Podcasts about your kingdom

Welcome to Day 2884 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2884 – “Welcome to the War”  based on Luke 9:1-11 Putnam Church Message – 05/17/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Welcome to the War.”   Last week's message was “Never Too Little, Never Too Lost,” in which we learned that the crowd may overlook you. Fear may accuse you.  Shame may silence you. Death may threaten you. But Jesus says, “You matter to Me.” Today, we continue with our twenty-third message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: Welcome to the War.” Our core passage today is Luke 9:1-11, which is found on page 1608 of your pew Bibles. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him. 10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today grateful that Your Kingdom is still advancing in this world. We confess that we often forget we are part of a spiritual battle. We become distracted by comfort, criticism, fear, busyness, and self-reliance. Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see Your mission clearly. Teach us to trust Your authority, / depend on Your provision, / endure rejection with grace, / and return often to You for rest and renewal. May Your Word shape us today, not only as listeners, but as faithful disciples sent into the world with good news. In Jesus' name, amen. Introduction: The War We Did Not Start, But Are Called to Enter Today, we continue in Luke's Gospel with the twenty-third message in our New Testament series, and the title is “Welcome to the War.” That may sound strong at first. We may think, “War? I thought we were talking about the Good News.” But Luke has been showing us from the beginning that the Good News of Jesus is not merely a comforting message for private spiritual reflection. It is the announcement that the Kingdom of God has arrived in Jesus Christ, and that means the dominion of evil is being overthrown. When Jesus preached in the synagogue in Nazareth, He announced good news to the poor, freedom for captives, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed. When He healed the sick, forgave sinners, calmed the storm, delivered the demon-possessed man, restored the woman who had suffered for twelve years, and raised Jairus' daughter, He was not simply doing random acts of kindness. He was showing that the Kingdom of God was breaking into a broken world. In our previous messages, we have watched Jesus minister with compassion and authority. / We saw Him show love and grace to a sinful woman in the Pharisee's house. / We asked, “Where Are You in This Picture?” -> as Jesus taught about the soils of the heart. /  We saw “Freedom From Bondage” when Jesus delivered the man among the tombs. /  We saw that no one is “Never Too Little, Never Too Lost” when Jesus stopped for the suffering woman and raised Jairus' daughter. Now, in Luke 9:1–11, something shifts. Up until now, the disciples have been watching, learning, assisting, asking, and following. They have seen Jesus preach. They have seen Jesus heal. They have seen Jesus command demons. They have seen Jesus calm nature itself. But now Jesus calls the Twelve together and sends them out. The students become participants. The observers become messengers. The apprentices enter the battle. Jesus does not merely gather followers to sit near Him. He forms disciples to join His mission. So today, let's walk through Luke 9:1–11 under four main truths. Main Point 1: Jesus Sends Ordinary Disciples with His Power and Authority Luke tells us that Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. Then He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. / This is remarkable. These are the same disciples who were afraid in the storm. These are the same men who often misunderstood Jesus. These are not polished professionals. They are fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary men and women from ordinary places. And yet Jesus sends them. / That should encourage us. God's mission does not depend on perfect people. It depends on the authority of a perfect Savior. /  Luke uses two important words here: power and authority. Power refers to ability — the strength to accomplish what could not be accomplished naturally. Authority refers to the right to act on behalf of another. A police officer directing traffic is a helpful picture. The officer may not have the physical power to stop a moving vehicle with his bare hands. But when he raises his hand, cars stop because he carries delegated authority. He acts on behalf of a higher government. Jesus gives His disciples both. He gives them divine ability and delegated authority. / They are not going out in their own names. They are going out in His name. / And what are they sent to do? They are sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God and demonstrate the mercy of the Kingdom through healing and deliverance. In ancient times, a herald would enter a town square and speak on behalf of the king. The herald's message carried weight because it did not originate with the herald. He spoke with delegated authority. That is the picture here. The disciples are heralds. They are announcing that God's Kingdom has drawn near in Jesus. / This connects directly with the broader story of Scripture. In Genesis, humanity was created to live under God's good rule. But sin brought rebellion, brokenness, death, and bondage. Throughout the Old Testament, God promised that His Kingdom would come, His enemies would be defeated, and His people would be restored. The prophets looked ahead to a day when captives would be freed, the sick would be restored, and God's reign would be made known among the nations. Jesus is that fulfillment. And now He sends His disciples to announce it. Object Lesson: The Badge and the Battery Hold up two objects: a badge and a battery. A badge represents authority. It says, “I have been authorized to act.” A battery represents power. It supplies energy to do what needs to be done. A badge without power may represent a title but no ability. A battery without authority may have energy but no direction. Jesus gives His disciples both. For us today, not all of us have the same calling as the Twelve. Their mission in Luke 9 was specific to that moment in Jesus' ministry. But the larger principle remains: Christ still sends His people into the world as witnesses. We go not because we are impressive, / but because Jesus is King. We speak not because we know everything, / but because we know Him. We serve not because we have unlimited strength, / but because His strength is made perfect in weakness. ...

A breathtaking monastery perched on a cliff in Portugal offers a stunning view—but reaching it requires being hoisted in a wicker basket by an aged monk. When a nervous visitor asked how often the rope was replaced, the monk replied, “Each time the old rope breaks.” That answer captures the dread many people live with every day: the fear that everything could collapse at any moment. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef confronts that kind of anxiety—fear, doubt, and worry that can paralyze even believers. The liberating Truth is this: God holds the rope of your life. His protection is not flimsy, and His care is not distracted. Nothing is strong enough to pull you out of His shelter. Dr. Youssef anchors this encouragement in Scripture: nothing—trouble, hardship, persecution, danger—can separate you from the love of Christ, and in Him you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:35, 37). Jesus also assures us that the Father's care is so detailed that even the hairs on our head are numbered—and we are worth far more than sparrows (Matthew 10:30–31). When anxiety rises, pause and remember: God is aware of you, He loves you, and He has purpose for your days. Seek first His Kingdom, trust Him fully, and ask Him to teach you to number your days with wisdom (Psalm 90:12). Prayer: Lord, thank You that You have a wonderful plan for all my days. I lay my fear and anxiety down before You and receive Your peace today. May I serve Your Kingdom purposes with my every breath and know the joy of living for You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “[D]o not worry about your life, . . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon series Psalms of Deliverance: LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Read OnlineWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 5:1–3Like Moses, Jesus “went up the mountain” to deliver divine teaching. Rather than issuing commandments, He proclaimed invitations to partake in God's very life. The Beatitudes do not merely set forth a moral code; they unveil the interior dispositions of those who live in communion with God's grace, revealing a blessedness that transcends worldly notions of morality. Jesus did not receive these divine laws as a prophet; He delivered them as God—not inscribed on stone tablets, but written upon the hearts of those who receive His wisdom in faith.The Ten Commandments, given by God through Moses, present moral precepts that are easily understood. The Beatitudes, however, can only be grasped through the gift of divine insight. For this reason, they can be challenging at first. Why would anyone desire to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, pure of heart, a peacemaker, or to suffer persecution and insult? Because those who embrace this way of life are rewarded with the Kingdom of Heaven: They will receive divine comfort, be satisfied, obtain mercy, see God, be called children of God, and receive great reward in Heaven.The Beatitudes are divine paradoxes. They reveal how true blessedness is found not in earthly power, wealth, or comfort, but in spiritual poverty, humility, and even suffering for the sake of righteousness. They overturn worldly expectations, teaching that those who seem least in the eyes of the world are, in fact, greatest in the eyes of God. By embracing these paradoxes, a disciple of Christ discovers that what appears to be weakness is, in reality, the path to divine strength, and what seems like loss is, in truth, the means to eternal gain. For those who enjoy earthly power, wealth, or comfort, the Beatitudes are exceptionally challenging. Yet for those who are weak, poor, or afflicted, the Beatitudes offer profound consolation. Divine Wisdom is the fullness of Truth, accessible only through the gift of grace. No amount of human reasoning or philosophical argument can fully unveil the depth of the Beatitudes—only God, through His grace, can open the mind and heart to their truth. Throughout life, we are confronted with countless competing opinions about how we ought to live. A deep desire for happiness is inscribed upon every human soul, yet people seek its fulfillment in vastly different ways. While worldly wisdom may offer guidance for a healthy and comfortable life, only divine Wisdom can fulfill the soul's deepest longing for true and lasting happiness. Do you want to be happy? Of course you do. Though many people experience unhappiness and even engage in actions that lead to misery, human nature is such that every choice we make is ultimately driven by our innate longing for happiness. As the saying goes, “You can't not want to be happy!” The key to attaining happiness is discovering the true path. Since God Himself has placed this natural longing within our souls, we must turn to Him for its fulfillment. The answer He has given is the Beatitudes.Reflect today on your desire for happiness. Because of our fallen human nature, we suffer from what the Church calls “concupiscence.” Concupiscence distorts our passions and desires, obscures our thinking, and weakens our will, making it difficult to discover the true path to the fulfillment we desire. The Beatitudes remedy concupiscence by exposing our fallen tendencies and the false promises of happiness we so easily believe, redirecting us toward the truth. Embrace the wisdom of the Beatitudes, strive to live them by the aid of grace, and you will discover that your deepest desires are fulfilled—not in passing pleasures, but in the truth of these interior dispositions. Lord of all Wisdom, You have created me for true and lasting happiness, yet I often seek fulfillment in worldly comforts and turn from the path You have set before me. Grant me the gift of Your Wisdom to recognize Your way and the grace to follow it faithfully, that I may one day rejoice forever in Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jesus Teaches the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes vintage illustration, via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Prayer: I Declare Mercy Triumphs!"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23Heavenly Father, I come before You in gratitude, with a heart overflowing with thanks for the unending mercy You've poured into my life. Your Word declares in Lamentations 3:22-23 that Your mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! With every dawn, I am reminded of the fresh grace that envelops my family, friends, business, and ministries. I stand in awe of Your love, which covers our weaknesses and transforms our hearts.I reflect on the story of the Prodigal Son, who returned to his father in shame yet was met with arms wide open. Just as the father extended grace and forgiveness, Lord, I seek Your strength to forgive swiftly and wholeheartedly. Micah 7:18-19 reminds us that You delight in mercy. May I also extend that same mercy to those around me, breaking chains of resentment and judgment in my affairs.Psalms 103:8-12 says, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."So today, I boldly declare that fear has no dominion over me, for You have given me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Sickness and disease flee in the presence of the blood of Jesus; I claim healing for my body and spirit as Isaiah 53 proclaims. Empower me, Lord, to wear the helmet of salvation and wield the shield of faith, quenching every fiery dart of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18).In moments of anxiety, I hold fast to the truth that I have the mind of Christ, and therefore, I am shielded from depression (1 Corinthians 2:16). Like David, I am determined to pursue and recover all that the enemy has stolen from my life (1 Samuel 30:8). I pray for confidence in Your provision, trusting that just as Isaac reaped abundantly in famine, so too will I experience sufficiency and abundance in my endeavors (Genesis 26:12-33).Father, let Your mercy speak louder than any accusation in my life. May Your blessings overflow into every area I touch, guiding my every step. As I rise to advance Your Kingdom, I trust that You will enrich me in every way, assuring me of Your presence and love. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray. Amen. 1 Corinthians 2:16 say, "For, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." Amen.https://maglife.org

Dr. Troy Spurrill and Dr. Tom Blee of the Synapse Center for Health and Healing joins Susie to tell their story of joining forces to work toward getting people healthy.  Dr. Troy's prayer: "Heavenly Father, King of the universe and Lord of my life, I step into Your presence today as a citizen of Your Kingdom. You are a God of perfect order, structure, and absolute sovereignty. I thank You for the gifts, the insight, and the faith You have placed inside of me to serve the hurting. Right now, in Your presence, I legally close the archive on these past six years of data collection and tracking. I acknowledge that human knowledge has done its part, and I now willingly transfer this entire burden from my shoulders onto Yours. You are the True Shepherd, and I surrender the outcome of this case completely to You. Lord, I activate the currency of faith that You have given me. I speak over this long-suffering woman right now. Though I have not seen the fruit yet, my spirit holds fast to Your promise. Jeremiah 17:14 says that if You heal, she shall be healed. I declare Isaiah 53:5 over her body—that by the wounds of Jesus, she is healed. I command every cell, every symptom, and every hidden issue in her body to align with the finished work of the cross. And Father, I speak over my own body and my own health situation right now. I refuse to carry the stress, the dismay, or the cortisol of a savior complex. I am the vessel; You are the Savior. As I enter this season of prayer and fasting, I claim the promise of Isaiah 58:8. I declare that my light breaks forth like the dawn, and my own healing shall spring forth speedily. Psalm 103 tells my soul to forget not Your benefits—You heal all my diseases and renew my youth like the eagle's. I declare that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I break off all fatigue, all inflammation, and all frustration in Jesus' name. Isaiah 41:10 promises that You will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me with Your righteous right hand. I step out of striving, and I step into Your perfect peace, joy, and righteousness. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in her life and in my body, exactly as it is in heaven. Amen." Dr. Troy's non-profit is State of Grace Foundation. Find out more here.  Check out Susie's podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

