Faithful Writers

Just three words in English. “It is finished.” This wasn’t a defeat. It was a shout of victory. John records Jesus’ last cry in Greek: tetelestai. A single word, but one packed with such significance for all of us. So, what did that one word mean? In the marketplace, it meant: paid in full. Stamped across receipts when debts were cleared. In the military, it meant: mission accomplished. A soldier’s way of saying their assignment was done. In the temple, priests used it when a sacrifice was flawless. The lamb met every requirement. So when Jesus cried tetelestai, He was announcing: the debt is paid, the mission is complete, the sacrifice is perfect. How the Jewish Crowd Heard It Passover weekend. Jerusalem is packed with pilgrims. Lambs being led to the temple. Sacrifices prepared. The Jewish people lived under the rhythm of endless rituals. Every year, the lamb was slain. Every year, the blood flowed. Every year the cycle repeats. When Jesus shouted It is finished, He declared that the cycle had ended . One sacrifice, once for all. The Lamb of God had done what no lamb in Israel’s history could do — close the gap between God and humanity forever. How the Romans Heard It The Roman soldiers had their own take. To them, crucifixion was the empire’s exclamation mark: This man is finished. It was Rome’s way of saying, “Your story ends here. Don’t cross us.” So when Jesus cried out, they probably smirked. Another failed revolutionary, gasping his last. Rome thought it was silencing Him — when in fact, the cross was silencing every kind of death, itself. What Was Finished Let’s make it plain: Debt: Paid in full. No more IOUs hanging over humanity. Law: Fulfilled. Centuries of prophecy and ritual met their goal. Separation: Torn down. The temple curtain ripped top to bottom — access to God is wide open. Death’s Reign: Broken. The grave could not hold Him, and because of that, it can’t hold us either. Why It Matters for Us Fast-forward to today. Our world is full of things that never feel finished. The inbox refills. The bills stack up. The laundry multiplies. The work never seems done. But Jesus’ cry slices through the noise. It is finished means there is one thing that will never be undone: your acceptance before God. You don’t have to keep hustling to earn His love. You don’t have to carry shame like luggage you can’t set down. You don’t have to wonder if you’ve done enough — you haven’t, and you don’t need to. In a culture of exhaustion, It is finished is oxygen. It means the most important thing — the one thing that actually matters — is already settled. Hearing It Today The Jewish listener heard that there was now freedom from endless sacrifices. It was the triumph of love. And you? You can hear it as the end of striving, the canceling of debt, the freedom cry that still echoes two thousand years later. It is finished. Not as in “Jesus gave up.” But as in “Your chains are broken. Your debt is canceled. Your freedom is real.” Here’s a creative cover of “It Was Finished On the Cross” recorded during the 2021 lockdown. Check it out: © Gary L Ellis

Google Nano Banana “Forgive and forget.” You’ve heard this your entire Christian life. It sounds so spiritual, so mature, so… Christ-like. It’s also complete garbage. The idea that true forgiveness requires erasing painful memories has done more damage to believers than almost any other Christian cliché. It’s kept abuse victims trapped in toxic relationships. It’s prevented people from setting healthy boundaries. It’s made Christians feel guilty for having normal human reactions to being hurt. And worst of all, it’s not even Biblical. The Lie That’s Keeping Christians Trapped Here’s the lie that’s been destroying Christian relationships for generations: “If you really forgive someone, you’ll forget what they did.” This toxic teaching suggests that remembering someone’s harmful actions means you haven’t truly forgiven them. It implies that real forgiveness looks like spiritual amnesia — as if God expects you to develop selective memory loss about every offense. Churches reinforce this by celebrating testimonies where people claim to have “completely forgotten” what someone did to them. We applaud the wife who says she “doesn’t even remember” her husband’s affair. We praise the adult child who claims to have “totally forgotten” their parents’ abuse. But this isn’t spiritual maturity. It’s spiritual bypassing. And it’s keeping people trapped in cycles of harm because they think healthy boundaries are evidence of unforgiveness. What Forgiveness Actually Means (Spoiler: It’s Not Amnesia) Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is choosing not to use someone’s wrongs against them. It’s the decision to release your right to revenge, not your right to remember. It’s giving up your claim to payback, not giving up your awareness of patterns. It’s choosing not to punish someone for their actions, not choosing to pretend their actions never happened. Biblical forgiveness is about what you do with the debt someone owes you, not what you do with the memory of how they created that debt. Think about it practically. If forgiveness required forgetting: Abuse survivors would need to develop amnesia to be spiritually mature Betrayed spouses would need to erase all memory of infidelity to