Returning to Intimacy

Tag: jesus

  • All Praise To The King!

    A Prayer of Praise

    Sovereign and Holy God, we lift our voices in praise to You! You reign in majesty, clothed in glory and splendor, and there is none like You. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God, and Your kingdom has no end.

    We exalt You, O Lord, for Your faithfulness never fails, and Your mercy is new every morning. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords, mighty in power yet rich in love. Your righteousness and justice establish Your throne, and Your grace overflows to all who seek You.

    With all creation, we declare Your greatness! The heavens proclaim Your handiwork, and the earth is full of Your goodness. Holy and worthy are You, O King, and we bow before You in reverence and joy.

    Let our lives be a song of praise, and may our lips never cease to honor You. Be glorified in us, O Lord, now and forever.

    In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

  • O.U.R .F.I.R.S.T. L.O.V.E.

    Revelation 2:4-5 NLT
    “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

    O – Only Savior
    U – Unfailing Love
    R – Redeemer

    F – Faithful Friend
    I – Immanuel
    R – Risen King
    S – Shepherd of Our Souls
    T – Triumphant Victor

    L – LAMB of God
    O – Overcomer
    V – Vine of Life 
    E – Eternal King   

    Thank You, Lord, that Your mercy invites us to return to You. Thank You for calling us back, for not leaving us where we were. We are grateful for the oil of intimacy being restored, for hearts that burn again with passion for You. In Jesus’ name

  • What’s Your Nineveh?

    Father, You are sovereign and merciful, patient beyond measure. You are the God who calls, who pursues, and who redeems. No one is beyond Your reach, and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. You are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, desiring that all would turn to You. We worship You for Your wisdom, Your justice, and Your unfailing grace.

    Lord, we confess that we are often like Jonah. We hear Your call, yet we run, whether out of fear, pride, or reluctance. We resist when You ask us to love those we find difficult, to speak truth where it is uncomfortable, or to step into places that stretch our faith. Forgive us for our disobedience, for placing our own will above Yours. Forgive us for doubting that Your plans are always greater than our own.

    Thank You, Father, for not giving up on us. Just as You pursued Jonah, You pursue us with unwavering love. Thank You for the storms that redirect us, the moments of grace that bring us to surrender, and the second chances You freely give. Thank You for the privilege of being part of Your work, for using imperfect people to accomplish Your perfect will.

    Lord, give us hearts that are quick to obey. Fill us with courage to step into the unknown, trusting that where You call us, You go before us. Align our hearts with Yours so that we desire what You desire. Help us to love as You love, to speak as You speak, and to act as You command. When fear tries to hold us back, remind us that obedience is always better than running. Let our lives be a reflection of Your mercy and truth, leading others to You.

    In Jesus’ name, 

  • Breaking Chains with Love: A Journey of Faith in the County Jail

    One of the most defining and faith-testing moments of my life came in 2018 when the Holy Spirit led me into an unfamiliar and intimidating place, the County Jail. It was shortly after my husband had transitioned home, and though grief weighed heavily on my heart, God had a calling for me in that season. He was sending me to bring His love to incarcerated women who longed for change, women who desperately needed to know that they were still seen, still loved, and still worthy of redemption.

    I knew this mission was from God because, despite my initial fears, the process of gaining approval to serve in the jail was seamless. Doors opened effortlessly, and the Holy Spirit’s presence was undeniable in every session I led. With each visit, I came to understand a truth that would shape my ministry: before discipleship, there must be relationship. It wasn’t enough to simply teach the Word, I needed to first show these women that they were valued, heard, and embraced by God’s love.

    However, one of the greatest challenges I faced in the Return to Intimacy classes was the ever-changing group of inmates. Many women were transferred or released before deep relationships could be formed. Yet, amid the constant shifting, there were three women who remained present for almost every session—three women who, by the grace of God, surrendered their lives to Christ.