In Revelation 11, John is told to measure the temple and set boundaries around it—and Dr. Michael Youssef draws out the spiritual comfort behind the imagery: this is not merely about a physical structure, but about God placing protective boundaries around His people—His living temple—who are sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept secure. Even persecutors can only go so far. They may attack the body, but they cannot touch the soul. The outer “temple” can be harmed, but the inner sanctum belongs to the Lord—safe in His sanctuary and under His fortress-like protection (Psalm 91:1–2). Yet protection doesn't mean passivity. Dr. Youssef warns that one of Satan's cruelest strategies is counterfeiting spiritual language—masquerading as a voice of “truth” while actually accusing and crushing you. That's why it's essential to distinguish: The Holy Spirit convicts to draw you to repentance and restoration, Satan accuses to drive you into despair and keep you from God. When accusation rises, don't entertain it. Change the channel—praise God for salvation, run to Him in prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit to send the enemy fleeing. God has not left you unguarded. You are sealed, protected, and equipped to live in victory. Prayer: Father, thank You for protecting me and sealing me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to discern Your voice and to turn to You and repent. May I be sober and alert to the schemes of Satan so I can serve Your Kingdom, arrayed in Your spiritual armor. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.  “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20).  Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Revelation for Today, The Beast vs. the Lamb: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Read OnlineEarly in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Mark 11:20–21The prophets often used the image of a barren fig tree to symbolize Israel's fruitless spirituality (cf. Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 8:13). Though they were God's chosen people, with whom God established His Covenant, time and moral decay led to a fruitless spirituality. Despite their outward observance of the Law, their hearts were far from God.In today's Gospel, Jesus was hungry as He left Bethany and journeyed toward Jerusalem. Along the way, He saw a fig tree from a distance with leaves, so He went to it to pick a fig to eat, but He found none. He immediately said to the tree, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” (Mark 11:14). This was a prophetic action. The green tree symbolized the outward appearance of the people of Israel and especially the religious leaders, who appeared righteous but bore no fruit of genuine faith, repentance, or divinely inspired charity.After arriving at the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus drove out those buying and selling, overturning the tables of the moneychangers who were desecrating the sacredness of the Temple. As He did so, He recalled the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah: “Is it not written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples'? But you have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17; cf. Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11). Just as the barren fig tree symbolized fruitless spirituality, the cleansing of the temple revealed the corruption of worship that failed to honor God. Both acts were prophetic judgments against the emptiness of external religiosity, warning that God desires not outward appearances but true worship and spiritual fruitfulness from the heart.The next morning, on their way back to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples passed by the fig tree Jesus had cursed. To their amazement, it had “withered to its roots.” This sign of judgment sparked a conversation between Jesus and His disciples in which He taught them about the connection between faith, prayer, and forgiveness: “Have faith in God…I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours…When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance…” (Mark 11:22; 24–25). Faith in God, combined with humble prayer and forgiveness, is the key to spiritual fruitfulness.Jesus' prophetic action and teaching on prayer and forgiveness ring as true for us today as they did for the people of Israel. Like a green fig tree that bears no fruit, we can fall into the trap of being more concerned about our outward appearance of religiosity than about true prayer and worship that is fruitful for the Kingdom of God.We are the temples Jesus wants to cleanse today. Just as Jesus cast out corruption from the temple, so must we allow Him to cast out the sin and spiritual barriers within us that hinder true worship. Forgiveness is an essential part of this cleansing, as it removes the obstacles that block our prayers and relationships with God. True prayer flows from faith that trusts completely in God's power and from hearts that forgive without reservation. When our focus shifts from self-interest to the love of God and service of others, our lives become fruitful for the Kingdom.Reflect today on your soul as the new temple Jesus wants to cleanse. There is incredible potential for each one of us to bear an abundance of good fruit for His Kingdom. Begin by forgiving everyone from your heart. Then, approach prayer with faith that trusts God's providence and seeks His will. Let your worship be sincere—not for appearances or routine, but out of love for God and a desire for His Kingdom to grow. Fidelity to prayer and forgiveness will transform your life into one of fruitfulness and grace, leading you to the abundant life of His Kingdom. My Lord, the source of all abundant good fruit, You desire to cleanse my soul of every sin and obstacle that hinders true worship. You call me to a life of deep prayer, grounded in faith and forgiveness. Purify me, and use me to bear an abundance of good fruit for Your Kingdom. Make me a pure and holy child of true worship. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Accursed Fig Tree by James TissotSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

What does it mean to live as a follower of Christ as you pray, "Your Kingdom Come?" In your life? Your Kingdom impact on the culture around you? Share. Make it a great day in the Love & Lordship of Christ (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:12)!

At the cross, two criminals hung on either side of Jesus—one destined for Hell, the other for Paradise. Both guilty and dying, both within reach of the Savior, yet their responses sealed opposite eternities: one mocked Christ in unrepentant hardness, while the other feared God, confessed his guilt, acknowledged Jesus' innocence, and cried out in faith, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus answered with astonishing grace: "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." In that divine moment, the cross displayed Forgiveness through Christ's prayer for His crucifiers, Kingdom authority as the dying thief recognized the true King reigning from the cross, and Paradise as the immediate promise of restored fellowship with God. Today we stand in that same place—between Heaven and Hell. The cross still divides humanity: you need no good works or perfect past, only to repent and trust the Savior who died for sinners like us. Will you reject Him or turn to Him in faith? The choice is yours—today can bring forgiveness, Kingdom citizenship, and eternal Paradise.

At the cross, two criminals hung on either side of Jesus—one destined for Hell, the other for Paradise. Both guilty and dying, both within reach of the Savior, yet their responses sealed opposite eternities: one mocked Christ in unrepentant hardness, while the other feared God, confessed his guilt, acknowledged Jesus' innocence, and cried out in faith, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus answered with astonishing grace: "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." In that divine moment, the cross displayed Forgiveness through Christ's prayer for His crucifiers, Kingdom authority as the dying thief recognized the true King reigning from the cross, and Paradise as the immediate promise of restored fellowship with God. Today we stand in that same place—between Heaven and Hell. The cross still divides humanity: you need no good works or perfect past, only to repent and trust the Savior who died for sinners like us. Will you reject Him or turn to Him in faith? The choice is yours—today can bring forgiveness, Kingdom citizenship, and eternal Paradise.

 Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the Ascension of Your Son into glory, we thank You for the gift of salvation and the promise of eternal life. Lord Jesus, though You ascended to the Father, You remain with us always through the Holy Spirit, guiding Your Church with love and strength. Help us to keep our hearts fixed on heaven while faithfully carrying out Your mission on earth. Give us courage to proclaim the Gospel, hope in times of doubt, and trust in Your constant presence. May the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints intercede for us, so that one day we may share fully in the glory of Your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Dr. Chuck Colson preaches on Matthew 12:46–13:23, 31–33 in his sermon “Your Kingdom, Your Will.”