truly forgive People would need to forget every hurt to avoid being “bitter” Wisdom learned from painful experiences would be considered unforgiveness This is insane. And it’s not what Scripture teaches. Biblical Evidence That God Doesn’t Expect Amnesia God Himself remembers sin even after forgiving it. When Scripture says God “remembers our sins no more,” it doesn’t mean He develops divine amnesia. It means He chooses not to hold our sins against us. God is omniscient — He can’t forget anything. But He can choose not to use our failures to condemn us. Jesus remembered His betrayal. After the resurrection, Jesus didn’t forget that Peter denied Him three times. Instead, He specifically addressed it by asking Peter three times if he loved Him. Jesus used the memory of Peter’s failure as an opportunity for restoration, not as ammunition for condemnation. Paul remembered his persecution. Paul never forgot that he had persecuted Christians before his conversion. He referenced it repeatedly in his letters. But instead of being consumed by guilt, he used the memory to fuel his ministry and demonstrate God’s grace. Joseph remembered his brothers’ betrayal. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, he didn’t pretend their betrayal never happened. He remembered it clearly and even tested them to see if they had changed. But he chose to use his position to save them rather than destroy them. The pattern is clear: Biblical characters remember wrongs but choose not to use those memories for revenge. Why Remembering Can Be Part of Healthy Forgiveness Remembering protects you from repeated harm. If someone has a pattern of breaking promises, remembering that pattern isn’t unforgiveness; it’s wisdom. You can forgive their past broken promises while also being realistic about future commitments. Remembering helps you set appropriate boundaries. If someone has violated your trust, remembering how they did it helps you know what safeguards to put in place. You can forgive the violation while also protecting yourself from future ones. Remembering prevents enabling. Sometimes “forgetting” someone’s harmful behavior actually enables them to continue hurting others. Remembering their actions while choosing not to seek revenge can motivate you to intervene in healthy ways. Remembering facilitates genuine healing. Trying to forget traumatic experiences just buries them and doesn’t actually heal. Real healing happens when you remember the hurt but remove its power to control your emotions and decisions. Remembering builds empathy for others. When you remember your own experiences of being hurt and forgiven, you develop compassion for others who are struggling with forgiveness. The Difference Between Remembering and Ruminating There’s a huge difference between healthy remembering and toxic ruminating. Healthy remembering says: “This person hurt me, and I choose not to seek revenge, but I will be wise in future interactions.” Toxic ruminating says: “This person hurt me, and I’m going to replay it constantly and make them pay.” Healthy remembering leads to wisdom and boundaries. Toxic ruminating leads to bitterness and vengeance. Healthy remembering protects future relationships. Toxic ruminating destroys current relationships. Healthy remembering processes pain and moves forward. Toxic ruminating rehearses pain and stays stuck. The goal isn’t to forget. The goal is to remember without being controlled by the memory. What Forgiveness Actually Looks Like in Real Life Forgiveness is choosing not to bring up past offenses in current arguments. You remember what happened, but you don’t weaponize it in future conflicts. Forgiveness is releasing the person from the debt they owe you. You stop demanding payment for the harm they caused, even though you remember the harm clearly. Forgiveness is choosing blessing over revenge. When you have the opportunity to hurt someone who hurt you, you choose to help them instead. Forgiveness is setting boundaries based on patterns, not punishment. You limit someone’s access to hurt you again, not because you want to punish them, but because you want to be wise. Forgiveness is grieving the loss without demanding restoration. You acknowledge that some things can’t be undone and some relationships can’t be repaired, but you choose acceptance over bitterness. How to Forgive Without Forgetting 1. Separate the person from their actions. You can forgive someone while still remembering what they did. The goal is to see them as a flawed human being worthy of grace, not as an enemy to be destroyed. 2. Grieve what was lost. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending nothing was damaged. Acknowledge what their actions cost you and allow yourself to mourn those losses. 3. Choose blessing over revenge. When you have opportunities to harm someone who hurt you, choose to help them instead. This is the heart of Christian forgiveness. 4. Set wise boundaries. Use your memory of their harmful patterns to make wise decisions about future interactions. This isn’t punishment, it’s protection. 5. Process the pain with safe people. Don’t try to heal from deep wounds alone. Find trusted friends, counselors, or pastors who can help you work through the hurt without falling into rumination. 