Returning to Intimacy

Tag: Love

  • Be Intentional

    Heavenly Father,
    I come before You tonight with a heart open and yielded. Thank You for the gift of this day, for every breath, every opportunity, and every moment You allowed me to walk in Your grace. Lord, I desire not just to exist but to live intentionally, to make every word, every step, and every act a reflection of Your love and purpose.

    Your Word declares in Colossians 3:23-24:
    “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

    Father, help me live this truth. Let my service to others be done from a place of deep love and obedience to You.
    Let me not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season I shall reap if I do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
    Make me sensitive to the needs of others and quick to act with compassion.
    Purge my motives, purify my heart, and align my intentions with Heaven.

    Let me remember that I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10) May I walk boldly in those works, not for recognition, but to glorify You. When I serve, let it not be out of obligation, but out of gratitude and joy, knowing that I am a vessel of Your Kingdom.

    Tonight, I lay down any selfish ambition, comparison, or striving.
    I ask You to reset my heart, renew my mind, and revive my spirit. Tomorrow, help me rise with new focus , led by Your Spirit, anchored in Your truth, and fueled by Your love.

    In all I do, may I live for the Audience of One.
    In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • A Living Testimony

    Living Testimony for Jesus

    We are not just called to speak about Jesus, we are called to live Him. Every trial we’ve overcome, every tear we’ve shed, and every victory we’ve won by faith tells a story. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work through our lives, we become living epistles, letters written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the Living God (2 Corinthians 3:3).

    Being a living testimony means loving when it’s hard, forgiving when it’s undeserved, and standing firm in truth when the world sways. It’s in how we respond to hardship, how we extend grace, and how we choose obedience over convenience.

    Our lives preach louder than our lips ever could.

    Lord Jesus, let our lives reflect Your glory. Let our walk match our words. May every part of us testify to Your goodness, mercy, and power. Use our life to draw others to You. In Jesus name. Amen.

    Take one moment today to share your story, big or small, with someone who needs hope. Your scars might just be the roadmap to someone else’s healing.

  • Stewardship Over Ownership

    “It’s Not Mine , But It’s In My Hands”

    Pastor Mike gave us a powerful reflection on stewardship and obedience on Sunday. His message struck a deep chord in me, especially as he unpacked what it truly means to be a steward and not an owner. I had to learn this lesson, many years ago, particularly in the area of giving.

    He shared three key truths:

    1. Hold loosely what God has entrusted to you.
    2. Be honest about what you really control.
    3. Look for opportunities to invest in God’s Kingdom.

    That resonated deeply with me. There was a time I robbed God in tithes and offerings, not out of rebellion, but out of ignorance and fear. But when I came to understand the truth about tithing, that “it all belongs to God,” my heart began to shift. I realized then: I’m not giving to be seen or feel important, but because I love Him. Obedience became my worship.

    Whether it’s tithing to my church, sowing into various ministries, none of it is really mine. God just placed it in my hands.

    We live in a culture obsessed with more, driven by the idol of Mammon. But in the Book of Acts (Acts 4:34–37), we see a church that lived differently. They understood the difference, as Pastor calls it, between BO—Body Odor (when it belongs to man) and DO—Divine Odor (when it belongs to God). Everything they had, they laid at the apostles’ feet, not because they were forced, but because they were free.

    He also gave the analogy of the boy with the two fish and five loaves of bread. It wasn’t much. But it was in his hand, and when he released it to Jesus, it became more than enough.That’s the power of stewardship: We don’t use God to get what we want.
    We use what He gives to glorify Him. We stop being stingy with what already belongs to God. Stewardship over ownership. Worship over materialism. Obedience over self-glory.

    My heart cry today is: “God, how do You want me to use what You gave me?”
    Because I know now, it’s not mine, but it’s in my hand. And when I place it in His hands, it becomes much.

    Sovereign Lord,

    Thank You for entrusting us with what is Yours. We come with open hands and humble hearts, recognizing that everything we have, our time, talents, resources, relationships, even our very breath, belongs to You. It’s not ours, but You’ve placed it in our hands to manage with care, faithfulness, and love.

    Forgive us, Lord, for the times we’ve held too tightly to what was never ours to begin with. Teach us to hold loosely, to give freely, and to live generously. Help us to be honest about what we truly control and to release the illusion of ownership.

    Lord, we want to be faithful stewards, willing vessels used for Your glory. Lead us to invest in Your Kingdom: in people, in truth, in compassion, and in eternal things. Remind us daily that only what’s done for Christ will last.

    Let us not be consumed by the pull of materialism or the idol of more. Deliver us from the love of money and the fear of lack. Teach us to trust You as our Source, our Provider, our Shepherd, our King.

