning out even the loud music. “‘What are you doing here?’ He asked. The Lord’s voice was so clear it may as well have been audible. His question wasn’t a rebuke, but rather a sincere prompting from deep in my heart. ‘You know this is not who you are,’ He continued, ‘and will never be who you are. You’ll never find the fulfillment and peace you’re looking for through this lifestyle.’ “Shocked and amazed that God would follow me into this place, my first response was, ‘What are YOU doing here?!’ “‘I’ve come for you.’ “Instantly sober, I went outside the bar to walk and think for a while…and dialogue with my Father, who was pursuing me. The Lord and I had several more conversations over the next couple of months, until I was finally ready to return to Him. Like the prodigal returning to his father’s embrace, I walked back into the loving embrace of Papa God. When I did, I found more than pleasure; I discovered my purpose in life. “Realizing the field of study I was pursuing was not what I had been created to do, I withdrew from college. I began a passionate pursuit of God, became active in a good local church, and connected with several other hungry seekers. I also began going on short-term mission trips, serving missionaries and the poor in Guatemala. Eventually, realizing I wanted to serve God in full-time ministry, I decided to attend Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. There I discovered God in new ways—over and over—and eventually met Ceci, to whom I’ve been married for forty-seven wonderful years. It has been a great journey.” (2) Back to Today Perhaps the number one request we receive at Give Him 15 is teaching on how to pray for people’s salvation. I will be doing so off and on over the next few weeks. Though many would find it surprising, there are seasons in which it is easier for the Lord to reveal truth to unbelievers and draw them to Himself. The biblical word for revelation literally means “uncovering or unveiling.” This lifting of the veil occurs not only in individuals but in the spiritual atmospheres of regions. When this occurs, the spiritual darkness and deception that blind people to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) are removed, and individuals in that region begin receiving personal revelation (See Jonah 3; John 4:40-42; Acts 8:1-8, etc). This phenomenon occurs in all true revivals. We are moving into one of those seasons. As we do, entire cities and nations will experience this lifting of the veil, and many people will be saved. Our prayers are used to generate this. It is time now to intercede for your loved ones’ and friends’ salvation. Angels have been activated to work in their lives, and God will speak to them, just as He did to me. It makes no difference what caused a prodigal to leave Father’s house, or what may be controlling a particular unbeliever: drugs, addictions, a wrong relationship, a broken relationship, or bitterness. God can reach them. The important thing is to be assured that He knows what is needed in order to save and/or restore them, and that He wants to do so.  Begin asking the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to them. He will (Matthew 9:38).  Ask Him to give them dreams and cause them to hear what they need to hear. He will.  Declare His promises over them; they don’t have to be in your presence for you to do that - He “sends” His word ( Psalm 107:20).  And believe that He loves the unbeliever more than you do! Bind the powers of darkness that influence and control them. Loose the unbeliever from demons and wrong influences (Matthew 16:18-19).  Speak to every mountain between them and Father God, commanding it to be cast into the sea; do so with faith and confidence (Mark 11:23-24). When we do, the demons and mountains of adversity don’t stand a chance! Pray with me: Father, we believe Your words. You said if we believed upon You, we would be saved and our household  (Acts 16:31). You said revival has begun, a billion souls will be saved, and prodigals are coming home. You have said signs and wonders will occur, drawing people to You. You said our sons and daughters will see visions and prophesy (Acts 2:17). We believe You! In Your mercy, lead prodigals into their pigpens. Feed them the husks and slop. Then, bring them to their senses. Speak louder than the music, the pain, the confusion, the anger, the temporal pleasures of sin, and the pigs. Awaken them to Your heart. Awaken them to the destiny You have for them. Remind them that they are called to know and do great things for You, not partner with the evil one who steals, kills, and destroys. We bind every evil force controlling the unbelievers for whom we are praying. We bind the lies that have been planted in their thinking, placed there by the world, the flesh, and the devil. We loose them from demonic control, addictions, and all other bondages. We call out in the spirit, “Come to Father‘s house! Prodigals, come and receive back your robe of righteousness, wear once again His ring of authority, and eat the fatted calf. You are called to know God intimately, to be a passionate worshiper, and become a powerful instrument in His hands. You are destined to be a deliverer, a reformer, a world changer. And you will experience this destiny.” We pray and decree these things in the name of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that unbelievers and prodigals are hearing a voice they cannot resist, and feeling a tug they cannot refuse. They are coming to Christ! Today’s post was adapted from my book The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company  (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group) pp. 28-29. Ibid.