6. Ask God to transform your memories. Pray that God would redeem your painful experiences by using them to help others or develop your character. When Someone Says You Haven’t “Really” Forgiven If someone tells you that remembering an offense means you haven’t truly forgiven it, here’s what you can say: “I’ve chosen not to seek revenge or hold this against you, but I’m going to be wise about how I interact with you in the future. That’s not unforgiveness, that’s the difference between grace and foolishness.” You don’t owe anyone spiritual amnesia. You don’t have to pretend harmful things never happened to prove you’re a good Christian. Real forgiveness is choosing grace despite full awareness of the offense, not because of ignorance about it. Your ability to remember someone’s harmful actions doesn’t disqualify your forgiveness. It might actually be evidence that your forgiveness is real and mature, because you’re choosing grace with full knowledge of what it cost you. Some of the most powerful forgiveness happens when people remember exactly what was done to them and choose love anyway. That’s not spiritual amnesia. That’s spiritual strength. Honestly, the best revenge you can have as a Christian is seeing your enemy get saved. Don’t pray for them to get what they deserve, pray that they get what YOU got in Christ. What’s your experience with the pressure to “forgive and forget”? Have you found ways to forgive while maintaining healthy boundaries? © Ashneil

Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash There’s a buzzword hanging around the block, and it’s roaring with popularity. It’s edgy, enticing, and pulling people in by the droves . The problem? This one is dangerous. Before you dive in and start tearing things apart, let’s take a look at some of the snares you will encounter. Where did it come from? Faith deconstruction occurs when a person questions, reevaluates, and potentially relinquishes some or all of their beliefs. At face value, it seems harmless. Everyone should, at some point, evaluate their faith and be sure of what they believe. However, the danger lies in the motive behind why someone chooses to deconstruct. There are many reasons someone would choose to embrace deconstruction, but the three most common I’ve seen are: Past church hurt or religious trauma Lack of solid Bible teaching Getting caught up in a trend Let’s talk about the things you need to know before you decide if deconstruction is a path you want to tread. #1: Past Hurt or Religious Trauma Church hurt is real and heartbreaking. Our churches should be the safest place for believers and non-believers alike, but the unfortunate reality is that many times, church is where some of the deepest wounds are inflicted. Take Jesus, for example. He should have been most welcome in and around the religious community. After all, weren’t they looking forward to the coming Messiah? However, that’s often where he was most rejected. The Jews even went so far as to call him demon-possessed after he taught about how they could be freed from sin. And that was during his early ministry, before he’d stirred things up. The Jews answered him, ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ — John 8:48 Later, after he had continued preaching, teaching, and performing many miracles, one of his best friends turned him over to the authorities, and his own people asked for his crucifixion. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. — Luke 22:4–6 One of Jesus’ inner circle plotted, along with the leaders of the church, ways they could find him alone and capture him. That’s the ultimate church hurt. Jesus doesn’t want that for us. He doesn’t want us to be deeply wounded by those who call themselves his followers. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. — John 13:34–35 #2: Lack of Solid Bible Teaching This isn’t a new issue, but rather something that’s plagued the church since its start. Scripture warns us repeatedly about false teachers. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. — 2 Peter 2:1 Friend, I say this with all the loving kindness I can muster: If you are attending a church whose teaching isn’t aligned with Scripture, or only preaches stories about the Word instead of from the Word — RUN, don’t walk, to another one. Even Bible-believing, truth-seeking churches are bound to hurt people from time to time because we’re all human; however, in churches like the above, who don’t carefully handle the Word of God, it’s simply a matter of when you’ll be hurt. Not if. And that’s not what Jesus had in mind for his Bride, either. #3: Getting Caught up in a Trend Paul addresses this in his letter to the Roman church. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2 Fads come and go. We’ll see different movements become popular and fade away in our lifetime, but we should remain set apart from the world. As believers, we will never fit into whatever box society deems “normal.” This isn’t prideful, but a reflection of our purpose. If we are truly followers of Christ, we will always look different because the world constantly evolves while our God remains unchanged. He’s the same today as he was two thousand years ago, as he will be in another two thousand years (if Jesus hasn’t come for us by then). The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever. — Isaiah 40:8Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. — James 1:16–17 If we model our lives after the world, we will repeatedly find ourselves caught up in the next fad, both in lifestyle and theologically. When we seek to follow Christ, however, we are transformed in our thinking and our minds will be set on him, not what this world has to offer. Proceed with Caution As I promised at the beginning, I’m not going to talk you out of deconstruction. It could even be necessary if you come from a faith background practicing harmful theology. However, I urge you to evaluate your motive for exploring this path and prayerfully consider whether it’s wise. If you proceed, please make sure to do so with the guidance of your local pastor or a trusted, Bible-believing mentor. Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. Press on! 🫶🏻 © Stephanie M Some other posts you might have missed: The #1 Note-Taking Tip that Transformed my Bible Study: And why we’re scared to try it You Want to Read Your Bible, but You Keep Getting Stuck; 3 Tips to Get Past Leviticus

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8) What did guidance look like back then? In David’s world, nobody was pulling out a phone for directions. You had shepherds guiding sheep through rough hills. Parents showing kids how to barter in the market. Kings giving counsel to their people. Guidance wasn’t a distant voice — it was personal, face-to-face. So when David writes this verse, the picture is of a God right there with you. That phrase about His “loving eye”? In Hebrew culture, to keep your eye on someone meant to care for them, to protect them. Like a parent at the playground — keeping watch, ready to step in if needed. That’s what David’s getting at. Why does this matter now? Fast forward to today. We’re swimming in advice — podcasts, books, TikTok hacks — but still lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what direction to take. Career choices. Relationship messes. Faith questions that feel like a maze. Psalm 32:8 cuts through the noise. God doesn’t say, “Here’s a list — good luck.” He says, “I’ll teach you. I’ll guide you. I’ll keep my eye on you.” That’s not control — it’s care. What does it feel like? Think about learning to drive. You’re nervous, hands sweaty on the wheel. The instructor sits beside you, calm, steady, watchful. They don’t grab the wheel from you, but they guide — “Steady now, you’re okay, here’s the turn.” That’s the heart of this verse. God’s presence plus His wisdom. What if I’m standing at a crossroads? That’s when this verse really lands. Maybe you’re asking: Do I stay or do I leave? Do I mend this relationship or move on? Am I afraid to let go, or finally let God keep his promise and lead? The promise isn’t that we’ll get a billboard in the sky. The promise is that God doesn’t leave us guessing. He instructs. He teaches. He counsels. And He does it with His eye on us, in love. So what’s the takeaway? The same God who walked with David through caves and kingdoms is guiding you through workplaces, breakups, and everyday choices. You’re not fumbling alone. His presence is with you. Maybe the prayer today is as simple as this: “God, I don’t just need answers — I need You. Teach me. Guide me. Keep Your loving eye on me.” And peace starts right there. © Gary L Ellis

Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash His voice isn’t always heard; sometimes, it’s felt in the quiet corners of life. I used to think hearing God meant waiting for something dramatic, a prophetic word, a dream, a voice that would make the room tremble. But as I’ve walked with Him longer, I’ve come to see that His voice is rarely loud. It’s gentle, intentional, and layered, especially tucked into ordinary conversations, heartbreaks, and still moments where only peace speaks. 1. Through People There was a season when I was uncertain about what to do next. I prayed, fasted, and waited for a sign from heaven, but none came. Days turned to weeks, and silence began to feel like rejection. Then one evening, while chatting with a friend about something completely unrelated, she said a simple line that cut straight to my heart. She had no idea what I’d been wrestling with, yet her words echoed the very thing I’d been asking God about. That moment reminded me of how God sent Nathan to David, not with thunder, but with truth wrapped in friendship. Sometimes His voice doesn’t come through prophets or pastors, but through people who don’t even know they’re speaking for Him. God often hides His voice in familiar faces. He sends kindness, counsel, or correction through people who become His echo. The key is to listen and discern, not just to what they say, but to the gentle nudge that comes with it. 2. Through Pain Pain has a strange way of quieting every other sound until the only thing left is God’s whisper. In a certain season, when everything I thought I’d built began to crumble. Dreams I’d prayed over, relationships I’d trusted, and plans I’d worked hard for had all gone. I couldn’t understand why God would let it happen, but in that ache, He began to teach me that His silence wasn’t absence. He was working, this time not around me, but in me. Through tears and confusion, I started to see that He was pruning pride, softening my heart, and rebuilding faith that wasn’t dependent on outcomes. It wasn’t punishment, but preparation. Like Job, I discovered that God sometimes speaks the loudest through brokenness, not because He wants to explain, but because He intends to transform. Pain has a way of revealing what comfort hides, and when everything else fades, His love remains the one voice that still holds you together. 