    Use what’s in our hands, Lord, no matter how small it may seem. Multiply it for Your purposes. May our obedience release miracles like the loaves and fish, and may our giving carry the fragrance of heaven, not the scent of self.

    We surrender again today, our hearts, our gifts, our lives.

    In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • Exposing The Deceiver

    Key Scripture:
    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8

    Satan doesn’t always show up with fury and flames. Sometimes, he comes quietly, through distraction, compromise, or indifference. His goal? To steal your focus, kill your passion, and destroy your purpose.

    The Bible reveals four strategic ways the enemy tries to deceive God’s people:

    1. Indifference – The devil numbs our hunger for God, making spiritual things feel unnecessary or irrelevant. This is spiritual apathy, and it’s dangerous (1 John 5:19).
    2. Ignorance – Where God’s truth is lacking, deception runs wild. Satan loves to operate in darkness. That’s why staying rooted in the Word is vital (Hosea 4:6).
    3. Infiltration – The enemy slips in through small compromises: secret sins, anger left unchecked, or unguarded thoughts (Eph. 4:27; Prov. 6:27). He doesn’t need a big door, just a crack.
    4. Intervention through BUSYness – Satan keeps us Bound Under Satan’s Yoke by crowding our lives with debt, distractions, and an endless pursuit of “more.” It’s not always evil, sometimes it’s just everything else but God.

    But here’s the truth:
    Satan is not God’s equal. He is a defeated enemy, a created being on a divine leash. He is not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient. He is not the opposite of God, at best, he’s the opposite of Michael the archangel.

    And YOU, dear child of God, are on Team Jesus. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

    Ask yourself this question: How can I stay vigilant and walk daily in the victory Jesus already won?

    Father,
    Thank You for giving me discernment and authority through Christ. Help me to remain sober and vigilant, not falling into the traps of indifference, ignorance, or distraction. Expose every lie and help me to walk in truth. Thank You that Satan is defeated and that the One in me is greater than the one in the world.
    I choose today to stand firm, as a warrior on Team Jesus. In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • A Kingdom Response to Cancel Culture

    When Love Grows Cold — And the Culture That Cancels Sin, Not People

    Dear Beloved Readers,

    The world we’re living in seems louder, harsher, and colder. Matthew 24:12 tells us, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

    You’ve likely seen it, or maybe felt it:
    Cancel culture. Online takedowns. Harsh judgments. And the most heartbreaking part? The silence where love should have spoken.

    A Personal Encounter with Cancel Culture

    God led me to mission work, not overseas, but through a Facebook platform. I said “yes” with trembling faith, trusting that each word He gave me would find a heart in need.

    But as I obeyed, I faced backlash.
    Rejection.
    Cruelty.
    People I thought would support me… didn’t.

    It hurt.

    Yet, in that fiery place, God revealed something deeper: I wasn’t being canceled, I was being called.
    I was being refined, not rejected. He was teaching me how to overcome offense and anchor my identity in Christ alone.

    To this day, over 866,394 souls have encountered those messages not because of popularity, but because of obedience.

    The Real Cancel Culture

    Dr. David Jeremiah said it best: “Get into the Jesus Cancel Culture—when Jesus cancels our sin.”

    That’s the cancel culture I want to be part of. One where shame is erased. Where brokenness is healed. Where the love of Jesus runs hotter than the coldness of this world.

    Colossians 4:6 reminds us, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” We don’t compromise truth, but we carry it gracefully. With kindness. With mercy. With the heart of a Redeemer.

    A Prayer from My Heart to Yours

    Father,
    Thank You for canceling our sin, not our story. When I felt silenced, You gave me a new sound. When rejection knocked, You reminded me of my calling. Let our words be seasoned with grace and our love never grow cold.
    Use every wound for Your glory. Let us be voices of hope in a world that desperately needs it.
    In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • There Is No Greater Love

    Scripture:
    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13 (KJV)

    The cross of Christ stands as the greatest love letter ever written. Not penned with ink, but with blood. Not delivered through parchment, but through a body broken for us. Jesus didn’t just say He loved us, He proved it. He laid down His life, knowing that many would turn away, ignore, or even mock His sacrifice. Still, He loved without restraint.

    This kind of love, sacrificial, eternal, and unconditional, is not found in any human relationship. It is divine, stretching beyond time, touching every soul with the invitation: Come, I have made a way. Jesus didn’t die just to forgive you, He died to bring you close, to restore what was broken, and to give you life abundantly.

    If you’ve ever questioned your worth, remember the cross. If you’ve ever wondered if you’re loved, look at the empty tomb. Jesus conquered death so we could walk in the freedom of a love that never lets go. There is truly no greater love.

    Reflection Challenge:
    Take a few moments today and imagine Jesus standing in front of you, not with condemnation, but with compassion in His eyes. Hear Him say, “I did this for you.” Let His love soak into every dry place in your soul. Write a short letter of thanks to Him for His sacrifice.