    The Holy Spirit moved powerfully during our time together, and I witnessed remarkable transformations in those who were able to consistently attend the eight-week classes. But the most powerful moments came from an unexpected source, letters of encouragement written by students from a Christian Academy.

    Oh, how the Spirit moved! When I read those letters aloud, chains, both spiritual and emotional, began to break. Tears streamed down faces. Hope was rekindled in weary hearts. Women who had felt forgotten were reminded that they mattered.

    One letter, written by an eighth-grade student, deeply touched the women:

    Student’s Letter:

    Dear Beautiful, Talented Women,

    I know that you don’t hear it a lot, but you are very beautiful, and you have the potential to do whatever it is you set your mind to. Don’t let this trial dictate the rest of your life. God is going to bring great joy to you, something beyond what you could ever imagine, if you just keep your mind on Jesus.

    If you have children, they are looking forward to seeing you soon, and that will happen as long as you stay prayed up and focused on God.

    Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”

    You are beautiful. You have a purpose. You are special. Don’t let anyone EVER tell you otherwise.

    — 8th Grader

    The response from one of the inmates was equally powerful, filled with gratitude and a renewed sense of hope:

    Inmate’s Response:

    To the students of this Divine School—

    Even though children of God never stop working, I want to thank you all for taking the time to send us these letters. You have no idea how much we need the hope of God here. We need people to remind us that somewhere, somebody still cares. Your words give us hope, that we will get out of here and return to a “normal,” God-purpose-filled life.

    Most of us want to do the right thing. We know there is a God who loves us so much, but somewhere along the way, we just forget. It’s like when Peter walked on water but lost focus for just a moment.

    Thank you for keeping us lifted with your letters and prayers. Please keep writing to us. Your words remind us that hope is alive, that God is still moving, and that we are still His.

    God bless you all, and never forget that you are children of God with smiling hearts. Share a smile and know that you are loved.

    — Female Inmate

    I thank God for using the Holy Spirit to silence my fears and allow me to be His vessel during that season. Every tear shed, every heart softened, and every soul that turned back to Him was a testimony of His love and power. I may have walked into that jail uncertain of what lay ahead, but I left knowing without a doubt that God was working.

    His love sees beyond prison walls. His grace reaches into the darkest places. And His hope restores the most broken hearts.

    To God be the glory!

  • Reorienting Your Life Around God’s Word and Fellowship

    Sunday’s message was a powerful reminder that our lives are best anchored in the Word of God and enriched through true fellowship. Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, the call is twofold:

    Anchor in Apostolic Doctrine:
    When we align our lives with the apostolic teachings, we create a solid foundation much like the Temple and the Table. Jeremiah 23:29 urges us to reorient our entire lives around the Word of God, emphasizing that Scripture is our tether to God. Just as the Bereans in Acts 17 diligently searched the Scriptures, we too are encouraged to seek truth and ensure our doctrine is firmly rooted in God’s revealed truth.

    Center on Fellowship:
    The early church demonstrated that genuine fellowship isn’t just a social activity; it’s integral to living out our faith.  Our Microchurch Pastor testified that reorienting our lives around authentic community means coming together to share life, support one another, and worship collectively. This communal bond reinforces our spiritual journey, ensuring that our personal growth and collective worship go hand in hand.

    In essence, Sunday’s message challenges us to examine our lives: Are we truly rooted in God’s word? And are we nurturing meaningful fellowship? The answer lies in a life reoriented around both the unchanging truth of Scripture and the warmth of a community that lives it out daily.

    Heavenly Father,
    We come before You with grateful hearts, seeking to reorient our lives around Your everlasting Word and the fellowship You so graciously provide. Just as the early believers gathered as a living temple and broke bread together at the table, we ask that You mold us into vessels of Your presence and instruments of Your love.

    Lord, help us to be ever mindful that Your Word is our foundation. May it dwell richly within us, guiding our thoughts, actions, and relationships. Transform our hearts into sanctuaries where Your truth and compassion abound, so that we may reflect Your holiness in every aspect of our lives.