Prepare for Tribulation Harvest (1) (audio) David Eells, 5/13/26   Great Harvest Through UBM David Eells When I started our website, Mark Ward helped me to set it up. At that time, he had a dream. In it, he saw himself going to his neighbor's yard with his casting rod to teach him how to catch fish. He demonstrated to his neighbor by casting out his line, but the line never hit the ground. Instead, it went out between the telephone wires into space. He noticed that all the way down the line were many, many hooks. As he waited, a fish the size of a man was caught on one of the hooks. Then a fish as big as the sky came and swallowed the first fish. Mark asked me what I thought this meant. I said that Jesus called us to “catch men”. (Mat.4:19) And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Luk.5:10) And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Fishing through the telephone lines and in space must be fishing over the Internet and wireless. I told him that the Lord was confirming that the website we were building was going to be very successful for the Kingdom in bringing in a great harvest. The first fish that was the size of a man was to show that he was fishing for men. The second fish was to show that a great corporate body of men would be caught by us in this method. It is clear from many dreams and visions that this, along with standard methods of evangelization through sending out many witnesses, as Jesus showed us, will bring a great revival through UBM and many other ministries God is raising up.   Tribulation Ministry Before the Great Storm Tony Hinton - 02/27/2005 (David's notes in red) In a dream, my wife and I were floating along a body of water. It appeared to be a lake, but it was large like an ocean. Each of us was on a separate float, which was yellow gold in color. (The waters are the peoples of the world. The yellow gold is the nature of Christ, which separates (sanctifies) and preserves the righteous from the world.) We were lying on our backs on these floats, looking up at a brilliant sun and beautiful blue sky. At this time, the water was still like glass. We were dressed in white body suits similar to skin diving suits. (Those in white are the righteous who are separated from the world (as in body suits) with their faces to the Son of God in faith rather than on the world and the wicked.) Each of us had a Bible in our hands, and we were reading to each other, taking turns reading aloud. These were special Bibles because they were not affected by the weather or water in any way. The ink did not run if they got wet, and the pages did not blow in the wind. (The special Bibles are the unleavened bread, which is not polluted with the thinking of men, and the water.) The lake was huge, and we floated all over this lake together, just enjoying reading and being together. When the wind would start to blow, we would join hands (my right, her left) (She is on your right hand as Christ and His true church (the called out ones) and continue to read, holding the Bibles with our other hand. When the rains began, we held hands even tighter and continued to read louder, so we could be heard above the dark sky of the winds and rains. These were intense, dark rains, but they would not last long, and the sun would come out again, and the sky would be beautiful and blue again. (These are the birth pains of coming tribulation, which will grow in intensity and frequency.) Every day, we would seem to see different and new parts of this huge lake. As we came to a different part of this lake, it was beautiful, but there was a cove off the main body of water. From this cove, we began to hear cries. At the same time, we both became aware of something under the surface of the water. It was bad and very foreboding. God's true people will receive clear revelation of the antichrist dragon body, as the peoples of the world. (Isa.27:1) In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster (Hebrew: also Dragon) that is in the sea. (Rev.12:9) And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. (10) And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. As we prayed, it left and headed up towards the cove where the cries were coming from. We prayed again. I said, “We need to go see if we can help whoever it was, we were hearing”. My wife said, “Yes, but what about the thing under the water?” However, even without talking, we knew that we had to agree and go, so we did. (Many will seek to stay hidden from the cries for help, but the need to help those who are in danger of the Dragon will outweigh the fear of the Dragon itself.) Agreeing to go, we went a long way up the cove, almost losing sight of the main body of water. There were other coves off this one, lots of them, and we could tell that there appeared to be a maze of coves. (The coves are the smaller bodies of people to whom we are sent, which will lead to other bodies. The major body on the broad road will not be saved.) At this point, a dark and rainy wind came up out of nowhere and blew us apart. We could see each other but had been blown apart. We began paddling as hard as we could with our free hand towards each other. (Troubles will separate the body, but the hands here represent our own efforts to save ourselves and keep our feeling of safety in unity. As it was with the early disciples, some may be separated from their wives for a time for the sake of those who need to hear God's voice in you. We have been shown that some families will be safe in our refuge so that the husbands can feel free to go out with the gospel.) The Bibles were still in our other hand. The wind then began blowing so hard, and the waves became so high that we lost sight of each other. (This will happen in tribulation when many are in great turmoil and crying for help. Also, the worldly rise up against the true God. (Isa.57:20) But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. (21) There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.) I felt my heart go faint, and despair gripped my soul, and I knew it was the same for my wife. With all that was in me, I started crying out for Jesus to help us. Suddenly, a voice came out of the midst of the storm and said, “Use your arm with the Word as your paddle...Hurry, for worse, much worse storms, never before seen, lie ahead”. (This separation will bring many to deep, self-crucifying repentance, but the righteous will learn to live by faith in the promises of God's Word rather than their own self-efforts. The Word paddle will move us forward. Many will be translated from place to place so that the body will be unified through their faith.) I took the Bible and started paddling, while shouting the Word. Instantly, I began to move over the waves through the wind and rain. Then I made it to my wife, who was crying because she knew that I was coming for her. (It is not just the knowledge of the word but the spoken Word that will save and unify the body through tribulation.) Through much effort, we clasped hands again. All seemed to be well, even though this storm continued for a little while longer. The storm then passed, with the sun coming back out. We rolled back over on our backs, basking in the sun, and began to sing sweet songs of praise to Jesus for saving us. We rested in Him. (When we have entered the rest through our own wilderness tribulations by keeping our eyes on the Son of God, we are prepared to give this gift to others in need.) Then it was morning, and we again heard the cries coming from the cove. We agreed that I would go, and my wife would stay so that she could keep the main body of water in sight. I would follow the cries no further than I could hear my wife's voice, so that we would know where each of us was, as I went to locate the cries coming from the cove. (Contrary to popular opinion, sometimes men will go out to evangelize, and many women will teach the younger women and children in communal places of refuge, just as it was in the time of the Gospels and the Book of Acts, and as we are commanded in the Word. Some lead about a wife as in (1Co 9:5) Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? History must repeat. The things that have been are the things that shall be … (Ecc.1:9). Also, those men who are called to stay with the baggage in David's day shared in the plunder of conquering the enemy. (1Sa.30:24) As I began to make my way towards the cove, I remembered the thing under the water, and I prayed for Jesus to protect my wife. Rounding a bend in this cove, I came upon another cove. There were all kinds of people on black floats, trying to make their way towards the main body of water. (The ones in black floats are those who are called of God but have not been sanctified in separation from the world and are therefore in danger because they are headed to the broad road of the masses.) They were entangled in a huge, evil-looking black vine that came up out of the water. The vine had thorns on it, and at the end of the thorns were hooks. These hooks had hold of these people. Some had been there a long time and were still appearing to be dead. Others just lay there moaning, moving only slightly. Those who had just gotten entangled were thrashing around wildly in the water, screaming for help. These were the cries we had heard. The people were of all different colors: yellow, black, brown, and white, and young and old alike. (Those who are called out of the world are entangled by the vine of their carnal life of sin, which springs from the earth out of which the fruit must grow. (Isa.27:2) In that day: A vineyard of wine, sing ye unto it. (3) I Jehovah am its keeper; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. (4) Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! Some are twice dead and plucked up by the roots. Some are entangled in carnal religion that caters to the fleshly man. (2 Pet.2:18) For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness (meaning: self-justifying doctrines that permit sin), those who are just escaping from them that live in error; (19) promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage. (20) For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. (Its reprobation)(21) For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (22) It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.) Within myself, I thought if I went into this maze, I too would be hooked, and my wife would be left alone. I then heard a clear voice say, “FEAR NOT”. “Use your paddle (Bible) to cut them free”. I begin to swing at the vine with my hand that had the Bible, which I had used as a paddle, which had suddenly become a razor-sharp sword. Stunned, I continue to swing the sword, cutting away the vine and the hooked thorns. The people would fall free and turn over on their backs (Eyes on the Son with faith in the Word) and begin to float in the cove towards the main body of water. We were weeping with joy and thanksgiving as the people were freed. (Those who have overcome and are sent must be careful not to be defiled with the leaven of the unsanctified. As long as they use the sword of the spoken Word against the flesh, they will be safe, and those who listen will be set free by learning to face the Son by faith. Jas.1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.) Then I froze as I heard my wife's voice. She was a long way off, and I told everyone to be quiet so that I could tell the direction from where her voice was coming from. She was calling out that the thing under the water had come back...to hurry. I knew that this thing was powerful and could pull her under if she were alone. Crying out, I ask Jesus to help her. (There will be attempts by the Dragon and then later the Beast against the camps of the saints, but faith towards God will preserve them.) Turning to those still caught up in the evil vine, I told them, “Hold on, help is coming”. I then told those who could paddle to follow me, following the person in front of them out of the cove towards the main body of water. (Those who are committed yet unstable will be guided to the camp of the saints, where prophets, pastors, and teachers will nourish them to purity and strength.) We began to paddle toward my wife's voice, but I could not seem to get anywhere because with so many people in the water beside me, it was creating a drag or wake and was hampering my progress. I then remembered what Jesus had said, “That a worse storm is coming, a storm that has never been”. All I could think of was getting to my wife, and I asked the Lord to put a hedge of protection around her. (Before the Day of the Lord comes, after the Tribulation, God's people will be gathered into the Ark of Christ to ride out the tribulation and the beginning forty days of this storm.) I then thought of all the people still caught up in the evil vine, and I paddled even harder, determined not to be separated from my wife in this storm that was coming. I was strengthened. (Some will be gathered, but some will be destroyed in the Day of the Lord's wrath. (Jud.1:22) And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; (23) and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (24) Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy.) Finally catching sight of my wife, while paddling towards her, I then saw on the horizon behind her, a wall of very black clouds beginning to form. It was on the other side of the horizon, and it was a WALL of BLACK DARKNESS. (Joe.2:1) Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand; (2) a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness...(31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. ... (Amo.5:20) Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? “Father,” I cried, “You are not willing (the  Greek here is “wishing”) that any should perish, Stay the storm a while longer”. (This storm will come for seven years while the saints are being purified, and then a worse storm will come at the beginning of the great and terrible Day of the Lord's wrath. As in the natural, Zion was a place of safety. (Mic.4:8) “And thou, O tower of the flock,…” (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, (Representing the called that are not gathered and lose their position with Christ in the heavenlies.) and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (the last Trump), and they shall gather together his elect (The Chosen who are gathered) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.) I then woke up, and I was crying. My beard and my bed were soaked. I was sick for most of the day. (This sounds like (Dan.8:25-27) And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in [their] security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (26) And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days [to come]. (27) And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.)   Angels Ask to Serve Us in the Harvest Brian - 12/14/2007 (David's notes in red) I had a dream that I was standing outside, staring at the sky. It was dark and the sky was full of stars. As I was looking up, the moon and the stars started moving around in a crazy circle very fast. (The moon and stars represent God's people passing through many nights, represented by their circling the earth.) When they stopped, some of the stars made the shape of a large fish in the sky and started blinking like a neon sign. (The great fish in heavenly places represents a great corporate harvest of fish after many nights.) What looked like smoke then started coming down from the sky from where the fish was toward me. I was scared and started running toward this house. The smoke was following me. As I went into the house and turned around, and much to my surprise, the smoke took on the shape of a huge angel with wings. It then started waving at me very friendly-like. I turned around to tell whoever was in the house that there was an angel outside waving to me. When I turned around, it was daylight, and there were now many angels who were all standing right in front of me. (Heb.1:14) Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?) They looked like people, and they all had pen and paper in their hands, ready to write. They greeted me and asked if I needed anything. (The angels serve our needs in the work of bringing in the fish, among other things.) I said, “Can you make sure Lisa Tate and her family are saved?” (Lisa is a childhood friend that I have been dreaming about lately.) One of the angels said, “We can't see that someone is saved, but we are here to see if you need anything”. (“You have not because you ask not”. Many in the days to come will get the revelation of how angels can do all that is necessary far easier than us.) The End. The Lord confirmed this dream days later through my 3-year-old nephew, who was spending the weekend at my mother's house. He just blurted out on that Sunday afternoon that he had a dream the night before that the Sun, Moon, and Stars all got into a boat that was in the water. I have to say that goosebumps grew quickly. (1 Corinthians 15 likens the Sun, Moon and Stars to the different stages of growth of God's people. Here they are caught in a boat like fish.) It was then that the Spirit led me to a book called The Witness of the Stars by E. W. Bullinger, where I think I found the fish. I had no idea that the zodiac had the biblical story. I guess Satan has counterfeited everything. This is what I found in book 2, chapter 2: “Piscis Australis” (The Southern Fish) This first constellation is one of high antiquity, and its brilliant star of the first magnitude was a subject of great study by the Egyptians and Ethiopians. It is named in Arabic “Fom al Haut”, “The mouth of the Fish”. There are 22 other stars. (It is the fish's hunger from God that causes them to be caught.) The constellation is inseparable from Aquarius. In the Denderah Zodiac, it is called Aar, “A Stream”. It sets forth the simple truth that the blessings procured by the MAN - the coming seed of the woman, will be surely bestowed and received by those for whom they are intended. There will be no failure in their communication or in their reception. What has been purchased shall be secured and possessed. (This is true of Jesus and Jesus in the end-time Man-child company of Revelation 12. Hold on to your faith for the things promised by God.) PS: Zodiac, ancient word Zoaz, is “the path”, or “the way”. (The Bible speaks of constellations of the Zodiac positively, but men have turned these good signs into astrology, which is idolatry. In Acts “the way” is the Christian walk.)   Harvest Awaits While Laborers Play Debbi Rennier - 07/23/2006 (David's notes in red) (Mat.9:36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. (37) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. (38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. (Yes Lord, we do pray that you send forth Your anointed people to be bold witnesses for you.) Over the last three nights, the Lord has given me this dream: I saw the most beautiful, golden wheat field gently rippling in the breeze. This field was of gigantic proportions, as large as California and Texas combined. I seemed to be floating just above the field, and as I gazed downwards, I saw hands reaching up out of the wheat field. The hands were of all sizes and colors. They seemed to be trying to reach or grasp for something or someone. I then saw a few people, perhaps a half-dozen, go into the field and start helping those whose hands I saw grasping. Those whom they helped in the field also began helping others. This scene was really heartbreaking as there were so many who reached up and so few to help. Many more were missed and overlooked than were saved. (We pray that all hands that reach to God get answered. (Luk.10:2 And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.) We commit to do this Lord.) I then looked at the edges of the enormous field and saw much frantic activity. Construction workers were busily building large churches and big houses. I saw business people rushing to work and car dealerships selling expensive cars. They were all totally oblivious to the tragic scene in the wheat field. They rushed about as if nothing was wrong. I then woke up. The Lord led me to the 10th chapter of Hosea. Then HE spoke: “People keep building and laying up treasures here on earth. They will be destroyed. Seek that which is lost. Do not waste your time on the foolish things that will perish...”   Tares Separated G. C. - 11/16/2012 (David's notes in red) G. C. wrote to me the following on 11/16/2012: As the world gets darker, you can see the Light a lot more in some people, while the rest become completely engrossed in the darkness that surrounds them. We are coming to the days where there will be no more fence sitters concerning what is right and wrong. People will be totally righteous or be completely wicked and depraved. The separation has already begun, and judgment has started at the house of God. (I have been horrified by what I have seen. The once strong brethren I've witnessed being turned over to the beast nature. I am not talking about a misstep or stumble; rather, complete disregard for the truth and giving into every form of sensuality.) (There are still some to be removed from the body. They will stumble into darkness over the Rock of offense, Jesus in the Man-child. The Lord is purging His Army because of their seen and unseen sins. Then there will be a glorious revival.) We received this revelation the same day from:   Harvest Begins B. A. - 11/16/2012 I dreamed I was dressed like Ruth back in that time period. I was standing in Boaz's field and admiring the bounty of his crop. It's going to be a good harvest, I thought to myself. It won't be long now. Looks like the wheat is pretty much ready; it just needs a little more time, but not much. (At the time of Jesus the Man-child He said in Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. 36  He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal…) I noticed some strange-looking weeds here and there, but I wasn't concerned, as I know the harvesters can tell the difference between the wheat and the tares. (They both grow together until the harvest, or tribulation, and then the tares are gathered out of the Kingdom to be burned. (Mat.13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.) As I was gazing about the field, I felt the ground start to shake under my feet. (We have been shown by scripture and dream at the anointing of the Man-child great earthquakes will come.) I looked down and I could see the earth shaking, but my feet were steady. (I physically did feel the earth shake, and it made me look down, and I saw the earth moving. (I believe this represents both a physical and spiritual shaking. I believe the Lord was showing me something very important. He wanted me to see the earth moving and shaking, but also to take notice that my feet were not moved; they were perfectly steady. That was very encouraging to me.) I looked back up, and then I saw them in the distance. “Here comes the harvesters! Oh, boy!” (I believe them to be the Man-child [first fruits] coming into the field, as they are the hand of the Lord finishing His work here on earth, bringing in God's harvest.) (Mat.13:36) Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38) and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one]; (39) and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. (40) As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, (42) and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.   First-fruits Harvest B. A. - 07/24/2013 (David's notes in red) I had a vision where I was in the spirit, looking down at an apple orchard. I saw an old man (whom I believe represents the Father), and he was at the very top of a large apple tree, and he was inspecting the apples (spiritual Israel) at the top of the tree (representing the Man-child who is the mature fruit). And to the right of the old man was his son (whom I believe represents Jesus) and his son was holding a woven basket (144,000 Man-child company). I watched as the old man carefully examined each apple, inspecting it for the right color and shape before he would pick the apple and give it to his son to place in the woven basket. (Exo.23:19) The first (144,000 man-child) of the first-fruits (Bride) of thy ground thou shalt bring into the house of Jehovah thy God ... (16) and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sowest in the field (The Feast of Harvest or Pentecost is sometimes called the day of First-fruits. The Man-child and Bride.): This process went on until the basket was completely filled. Then I heard the old man say to his son, “This harvest is complete; we will come back in a few weeks for the next harvest”. (I believe this to be the Bride harvest). Then comes (Eze 23:16) …and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labors out of the field (The latter end of the year, great harvest is done by the first fruits Man-child and Bride as in the Gospel and Acts.).   Ingathering Harvest Eve Brast - 07/28/2013 (David's notes in red) I had a dream this morning that my husband (the Lord) had purchased many fruit trees (we are bought with a price) and they were all in large pots that he brought inside a mall in the center where all the halls intersected. (An intersection is a place of decision; it's time for the chosen people of God to choose. They were not dwelling in the earth. They were mobile and able to be moved around where my husband wanted to take them.) Our sons Noah, Elijah, and Josiah (representing the Man-child ministries about to pick the fruit) were running around to each tree, so excited about the different fruits on them. The trees were all at different stages of bearing fruit; some of them had young, new fruit, while others were ready to be picked. They were saying, “Wow! Look at this tree's fruit!” and “Oh, look at this one!” (The Church at different stages of bearing the fruit of Christ. The First-fruits will be there to pick the fruit of the great revival harvest.) My husband took me over to some particular trees and showed me one in particular. He was very proud of it and said, “Look at these trees. They are very special. They are potato trees”. And the potatoes were very large and ripe. I said, “I thought potatoes grew under the ground”. He said, “These are special; they grow above the ground”. (Those who were once underground in death and burial are now above ground in resurrection life, for they dwell in heavenly places in Christ.) Then he showed me two other trees right next to them (the Two Witness company). They had small leaves like a pomegranate or an olive tree. (Rev.11:3-6) And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth. And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed. These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire. He said, “Look at these! These are very special, too”. I asked, “Where is their fruit?” He replied, “The leaves are their fruit. (Leaves take in the Son/sun, enabling the tree to bear fruit.) They are for healing”. (Their leaves are for the healing of the nations. The fruit they bear is spiritual fruit, the Word of God that does bring healing to people.) (Rev.22:1,2) And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Then I woke up.   A Sudden Move of God Debbie Fenske - 1/16/23 (David's notes in red) During our morning Zoom meeting, the Lord allowed me to see in the Spirit those whom we would call the lowliest of people, and those addicted to every kind of sin. I could see the Spirit of the Lord suddenly coming upon them, moving in their spirits. I could discern their intense desire for God. These were dry, needy, and homeless people on the streets. (These represent spiritually homeless people as well.) I could see them dropping to their knees and raising their hands to heaven with a sudden, but awesome desire for Jesus, to truly want to know Him. Then I heard the following: “I am doing this. I am doing the work. But even My people, who know My truths, and are walking in My ways, will see, and wonder if such persons could be touched in such a way. But I say to you, ‘What a remnant I am bringing forth!' So, I warn you. I warn My people to be prepared. Be ready to receive My gift to minister to those whom I will allow you to run into as you go about your business of the day. And I say, do not let their appearance stop you from being moved by My Spirit, to minister by My Spirit as I bring you face-to-face with them. Be alert and do the work of God. Even those affluent ones who have sat before Bible teachers hearing My Word preached, and receiving it with joy, and walking in My ways to the best of their knowledge, will now suddenly receive revelation from My Spirit that they are yet so empty, and needy of the deeper truths of My Word. They are going to suddenly desire more of Me, and they will seek Me with all their hearts, praying with earnest out of a sudden yearning desire which I will suddenly impart to them. (In revivals in the past, sinners and self-righteous people suddenly, for no apparent reason, have been overcome with grief for their sins and cried out to God.) And many will find you and will truly find Me through the ministry and revelation truths you have received in Me through My Word and are so freely giving out. Be ready, My People. For I will suddenly do a quick work. Have you not heard? The harvest is ready to be picked. Therefore, I say to you, ‘Stay prepared in Me, and go forth, intentionally, into My harvest field. Drop all things that would hinder you from being My vessels. For I have called you.'” Thank you, Father! Bless us all, in Jesus' name, to receive this word from You, and to move with Your Spirit, to bring many into Your Kingdom, and into Your eternal Kingdom truths. Lord, help us all to be ready! Amen!