  • A Vessel or Vault?

    Living a Life of Generosity

    “What do you have?”
    This was the question posed by the prophet Elisha to a desperate widow in 2 Kings 4:2–7. Her answer, a small jar of oil, did not seem like much. But what followed was a miracle rooted not in how much she had, but in her willingness to pour out what she did have.

    This same question echoes to us today: What do you have? And are you willing to give it to the Lord?

    As Pastor Matt shared these truths, he reminded us that generosity isn’t just about money or things, it’s about identity. It’s not simply something we do; it’s who we are. Generosity is the outward expression of a heart surrendered to God.

    Scripture is clear:
    “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty… for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11

    “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me,’ but remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” – Deuteronomy 8:17-18

    “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord Almighty.” – Haggai 2:8

    God owns it all, yet He chooses to work through us. The question is, how are we stewarding what He’s placed in our hands?

    We can live life as a vault, locked up, storing for ourselves, hoarding our time, talent, and treasure. Or we can live as a vessel, open, yielded, and ready to pour.

    Elisha didn’t ask the widow to store the oil. He told her to pour it. And as long as she poured, the oil kept flowing. That’s the kingdom principle: the key to ongoing provision is pouring, not preserving.

    Are you a storer or a pourer?

    Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) If our heart is truly set on the kingdom, generosity becomes our natural response. We’re not called to keep the oil, but to spread it, across generations, across communities, across nations.

    We are agents of hope and transformation. When we live with open hands and surrendered hearts, God uses us to fill empty jars all around us, broken people, hurting families, weary souls.

    So ask yourself today:
    Am I living as a vessel or a vault? Am I storing or pouring?

    May our answer be: “Lord, all I have is Yours. Use me as a vessel, let the oil flow.”

  • Stay Connected to the Vine

    Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

    To stay connected to the Vine is not a passive suggestion, it’s a covenant call. A divine invitation to live in alignment, authority, and abundant grace. When we abide in Him, we step into a rhythm not driven by striving but by divine partnership.

    Grace is not only what saves us, it reveals what faith retrieves. In other words, grace opens the door, but faith is what walks through it. When we are intimately connected to Christ, our faith becomes alive, strong, and active. We no longer live reactionary lives. We live responsive ones, sensitive to the Spirit and bold in obedience.

    The place where you meet God is sacred. But it is also limitless. Expand your expectations. Invite Him everywhere, into the car ride, the boardroom, the kitchen, the prison, the hospital room. Like the psalmist said, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). The answer? Nowhere. He is always present. And He wants to be invited into everything.

    To stay connected is to stay in covenant. Not just when it feels good, but when it’s hard. Ecclesiastes 9:11 reminds us that the race is not given to the swift. In other words, this walk isn’t about being the fastest or most talented, it’s about being faithful.

    “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” (2 Timothy 2:12). Passion for Christ will cause us to suffer. But suffering in Christ isn’t a setback, it’s a setup for authority. Through suffering, we gain spiritual weight. Heaven recognizes those who’ve stayed when others left, who pressed in when others gave up.

    Beloved, don’t let go.
    Be persistent. Be rooted. Be relentless. God is not after perfection, He’s after connection. To stay connected to the Vine is to remain nourished when the world is dry, focused when distractions scream, and fruitful even in famine.

    Stay in divine alignment. Stand for what God stands for. You were born to bear much fruit, but only in Him.

  • Power In His Name

    Abba Father,
    We come before You today with hearts bowed low and hands lifted high, giving You total honor and adoration. There is none like You, holy, righteous, and true. You are the Great I AM, self-existent, eternal, and unchanging.

    Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Who Provides
    We worship You, our Provider. You see every need before we speak it, and Your faithfulness surrounds us like a shield. You provided the Lamb, Jesus Christ, our ultimate sacrifice and salvation.

    Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Who Heals
    You are our Healer, not only of our bodies but of our hearts, our minds, and our souls. You mend the broken and restore the weary. In You, wholeness is found.

    Jehovah Shalom – The Lord Is Peace
    You are our Peace in every storm. Your presence stills our anxieties and anchors us in perfect rest. We worship You for the calm You bring in chaos.

    Jehovah Nissi – The Lord Our Banner
    You go before us in battle, waving the banner of victory. You are our identity and covering. We lift Your name high over every circumstance and give You glory.

    El Shaddai – God Almighty
    You are more than enough. You are all-powerful, all-sufficient, and ever-present. We bow before Your might and rest in Your sovereignty.

    El Roi – The God Who Sees
    Thank You that nothing escapes Your watchful eye. You see our pain, our prayers, and our purpose. You are near to the brokenhearted and attentive to the cries of Your children.