    We also pray for the spirit of true fellowship, that we may embrace one another with warmth and understanding. As we share meals and moments of genuine connection, let our gatherings become a testimony to Your grace and a beacon of hope in our community. May our bonds strengthen as we support one another in both joy and sorrow, always mindful of Your tender care.

    In times of challenge, remind us of the safe haven we have in You, a temple where Your Spirit dwells and a table where we share in the sustenance of Your love. Empower us to seek Your truth with the same diligence as the Bereans, and to extend compassion and hospitality to all around us.

    We thank You for the gift of Your Word and the blessing of fellowship. Guide us daily to live in a way that honors Your presence, drawing us ever closer to You and to one another. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

  • Pray Without Ceasing!

    Heavenly Father,

    We come before You in this urgent hour, standing watchful and sober-minded as Your Word instructs. You are the Sovereign God, who rules over the nations, and nothing escapes Your sight. Your Word declares in Isaiah 2:4 that You shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

    Lord, we see the signs of the times, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms. Famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and sorrows fill the earth just as Your Son, Jesus, forewarned. The spirit of antichrist seeks to deceive many, and the spirit of delusion moves across the land. But You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

    We pray for discernment to recognize the hour in which we live. Keep us sober and vigilant, watching and praying without ceasing. Let our hearts not be weighed down by the cares of this life, but fixed on You the Author and Finisher of our faith.

    Father, we declare that we want what You want, nothing more, nothing less. Align our hearts with Your will. Let Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Cover us under the shadow of Your wings. Strengthen Your Church to stand as a light in the darkness, proclaiming the gospel with boldness and unwavering faith.

    We plead the blood of Jesus over our families, our communities, our nation, and the nations of the world. Preserve the minds of Your people from deception. Release a spirit of repentance and revival across the land. May we endure to the end, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the hope of glory.

    In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

  • Our Source Is God!

    We are living in a world that is getting darker with each passing day. When someone holds so much power and influence, especially in areas that directly impact people’s livelihoods, it’s crucial that they lead with wisdom, fairness, and compassion. Unfortunately, many leaders in our world prioritize efficiency, control, and personal ambition over the well-being of others.

    Firing people without notice, disrupting industries, and making drastic changes without concern for how it affects everyday workers can feel heartless and unjust. It reminds me of how the Bible warns against the love of money and power over people. Proverbs 22:16 says, “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” True leadership, as God shows us, is about serving others, not just making profits or advancing technology at the expense of human dignity.

    At the same time, it’s a reminder that we can’t put our trust in human leaders. No matter how much power someone has, they are still just a person, flawed, limited, and ultimately accountable to God. As Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save… Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

    Even as we see these things unfold, we can pray that God will soften the hearts of leaders, that those affected by these decisions find new opportunities, and that we as believers stay focused on our true source of provision and justice.

  • Come Lord Jesus!

    Prayer of Longing, Surrender, and Preparation

    Abba Father, our soon coming King,

    We come before You with hearts open, desiring to know You more. You are the God who sees and knows our beginning and our end. (Revelation 22:13). Thank You for revealing the mystery of Your will that through Jesus, You are reconciling all things to Yourself (Ephesians 1:9-10).

    Lord, we acknowledge You as Judge, because You are righteous and just. As King, because You reign with power and authority, and as Bridegroom, because Your heart is full of love, longing for intimacy with Your people. Help us not to fear Your coming, but to embrace You with expectation and hope (Zechariah 12:10).

    Jesus, You are the King who was born to die, the Lamb who was slain, and yet You live forevermore. You are our blessed hope. Ignite in us a longing for Your return, not out of fear, but from a deep desire to be with You.

    Holy Spirit, teach us how to cultivate oil in our lamps like the wise virgins. (Matthew 25:1-13). Draw us into daily communion with You. Help us to prioritize intimacy over performance, presence over busyness, and trust over fear. Let our hearts burn with love for You.