The Spoiler One of the greatest offers in the history of the world was made centuries ago to a man named Obed-edom. At the instruction of David, king of Israel, he was asked if his living room could be the Holy of Holies for a while. After one of David’s men was killed trying to transport the Ark to Jerusalem, we’re told: And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.   (2 Samuel 6:10-11) Can you imagine being asked -- in Obed-edom’s day, by the way, when the very presence and glory of God hovered over the ark, “Would you mind if we placed the ark of the covenant in your home for a few months?” If you were a lover of God, this honor would have been unimaginable.  How would you respond? “Uh, I don’t know, King. I’ll have to think about whether or not I want the shekinah glory of God hovering in my living room for the next three months.” I don’t think I’d have had to pray about it. Obviously, Obed-edom didn’t. Can you imagine running to your wife and blurting out, “You’ll never guess what is in our living room!” And what about the conversation with your kids: “Now, guys, you can look but DON’T TOUCH!” And don’t you just imagine that Obed’s house became the first choice for the neighborhood home group! One can only guess what it was like at Obed-edom’s home for the three months the ark was there. Did they sit for hours and stare at it? Did it ever get dark in the house? (Think about it.) Did the presence of Yahweh permeate the whole house? Was there a constant haze? Did people fall down when they walked by it? We don’t know these answers, but we do know “the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household” during this unprecedented season (v. 11). We also know that when David finally moved the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, Obed-edom packed up and moved his entire household with it, becoming a gatekeeper in the tent that housed it, the Tabernacle of David (1 Chronicles 26:1-4). One can almost hear his conversation with David: “If you think, Your Highness, that after having the presence and glory of God in my living room for the last three months, that I’m going to live without it, you’re badly mistaken. You’re taking me with you!” David understood. It had been David, a lover of God, who decided to find the ark and bring it back to Jerusalem. “Then David consulted with...every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel… ‘Let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul’” (1 Chronicles 13:1-3). What a sad epitaph for a leader: “The presence of God was not sought after during his reign.” And what sad days those must have been for the Lord. I’m certain Yahweh was pleased when David, a man after His heart, wanted His presence to be the focal point of the nation once again. Yet the process turned out to be difficult. Due to the inappropriate way David’s team transported the ark, a man felt compelled to touch it in an attempt to steady it, an act that should have been avoided. The consequences of touching the ark had been clearly explained by Yahweh. The offender was killed by the glory of the Lord, which resulted in great fear and a three-month delay. This is why the ark made its way to Obed-edom’s house. David researched the correct way to transport the ark, and it was relocated to Jerusalem. Obed-edom, however, was not about to buy into the separation. “Pack up, guys,” he told the family. “We’re moving.” I’ve done the Obed-edom thing - sort of. Obviously, it wasn’t exactly the same, but it was about as close as you could get to it nowadays. In 2008, in the Colorado Springs church I pastored, we had a special series of services. On Sunday morning, a prophetic guest dropped a bombshell: “Put everything else on hold for ninety days, and do nothing but 24/7 worship. Just as Obed-edom hosted the ark of His presence for three months, God is asking you to do the same,” he declared. My mind began racing: Was this really a word from Holy Spirit? Should we try it? Could we pull it off? What about our other programs? How would this affect the church? These and other questions flooded my mind.  But…we did it! We did the Obed-edom thing. The next three months became the best of my life. Like Obed-edom, I was ruined. The logistics were challenging, of course, but the worship never stopped, not even to preach in our services. And the presence of God in our sanctuary for the next ninety days, well, it was thick and weighty. I canceled all but a couple of my speaking engagements during the three months and spent several hours every day just hanging out with God. Not only did it change my life, it also changed the lives of hundreds of others. People sacrificed their vacation days and spent them with God. Occasionally, entire families brought sleeping bags and spent the night “camping out” in His presence. Many came on their lunch breaks. A few people came and spent time