    Yahweh – I AM WHO I AM
    You are holy, set apart, and beyond all comprehension. Yet You choose to dwell with us. We are in awe of Your majesty and Your mercy.

    Jesus – Yeshua, Savior
    The Name above all names! In You we have redemption, grace, and eternal life. You are the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

    Holy Spirit,
    You are our Comforter, Counselor, and Convictor of truth. We honor Your presence and ask You to continue shaping us into the image of Christ.

    To You alone be all honor, glory, and praise, forever and ever.
    Amen.

  • Breaking The Barriers

    A Journey from Prejudice to Love”

    The message from Pastor Mike on Sunday out of the Book of Acts, inspired me to be transparent about another moment on this journey, one the Holy Spirit walked me through with grace, conviction, and love. It came from Acts 10:28.

    There was a time when I believed I was doing just fine spiritually. I was in the church, faithfully serving, loving God, and trying my best to walk upright. But sometimes, it takes one unexpected moment for the Holy Spirit to reveal what’s still hidden deep in the heart.

    That moment came when my eldest son, still a senior in high school at the time, brought home the young lady he was dating. I wasn’t ready. She was white, and my heart instantly recoiled. I masked it with politeness, but inside, I was filled with fear, discomfort, and silent judgment. I didn’t want him dating someone from another race, not because I hated her, but because I feared for him. I feared what her family might think, what society might do, how the world might treat a young Black man in love with someone outside his race.

    But I can’t call it anything less than what it was: prejudice. And though I loved God, I wasn’t loving like God. She felt my distance, and I felt the weight of conviction. That encounter unsettled me for days. The Lord began peeling back the layers of my heart and showing me that what I thought was protection was actually a wall I had built, a wall He never asked me to put up.

    The Lord was confronting me gently, just as He confronted Peter in Acts 10. Peter, a devout man of God, was still holding onto cultural divisions until God gave him a vision that broke down his pride. When Peter said, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean,” he was admitting that even a godly man can have blind spots. So could I.

    A few days later, I agreed to go with my son to dinner at her family’s home. I walked in, guarded, still unsure of what to expect. But what I experienced brought tears to my soul. Her parents welcomed me, not with shallow tolerance but with genuine kindness. They loved my son, truly loved him, and I saw it in their eyes and actions. It stunned me. And it humbled me.

    In that moment, I realized they had shown more love and acceptance toward my son than I had shown their daughter. The Holy Spirit gripped my heart. That was the turning point. It was the start of God dismantling old fears and outdated beliefs and replacing them with His divine perspective.

    I want to pause here and say this from my heart: I grew up in a traditional Black church surrounded by devoted pastors, powerful worship, and rich teaching that grounded me in the Word of God. That environment shaped me, trained me, and helped develop the foundation I stand on today. I carry deep respect for the people and the place that first taught me to love Jesus. So when the Lord later planted me in a multicultural church, it wasn’t because something was wrong with where I had been, it was because He was expanding my heart and my reach. He wasn’t erasing my roots; He was building on them.

    Later, as I worshiped among believers from different backgrounds, I saw the body of Christ the way it was meant to be, diverse, unified, worshiping in one Spirit. And my heart began to heal. Not just from prejudice, but from fear. From pride. From the lie that God’s love is bound by human preference.

    Pastor Mike reminded us that we are called to long for Jesus more than we long for comfort. That’s what it took for me to grow. It took humility. The kind that admits, “I was wrong.” The kind that says, “Lord, search me and know me,” even when it hurts. The kind that breaks barriers and builds bridges.

    When I look at Acts 2 and see believers from every nation gathered, I realize how intentional God is. He speaks every language. He sees every heart. He knows how to reach each one of us, right where we are, because His love doesn’t have a color, just a name: Jesus.

    The church in Acts wasn’t built in a bubble. It was forged in the fire of persecution and spread across cultures through people who were willing to grow. That’s how the church in Antioch was born, a church so united that people couldn’t label it by race or class. They just called them “Christians.”

    And isn’t that what we want to be known as?

    Heaven is going to sound like a choir, every tribe, every tongue, every people and nation. And if we’re going to live in that harmony for eternity, we need to start practicing it now.

    God is still breaking down walls. Not just in systems and institutions, but in hearts. He broke one in mine. And because of that, I can say today: I’m free to love. I’m free to embrace. I’m free to be a reflection of the Kingdom.

    Prayer:

    Father, thank You for loving me even when I couldn’t see clearly. Thank You for showing me that Your heart beats for all people, not just the ones I’m comfortable with. Forgive me for the times I let fear speak louder than love. I don’t want to live with hidden walls in my spirit. Teach me humility. Show me how to listen, how to grow, and how to walk in the unity You died to give us. Let my life reflect Your heavenly choir, right here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.