Send us your feedback — we're listeningMidday Prayer — To Find Confidence to Keep Going When the Day Feels Demanding Matthew 6:10 — “Your Kingdom Come” Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope  São Paulo • Accra • Toronto • Manila CONFIDENCE • RESILIENCE • MOMENTUM midday prayer for confidence and strength • Your Kingdom Come prayer for direction today • prayer when I feel stretched and need resilience • Christian prayer to keep going with faith • prayer for strength to move forward Matthew 6:10 (NIV)  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)  “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” This is your midday prayer for confidence, resilience, and steady forward movement. If the day has become demanding, or you feel stretched beyond what you expected, this moment is for you. This is a prayer to help you keep going with strength that does not come from yourself alone. We are praying from the words of Jesus in the Lord's Prayer — “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.” Father, in the middle of this day, we come back to You again. Not because everything is easy, but because we know You are present within it all. Your Kingdom come. Even here, in the pressure. Even here, in the pace of the day. Even here, where we feel stretched. Your will be done. Not through our own striving,  but through Your strength within us. And Your Word reminds us that we can do what is needed— not because we are strong on our own, but because You are strengthening us. So we pause here. We allow ourselves to stop pushing for a moment. We breathe. We steady ourselves in Your presence. So I release the pressure to carry everything in my own strength. I release the thought that I am not enough for what lies ahead. I release the tension that has built up within me. I place it in Your hands. And now, I choose to rely on You. I lean into Your strength. I trust that You are sustaining me. I believe that You are working through me. And now, I receive. I receive strength for this moment. I receive resilience to keep going. I receive confidence to take the next step. Today, I will not give in to pressure. I will move forward with quiet confidence. I will keep going, knowing that I am not alone. God is with you now. You are not alone in this moment. Across the world, wherever we are listening, You are strengthening lives. From São Paulo to Accra, from Toronto to Manila, Your Spirit is restoring confidence and renewing strength. Jesús, hoy camino con Tu fuerza y sigo adelante. Jesus Cristo, hoje caminho com a Tua força e continuo firme. Jesus, sa Iyo nanggagaling ang aking lakas at nagpapatuloy ako. Father, we trust You. We rely on You. We move forward with You. In Jesus' name. Amen. midday prayer, daily prayer, Matthew 6:10, Lord's Prayer, confidence prayer, strength prayeSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done Introduction In this message, Coleton walks through one of the most important lines in the Lord's Prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10 Jesus is not giving His followers empty religious words to repeat. He is teaching them how to partner with God in the renewal of the world. This prayer is not passive resignation. It is an invitation into participation with God. Coleton structures the sermon around three major questions: What is Jesus telling us to ask for? Why doesn't God just do it without our prayers? What does this mean for our prayers practically? Throughout the message, Coleton emphasizes a central truth: prayer matters because God has chosen to work through the prayers of His people. 1. What Is Jesus Telling Us to Ask For? We Are Asking for God's Kingdom and God's Will Coleton explains that Jesus teaches us to pray for two connected realities: God's Kingdom to come God's will to be done These cannot be separated. God's Kingdom is the place where God's will is actually happening. Coleton uses a quote from Dallas Willard to explain this idea clearly: “God's own ‘kingdom,' or ‘rule,' is the range of His effective will, where what He wants done is done.” — Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy The sermon explains that every person has a small “kingdom” — a sphere where their choices shape reality. God's Kingdom is the sphere where His desires, purposes, goodness, and authority reign completely. So when Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come,” He is teaching us to pray: Let more of what God wants happen here. Let more of heaven invade earth. Let the qualities of God's reign spread into places where they are absent. Coleton says we see the qualities of God's Kingdom most clearly in Jesus. When Jesus walked the earth, He announced: “The Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Then He demonstrated what that Kingdom looked like. Coleton walks through example after example from the Gospels: Abundance Where There Was Scarcity John 2 Mark 6 Jesus multiplies provision and turns lack into overflowing abundance. Truth Where There Was Hypocrisy John 3 Matthew 23 Jesus exposes false religion and reveals truth that leads to life. Freedom Where There Was Bondage Mark 5 Jesus delivers people oppressed by evil and restores them to wholeness. Healing Where There Was Disease Matthew 8 Mark 5 The Kingdom of God pushes back sickness and brokenness. Restoration Where There Was Alienation John 4 Jesus restores dignity and relationship to the Samaritan woman. Hospitality Where There Was Hatred Luke 19 Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus when everyone else rejected him. Life Where There Was Death John 11 Jesus raises Lazarus and reveals that death does not get the final word. Hope Where There Was Despair Mark 5 Jesus enters impossible situations and brings hope again. Love Where There Was Hatred Acts 9 The Gospel transforms persecutors into followers of Jesus. Justice Where There Was Oppression Acts 16 God breaks chains and overturns systems of darkness. Coleton repeatedly reminds the church: When Jesus extended the Kingdom, He extended these qualities into people's lives. So praying “Your Kingdom come” means praying: Bring freedom here. Bring healing here. Bring justice here. Bring peace here. Bring restoration here. Bring hope here. This prayer is asking for the realities of heaven to invade earth. 2. Why Doesn't God Just Do It Without Our Prayers? This becomes the heart of the sermon. Coleton addresses a question many people quietly wrestle with: “If God is sovereign, why does prayer matter at all?” His answer is simple and profound: Because God has sovereignly chosen to work through people. God Has Always Worked Through Human Partnership Coleton goes back to Genesis. God did not need Adam and Eve to tend the garden. He could have done everything Himself. Yet He intentionally gave humanity responsibility, authority, and participation. God chose partnership. Coleton quotes Dallas Willard again: “We are meant to exercise our ‘rule' only in union with God, as He acts with us.” Human beings were designed to work alongside God in stewarding creation. Prayer is part of that design. Prayer Is Not an Afterthought — It Is Part of the Way God Ordered the World Coleton strongly emphasizes: God does not need intercessors. He chooses intercessors. He quotes Tyler Staton: “Prayer is the means by which we push back the curse that's infected the world and infected us.” This is one of the central ideas of the sermon: Prayer is how God has chosen for His Kingdom to advance. Coleton gives practical analogies: God could have nourished us without food — but He chose food. God could have sustained life without oxygen and blood — but He chose those means. God could have worked without prayer — but He chose prayer. Prayer is not magic. Prayer is partnership. Your Prayers Actually Matter Coleton passionately confronts the idea that prayer changes nothing. He says believing prayer does not matter fundamentally misunderstands how God designed the world. He points to passages showing the consequences of prayerlessness: We Miss Things When We Don't Pray 2 Chronicles 16:9 We Make Bad Decisions Without Seeking God Joshua 9:14 Some Things Do Not Happen Apart From Prayer Mark 9:29 Coleton makes an important clarification: This is not because God is angry or withholding. It is because this is the structure God established. He quotes Charles Spurgeon: “If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.” Even Jesus intercedes now for believers. If prayer did not matter, Jesus would not still be praying. 3. What This Means for Our Prayers There Is Power in Your Praying Coleton wants believers to leave with confidence. Not confidence in themselves. Not confidence in perfect wording. Confidence that God has chosen to work through prayer. He says: Prayer works powerfully because God has set it up that way. Coleton quotes Skye Jethani: “We are active participants with God in the writing, directing, design, and action that unfolds.” Prayer is participation in God's work in the world. Because of that, believers should actually expect God to move when they pray. Leonard Ravenhill's quote drives this home: “You cannot estimate the power of prayer… because He has committed Himself to answer it.” 4. Practical Ways to Pray “Your Kingdom Come” Coleton closes the sermon with deeply practical guidance. Pray for Kingdom Qualities Where They Are Missing He encourages believers to look for brokenness and pray specifically for God's Kingdom to invade those places. Tyler Staton's quote summarizes this beautifully: “Ask for Jesus to come anywhere and everywhere you know God's kingdom of love and peace is lacking.” Examples: Pray for friends who do not know Jesus. Pray for healing. Pray for Memphis. Pray for injustice. Pray for broken families. Pray for mental and emotional struggles. Coleton encourages practices like: Prayer walks Prayer drives People watching and praying Using reminders like a “Pray for Memphis” hat Prayer becomes a lifestyle of seeing the world through the eyes of God's Kingdom. Pray the Promises of God Coleton teaches believers to pray Scripture because God is faithful to His promises. He quotes John Wesley: “The best we can say to God in prayer is, what he hath said to us.” He then walks through promises believers can pray confidently: Comfort “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 Freedom and New Life “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 Peace Philippians 4:6–7 Greater Works John 14:12 Rest Matthew 11:28–29 Provision Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:19 Malachi 3:10 Wisdom James 1:5 Restoration Joel 2:25–26 Isaiah 61:3–4 Strength 2 Corinthians 12:9 Isaiah 40:31 Coleton encourages believers to pray these promises boldly because they reveal God's heart and His Kingdom. Pray for the Things Jesus Did Coleton says the Gospels reveal what the Kingdom of God looks like. So believers should read about Jesus: healing, restoring, forgiving, freeing, reconciling, and pray for those same Kingdom realities to happen around them today. Trust God When Prayers Aren't Answered the Way You Want Coleton ends with honesty and pastoral wisdom. Not every prayer is answered the way we expect. Paul prayed for the “thorn in the flesh” to leave, but God said: “My grace is sufficient for you.” Sometimes God's Kingdom advances through weakness rather than the removal of suffering. Coleton reminds the church: The apostles experienced miracles. The apostles also experienced tragedy. Yet they never stopped believing in prayer. The call of the believer is not to understand everything perfectly, but to trust God in the mystery. Final Challenge Coleton closes by bringing everything back to one foundational truth: Prayer has power because this is how God designed the world to function. Just as: food satisfies hunger, water quenches thirst, oxygen sustains life, God has chosen prayer as one of the primary ways His Kingdom advances in the earth. Jesus teaches His followers to pray because prayer truly matters. Discipleship Group Questions When you hear the phrase “Your Kingdom come,” what do you naturally think about, and how did this message expand your understanding of it? Which “Kingdom quality” from Jesus' ministry (healing, restoration, justice, freedom, hope, etc.) do you most long to see break into your own life or your community right now? Why do you think God chose to work through human partnership and prayer instead of simply doing everything Himself? What keeps you from believing your prayers truly matter, and how did this sermon challenge that mindset? What is one practical way you can begin intentionally praying for God's Kingdom to come in Memphis, your family, your workplace, or your neighborhood this week? Culture of Gospel Share this with someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus What if prayer is not about escaping the world, but partnering with God to heal it? Jesus taught that God's Kingdom brings hope where there is despair, healing where there is brokenness, and love where there is hatred—and He invites ordinary people to become part of that renewal.  

Send us your feedback — we're listeningMidday Prayer — To Trust God When Life Feels Uncertain Matthew 6:10 — “Your Kingdom Come” Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope  Quito • Johannesburg • Toronto • Manila UNCERTAINTY • PURPOSE • TRUST midday prayer for uncertainty and direction • Your Kingdom Come prayer for purpose • prayer when life feels unclear and I need reassurance • Christian prayer to trust God's plan • prayer for peace when I don't understand Matthew 6:10 (NIV)  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This is your midday prayer for trust, reassurance, and steady purpose. If the day has unfolded in ways you didn't expect, or things feel unclear, this moment is for you. This is a prayer to settle your heart and trust that God is still at work. We are praying from the words of Jesus in the Lord's Prayer — “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.” Father, in the middle of this day, we come back to You. Not with everything resolved. Not with full understanding. But with a willingness to trust. Your Kingdom come. Even when we cannot see the full picture. Even when things feel uncertain. Even when we wish for clearer answers. Your will be done. Because You are working beyond what we can measure. You are moving in places we cannot see. You are aligning what feels out of place. And Your Word reminds us that in all things—  You are working for good. So we pause here. We allow our thoughts to slow. We allow our hearts to soften. We allow trust to rise gently within us.So I release the need to understand everything. I release the tension of uncertainty. I release the quiet frustration of not knowing what comes next. I release it. And now, I trust. I trust that You are working. I trust that You are guiding. I trust that nothing is outside of Your care. I trust. And now, I receive. I receive peace in this moment. I receive assurance that You are with me. I receive a quiet confidence to move forward. I receive. And now I take the next step with You. Today, I will not be unsettled. I will walk in trust. I will rest in the knowledge that You are at work. Across the world, wherever we are listening, You are bringing reassurance. From Quito to Johannesburg, from Toronto to Manila, Your Spirit is restoring hope and guiding hearts. Jesús, confío en Tu plan aunque no lo entienda todo.  Jesus Cristo, confio no Teu plano mesmo sem compreender tudo. Jesus, nagtitiwala ako sa Iyong plano kahit hindi ko lubos na nauunawaan. Father, we trust You. We rest in Your purpose. We walk forward in peace. In Jesus' name. Amen. midday prayer, daily prayer, Matthew 6:10, Lord's Prayer, trust prayer, purpose prayer, uncertainty prayer, Christian Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

Send us your feedback — we're listeningMidday Prayer — When I Feel Overwhelmed and Need to Let Go of Control Matthew 6:10 — “Your Kingdom Come” Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope  Buenos Aires • Lima • Bogotá • Manila OVERWHELM • CONTROL • SURRENDER  midday prayer for overwhelm and direction • Your Kingdom Come prayer meaning • prayer when I feel out of control and need guidance • Christian prayer to trust God with my life • prayer to surrender and find peace  Matthew 6:10 (NIV)  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This is your midday prayer for overwhelm, surrender, and direction. If everything feels like it's stacking up, if you feel the pressure to hold everything together, this moment is for you. This is a prayer to let go of control and trust God with your life today. We are praying from the words of Jesus in the Lord's Prayer — “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.” Father, in the middle of this day, we return to You. Not at the beginning. Not at the end.  But right here—in the middle of everything. Where thoughts feel crowded… Where pressure feels heavier… Where control feels necessary… We come back to You. Your Kingdom come. Not my control. Not my pressure. Not my need to understand everything. Your will be done. Even here, in the unfinished moments, You are working. Even here, in the uncertainty, You are leading. Even here, in the tension, You are present. And now we pause. We step out of striving. We step out of pressure. We step back into Your presence. So I release the need to control outcomes. I release the pressure to have all the answers. I release the weight I've been carrying in my own strength. I release it. And now, I trust. I trust You with what I cannot see.  I trust You with what I cannot fix.  I trust You with what I cannot understand. I trust. And now, I receive. I receive clarity where there has been confusion. I receive peace where there has been pressure. I receive strength for what still lies ahead today. I receive. And now we step forward trusting You. Today, I will not be overwhelmed.  I will walk in surrender. I will trust the will of God for my life. Across the world, wherever we are listening, You are guiding hearts. From Buenos Aires to Lima, from Bogotá to Manila, Your Spirit is aligning lives, restoring clarity, and bringing peace. Jesús, hoy entrego el control y confío en Tu voluntad. Jesus Cristo, hoje entrego o controle e confio na Tua vontade. Jesus, isinusuko ko ang lahat at nagtitiwala ako sa Iyong kalooban. Father, we trust You. We surrender to You. We walk forward in peace. In Jesus' name. Amen. midday prayer, daily prayer, Matthew 6:10, LSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

Send us your feedback — we're listeningMidday Prayer — When I Feel Overwhelmed and Need God's Will in My Life Matthew 6:10 — “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done” Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope  Buenos Aires • Lima • Bogotá • Manila OVERWHELM • SURRENDER • PURPOSE  midday prayer for overwhelm and guidance • Your Kingdom Come prayer meaning • prayer when I feel overwhelmed and need direction • Christian prayer for God's will in my life • prayer to surrender control and trust God Matthew 6:10 (NIV)  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This is your midday prayer for overwhelm, guidance, and surrender. If everything feels like it's building up and you're unsure how to carry the rest of this day, this moment is for you. This is a prayer to release control and trust God with what is ahead. We are praying from the words of Jesus in the Lord's Prayer — “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.” Father, in the middle of this day, we turn back to You. When our thoughts feel crowded… When our strength feels stretched… When decisions feel heavier than they should… We come back to You. Your Kingdom come.Not my plans. Not my pressure. Not my need to control every outcome. Your will be done. Even here, in the middle of unfinished tasks, unanswered questions, and uncertain paths—You are present. And now we pause. We step out of the pressure. We step out of the noise. We step back into Your presence. So I release the need to control everything. I release the pressure to have all the answers. I release the weight I've been carrying in my own strength. I release it. And now, I receive. I receive the peace of God over my mind. I receive clarity where there has been confusion. I receive strength for what still lies ahead today. I receive. Your Kingdom come. Let Your ways be higher than mine. Let Your direction lead me forward. Let Your presence steady me in this moment. Today, I will not be overwhelmed. I will walk in surrender. I will trust the will of God for my life. Across the world, wherever we are listening, You are drawing hearts into alignment with Your will. From Buenos Aires to Lima, from Bogotá to Manila, Your Spirit is restoring, guiding, and strengthening Your people. Jesús, hágase Tu voluntad en mi vida hoy. Jesus Cristo, seja feita a Tua vontade na minha vida hoje. Jesus, ang kalooban Mo ang mangyari sa buhay ko ngayon. Father, we trust You. We surrender to You. We rest in Your will. In Jesus' name. Amen. midday prayer, daily prayer, Matthew 6:10, Lord's Prayer, overwhelm prayer, surrender prayer, guidance prayer, Christian prayer, Proverbs 3:5 midday prayer for overwhelm and guidance, Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

