The Same Spirit Who Empowered Jesus
If you want to experience God's presence, understand His ways, and live in His power, you need the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit.
For some people, that statement sounds boring or overly theological. For others, it may feel uncomfortable because it sounds too "charismatic." And for still others, it is deeply intriguing and inviting.
Regardless of how it sounds to us, one thing is true: only the Holy Spirit can reveal, communicate, and empower the Kingdom of God in and through us.
The Gospel of Luke makes it clear that Jesus carried out His ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was and is fully God, but He was also fully human. He experienced life as we do. He faced temptation, fatigue, sorrow, and joy. Yet He lived with a continual awareness of God's presence and power because He was anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
As Peter later declared:
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all w...
Becoming Whole In A Fragmented World
At some point, each of us must decide the orientation and direction of our lives. If we don't make that choice intentionally, it will be made for us. Circumstances, pressures, expectations, and strong personalities will all pull us in one direction or another.
So what will be at the center of your life? Will your primary focus be yourself, other people, or God?
If you desire to live a God-centered life—or more specifically, a Christ-centered life—you must intentionally deepen your relationship with Him. Jesus regularly withdrew from the demands and distractions around Him to spend time with His Father. If we want to follow His example, we must learn to do the same.
That means moving beyond simply knowing about God and beyond our assumptions and perceptions of Him. It means learning to behold Him, listen to Him, and truly know Him. This requires time alone with God—quiet, still, and attentive before Him.
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Henri Nouwen writes:
"Sol...
Strengthen what remains.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you wondered, “Why am I not getting this?”
Is Your Love Drifting… or Deepening?
Jesus said that in the last days, the love of most people would grow cold. That’s a sobering thought. So it’s worth asking: What about my love? Is it cooling off… or is it alive with the presence and purposes of God?
Real love isn’t vague or passive. It’s focused and intentional. It’s directed toward people—not just ideas. And it shows up in action. Love isn’t just something we feel; it’s something we express. When it’s real, people experience it. Others can see it. Real love is visible.
At its source, love comes from God Himself. As Scripture says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love isn’t just something He does—it’s who He is. Creation itself flows out of His love, and as we receive and express that love, we begin to reflect His image in the world.
So what does that kind of love actually look like in everyday life?
Let’s look at three simple—but deeply countercultural—expressions of real love. These aren’t just nice ideas; they’re powerful, even prophetic, in a world where love ofte...
Be Still … and Be Active
One of the great challenges of our day is learning how to truly be still before the Lord.
Most of us live with constant noise, movement, pressure, and distraction. We are accustomed to striving, reacting, producing, and pushing forward. Because of that, stillness can feel unfamiliar—even uncomfortable at first.
But the good news is this: we can learn.
We can learn to quiet ourselves before God.
We can learn to receive His presence.
We can learn to rest our souls.
(And if this is difficult for you, that is okay. Last week’s article offered several practices that may help.)
Yet as we grow in stillness, another challenge can quietly emerge.
Sometimes people discover such peace, healing, and comfort in God’s presence that they unintentionally become passive in their faith. They begin enjoying being with God—but slowly stop moving with God.
No one intends for this to happen. In fact, it often grows out of something wonderful: finally learning to stop striving and receive from the Lord....
When You Can’t Get Still
Have you found yourself wanting to be still with God… but your mind just won’t slow down?
Maybe your thoughts keep racing. Maybe your body feels restless. Maybe silence feels uncomfortable instead of peaceful.
Don’t give up. Learn to get still.
Most people struggle with stillness at times. Some struggle with it often. But stillness is not reserved for naturally calm people—it’s an important way we encounter the Lord.
In Psalm 46:10, God says:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
There is something about stillness that helps us receive the revelation of God more deeply—His presence, His power, His wisdom, His care. In stillness, our souls begin to settle. We stop striving so hard. We stop trying to control everything around us. We simply behold Him.
And over time, that changes us.
Here are a few simple practices that may help when it feels difficult to become still.These are not steps you must work through every time you seek stillness. They are simply practices you can choose...
Overcome – Don’t Come Under
Are You Facing More Than You Can Handle?
Are you dealing with something right now that feels overwhelming—like it’s more than a match for you?
Maybe it’s financial. Maybe it’s relational. Maybe it’s your health, or something you feel unequipped to handle.
If so, you’re not alone. That’s part of living in this world. Everyone walks through seasons like this.
And if you’re not in that place right now, be grateful for the season you’re in… unless the reason is that you’re avoiding a challenge you know you’re meant to step into.
Jesus was very honest about life. In Gospel of John 16:33, He said:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
That’s a strong statement—but consider when He said it.
This was right after Judas had chosen to betray Him. It was the day before the false accusations, the injustice, the beatings, and the cross. Jesus knew exactly what was coming—and yet He walked in deep, unshaken peace.
Even more striking: He declare...
Where Are You Most Vulnerable?
 What’s Your Propensity?
“If you really know God, prove it—show me what you can do.”
“If God loves you, test it—see if He will take care of you.”
“If God is pleased with you, show me the authority He’s given you.” (Luke 4)
These were the temptations the devil brought to Jesus in the desert, right before He began His public ministry. And in many ways, they’re the same temptations we still face today.
Even at the end of Jesus’ life, the same voices showed up:
“If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:42)
“Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him.” (Matthew 27:49)
People wanted proof. They wanted to see if God would come through—if Jesus was really loved, really protected, really carrying authority. And throughout His ministry, the religious leaders questioned Him in the same way: “By what authority are You doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23)
Those pressures didn’t go away. And they don’t for us either.
At our core, many of us feel the pull to prove ourselves… to ...
Vulnerable Love
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Let’s start with a simple question: When do we not feel loved?
Some answers come quickly:
- When we’re ridiculed or belittled
- When we’re taken advantage of or used
- When we’re dismissed, overlooked, or not taken into account
- When we’re neglected—noticed, maybe, but not truly cared for
But there are other, less obvious ways we can miss love:
- When someone cares for us, but never really connects with us
- When we’re served, but not allowed to give anything in return
- When we’re known, but not invited to know the other person
At its core, real love is vulnerable.
It doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t hide behind self-protection. It moves toward connection—and in that connection, something new and shared begins to grow.
This is the kind of love we see in Jesus.
He became fully human and fully engaged with people. He allowed Himself to be misunderstood, rejected, and hurt—and yet He kept loving. How? Because He lived rooted in the love of His Father. His wounds were met with hea...
