“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV) It’s January, the start of a new year. Many consider it an opportunity for a fresh start. We can put last year’s disappointments and failures behind us and begin with a clean slate. We make resolutions, choose a focus word for the year, set goals, and begin our journey toward self-improvement. Also during this month, many churches set times of prayer and fasting to help us focus on the spiritual. checking my priorities…
Weariness is a universal truth—it reminds us that we are human, and even the strongest among us have limits. No matter how steadfast our faith, there are moments when life, ministry, and responsibility press heavily upon our shoulders. Weariness can manifest physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is a deep fatigue that cannot always be solved by rest or sleep alone, because sometimes the source of our tiredness goes beyond the body—it resides in the spirit. The Word of God acknowledges this reality. Isaiah 40:29-31 says: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Even when we feel completely spent, God promises that strength is available. The Bible doesn’t shame our weariness—it transforms it. Weariness is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power and bring revival into our lives. Second Thessalonians 3:13 reminds us, “But ye, brethren, be…
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:1–3). “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Meekness in a Proud World We live in a world that celebrates power, position, and pride. Yet in the kingdom of God, greatness looks very different. Jesus elevated meekness as a mark of spiritual strength, not weakness. When Mary knelt to anoint Jesus’s feet, she demonstrated one of the most powerful yet overlooked virtues in Scripture: meekness. Mary’s act of worship in John 12 revealed a heart fully surrendered. The perfume she poured out was worth a year’s wages, yet she did not hesitate. What made her action remarkable was not only its cost, but its spirit. With humility and reverence, she wiped Jesus’…
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field… Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:44–46, KJV). “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20–21, KJV). In two short parables,…
“Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12, NKJV) When Obedience Becomes Optional Disobedience is defined as a refusal or failure to obey authority. It often begins subtly with excuses, pride, or misplaced emotion and ends in painful consequence. Whether it’s speeding on the road, breaking policies at work, or ignoring God’s commandments, disobedience never leads to blessing. It is the root that separates us from divine favor. The story of Moses in Numbers 20 reminds us that even the most faithful servants can miss God’s promise when they choose their own method over His. One moment of disobedience, one choice to act out of anger rather than reverence, changed everything. Moses still received water from the rock, but his actions misrepresented God. The result appeared successful, yet his disobedience cost him entrance into the Promised Land. Partial Obedience Is Still Disobedience When the Lord instructed Moses to speak to the rock, it was not a suggestion; it was a command. Yet Moses, overwhelmed by frustration, chose to strike the rock twice instead. He…
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (First Corinthians 6:9–11, KJV) What Hinders Revival? In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul exposes the danger of spiritual compromise within the church. He names sins that not only destroy lives and relationships but also rob believers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God. These same compromises hinder revival. Revival is more than a church event or a weekend crusade—it is a lifestyle. The Hebrew word chayah means “to live” or “to revive,” and tachliyah speaks of “restoration.” True revival is a return to life— a restoration to the presence, power, and purpose of God. Throughout Scripture, revival always follows repentance and obedience. At Pentecost, believers were filled with the Holy Ghost, and three thousand souls were added to…