Returning to Intimacy

Tag: Praise

  • Soul Control: Guard Your Heart

    Soul Control: Guarding Your Heart in These Last Days“If My people, who are called by My Name…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)Now more than ever, we must keep our hearts healthy and our souls anchored in truth. We are living near the end of time, and the harvest is ready, but the laborers are few. This isn’t the hour to be controlled by selfishness, fear, or pride. This is the hour to be led by the Holy Spirit.

    Following the enemy only leads to destruction, confusion, and emptiness. But when we guard our hearts daily, relying on the Spirit of God, we live from a place of eternal purpose and love.Prayer won’t always change what’s happening around you, but it will change what’s happening in you.

    God promises to be present in the midst of it all. Even in pain, we praise, because pain has purpose. “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice… for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1:17–18)In the darkness, we realize our capacity to shine. When we praise Him through pain, we are being prepared for provision.So I say today: It is well with my soul.

    Thank You, Lord, that I have a seat at Your table. Use my life to draw others to Yours.Let’s not waste this moment. Let’s rise. Let’s shine. Let’s labor while it is still day. Soul control starts with surrender. 🙏🏾

  • Behold The Lamb!

    “Behold the Lamb—He Alone Is Worthy”

    Scripture Focus: Revelation 5:5–6, 9–10

    There are moments in life when we feel the weight of the world, questions unanswered, chaos on every side, and the ache of a groaning creation. John felt that same despair in Revelation 5 when he saw a scroll in God’s hand, sealed shut with no one worthy to open it. He wept. Why? Because the scroll represented God’s final plan of redemption, justice, and restoration, and no one could bring it forth.

    But then heaven responded.

    “Do not weep.”

    Heaven’s answer wasn’t found in a ruler with an iron fist, but in a Lamb who had been slain. A Savior who conquered not with swords, but with scars. Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, stood alone as worthy to open the scroll. His worth wasn’t based on earthly power, but on the blood He shed to redeem the nations.

    This is the Jesus we worship, the One who holds history in His hands. In a world that often feels out of control, Revelation 5 reminds us: He is in control. The scroll isn’t forgotten. Our prayers aren’t lost. Heaven hasn’t gone silent. The Lamb is leading the story, and His timing is perfect.

    And in that heavenly throne room, worship erupts. Every creature, every elder, every voice declares:

    “You are worthy… because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (v. 9)

    Unity through diversity. Justice through mercy. Triumph through sacrifice.

    When we behold the Lamb, we find peace in the waiting, purpose in our pain, and hope for what’s to come. He is worthy, not just to open the scroll, but to open our hearts to eternal truth.

    Reflection:

    What is sealed in your life that only Jesus can open? Where have you wept, thinking there was no answer? Pause today and behold the Lamb. Worship Him not just for what He does, but for who He is.

    Prayer:

    Jesus, You are the Lamb who was slain, and yet You stand in victory. You alone are worthy to fulfill the Father’s plan. Thank You for redeeming us with Your blood and reminding us that Heaven is not shaken. Help me trust You with every sealed place in my life. Let my worship echo the sound of heaven: Worthy is the Lamb! Amen.

  • Stay Humble

    “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5

    Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s strength wrapped in humility, submitted to the will of the Father. It’s choosing mercy when you could demand justice. It’s choosing to listen rather than lash out. It’s knowing your authority in Christ, but choosing to let love lead.

    In a world that rewards pride, power, and self-promotion, Jesus turns the tables. He says the meek will inherit the earth. Not the loudest. Not the most aggressive. Not the ones who step on others to rise. But those who walk in quiet strength, surrendered hearts, and a posture of grace.

    Pride in our culture has been glamorized. It’s worn as a badge of honor. “Be proud, be loud, take what’s yours.” But when pride becomes a weapon to belittle, shame, or dominate others, it steps outside of God’s heart. Jesus never used His power to elevate Himself. He used it to serve.

    What does Jesus say about pride that wounds?
    He warns us consistently:

    “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

    “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

    “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

    When we operate from a place of pride, we shut out the very people Jesus came to love. We start building kingdoms of self instead of building His Kingdom. And when pride drives us to hurt others, we’ve stepped out of His example entirely.

    But meekness… oh, what power lies there.
    Meekness is the mother who forgives, the leader who listens, the friend who serves, the believer who waits on God’s timing instead of forcing open doors. Meekness walks in peace even in the storm.

    Let’s be those who turn away from the pride of this age and walk in the meekness of Christ. Let’s use our words to heal, not harm. Let our influence point to Jesus, not ourselves. And may our lives be living proof that humility is still holy.