Worry has a way of quietly filling the mind—about the future, finances, work, relationships, and everything in between. In Matthew 6:33–34, Jesus speaks directly into that pressure, not by dismissing our concerns, but by redirecting our focus. Instead of being consumed by tomorrow, He invites us to seek God first today and trust Him with what’s ahead. Freedom from worry isn’t about never feeling anxious thoughts—it’s about learning where to place them. Jesus teaches that life is lived one day at a time, with God as our provider and guide. When we shift our focus from what we can’t control to the One who holds everything together, worry begins to lose its grip. Peace grows when trust becomes our daily response. Highlights Worry is common—but it doesn’t have to control your life Jesus doesn’t shame worry; He redirects our focus Seeking God first reshapes how we handle anxiety about tomorrow Living one day at a time helps reduce mental overwhelm Prayer is a practical way to release anxious thoughts to God Filling your mind with truth helps quiet spiraling thoughts Peace grows when trust in God becomes your default response Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: The Desire to Be Free from WorryBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” - Matthew 6:33-34 (NLT) Worry weighs heavily on most of us. Tight deadlines at work, endless tests in college, and difficult financial situations can cause us to worry. To worry is to be human. Although many of us may feel ashamed for worrying, we must remember that it is a part of life. We can trust God and still feel worried about certain circumstances. Worry does not equate to a lack of faith in God. Rather, worry is simply what it is: being afraid or doubtful about what will happen. Worry can completely control our lives if we let it; however, we can also stand up to it. My dad and I are avid walkers, and we often come across many cyclists. What I have noticed about most cyclists is that their biggest concern is speed. Many of them ride with a forward lean, as it helps them become more aerodynamic and enhances their speed. However, there is one cyclist we occasionally see who is different from the others. Rather than being hunched over and focused on speed, he simply rides his bike, plays music from a loudspeaker, and appears to be free from worry: laid back, relaxed, and genuinely happy to be there. As he passed us one day, I told my dad, “I wish I could be that relaxed.” I think most of us feel the same way… to be free from worry and to genuinely enjoy the little things in life. While I’m sure this cyclist has worries at times, he also seems to know when to let them go and focus on what brings him joy. This is something we should aim to do in our own lives. While our worries may not disappear, we can learn to set them apart from other areas of our lives. The first step in easing these worries is to turn to God in prayer and reading the Bible. Intersecting Faith & Life: Jesus tells us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:33-34, NLT). Rather than endlessly worrying about what is to come, we need to surrender these worries to God (1 Peter 5:7). As the Lord says, we are to focus on the Kingdom of God and live in obedience to Him. This means focusing on the present and faithfully living out God’s teachings found in Scripture. If we choose the path of worry, it will be difficult to stay focused on God. Worry can cause us to spiral further. Yet it can be eased by talking with God. Tell Him why you are worried. Be honest with Him. He will never downplay your concerns or treat them as unimportant. It is also helpful to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8-9). Fixing our minds on these things can help quiet our worries. Instead of dwelling on the concerns of today or tomorrow, reflect on the beauty around you—the trees, a joyful call from a friend, or a warm hug from a loved one. Pray to God whenever worry rises in your heart. Let’s go to Him together: Dear God, I want to be free from worry. You know how worry creeps into my mind every day. At times, it feels like it could drown me. Help me to rise above the worry and to reflect upon Your Son’s words. Guide my heart after Your Kingdom and to live for You. Remove my anxious, worried heart and replace it with a steadfast, unwavering heart. Thank You for listening to my prayers, God. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen. What are your most common worries? How can you apply Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33-34 to your life? Further Reading: Psalm 55:22 Proverbs 12:25 Matthew 11:28-30 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God’s Purpose by Kirk Hunt But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:28;30 NKJV Please also read Acts 16:25-32 Every door of the prison swings open. The stocks and chains fall off all of the prisoners. The apostles stay right where there are, so they can complete God's purpose. If God sent you there, then He has a purpose for you to complete. Will you stay in obedience? Will you faithfully complete your assigned mission? The situation in the Philippi jail is dramatic and fantastic. An earthquake opens the doors and chains, but does not destroy the building or kill anyone. The prisoners, including the highest profile inmates, do not leave. Then the apostles stop the prison warden from committing suicide. Paul and Silas are not in jail for their own reasons. They are in position to fulfill God's purpose. And their faithful obedience leads to the salvation of an entire household. Where are you today, man or woman of God? You are not there by random chance or senseless accident. You are deliberately placed to fulfill God's purpose. God does not always send angels. Often, He sends mere men and women. His saints, deliberately positioned through faith and obedience, fulfill His purpose. And the Kingdom of God expands. Maybe serving your purpose will only be seen by a few, in silence. Perhaps you will be thrust to the front of a crowd, in noise and furor. God has maneuvered you there for His purpose. What purpose will you serve? Think: God ordered your circumstances for a reason. Pray: “Lord, help me to serve Your Kingdom where You put me.” Copyright © April 2026, Kirk Hunt This devotional is a ministry of CadreMen Press. The post God’s Purpose appeared first on CadreMen Press Devotionals.

Daniel didn't become courageous in the lions' den overnight. Long before he stood firm before kings, he first bent the knee in secret—day after day, seeking the Lord when no one was watching. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef traces Daniel's life from exile in Babylon to his unwavering refusal to stop praying, reminding us: whenever you see someone standing strong for God, you'll find they first learned to kneel. Dr. Youssef highlights Daniel's remarkable prayer in Daniel 9, offered after nearly seventy years of exile. It's a prayer marked by confession, intercession, and petition—and it flows from a man anchored in God's promises. Daniel trusted the Lord who had already revealed His plan through prophets and who moves history according to His timetable—sending His people home precisely as promised, and later sending the Messiah at the appointed time. This devotional will encourage you to: prioritize prayer over panic, rely on God's promises when the future feels uncertain, and remember that prayer makes us partners in God's unfolding plan. Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the honor of serving Your Kingdom through prayer and obedience. Help me to be faithful. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.  Scripture Focus: “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (Daniel 9:19).  *This devotional adapted from Life-Changing Prayers by Michael Youssef © 2018. Published by Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission. Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Life-Changing Prayers, Part 1: LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Deep in the Arabian Desert, a small fortress once served as a place of safety for Lawrence of Arabia. When stronger forces attacked, he would retreat behind its walls—finding protection, provision, and renewed strength. Dr. Michael Youssef uses this vivid picture to remind believers of an even greater refuge: prayer. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, you'll hear why prayer is not a last resort, but a secure stronghold available day or night. In God's presence, His strength becomes your strength—and His protection steadies your heart when the world feels unstable. Dr. Youssef points to Jesus' promise that when believers gather in His name, He is with them, and that heaven moves as God's people pray in agreement (Matthew 18:18–20). When deception, anxiety, or spiritual pressure crowds your mind, this devotional calls you to turn immediately to Christ—asking Him to surround you with protection, clarify your thinking, and supply the strength you need to persevere. God's fortress doesn't crumble, His power doesn't weaken, and His deliverance is sure for those who call on Him. Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing me with the safety of Your strength, power, and salvation. Because You've set up Your Kingdom in my heart, I call on Your power to defeat feelings of fear, doubt, and confusion. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Scripture Focus: “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Pray or Faint: LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord's prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