with Him every  day; one lady actually spent all night, every night, there. An Air Force colonel came every morning on his way to work and stopped in every night after work. In the end, all who participated were ruined. Normal, for us, had become radical. Thirty or forty minutes, a few worship songs on Sunday morning would never again satisfy. The Obed-edom thing causes BIG problems. It’s   now easy to see why he didn’t even try to fight it. “I’m addicted,” he said through his actions. “Where the ark goes, I go.” David seemed to understand: “No sense in arguing with him; he’s ruined. He’ll never outgrow it or outlive it. Make him a doorkeeper at the tent.” David, too, became “addicted.” I finally understood why he would say, “A day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside”  (Psalm 84:10). David also said, “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). Understood. You, too, can do the Obed-edom thing. No, not 24/7. But the Lord wants to hang out in your house. His presence is no longer limited to an ark in a Holy of Holies. Pursue Him. If you do, like the bride looking for her groom in the Song of Solomon, He’ll let you find Him. Oh, how He wants to be found. Until you experience this pleasure, you’ll never really understand it. Once you have, you’ll refuse to ever again be without it.  Pray with me: Father, we’ve tasted of and seen Your goodness, and we hunger and thirst for more. We desire to host You, Your presence, and we want this for others. Let us encounter Your presence to such an extent that we are ruined for anything less. Come, show us Your glory; reveal Yourself to us. Thank You for letting Yourself be found by those who seek You wholeheartedly.  One day with You, Jesus, is so much better than a thousand spent anywhere else. May dwelling in Your presence be our highest aspiration, our greatest fascination, and the deepest longing of our hearts. Let all things pale in comparison to time spent in the pleasure of Your company. Yahweh, humankind’s fallen nature, aided by satan and religion, has distorted the perception of Your true nature. No longer seen as a loving Father, You are perceived as distant, uncaring, impossible to please, and a harsh Judge. May the coming “presence movement” shatter these misperceptions, just as surely as Christ did when He revealed Your nature 2000 years ago. And may Your Abba-heart be seen by a lost, hungry world. Do the Obed-edom thing around the world! Send revival! In Christ’s name, we pray...Amen. Our decree: We decree that we are hungry for the presence of our Father, of Christ, and of Holy Spirit. We will never be satisfied without it. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company ,  published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

The Spirit of Revival on U.S. College Campuses In the quiet yet powerful moments of history, God often chooses to move among the next generation—those young hearts hungry for truth, freedom, and purpose. Today, we are witnessing a divine awakening sweeping across the college campuses of America. A fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of thousands of students, igniting a fire of faith that is transforming lives and reshaping the future of our nation. This is not just revival. It is also a prophetic sign—a signal that God’s Spirit is once again moving in power to awaken the church, reawaken the nation, and fulfill His divine purposes for this generation. It is a kairos  moment—a divine opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up in faith and partner with heaven for the greatest awakening in history. The Spirit of Awakening: A Divine Call to the Next Generation Throughout history, God has chosen young people to be the catalysts of spiritual renewal. From the student revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries to the powerful moves of the 20th century, the youth have often been at the forefront of God’s divine plans. Today, we are seeing this pattern repeat itself—God is awakening a generation on the campuses, calling them to be His mighty witnesses. Young people are standing boldly, professing their faith in Christ, and being baptized, declaring that Jesus is their Lord. These acts of surrender are not just moments of individual salvation; they are prophetic declarations that the kingdom of God is breaking into the heart of academia, challenging the darkness and establishing His light. A Harvest of Souls: Thousands of Lives Transformed Reports from campuses across the nation tell of thousands of students experiencing encounters with Jesus—dreams, visions, and powerful testimonies of salvation. Baptisms are happening in dormitories, campus chapels, and even in lakes and rivers near college towns. These are not isolated incidents but a widespread movement—a wave of revival sweeping through the land. This revival is characterized by genuine repentance, hunger