    Prayer:
    Jesus, help us walk in true meekness today, not as those who are timid, but as those who are strong in You. Strip away the pride that causes division, and let us be vessels of Your peace and love. Teach us to reflect You in all things, with hearts that are humble, voices that are kind, and spirits that are willing to serve. We surrender our strength into Your hands. In Your precious name. Amen.

  • Turning The Battle At The Gate

    Scripture Focus: Isaiah 28:5-6 (KJV)
    “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.”

    My family has been attacked on so many levels, and we may not be able to rewrite our past, but we can choose today to write a new beginning. God never asked us to relive what has already been covered by the blood, He called us to rise, redeem the time, and turn the battle at the gate. The “gate” represents authority, decisions, and legacy. This is where the battle rages, in the bloodline, in the family, in our mind, in the places of generational pain or promise.

    This is the year we stop running and start confronting the enemy on his level, not in fear, but in faith. It’s time to set the standard again, God’s standard. For how can we lead correctly if we are not seeing clearly? As Proverbs 29:18 reminds us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” We must see as God sees.

    God is not intimidated by our lack, He blesses what’s left. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5). He always preserves a remnant. If you’re still here, you’re still part of His plan. His power is perfected not in your strength but in your surrender (2 Corinthians 12:9).

    But here’s the truth: We cannot claim God as our source of strength and simultaneously reject the source of His standard. We are not just survivors, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). That calling comes with a consecration. The heart must remain clean. The soul must stay anchored. We must keep our heart healthy in God alone.

    Let the battle begin, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Not in chaos, but in the confidence that our God fights for us.

    Heavenly Father,
    Thank You for the grace to begin again. We may not be able to change what was, but we surrender today into Your hands as a holy offering. Lord, help us to see clearly, to lead righteously, and to turn the battle at the gate. Strengthen us to confront the enemy not with fear, but with the authority of the blood of Jesus.

    Make us part of the remnant that chooses You above all. Cleanse our heart. Align our vision. Let Your standard be our anchor and Your presence be our portion no matter what it looks like. We declare that our family, our mind, our destiny will no longer be left open to the enemy’s plans. We stand at the gate and say: no more! In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • A Now Word for a Now Season

    My Pastor shared some powerful nuggets of truth that stirred my spirit, and I believe they are urgently needed for the times we’re living in. This is not just a word for a moment; it’s a call to posture our hearts rightly before the Lord.

    “With this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen… that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord…’”
    — Acts 15:15–17 (ESV)

    There is a sound rising in the Spirit, a call not for tomorrow, not for “one day,” but for right now: Seek the Lord!

    We are in a time much like the days of Antioch, where the presence of God is breaking out beyond what’s familiar, and those with ears to hear must respond without delay. The Tabernacle of David is being restored, a dwelling built not on systems, but on worship, prayer, and the nearness of God. He is calling us to rebuild what’s fallen so His presence can rest among us.

    Let us not be a people always saying, “One day I’ll press in… one day I’ll obey.”
    That kind of delay can cause us to miss what God is doing when He is doing it.

    Like King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:5, as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. But verse 16 warns us, when pride creeps in, and seeking stops, downfall begins. The blessing is not just in the seeking, but in staying there, dependent, surrendered, and humble.

    God is saying, “Build Me a house of prayer!” Not just a building, but a people. A place where His name is lifted up and His heart is made known. A people who remember the poor, who lead with integrity, who pray into the harvest.

    This is not just about revival services, it’s about revival living. Hearts awakened. Leaders purified. The poor embraced. The harvest gathered. A holy people saying “yes” to His presence, and refusing to wait for a better time.

    So today, seek the Lord while He may be found. Don’t miss what He’s doing. The Tabernacle is being rebuilt, the invitation is open, and His Spirit is moving now.

    Father,
    In a world full of distractions and delays, we pause to say, we need You. Not someday, not when it’s convenient, but right now. Stir our hearts again to seek You while You may be found. We don’t want to miss You in this moment.

    We confess that we’ve made plans, chased dreams, and waited for a “better time”, but today, we say: You are our priority. You are the One our hearts were made for.

    Lord, rebuild in us the Tabernacle of David, a heart of worship, a life of prayer, a place where Your presence dwells. Make us a house of prayer. Let every room in our heart be filled with You.

    Teach us to seek You like King Uzziah once did, knowing that as long as he sought the Lord, You caused him to prosper (2 Chronicles 26:5). And Father, keep us humble, so that pride never causes us to forget the One who gave it all.