Taste and See that the Lord is Good UOL Retreat in Philadelphia PA on 3/28/2026 In this episode, we look at how the Church's pre- and post-Communion prayers prepare us not just to receive the Eucharist, but to be changed by it. They help us see our need, turn us toward God, and then teach us how to carry His presence into daily life. Communion becomes not just something we receive, but something we learn to live. --- PRE-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Glory to You, our God, glory to You. Prayer to the Holy Spirit О Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One. Thrice-Holy Hymn Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Small Doxology Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer to the Holy Trinity All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. The Lord's Prayer Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Invocation to Jesus Christ Come, let us worship God, our King. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. Psalm 22 The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He settles me in a place of green grass; beside restful water He leads me. He restores my soul; He guides me on the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. For even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows. Behold, Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord for the length of my days. Psalm 23 The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and all who live in it. For He has founded it above the seas and prepared it above the waters. Who will ascend into the mountain of the Lord and who will stand in His holy place? One whose hands are harmless and whose heart is pure, who has not received his soul in vain and has not sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He will receive blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. This is the kind who seek the Lord, who seek the Face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, you rulers and be lifted up, you eternal doors and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Psalm 115 I kept my Faith even when I said I am greatly afflicted. I said in my amazement: "Every person is a liar!" What shall I give to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Lord, I am Your servant – and the child of Your handmaiden. You have burst my bonds apart. I will offer to You the sacrifice of praise and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, Jerusalem. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluiа, alleluia, glory to You, our God. (3 times) Tropar, Tone 8 Lord, born of a Virgin, overlook my faults, purify my heart and make it a temple for Your Spotless Body and Blood. Cast me not from Your presence for You have infinitely great mercy. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;How can I who am unworthy, dare to come to the Communion of Your Holy Things? For even if I should dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my garment betrays me, for it is not a festal robe and I shall bring about the condemnation of my sinful soul. Lord, Lover of mankind, cleanse the pollution from my soul and save me. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Great is the multitude of my sins, Birth-Giver of God. To you, Pure One, I flee and implore salvation. Visit my sick and feeble soul and intercede with Your Son and our God, that He may grant me remission of my sins, for You alone are blessed. First Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, Wellspring of Life and Immortality, Maker of every visible and invisible thing, Co-eternal and Co-everlasting Son of the Everlasting Father: in the abundance of Your Goodness, You were incarnate in these latter times, and crucified and buried for us ungrateful and graceless people. Through Your own Blood You have renewed our nature corrupted by sin. Immortal King, though I am a sinner, accept my repentance, incline Your Ear to me and hearken to my words. I have sinned before heaven and before Your Countenance and I am not worthy to gaze upon the immensity of Your Glory. For I have provoked Your Goodness, I have transgressed Your commandments and I have not obeyed Your ordinances. But, Lord, since You do not remember evil, but are long suffering and have great mercy, You have not given me over to destruction for my lawlessness, but have continually awaited my conversion. For You, Lover of Mankind have said through Your prophet, "I desire not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their evil ways and live." Because You do not wish, Master, that the work of Your Hands should perish, neither, do You take pleasure in the destruction of humanity. Rather, You desire that all people should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth. Therefore, even I, though I am unworthy of heaven, earth and of this transitory life, having given myself completely to sin becoming a slave to pleasure and defiling Your Image – yet being Your creation – I despair not of my salvation in my wretchedness. But, emboldened by Your infinite Compassion, I draw near. Therefore, Loving Christ, receive me also as You received the harlot, the thief, the publican and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, You Who take away the sins of the world, Who heal all human infirmity, Who call to Yourself those who are weary and heavy-laden, granting them rest. You came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from every stain of flesh and spirit and teach me to achieve perfect holiness in fear of You, that receiving my share of Your sacred things, I may be united to Your Holy Body and Blood and may have You dwell and abide in me with the Father and Your Holy Spirit. Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the partaking of Your Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries bring me not to condemnation, nor may I partake unworthily of them. Grant that I, even to my final breath, may receive my share of Your sacred things without condemnation and thereby receive communion with the Holy Spirit as a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable defense before Your Dread Judgment Seat. Lord, grant that I, together with all Your elect, may also be a partaker of immaculate good things which You have prepared for those who love You, with whom You abide and are glorified to the ages. Amen. Second Prayer — Saint John Chrysostom Lord my God, I know that I am not sufficiently worthy that You should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and fallen in ruin and You cannot find in me a worthy place for Your head. But, as You humbled Yourself from on high for our sake, humble Yourself not to the measure of my lowliness. As You took it upon Yourself in the cave to lie in the manger for dumb animals, so take it upon Yourself now to enter into the manger of my ignorant soul and into my defiled body. Since You did not disdain to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the Leper, so take it upon Yourself to likewise enter also into the house of my humble, leprous and sinful soul. As You did not cast out the harlot, a sinner much like me, who came and touched You, so have compassion on me, a sinner, coming to touch You. Since You did not detest the kiss of her sin-stained and unclean mouth, detest not my mouth, which is stained even worse and more unclean than hers as well as my sordid, unclean and shameless lips, nor my even more unclean tongue. Let the fiery coal of Your Most Pure Body and of Your Precious Blood bring me the sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my humble soul and body, a relief from the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every operation of the Devil, an aversion and hindrance of my base and evil habits, a mortification of my passions, an accomplishment of your Commandments, an increase in Your divine Grace and an entrance into Your Kingdom. For I do not come to You, Christ my God, in presumption, but having been given full confidence by Your Ineffable Goodness, I approach, lest I stray far from Your communion and become the prey of the wolf of souls. Therefore, I pray, Master Who alone are Holy; sanctify both my soul and body, my mind and heart and my emotions and affections. Renew me entirely, implant Your Fear in my members and make Your sanctification indelible within me. Be my helper and foundation, govern my life in peace and make me worthy to stand at your right hand with Your saints. Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, the pure and immaterial Powers that always serve You and of all the saints who have been well pleasing to You from the ages. Amen. Third Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Only Pure and Spotless Lord, Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God, Peace and Power: moved by Your ineffable mercy and love for all mankind, You took up our whole nature from the chaste and virginal blood of the one who wondrously conceived You through the coming of the Holy Spirit and by the favor of Your Eternal Father. In that nature you took it upon Yourself to undergo Your life-giving and saving Passion – the cross, the nails, the spear and death itself. Mortify in me the soul-destroying passions of the body. As you despoiled the dominion of Hades in the tomb, bury in me the spirit of evil. You raised fallen Adam through Your life-bearing Resurrection - so raise me for I am immersed in sin and counsel me in the ways of repentance. You made divine the flesh You assumed and honored it on Your Throne at the Right Hand of the Father in Your Glorious Ascension. By the communion of Your Holy Mysteries make me worthy of a place at Your Right Hand with the saved. You made Your sacred disciples precious vessels by the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit – confirm me also to be a receptacle of His Coming. You promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness – grant that I shall go to meet You in the clouds with all Your saints. For You have made and formed me that I may unceasingly praise and chant hymns to You with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fourth Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Christ my God, as though standing before Your Dread Judgment Seat which does not regard personalities awaiting judgment and rendering an account of the evils I have committed: so today before the day of my condemnation appears, I stand before Your Holy Altar in Your Sight and in the Sight of Your awesome and holy angels. Bowed low by my own conscience, I offer my wicked and lawless actions, triumphing over them by declaring them. Lord, I know my iniquities have increased beyond the number of hairs on my head. The multitude of Your loving kindness is immeasurable and the mercy of Your Goodness and Forbearance beyond description and there is no sin which overcomes Your love for all mankind. Therefore, all marvelous King and merciful Lord, cause Your wondrous mercy to touch even me, a sinner. Receive me, a sinner, as I return to You, as You received the prodigal, the thief and the harlot. As You received those who came at the eleventh hour unworthily, so receive me also, a sinner. I know that You will set these sins I have committed before me and require an accounting of the sins which I have knowingly and unpardonably committed, but neither convict me with fitting judgment, nor chastise me in Your Anger. Lord have mercy on me for though I am weak, I am also the work of Your Hands. You have granted me to revere You, Lord, but I have done evil in Your Sight. Against You only have I sinned, but I beg You, Lord, judge not Your servant for if You will severely mark iniquity, who will survive it? For I am in a sea of sin and am neither worthy nor sufficient to behold and gaze upon the height of heaven for the multitude of my innumerable sins. Who will raise me up? Who has fallen into such evils and transgressions? Lord God, in You have I hoped. Have mercy on me, God, according to Your great mercy and do not reward me, as my deeds deserve. Rather convert, uphold and deliver my soul from the evils implanted in it and from fearsome designs. I will praise and glorify You all the days of my life. For You are the God of those who repent and we glorify You with Your Father without beginning and Your All Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fifth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus Lord and Master Jesus Christ our God, You alone have the power to absolve sin. Because You are Good and love all mankind, forgive all my iniquities committed in knowledge or in ignorance. Make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your divine, glorious, pure and life creating Mysteries, that I may incur neither punishment nor an increase in my sins, but receive cleansing, sanctification, a pledge of the Life and the Kingdom to come, protection, an aid, a turning aside of my adversaries and the blotting out of my many transgressions. For You are a God of Mercy, Loving Kindness and Love for all mankind and we glorify You Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Sixth Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord, I know that I partake unworthily of Your Pure Body and Your Precious Blood, my Christ and my God. Yet emboldened by Your Loving Kindness I come to You for You have said, "Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me and I in them." Therefore, be merciful, Lord and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy. And let these Holy Things afford me healing, cleansing, enlightenment, protection, sanctification of soul and body, the averting of every fantasy, evil practice and operation of the devil which works within me. Let them give me confidence and love for You, amendment of life and perseverance, an increase in perfection and virtue, the fulfillment of Your Commandments, communion of the Holy Spirit and a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable answer at Your Dread Judgment Seat, but neither for judgment nor condemnation. Amen. Seventh Prayer - Saint Symeon the New Theologian From lips besmirched and heart impure, from unclean tongue and sin stained soul, receive my pleas, my Christ. Neither overlook my words, my way of speech, nor my annoyingly persistent cry. Grant me the boldness to express all the things for which I long, my Christ, and teach me all that it is fitting for me to do and say. More than the harlot have I sinned. When she learned where You were visiting she brought myrrh, boldly came there and anointed Your Feet. As You, Divine Word, did not cast her out when she came in eagerness of heart, detest me not. Rather give me Your Feet, I pray, for my embrace and my kiss. With the torrent of my tears, as with an ointment of great price, let me dare to anoint them. Purify me, O Word, in my own tears and cleanse me with them. Forgive my errors; grant pardon, for You know the multitude of my sins. You also know the wounds I bear. You see the bruises of my soul. Yet You know my faith, You see my eager heart and hear my sighs. From You, my God, Creator and Redeemer, not one tear is hidden, nor even part of one. Your Eyes know my imperfection, for in Your Book are found those things which are yet unfashioned. Behold my lowliness; behold how great is my weariness. Then God of the entire world, grant me release from all my sins, that with a clean heart and conscience filled with holy fear and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and spotless Mysteries. The one who eats and drinks with a pure heart has life and divinity. For You have said, my Master, that "those who eat of My Flesh and drink of My Blood do indeed abide in Me and I am likewise found in them." My Master and my God, this saying of Christ is completely true. For one who shares in these Divine and Deifying Graces is not alone, but is with You, Christ, the Triple Radiant Light Who enlightens the whole world. You see that for this I have drawn near to You with tears and contrite soul. Thus, I dare to hope in Your good deeds for us, I partake – both rejoicing and trembling – for I am but grass in fire and behold, a strange wonder! I am refreshed with dew, beyond all words, just as in ancient times the bush burning with fire was not consumed. Therefore, thankful in mind and heart, thankful with all my body and all my soul I worship You, magnify and glorify You, my God for You are blessed both now and to all the ages. Amen. Eighth Prayer - Saint John Chrysostom Lord Jesus Christ, my God, absolve, remit, forgive and pardon me, of all the errors, transgressions and trespasses which I have committed before You – whether in knowledge or in ignorance, in words, deeds, thoughts or intentions. Through the intercession of Your All-Pure Mother, Your heavenly hosts and all the saints, who through the ages have been faithful to You, count me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your Holy and Precious Body and Blood for the healing of both soul and body and for the elimination and the cleansing of my evil thoughts. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory, the Honor and the Worship of the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Ninth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus I stand before the doors of Your temple and I refrain not from evil thoughts. But You, Christ my God, justified the tax collector: You showed mercy to the woman of Canaan and opened the Gates of Paradise to the Thief. Open to me the depths of Your love for all mankind and receive me as I draw near and touch You, even as You did the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood. The latter merely touched the hem of Your garment and immediately received healing and the former, clinging to Your Pure Feet, obtained the release from her sins. But, I in my pitiful state, dare to receive Your Whole Body. May I not be consumed, but receive me even as You received those others and enlighten the feelings of my soul, cleansing my sins; through the prayers of the one who gave You birth without seed and of the heavenly powers, for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Glory to You, O God! (3 times) Lord my God, I thank You that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have allowed me to be a partaker of Your Holy Things.  I thank You that You have permitted me, though unworthy, to have a share in Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts. Master and Lover of Mankind, Who for our sake died and rose again and gave us these Awe-inspiring and Life-giving Mysteries for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies: let these Gifts be for the healing of my own soul and body, for the averting of every adversary, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, an unashamed faith, an unfeigned love, the realizing of wisdom, the observance of Your Commandments, the receiving of Your Divine Grace and the inheritance of Your Kingdom. Preserved by them in Your holiness, may I always be mindful of Your Grace, no longer living for myself, but for You, our Master and Benefactor.  May I then pass from this life in the hope of Eternal Life and attain to the Everlasting Rest where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and the unending delight of those who behold the beauty of Your Face is inexpressible. For You, Christ our God, are truly the ineffable joy and desire of all those who love You and all creation sings Your praise to the ages of ages. Amen. Second Prayer following Communion By Saint Basil the Great I thank You, Christ, Master and God, King of the Ages and Maker of All Things, for all the Good Gifts You have given me and especially for the participation in Your Most Pure and Life-creating Mysteries. Therefore, I pray, Gracious Lord, Who loves all mankind, that You preserve me under Your protection and beneath the shadow of Your Wings. Grant that even to my final breath, I may partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your Holy Things for the remission of my sins and for Eternal Life. For You are the Bread of Life, the Wellspring of Holiness, the Giver of all Good and we glorify You, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Third Prayer following Communion By Saint Simeon the Translator You Who willingly give Your Flesh to me as Food, Who are a Fire burning the unworthy; let me not be consumed, my Creator. Rather, enter into all my members – my joints, my inner being and my heart. Burn the thorns of my iniquities. Purify my soul and sanctify my reasoning.  Strengthen my joints and bones. Enlighten my five senses. Bind me completely with reverence for You. Always shelter, guard and keep me from every soul-corrupting word and deed. Cleanse, purify and harmonize my being. Beautify me, grant me understanding and enlighten me. Show me to be the Habitation of Your One Holy Spirit and no longer the abode of sin, that having become Your Dwelling Place because of the Communion of Your Holy Mysteries, every evil deed and passion may flee from me as from fire. As intercessors, I bring all the Saints: the leaders of the Bodiless Hosts, Your Forerunner, the Most Wise Apostles and with them, Your undefiled, Most-pure Mother. Accept their prayers Christ, my Merciful One and make me a Child of Light. For You, Good One, are the only Sanctification and Enlightenment of our souls and to You, as God and Master, we worthily render glory day by day. Amen. Fourth Prayer following Communion May Your Holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me Life Eternal and Your Precious Blood for the remission of my sins. May this Eucharist grant me joy, health and gladness. At Your Dread Second Coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the Right Hand of Your Glory, through the intercessions of Your All-pure Mother and of all Your saints. Fifth Prayer following Communion To the Birth-Giver of God All Holy Lady, Birth-Giver of God, light of my darkened soul – my hope, my shelter and refuge, my consolation and joy; I thank you for accepting me, the unworthy one, as a communicant of the Most-pure Body and Precious Blood of your Son. In that you gave birth to the True Light, enlighten the intellectual eyes of my heart. As the one who carried the Fountain of Immortality in your womb, enliven me, slain by sin. Merciful Mother of the Most-merciful God, full of loving kindness, have mercy on me, grant me contrition and compunction of heart, humility in my thoughts, and the ability to recall my reasoning from its captivity. Make me worthy, until my final breath, to receive the sanctification of the Most Pure Mysteries without condemnation, for healing of soul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may chant hymns and glorify You all the days of my life, for blessed and glorified are You to the ages. Amen. Master, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Depending upon which Liturgy was celebrated, one of the following Tropars and Kondaks are said.Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Tropar, Tone 8 Grace shining forth from your mouth like a beacon has enlightened the universe, disclosing to the world treasures of generosity and showing us the heights of humility.  Since you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom, intercede with Christ God, the Word Himself, to save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 6 From heaven you received divine grace and by your lips you teach all to worship the one God in Trinity, All-blessed and Venerable John Chrysostom. Worthily do we extol you, for you are an instructor who reveals things divine. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Liturgy of Saint Basil the GreatTropar, Tone 1 Your voice has gone out to all the earth and it has received your word. By it you taught divine doctrine making the nature of things, which exist, clear and giving good order to human behavior. Venerable Father and Royal Priest Basil, intercede with Christ our God, that He may save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 4 You appeared as an unshakable foundation of the Church passing down an inviolate dominion to all mortals, sealing it with your teachings, Venerable Basil, revealer of Heaven. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Bohorodychnyi, Tone 6 Protection of Christians not put to shame, unwavering Mediation before the Creator; despise not the prayer of sinners, but because you are good, quickly come to help us who call on you in faith. Be swift to intercede and make haste to supplicate, Birth-Giver of God, who always protects those who honor you. Lord, have mercy. (12 times) More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim. You, Who without defilement did bare God the Word, true Birth-Giver of God, we magnify You. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.    

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes our hobbies become dry and tedious!But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future. John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the future, to a time when that dry creek bed will be filled forever.In Revelation 22, He showed John a river flowing with the water of life, crystal-clear and coming from the very throne of God.The whole picture is one of healing and new life. He promises us that this scene will be very real and very permanent! The key is what we read in John 7:38…we must choose to believe! If you long for a new start and a bright future, you will find everything you need and want in the person of Jesus Christ.The living water He offers is perfect, and the supply is limitless.Jesus is the well that never runs dry.Let's pray.Lord, you are calling to each of us to follow You and let You lead us to a place of perfect paradise. We eagerly look forward to joining you in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord's prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

What does it really mean to pray, “Your Kingdom come”? This week, we’re challenged to move beyond surface-level faith and align our hearts, priorities, and lives with God’s will—not our own. From how we give, to how we pray, to what we pursue, Jesus makes it clear: you can’t serve two masters. When we seek Him above all else, everything else begins to fall into place.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord's prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

In Part 4 of The Lord's Prayer series, Pastor Terrell explores Jesus' instruction to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” While many of our prayers focus on what we want or need, Jesus teaches that prayer is ultimately about aligning our hearts with God's purposes. Praying for God's Kingdom means inviting His rule and priorities into every area of our lives—our relationships, decisions, and future. It shifts our focus from temporary comforts to eternal impact and reminds us that what matters to God should matter to us.The message also highlights the difference between God's revealed will, which we discover through Scripture and obedience, and His hidden will, which unfolds in His timing even when we don't understand it. True surrender means being willing to say, like Jesus in Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours be done.” When we stop trying to build our own kingdom and instead trust God with our lives, we find peace, purpose, and the security of living inside the will of God.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord's prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

In this episode, Mike and Tim ask a provocative question: Is "Christ is King" becoming blasphemy? They begin by analyzing recent political rhetoric, specifically a speech by Pete Hegseth, to discuss how biblical language can be hijacked for coercive power rather than reflecting the character of Jesus. The hosts argue that proclaiming theological truths while living in opposition to the way of Jesus is a distortion of "faith and politics." The conversation then shifts to a deep exploration of the Lord's Prayer and the petition, "Your Kingdom come." Mike and Tim unpack the concept of the "anti-kingdom," explaining that Jesus preached the Kingdom of God in enemy-occupied territory. They explore "theology" regarding the "powers and principalities," looking at the Divine Council in the Psalms, the "heavenly host" in Genesis, and how the biblical authors understood the spiritual forces behind structural evil and injustice. This isn't just about ancient myths; it is about understanding "the role of the church in society" when facing systemic corruption. By contrasting the "cruciformity" of the Gospel with the power dynamics of empire, the guys offer a framework for "navigating cultural challenges" with wisdom. They highlight that true "Christianity" recognizes the spiritual battle at play—not just in individuals, but in cultural patterns and ideologies. As the hosts discuss the "seen and unseen" realms, they emphasize the importance of prayer and "justice" in a world that is both beautiful and broken. We encourage and would love discussion as we pursue these complex topics, so please engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 02:17 - Living with Purpose Daily 05:46 - Pete Hegseth Biblical Analysis 09:55 - Spiritual Warfare and Authority 10:54 - Defining the Anti-Kingdom 18:07 - Mark 1:21-28 Bible Study 23:43 - Jewish Beliefs About Demons 26:04 - Jesus Appoints Twelve Disciples 26:50 - Understanding the Unforgivable Sin 30:57 - Spiritual vs Physical Realms 31:59 - Biblical Identity of Satan 36:30 - The Heavenly Host Explained 46:18 - Psalm 82 Divine Council 49:29 - Principalities and Spiritual Powers 51:01 - Spiritual Powers Unjust Rulers 52:49 - Spiritual Powers Popular Culture 54:09 - Idols and Sacrificed Meat 56:10 - Judgment of Spiritual Powers 57:28 - Satan and Cosmic Powers 1:01:55 - Overcoming the Anti-Kingdom 1:06:46 - Spiritual Reflection Poem 1:09:14 - Support and Partnership 1:09:19 - Connect and Follow Us What It Looks Like To Us and the Words We UseBy Ada Limón All these great barns out here in the outskirts,  black creosote boards knee-deep in the bluegrass. They look so beautifully abandoned, even in use. You say they look like arks after the sea's dried up, I say they look like pirate ships, and I think of that walk in the valley where J said, You don't believe in God? And I said, No. I believe in this connection we all have to nature, to each other, to the universe. And she said, Yeah, God. And how we stood there, low beasts among the white oaks, Spanish moss, and spider webs, obsidian shards stuck in our pockets, woodpecker flurry, and I refused to call it so. So instead, we looked up at the unruly sky, its clouds in simple animal shapes we could name though we knew they were really just clouds— disorderly, and marvelous, and ours.   Copyright Credit: Poem copyright ©2012 by Ada Limón, whose most recent book of poems is Sharks in the Rivers, Milkweed Editions, 2010. Poem reprinted from Poecology, Issue 1, 2011, by permission of Ada Limón and the publisher.   As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! Etsy Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord's prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