for the Word, and a desire to see God’s kingdom established on earth. Students are not just interested in superficial religion; they are hungry for authentic encounters with the living God. They are rising up with a newfound zeal to share the Gospel, to pray for their campuses, and to see the kingdom of God come in power. The Power of Prayer and Worship: Fueling the Fire At the heart of this movement is a renewed passion for prayer and worship. Students are gathering in prayer meetings that are overflowing with the presence of God. Worship is erupting on campuses as young voices lift high praise, declaring the supremacy of Jesus. These moments of prayer and worship are becoming portals for divine revelation and transformation. In these campus gatherings, prayer is becoming a mighty weapon—breaking down barriers, tearing down strongholds, and ushering in God’s glory. Faith in Action: Evangelism and Discipleship This awakening is also marked by a tangible desire to see lives transformed through evangelism. Students are stepping out boldly—sharing their faith on social media, engaging in street evangelism, and forming discipleship groups. They understand that revival is not just about personal salvation but about transforming entire communities for Christ. Many campuses are witnessing the birth of student-led prayer groups and outreach ministries. These young warriors are declaring that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and are partnering with heaven to see cities, states, and even the nation touched by the gospel. A Prophetic Sign: The Spirit Moving in Power This movement on college campuses is more than a societal trend; it is a prophetic sign—a divine forecast of what God has begun on the earth. Holy Spirit is being poured out on all flesh, and young men and women are receiving visions and dreams, prophetic words, and divine assignments. God will use this generation to carry the torch of revival. These students are not just the future of the church; they are the church now, armed with power and purpose. The Role of Prayer  In this season, our prayers are crucial, creating a spiritual atmosphere conducive to revival. Declare God’s promises over campuses and cities. Remember that prayer is the engine of revival—the fuel that ignites the fire. This is a season of divine breakthrough. Our prayers are breaking chains, releasing the Spirit’s power, and opening the heavens for an unprecedented move of God. This is just the beginning. The revival on campuses is gaining momentum, and the Spirit of God is inviting the church to join in. Now is the time for believers everywhere to pray more fervently, to believe more boldly, and to partner with heaven in seeing this move multiply. We must continue to cry out, to declare His promises, and to believe that the greatest harvest of souls is on the horizon. The Spirit is moving powerfully among the youth, and God is calling His church to rise up in faith, to partner with heaven, and to be part of this historic awakening. The Lord is saying, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you”  (Isaiah 60:1). We must partner with heaven through prayer, faith, and boldness. We must believe that God’s promises are yes and amen and that He is faithful to finish what He has begun. So rejoice, pray fervently, and stand in faith, declaring that this is the beginning of a new era—an awakening that will sweep across America and the world, bringing in a harvest of souls and revival that is unprecedented. Revival has begun—let us embrace it with all our hearts and see the greatest move of God in history unfold right before our eyes. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, longing for a mighty outpouring of Your Spirit upon our campuses across America. Lord, You see the hunger and the brokenness, the apathy and the lostness that grip the hearts of students and faculty alike. We cry out for revival—an awakening that will shake the very foundations of our institutions and ignite a passion for Your truth and Your righteousness. Father, we ask You to pour out Your Spirit in power, to break every chain of complacency, and to ignite a fire of holiness within every student and leader. Send a fresh wave of conviction, repentance, and renewal. Raise up mighty warriors for Your Kingdom—students, professors, administrators—who will stand boldly for Christ and proclaim Your Gospel with boldness and love. We declare that revival begins now, in the name of Jesus. Let Your Spirit sweep across every campus, transforming minds, hearts, and lives. We believe You are able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Let Your Kingdom come, and let it come now—on American campuses, as it is in Heaven. Amen. Our decree: We decree that revival has begun and will continue on the campuses of America and throughout the world. Click on the link below to watch the full video.