    Give us Your burden for the poor, Your strategy for the harvest, and Your heart for godly leadership. Let what matters to You become what moves us. We don’t just want revival in a room, we want revival in our soul.

    Holy Spirit, wake us up from spiritual slumber. Help us stop saying “one day” and start saying “yes today.” Let seeking You not just be an action, but the very rhythm of our lives.

    We are Your people. Come dwell among us. Come lead us. Come change us.
    We seek You, Lord, with all our hearts. And we will not stop until we find You in the fullness of who You are.

    In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • The Good News

    The Good News of Jesus Christ

    The Good News, the Gospel, is this: God loved the world so much that He made a way for us to be restored back to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Though we were separated by sin, Jesus came, fully God and fully man, to live the life we couldn’t live, and to die the death we deserved. On the cross, He bore our sin, our shame, and our punishment.

    But the grave could not hold Him. Three days later, He rose again, conquering death, hell, and the grave. His resurrection means we’re not just forgiven, we’re made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We don’t have to clean ourselves up to come to Him. He says, “Come as you are.” His love draws us, His grace changes us, and His Spirit empowers us to live in freedom and victory.

    This Gospel isn’t just about going to heaven, it’s about heaven coming into us now. It’s about living with purpose, hope, and the power of God here on earth. We are no longer slaves to fear, sin, or shame, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God.

    And this invitation is for everyone, no matter your past, your pain, or how far you’ve wandered. The Good Shepherd leaves the 99 to find the one (Luke 15). He’s not mad at you, He’s madly in love with you.

    So if you’re reading this, know this truth: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6), and yet all are welcome through Him.

  • God Will Fight For You!

    (Isaiah 37, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 59:19)

    There’s something powerful that happens when God’s people choose to trust Him under pressure. King Hezekiah faced a terrifying situation, Assyria’s King Sennacherib, known for destroying nations and mocking their gods, had surrounded Judah. He sent threats, propaganda, and fear through letters and messengers. He mocked the Living God, saying, “What makes you think your God can save you from my hand? None of the other gods could.”

    But Hezekiah didn’t panic. He didn’t let fear decide his response. He took the letter from Sennacherib, went into the house of the Lord, and spread it out before God (Isaiah 37:14). What a picture of surrender and faith. Hezekiah didn’t strategize first in his war room, he went to God’s presence first.

    There, he prayed a simple yet powerful prayer:
    “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel… You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear… save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are the Lord.” (Isaiah 37:16-20)

    And God responded.

    Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord sent a word:
    “He shall not come into this city… For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” (Isaiah 37:33–35)

    That very night, the Angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (Isaiah 37:36). Without a single arrow fired by Judah, God fought the battle.

    Hezekiah’s strategy wasn’t military, it was faith and obedience. He humbled himself. He built up the walls and fortified the city (2 Chronicles 32:5), but more importantly, he encouraged the people saying, “Be strong and courageous… with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8)

    When Sennacherib came in like a flood, God truly raised up a standard against him. The battle belonged to the Lord.

    Reflection:
    What threats or voices are trying to intimidate you right now? Is the enemy mocking your trust in God? Follow Hezekiah’s lead, take the letter, the situation, the fear, and lay it before the Lord. Strengthen what you can in the natural, but put your faith in the supernatural. Let God give you the strategy. Sometimes the strategy is surrender.

    Father, when the enemy surrounds me and fear tries to rise, help me remember what You did for Hezekiah. Teach me to run to You first. I lay my situation before You today. Speak, O God. Defend what belongs to You. Be glorified in my battle. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • The Way The Truth And The Life

    In a world where truth feels distorted and identity is constantly challenged, these are nuggets of truth I gained in the teachings from Pastor Matt. He reminded us of the timeless words Jesus spoke in John 14:1-7. These words are more than comfort, they are the compass for how we raise our children and anchor our homes.

    Truth is not just a principle, it is a person. Jesus. And in a culture where children are told their worth is based on how they look, what they achieve, or how others perceive them, we are called to speak a better word. A holy word. One that says: You are chosen, beloved, called, and kept. Our children must hear these truths from us, daily and consistently. As Philippians 4:9 reminds us, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice.” Our lives are the loudest sermons our children will ever hear.

    Pastor Matt also shared the beauty of play, which reflects the delight of the Father. Zechariah 8:5 paints a prophetic picture: “The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” Joy is sacred. When we play with our children, we aren’t just bonding, we are revealing something about the heart of God. When they see us pray, forgive, worship, and love freely, they begin to understand who the Father is. This is discipleship in its truest, most tender form.