Read Online“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.'” Mark 7:5–8Isaiah's prophecy rings as true for us today as it did when Isaiah spoke it and when Jesus quoted it. Worship of God must come from our hearts, from the depths of our beings. Only then is worship authentic.Humans are complex. We are made up of body and soul. Though we have a physical heart, the “heart” Isaiah and Jesus are speaking of is spiritual in nature, essentially the human will. God created us with a free will, meaning we alone are the source of the decisions we make, though our good choices are always assisted by God's grace.When God speaks to us, revealing His Divine Will, He communicates to us through the use of our intellect. The intellect, enlightened by both natural reason and divine grace, identifies the good we must choose and proposes that good to the will. The will, moved by God's grace, cooperates in freely choosing it or rejecting it. This cooperation reflects the cooperation between God's action and our freedom.When we freely choose the good, we open ourselves to the grace of charity which perfects our will. Charity strengthens us and enables us to love with God's own love, allowing us to live out the divine commandment to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. This alignment of our intellect, will, and actions with God's will is what makes our worship authentic and our lives holy.This loving worship was absent from the practices of the Pharisees and scribes, whose devotion had become purely external. Their “worship” was steeped in pride, reducing their religious observance to a display of self-righteousness rather than a freely graced expression of love for God. Jesus' rebuke, however, was not an act of condemnation but one of love. He sought to challenge their hypocrisy, convict their hearts, and call them into an authentic relationship with God rooted in true worship. Their refusal to respond with humility and repentance led many of them to plot against Him, culminating in His Crucifixion. This rejection of divine love reveals that their worship remained vain, as their hearts were closed to the grace that transforms external observance into a living relationship with God.When you reflect on your own external acts of worship, do they flow from a heart fully devoted to God? What motivates you when you attend Mass, recite prayers, or perform works of charity? Is your worship a genuine expression of love for God, or is it sometimes reduced to routine or mere obligation? We would all do well to listen attentively to Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes, examining our own hearts to discern whether we, too, are guilty of falling into externalism or prideful worship. True worship requires humility, sincerity, and an openness to God's transforming grace, which alone can elevate our external actions into a genuine offering of love. The greatest and purest act of worship is to unite ourselves fully with the sacrifice of Christ in the Holy Mass, offering ourselves—body, mind, and soul—as a living sacrifice to God in loving obedience and complete trust. At Mass, the priest adds a drop of water to the chalice containing the wine. The water and wine are then consecrated into Christ Himself. That one drop of water represents us. Authentic worship will begin with us making that internal offering, united to the external ritual of the Mass, and flow into every other part of our lives. Reflect today on every external act of devotion and charity you perform, especially your participation in the Mass. Listen to Jesus' loving rebuke of the Pharisees and scribes, and use His words to examine your life. Where weakness, sin, pride, or empty routine are found, seek to replace them with heartfelt worship so that your entire life becomes an offering of authentic love and worship of God.My Lord and my God, You alone are worthy of all my love, all my devotion, and the purity of my worship. Please reveal to me the ways in which my worship lacks authenticity, and grant me the grace to love You freely and wholeheartedly. Purify my heart so that my worship may glorify You and advance Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Meal in the House of the Pharisee by James TissotSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Sunday February 1, 2026: Jesus didn't use parables to make truth harder to understand. He used them to reveal who was ready to perceive. Before He explained the Kingdom, He addressed sight. Before information, posture. Before clarity, intimacy.When Jesus said, “The Kingdom is like…,” He wasn't offering illustrations. He was handing sons blueprints.In this teaching, we explore why the Kingdom is unveiled through relationship, not decoded through effort. Why revelation flows from union, not intellect. And why Scripture was never meant to be approached as ammunition, but as an encounter with the Father.This message reframes how we engage the Bible, how we understand “mysteries,” and how we learn to live integrated lives — fully present in the natural, fully sourced from the unseen Kingdom.“Abba, show me what Your Kingdom is like, and teach me how to live from it.”

In Part 3 of the series The Lord and His Prayer, Rev. Dr. David Chotka begins a two-part teaching on the phrase “Your Kingdom come.” This episode serves as Part 1 of that topic, helping us understand what Jesus invites us to pray—and live—when we ask for God's Kingdom to be established on earth. You'll explore: The biblical meaning of the Kingdom of God How God's Kingdom is already at work in the world Why this prayer calls believers into surrender and action Our role as participants in God's redemptive mission This message invites listeners to pray with deeper intention and live with Kingdom purpose.

Read OnlineWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1–3The Beatitudes call us to the heights of morality and holiness. Those who live according to these divine precepts are blessed beyond measure. The promises to those who live this high calling are great: They become children of God and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, they receive comfort, satisfaction, mercy, purity, and peace. Though the rewards are great, so are the requirements: spiritual poverty, holy sorrow, meekness, longing for righteousness, a merciful heart, purity, peacemaking, and patient endurance during persecution.The Beatitudes reveal the culmination of God's moral teaching and the highest revelation of the Christian life. To fully appreciate their significance, it is helpful to understand the history of moral revelation. Doing so is more than a history lesson on God's deepening revelation, it also reveals the path for our spiritual journey toward perfection.Morality begins with the Natural Law—the innate understanding of right and wrong written on the human heart. This Law is from God and is often described as living in accord with right reason or common sense. All people have access to this moral law within their own consciences, enabling them to recognize God as the Creator, honor Him, respect human dignity and the common good, and refrain from acts such as murder, theft, and deception. Though universally present in all people, sin and our fallen human nature cloud our ability to clearly see and follow that law.In the Old Testament, God slowly revealed Himself and called His people to greater holiness and moral living by adding to the Natural Law through revelation. From Abraham and his descendants, God raised up Moses through whom He revealed the Ten Commandments—a concise moral code rooted in Natural Law but explicitly revealed by God that called His chosen people to right worship, justice, and love for one's neighbor.Through the prophets—such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel—God called Israel to move beyond mere external observance of the law to an interior conversion of heart. Isaiah emphasized the virtues of justice and mercy, Jeremiah prophesied a new covenant in which God's law would be written on the hearts of His people, and Ezekiel promised that God would give His people a new heart and a new spirit, enabling them to follow His statutes.The wisdom literature—Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, Sirach—deepened the understanding of moral life by revealing moral gifts, such as the Fear of the Lord, the blessedness of righteousness, and the call to trust in God's providence and live a virtuous life.The Beatitudes elevate all laws of the Old Covenant. Jesus not only calls us to profound holiness, He also provides the means to achieve it through His Sacrifice, transmitted through the grace of the Sacraments. To live the Beatitudes is to live in imitation of Christ, who perfectly embodied all virtues in His life, Passion, and Resurrection. Hence, the Beatitudes are not only a moral code we must follow, they are a participation in and union with the Son of God, Who lived the Beatitudes to perfection.As we ponder the Beatitudes, reflect today on their high and glorious calling, as well as their rewards. Sometimes, reading the Beatitudes can leave us discouraged, as we are aware of how far we are away from perfecting them. Dispel discouragement and know that these new divine precepts are attainable by grace. Set your eyes on the heights of perfection and open yourself to the abundant grace offered. Doing so will not only result in glorious spiritual rewards in this life, it will also result in the greatest eternal rewards in Heaven.Lord of perfection, You lived the Beatitudes to the fullest during Your life on earth and continue to manifest those perfections from Heaven. Please open my heart to Your grace and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may answer the call to the new and glorious moral state to which I am called. Empower me to live fully immersed in and guided by Your Sacrificial Love. Help me to inspire others to embrace this path of holiness, so that we may journey together toward the eternal joy of Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You!  Image: Église Saint-Martin de Castelnau-d'Estrétefonds, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineWith many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. Mark 4:33–34Today's Gospel begins with two parables about the Kingdom of God, using the familiar image of seeds. Both of these parables point to the Kingdom of God as something that grows mysteriously and abundantly, often beyond human understanding or control.The first parable points to the mysterious growth of the seed that the sower scatters on his fields: “and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how” (Mark 4:27). This emphasizes the hidden and gradual work of God's grace. Like the seed that grows in the soil without the sower fully comprehending how, the Kingdom of God grows quietly and powerfully, primarily through divine initiative.The second parable is about the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, which, when planted, “springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade” (Mark 4:32). This parable reveals the transformative power of the Kingdom, which begins from the humblest beginnings but grows into something expansive and life-giving. God often works through what appears insignificant to accomplish great things.Though these parables are important and provide us with spiritual nourishment through prayerful reflection, what the Gospel writer says next, as is quoted above, is just as important. Parables were meant to draw the listener into divine mysteries. We have to ponder the message prayerfully and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God's Word to us. Because Jesus spoke only in parables to the crowds, we must see ourselves among their number. However, we must also work to be counted among Jesus' own disciples: “to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”God's Word is alive. The Scriptures are not only like an ancient philosophy book that requires study and interpretation, which certainly play a proper role in understanding the Word of God. However, because God's Word is a Living Word, it is more than an intellectual exercise. When we read it or hear it proclaimed, God is present. It is God Himself Who speaks to minds and hearts that are open and attentive. When we approach God's Word in this way, God will “explain everything in private.”“Private,” in this case, means “personal.” Engaging God's Word draws us into a personal conversation with Him. It enables God to speak to us directly, revealing Himself in His Word, filling us with the spiritual gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Counsel. These Gifts of the Spirit are essential to our spiritual growth and are the primary way to grow in faith, hope, and charity.Do you see the Word of God as the Living Word, inviting you into a personal dialogue with God? Consider the depth of the invitation extended to you in this Gospel passage. Jesus desires to speak to you “in private,” unveiling the mysteries of His Kingdom in a way that is deeply personal and uniquely suited to your personal journey.Reflect today on how you approach the Word of God in your daily life. Take time to prayerfully ponder the parables and their meaning in your life. Consider setting aside a specific moment each day to read and meditate on a short passage from Scripture. Allow God to sow the seed of His Word in your heart and, like the farmer, marvel in wonder and awe as the Kingdom takes root and grows in your life. Trust that even the smallest acts of faith, like the mustard seed, can grow into something extraordinary when authentic and nurtured by God's grace. Open your heart to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, asking for Wisdom to discern God's voice, Knowledge to understand His will, Understanding to grasp the depths of His truth, and Counsel to act upon His Word. My Lord and intimate God, You desire to speak to me day and night, revealing the mysteries of Your Kingdom and communicating to me Your Living Word. Open my mind and heart to all You wish to reveal, so that, through Your Word, Your Kingdom may take root in my heart and bear abundant fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes even our hobbies become dry and tedious! But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future.John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the future, to a time when that dry creek bed will be filled forever.In Revelation 22, He showed John a river flowing with the water of life, crystal-clear and coming from the very throne of God.The whole picture is one of healing and new life. He promises us that this scene will be very real and very permanent! The key is what we read in John 7:38…we must choose to believe! If you long for a new start and a bright future, you'll find everything you need and want in the person of Jesus Christ.The living water that He offers is perfect, and the supply is limitless.Jesus is the well that never runs dry.Let's pray.Lord, You are calling each of us to follow You and let You lead us to a place of perfect paradise. We eagerly look forward to joining You in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Read OnlineWhen the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Luke 2:22–24Forty days after a firstborn male was born, the law of Moses required that the mother participate in a purification ritual and that the parents were to “redeem” the child by offering a ritual sacrifice. As faithful Jews, Mary and Joseph took these obligations seriously. When they entered the Temple, they were met by a holy man named Simeon, who was among the faithful Jews “awaiting the consolation of Israel.”From its founding, the Kingdom of Israel had endured many troubled times. The last time the Kingdom of Israel had been united was under the reign of King David and his son Solomon in the tenth century B.C. After Solomon's death, the kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Kingdom was captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and the Southern Kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., leading to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon for about seventy years. In the centuries that followed, Greek culture was imposed upon the region after the conquest of Alexander the Great, and the Romans finally captured Judah in 63 BC, maintaining control beyond the birth of Christ.This history of oppression and division created various responses among the Jewish people. Many prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah, the one who would bring consolation to Israel. Some Jews expected the Messiah to be a political leader who would reunite and restore the Kingdom. Others were indifferent to the prophecies. But a faithful remnant, like Simeon, awaited the Messiah who would bring about a profound spiritual renewal.Simeon was not a Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but an ordinary devout Jew filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit Who revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah. On the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, came to the Temple and recognized the Christ Child. He took Jesus in his arms and rejoiced, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled…”We should all strive to be like Simeon. Like the people of Israel and Judah, we are living in a world where God's Kingdom is often divided or overshadowed by immorality, wars, divisions, and a lack of faith. We might be tempted to address these challenges in various ways, but the best way is to become part of the faithful remnant who, like Simeon, trust in God's promises and eagerly anticipate His transforming action in our lives and in the world. Reflect today on the state of the world. In some places, the Kingdom of God is vibrant and alive; in others, it seems distant or absent. No matter where you find yourself, turn your gaze to the all-powerful Messiah, Who is capable of renewing His Kingdom on Earth as we await its fullness at the end of time. Devote yourself to His mission, and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to be an active participant in bringing about the reign of God. My Lord and Messiah, as I see the challenges and divisions in the world around me, help me to trust in Your promises. May I, like Simeon, be filled with faith and hope as I await Your Kingdom. Inspire me to be an instrument of Your grace, helping to build Your Kingdom here on Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Janmad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineThe book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham… Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” Matthew 1:1; 17This lengthy list of Abraham's and David's descendents, leading to Jesus, is much more than a listing of names. It's an illustration of God's fidelity to His promises. To Abraham, God promised “All the families of the earth will find blessing in you” (Genesis 12:3). To David, God promised “Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).Certain divine qualities are revealed in these passages. Unwavering fidelity, continuity through the ages, and God's eternal plan to bless all people through the descendants of Abraham and David are among them. These qualities are not only important for Scripture study, enabling scholars to better understand the whole of salvation history, they also are important to each one of our lives today.When God makes a promise, He is faithful to that promise. What promises has God made to you? He has promised the gifts of grace, happiness, holiness, and eternal life to all who become members of His Kingdom. This promise of unwavering fidelity should inspire hope within our hearts, especially when life is difficult. Difficulties can tempt us to despair, anxiety, and fear. Confidence in God's fidelity will keep us firmly grounded in the certainty of hope that God will never let us down when we remain faithful to Him.In our fast-paced and ever changing world, continuity and consistency are often absent. Many people change their views based on the latest trends. The barrage of constant news, political and moral opinions, and changing economic and social conditions tempt us to change with the latest ideas. God's ideas, however, never change. These promises should lead us to establish our lives not on the latest opinions or popular culture, but on the rock-solid principles of faith, as revealed by God.We are among those who receive blessings promised to “all the families of the earth” through Abraham. Jesus is that final descendent through Whom every good blessing comes. His mission opens the floodgates of grace to all who turn to Him in their need. Don't ever doubt that perfect and eternal plan of salvation. Reflect today on God's perfect fidelity, continuity, and promise of eternal salvation to all who become members of His Kingdom. That Kingdom will remain forever while every other kingdom will pass away. Resolve to remain a full citizen of that Kingdom by being unwaveringly faithful to God's promises, and you will be blessed now and forever to share in the eternal plan of our saving God. My faithful God, Your eternal Word never changes. Your perfect plan invites me to share in the salvation promised to all who follow You and become members of Your Kingdom. Grant me the gift of perfect fidelity to You so that I am consistently united to You and always remain a member of Your eternal Kingdom on Earth and in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: © José Luiz Bernardes RibeiroSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Send me a Text Message!"Seek first the Kingdom of God." That's our final challenge for this series. We don't use the word Kingdom very much today, but in Jesus' day they used it all the time.  They understood a little bit better than we do, what a Kingdom was all about.  See in a biblical sense, everyone has a kingdom.  Your kingdom is whatever you  control. Your Kingdom is that part of your life where what you say goes. Dallas Willard calls it "the range of your effective will." Throughout life we have this inclination to protect and maybe even expand our kingdoms.  So what are your little kingdoms?  You might have more than one.  Some people are bold and obvious about kingdom-building; some people are sneaky and subtle about it. But we all have a little kingdom or two that we are trying to build. The question is am I living for my little kingdom, or am I living for His Big Kingdom?