    In moments where fear tries to grip our hearts, remind us of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, that we are one with You, even as You and the Father are One. Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18), and Your love is perfect toward us.

    We choose today to embrace You, not as a distant God, but as the Bridegroom who is coming for His Bride. As we wait, may we be found faithful, filled with oil, and shining brightly in this dark world.

    Even so, Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
    Our hearts are Yours now and forever. In Jesus’ name.

    Amen.

  • The Urgency of Living for God Now!

    “While there is still time.”

    In 1 Peter 4:1-11, the Apostle Peter calls believers to embrace a life fully dedicated to God, emphasizing the urgency of living righteously in the face of fleeting time and impending judgment.

    Peter begins by urging believers to arm themselves with the same mindset as Christ, who suffered in the flesh for the sake of righteousness. This means we must die to sin and no longer live for our own desires but for the will of God (v.1-2). The time for indulging in the world’s empty pleasures is over. There is no room for compromise, no time to waste in patterns of sin that only lead to destruction (v.3).

    The world may not understand our transformation, and we may face ridicule and rejection for choosing righteousness (v.4), but Peter reminds us that judgment is coming both for the wicked and the righteous. Those who live in disobedience will give an account to God, while those who have heard and accepted the gospel will live forever in His presence (v.5-6).

    The urgency intensifies as Peter declares,The end of all things is near” (v.7). This is not a call to fear but to take action. Believers must be clear-minded and self-controlled so they can pray effectively, staying in tune with God’s will. Love must be the foundation of our lives, as it “covers a multitude of sins” (v.8). Instead of living selfishly, we must serve one another, using our gifts to glorify God and minister to His people (v.9-10).

    Finally, Peter reminds us that everything we do should be for God’s glory (v.11). Whether in speech or service, we must operate in His strength so that through us, Christ is magnified. We don’t have forever to get it right. The time is now to abandon sin, love deeply, serve faithfully, and live every moment as if standing before God Himself.

    This passage is an urgent wake-up call: the world is fading, our days are numbered, and eternity is at stake. Will we waste our time on fleeting pleasures, or will we live with purpose, fully surrendered to God? The choice is ours, but the time to choose is now.

  • A Prayer for Re-orientation

    God of all creation,

    We come before You in awe and gratitude.  We praise You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, poured out upon all people, guiding us in truth, wisdom, and power. You alone are worthy of our worship, for You have called us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light.

    Lord, just as You reoriented the hearts of the early believers at Pentecost, we ask that You do the same in our generation. Your Word declares: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
    Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.” 
    (Acts 2:17-18)

    Father, we long to see this promise fulfilled in our time.Pour out Your Spirit upon us anew, revive us, awaken us, and redirect our hearts toward You. In a world full of distractions, false hopes, and fading ambitions, reorient our vision to see Your kingdom at work. Help us to prophesy with boldness, to dream the dreams You have for us, and to see with spiritual clarity the path You have laid before us.

    Reorient our hearts, Lord, from fear to faith, from division to unity, from complacency to passion. Break down the walls that separate us; race, age, gender, status, and remind us that Your Spirit is for all people. May we be vessels of Your love and truth, carrying Your message of hope into a world in desperate need of You.

    In these times of uncertainty, when signs in the heavens and distress on the earth remind us of Your coming kingdom, let us not be shaken but instead stand firm in the power of Your Spirit. Reorient our priorities so that we seek first Your kingdom and righteousness, knowing that everything else will be added in Your perfect time.

    Father, let Your wonders be seen in our day. Let Your Spirit move mightily in our churches, our communities, and our homes. May the fire of Pentecost burn again in our hearts, compelling us to live with urgency, love with sincerity, and walk in obedience to Your call.

    We give You all the glory, for You alone are God. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And may we, Your people, be ever reoriented toward Your purpose, reflecting Your light in these last days.

    In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray,
    Amen.