    There is something holy about turning the routine into revival. Daily life doesn’t need to be escaped to find God, it can be where He meets us. In the car rides, bedtime routines, shared laughter, and even in the tears, these are the moments where altars can be built. As 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Renewal happens in the ordinary when we invite Him into it.

    We do not need to be perfect parents. We just need to be present. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). That is the legacy we leave: not flawless lives, but faithful ones. When we live honestly and humbly before God, our children learn to do the same.

    So, may we anchor their hearts in the Truth, Jesus. Walk with them in the Way, His example. And breathe into them the Life, revival in the every day. This is the sacred invitation Pastor Matt called us into. One moment at a time, one day at a time, building a family that seeks the face of God together.

  • Where Majesty Meets Mercy

    “Heaven is not reacting. Heaven is ruling.” — Revelation 4:5

    This week at Evening Prayer, Pastor Oscar stirred our hearts with some powerful reminders, paraphrased in parts: God is not in panic over the state of the world. He is firmly enthroned, reigning with unmatched power, perfect justice, and eternal glory. From His throne comes lightning and thunder, echoing His majesty, and all of heaven responds in reverent awe. Choosing Jesus wasn’t just a step toward peace, it was taking a stand in an ongoing war between kingdoms. But take heart, the outcome has already been settled. The verdict is in. Dominion belongs to our King, and we belong to Him.

    Jesus told us in Matthew 24 and 25 that the gospel of the Kingdom must be preached to all nations. Yes, we’re feeling the pains of this earth, but they are only signs pointing to the return of the King. Pastor Oscar, who has such a passionate heart for God, reminded us that God is not surprised by any of this. He’s sovereign. He’s ruling. And He’s calling us to reorient our thinking to that reality.

    Worship, as Jesus shared in John 4, is not confined to a place, it’s a response to who He is. And when we truly behold Him, we become like Him. Pastor Oscar reminded us that awe must never leave our hearts. Psalm 104 and Ezekiel 1 paint a picture of a God so beautiful, so powerful, so holy, that the creatures around His throne cry “Holy!” without ever getting tired. We must never lose our wonder.

    And in these days of deception and spiritual pressure, Daniel 11 assures us: “The people who know their God will be strong and do great exploits.” This is our time, not to shrink back, but to rise in boldness and intimacy with our King.

    Let the eyes of your heart be opened. Step through the open door of heaven and fix your eyes on the One who defines all reality. God is not reacting, He is reigning. And you are on the winning side.

    Lord, open our eyes to see You as You truly are, majestic, ruling, and holy. Let us not be swayed by the noise of the world. Fill us with wonder. Let heaven’s reality anchor our hearts and shape our worship. Reign in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • My Passion

    Daily writing prompt
    What are you passionate about?
    View all responses

    I am a woman shaped by the fire of trials and the faithfulness of God. Life didn’t hand me an easy path, it gave me an assignment. And through loss, rejection, fear, and pain, I found purpose.

    When my husband went home to be with the Lord, I could have shut down. But the Holy Spirit whispered, “There’s still work to be done.” I listened, and I rose. What once felt like breaking became the very place where God birthed something bold in me.

    I’m passionate about healing, about helping the forgotten rise again. That’s why I have poured into Lazarus Restoration Ministries, not just as a mission, but as a heartbeat. I see the overlooked, the homeless, the broken, not as burdens but as stories waiting for resurrection. Because I, too, have been there, in need of a Word, a hand, a miracle.

    God also called me to write and speak, though fear once held my voice hostage. I would write out prayers and teach quietly in jails, not realizing He was preparing me for more. Now I know: I am a Psalmist, a messenger, a vessel called to sing hope into dry bones and declare freedom to captives.

    My journey online began with trembling fingers and a broken heart. But through obedience, not performance, I shared, and to my amazement, God used it. Thousands began to read, to listen, to be touched by the love of a Father they may never have known. That’s when I realized: this isn’t about me, it’s about the One who gets glory from our “yes.”

    I don’t chase numbers, I follow the cloud. I’m passionate about awakening boldness in others, especially women who feel like their voice doesn’t matter. I’m here to remind them it does. I’ve lived in hiding, but no more. I am walking out of the shadows because people are waiting on what God placed inside me.

    I’m passionate about family, faith, and legacy. About leaving behind more than just words, leaving a trail of transformation. I want to see communities rebuilt, lives restored, and hearts returned to the Father. That’s why I show up, even when it’s hard, because I know someone’s deliverance might be waiting on my obedience.

    I’m not perfect. I still walk with a limp. But I walk, with boldness, with compassion, with the Holy Spirit as my guide.

    This is my passion. This is my “yes.”