Read Online“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.'” Luke 19:12–14There are three categories of people in this parable. The first includes those who received a gold coin and followed the master's request to “engage in trade” until he returned. The second has those who received the same command but were lazy and failed to produce any good fruit from that which our Lord has given them. And the third includes those who “despise” our Lord and do not want Him as their King.Upon the king's return, this first category of people are represented by the two servants who took the gold coins, engaged in trade, and made five and ten more. These are those who have much apostolic zeal. God not only calls us to use the gifts we have received to expand His Kingdom on earth, He also expects it of us. His expectation is a command of love. For those who understand this command, they see it as a glorious invitation to make an eternal difference in the lives of many. They do not see the apostolic works to which they are called as a burden. Rather, they see them as a joy, and that joy fuels their efforts. The result will have exponential effects for God's Kingdom.The second category of people is illustrated by the one servant who kept the one gold coin “stored away in a handkerchief” out of fear. These are the people who avoid evangelizing and furthering the Kingdom of God out of fear. Fear is paralyzing. But giving in to fear is a sin. It's a lack of faith and trust in God. Serving God will inevitably require courage on our part. It will demand that we step out of our comfort zone and do that which we may not immediately feel comfortable doing. But as that servant in the parable foretold, God is a demanding God. And He will not accept fear as an acceptable excuse not to zealously help to build the Kingdom of God.The third category of people is the category in which you definitely do not want to fall. These are those who actively work to undermine God's Kingship and reject Him as God. The world is filled with these people. The only thing we need to say about those who fall into this category is that which our Lord said of them. “Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.”Reflect, today, upon which category of people your life most fully resembles. Most likely it is one of the first two. Do you have great zeal for God's Kingdom? Are you willing to do all that you can to help build His Kingdom? Are you willing to do so even at the cost of great personal sacrifice? If so, then rejoice and know that an abundant reward awaits. But if you are one who struggles with fear, specifically, if you struggle with a fear to evangelize, to share the Gospel and to live your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time with this parable and the fate of that one servant who hid the coin in the handkerchief. Engage in the apostolate. Commit yourself to the furtherance of God's Kingdom. Dispel all fear and know that you will never regret putting your whole heart and soul into the service of God and the building of His Kingdom. My demanding Lord, You have entrusted me with much, and You demand that I use all that You have given me to help build Your Kingdom of grace. What a privilege it is to be called by You and used by You for this apostolic mission. Please free me from all fear, dear Lord, so that I will never hesitate to serve You in the ways that You call me to serve. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Willem de Poorter, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This week, Pastor Jason wraps up our annual Kingdom Builders series with a powerful and honest message titled “Excited and Scared.”When God calls us to give, many of us stand in the tension of excitement and fear. Excited to trust God. Excited to build His Kingdom. Excited to see lives changed.But at the same time… scared.Scared to let go.Scared to trust.Scared to believe God will come through again.In this message, Pastor Jason unpacks:✨ Why generosity is about the heart, not the amount✨ What it means to be “rich toward God” instead of building our own kingdom✨ How sacrificial giving unlocks joy and deep trust✨ The difference between hitting the right target and wasting your life on the wrong one✨ What God promises when we honor Him with our financesThis message will challenge you, encourage you, and help you pray the bold end-of-year prayer:“God, based on all the ways You've blessed me this year, what can I give to build Your Kingdom and not mine?”If you're ready to take a step of faith—excited and scared—this message is for you.

True wisdom doesn't come from books or clever ideas — it comes from God Himself. As Fr. Mark reminds us, divine wisdom is the light of God that orders all things in creation and directs them toward their ultimate purpose. Today's readings from Wisdom 7:22b–8:1 and Luke 17:20–25 show us that this divine wisdom is not something distant or abstract; it's the very presence of God's Kingdom living within the soul.Before the Fall, humanity walked in the light of God's wisdom. But sin darkened our understanding, blinding us to the truth about who God is and how we are meant to live. The Book of Wisdom reminds us that divine wisdom is “holy, unique, manifold, subtle, loving the good, and all-powerful.” It is this wisdom that restores the order lost by sin and allows us to see reality through God's eyes. When we live according to His divine order, peace and fulfillment follow. When we reject it, disorder and unhappiness rule our hearts.Jesus teaches in today's Gospel that “the Kingdom of God is within you.” This means that the Kingdom is not merely a place but the very life of God alive in the soul of the righteous. As St. Faustina recorded in her Diary, Jesus said, “My Kingdom is my life in the human soul.” To live wisely, then, is to allow the Kingdom of God to take root in us — to let divine wisdom order our thoughts, our choices, and our desires according to God's plan.Fr. Mark urges us to ask daily for the gift of wisdom — a wisdom that enables us to live rightly, see eternally, and walk in peace. The truly wise are those who look not merely to this world but to eternity, shaping their lives by the light of divine truth. May we pray: “Lord, grant us wisdom, that we may live wisely, love deeply, and build Your Kingdom within and around us.”#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok #frmarkbaron #wisdom #kingdomofgod #bookofwisdom #gospelreflection #divinewisdom #catholichomily #dailyhomily ★ Support this podcast ★

Read OnlineAsked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,' or, ‘There it is.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”  Luke 17:20–21Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus this question? Why did they want to know when the Kingdom of God would come? To answer this question, we must first look at the full context of the various communications between Jesus and the Pharisees. When we do this and see the many ways that the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus in speech and the times in which our Lord firmly rebuked the Pharisees, it seems clear that the Pharisees did not ask Jesus this question in innocence and openness. Instead, they once again were trying to trap Him. They posed a question by which they gave the appearance of believing Jesus' teachings that the Kingdom of God was coming, but they asked not in faith but in mockery and in an attempt to trip Jesus up in His answer.Jesus' answer is mysterious. It leaves little room for the Pharisees to use Jesus' speech against Him. Perhaps the Pharisees were hoping that Jesus would say that the Kingdom was coming soon, or next month, or within the year. But Jesus' answer leaves them with confusion in the face of this mystery that “the Kingdom of God is among you.”Much of what Jesus says can only be fully understood through faith. He often speaks in veiled language intentionally, because the only way to lift the veil to perceive the meaning of His teachings is to rely upon the inspired gift of faith. Faith is like a key to unlock the secrets of the mysteries of God. Faith becomes a lens through which every parable, every figure of speech, and every mystery taught by our Lord is understood. But without this inspired gift of faith, Jesus' teachings remain mysterious and incomprehensible.When you ponder these words that “the Kingdom of God is among you,” what do you understand? Are you able to use the gift of faith to unlock the meaning of this sacred teaching? Interestingly, reading Jesus' words, spoken in a veiled way, offer us the opportunity to test our own faith. If we read these words and are left in confusion, then this is a clear sign that we need to pray for and be open to the gift of faith. But if we do read Jesus' mysterious teachings and the light of understanding is given to us, then this is a clear reason to rejoice, since this comprehension is only possible through the gift of faith.Reflect, today, upon this sacred teaching of our Lord: “The Kingdom of God is among you.” Meditate on those words and pray for insight and understanding. Jesus' words are true. His Kingdom truly is everywhere, all around us and within us. It is alive and well. Do you see it? Do you perceive it? Do you see your role in building it? Use these questions as a test of your own level of faith and know that God wants to reveal to you these mysteries that are only able to be comprehended by His grace. My mysterious Lord, Your Kingdom is everywhere, all around us and within us. I do believe. Give me the eyes of faith so that I may continually perceive Your hand at work. May I always be attentive to all that You wish to reveal to me and open to the deep meaning of the mysteries You do reveal. Increase my faith, dear Lord, so that I may know You and join in the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Jacob Jordaens, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In this message, Pastor Brandon unpacks the true meaning of the Lord's Prayer from a powerful Jewish perspective—revealing its depth as a model for daily prayer and its prophetic connection to the coming Kingdom of God. Jesus taught that prayer was never meant to be a performance, but a private conversation with our Father. Through this teaching, we see how genuine prayer transforms character, develops faith, and prepares believers for eternal reward at the Bema Seat of Christ. From "hallowing God's name" to "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," this study brings clarity to what Messiah intended—showing that the Lord's Prayer is both a personal guide and an eschatological cry for the day when Christ will reign from Jerusalem. Watch as Pastor Brandon exposes hypocrisy in prayer, addresses pagan repetition, and calls believers back to intimate, faith-filled communication with God.

In this message, Pastor Brandon unpacks the true meaning of the Lord's Prayer from a powerful Jewish perspective—revealing its depth as a model for daily prayer and its prophetic connection to the coming Kingdom of God.   Jesus taught that prayer was never meant to be a performance, but a private conversation with our Father. Through this teaching, we see how genuine prayer transforms character, develops faith, and prepares believers for eternal reward at the Bema Seat of Christ.   From “hallowing God's name” to “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” this study brings clarity to what Messiah intended—showing that the Lord's Prayer is both a personal guide and an eschatological cry for the day when Christ will reign from Jerusalem.   Watch as Pastor Brandon exposes hypocrisy in prayer, addresses pagan repetition, and calls believers back to intimate, faith-filled communication with God.  

Read OnlineWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5: 1–3Today we celebrate one of the most glorious solemnities within our Church! Every saint, canonized or not, is honored today. Our Gospel passage lays out the path by which these saints entered Heaven. While on earth, these great men and women lived lives that were poor in spirit, filled with a holy mourning, meekness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, peace, purity of heart and even persecution. Each one of these Beatitudes concludes by stating the reward that those who lived these qualities obtains: Heaven, comfort, satisfaction, mercy, seeing God, being children of God and rewards beyond what we can imagine in God's Kingdom.The Beatitudes invite us to the heights of holiness. They are not for the faint of heart or for those living a lukewarm spiritual life. These Beatitudes present us with the pinnacle of holy living and challenge us to the core. But every effort put into living these Beatitudes are worth it here on earth and ultimately in Heaven. Let's look briefly at two of these Beatitudes.The second Beatitude states that those “who mourn...will be comforted.” This is an interesting Beatitude. Why is it holy to mourn? Simply put, this form of holy mourning means that you not only have a holy sorrow for your own sins but that you have this holy sorrow as you see the many evils within our world. This is crucial today. First, it should be quite obvious that we must have holy sorrow for our own sins. Doing so means your conscience is working. And when your conscience is working, you will be compelled, by this holy sorrow, to acknowledge your offenses against God and work diligently to change. But we must also have a holy sorrow as we see the many evils within our world. Too often today there is a tendency to undermine this Beatitude by presenting universal acceptance of all things as a good. We are told we must not judge, and though that is true when it comes to judging another's heart, a worldly presentation of this secular “virtue” attempts to lead us to downplay the objective nature of sin. Our secular world tempts us to ignore many objective moral truths by which God guides us into all truth. But as Christians, our first approach must be to despise all that our Lord taught was objectively morally evil. And when we do come face-to-face with immoral lifestyles, the appropriate response must be holy sorrow, not acceptance of grave sin. To mourn over another's poor choices is a true act of charity toward them. The fourth Beatitude calls us to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This means that we not only have a holy sorrow over our sins and the objective evils of our world, but that we also allow ourselves to be filled with a hunger and thirst for truth and holy living. This drive must become a burning motivation within us to do all we can to further the Kingdom of God everywhere. This Beatitude enables us to overcome indifference, inspiring us to bring about change in the face of all opposition. And this drive is fueled by charity and every other accompanying virtue. Reflect, today, upon the beautiful truth that you are called to become a saint. And the surest path to sainthood is the Beatitudes. Read them carefully. Meditate upon them and know that they reveal to you how God is calling you to live. If one of these Beatitudes stands out to you, then spend time focusing upon it. Work to internalize these graces, and God will work wonders in your life, one day making this solemnity within our Church a true celebration of your life well lived. My most holy Lord, You reign now in Heaven and desire that Your glorious Kingdom be firmly established upon earth. Give me the grace I need to seek holiness with all my heart and to especially use Your revelation of the Beatitudes as the path by which I travel. I pray that I will become a true saint in this world and that You will use me to further Your Kingdom now and for eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Sebastiano Conca, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read Online“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Luke 11:23These words are embedded within several powerful teachings of Jesus, but, in many ways, this single sentence can stand alone as an important Christian truth. Specifically, it tells us that we cannot be neutral in our position regarding Jesus and all that He has taught us. This is an important message in the world today.Today, there seems to be a growing secular value that we might call “neutrality.” We are told by many in the world that we must accept any morality, any lifestyle, any choice that others make. And though it is true that we must always love and accept every person and treat them with the utmost dignity and respect, it is not true that we should be neutral to the choices and secular values that some choose to live and express. Sadly, when we do speak the full truth, especially the many moral truths our Lord has revealed, we are often labeled as judgmental. But this is not the truth.This quote above from today's Gospel makes it clear that we cannot remain indifferent to the teachings of our Lord and still remain in His good graces. In fact, Jesus makes it clear that the opposite is true. He says that if we are not with Him, meaning, if we do not accept all that He has revealed, then we are, in fact, against Him. Being neutral on matters of faith and morality is not actually being neutral at all. It's a choice that some make that has the clear effect of separating them from Jesus.For example, regarding matters of faith, if someone were to say, “I do not believe in the Eucharist,” then they are, in fact, rejecting God. And though it is not our duty to be their judge, it is our duty to acknowledge that they have expressed a belief contrary to the truth. They are in error, and if they persist in this error, then they do separate themselves from God. That's what Jesus is saying.The same is true regarding morality. There are many examples in the moral life that are becoming more and more blatant in their opposition to our Lord's teaching. Thus, we must remind ourselves that when we reject a moral teaching given to us by our Lord, we reject Jesus Himself.Jesus goes even further when He says that “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” In other words, it's not enough to simply personally believe all that Jesus taught, we must also teach it to others. If we do not and if we, instead, offer a false form of “acceptance” of another's error, then we are actually working against Jesus. We all have a moral duty to actively promote the truths of the Gospel given to us by our Lord. Reflect, today, upon how fully you are “with” our Lord and “gather” with Him. Do you fully accept all that He has taught and also seek to gather many others for the Kingdom of God? If you do not see yourself actively believing in and participating in the mission of our Lord, then heed these words of Jesus and allow them to gently but firmly challenge you, so that you will more fully work to build up God's Kingdom in your own heart and in the world all around you. My glorious King, You desire to build up Your Kingdom in my life and, through me, in the lives of others. Give me the grace and courage I need to fully accept all that You have taught me and to actively become an instrument of Your grace and truth in the world. May I be with You in all things, dear Lord, and gather many into Your loving arms of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Luke 11:1-4 - Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." Bishop Sheen quote of the day