3. Through Peace Now there’s peace, His final, unmistakable language. It’s not always the peace of perfect circumstances. Sometimes it’s the kind that makes no sense at all. The kind that settles over you in the middle of unanswered questions and uncertain futures. I’ve learned that when peace lingers after prayer, it’s often God’s quiet “yes.” When peace lifts, it might be His gentle “not this way.” Peace isn’t just passive; it’s God’s way of confirming His presence. I’ve noticed that the moment I finally stop trying to control everything, peace comes like still waters. Not because I now have all the answers, but because I am resting in the One who does. Sometimes, God’s voice isn’t one sound; it’s a harmony. He confirms through people, He refines through pain, and He assures through peace. And if we slow down long enough to listen beyond the noise, beyond fear, and beyond what we expect, we’ll realize He’s actually been speaking all along. © Favour

unsplash.com Here’s the third and last of those three sayings I live by. Here’s all three together, and you’ll see why they are written on my office walls. Music Is My Melody. Joy Supersedes All Situations. Choose to be Thankful, and the Byproduct is Joy. I think all believers out there have a saying or two they always remember, something that sticks with them through the mud and grime the world tries to bury us under, and I believe it's important that we have something like this to hold onto.  Whether it's a favorite verse (s)  or, like in my case, sayings that keep me focused and remind me God is always there. These three sayings are unique to me and my needs; each of us will have our own unique sayings that speak to us no matter what. Byproducts The literal definition of byproduct is: “something that is produced as a result of making something else, or something unexpected that happens as a result of something:”(1) We create byproducts with our emotions and our choices all the time, without realizing it, both positive and negative.  When we shift our thinking and look around at our surroundings, and start to acknowledge what God has provided us, we change from ungrateful to grateful. We have the power to create a positive or negative byproduct with our conduct. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Phil 4:8 And the byproduct is Joy Here we are being directly told to think about such things. When we take moments throughout the day, even on our roughest days, and say to God, “Thank you,”  that is a positive byproduct of our deliberate choice to see the good, and it is worthy of our gratitude. Too many people are focused on what they don’t have, what they want, what think think they deserve. They think about these things so much that the byproduct coming out of them is always negative; there is no joy. How is God to work with that?  How is that glorifying God and strengthening you? Instead, switch your thinking to what is noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Make a choice to be thankful, and the byproduct will be Joy. © Jane Isley Source & Comment: (1) Cambridge Dictionary I believe I heard that phrase from a pastor at Red Rocks church  in Colorado. (amazing online church btw, highly recommend)

Photo by abhijeet gourav on Unsplash I will never forget the day I leaned over to my mom during church and whispered, “I’m going to the other side of the world.” We had been listening to our missions committee speak about an upcoming trip overseas, and the words flew out of my mouth so suddenly that I was left spinning. No doubt it was the Holy Spirit moving in me, because I couldn’t stop myself from saying it. It just… came out. What really shocked me, though, was her response: “I knew you would be.” Wait, what? No argument, no laugh, no questioning her 17-year-old daughter, who just said she wanted to hop a plane and leave the country. Just, “Okay. We’ll make it happen.” And happen, it did. I Was Wildly Unprepared The minimum age to embark on this trip was 18. I turned 18 a few months before we were supposed to leave so I was the youngest, least seasoned Christian on the team (that’s important for later). We spent months prepping: fundraising, making travel arrangements, studying the culture, meeting as a team, and saturating the upcoming trip in hours of prayer. Our leader briefed us on spiritual warfare, about how heavy the demonic oppression was in the area we’d be traveling to. We heard stories from other team members who’d been before, and they confirmed it was to be expected. The accounts ranged in severity from lost luggage to being detained by local authorities and miraculously being released without them searching the team’s backpacks full of Bibles (which were illegal to have in the country we’d be going to). Soon, we were prayed up, packed up, studied up, and ready to go. I felt mostly confident, a little nervous, but completely excited to be heading off to share the gospel. I was ready. Except… I was not . 3 flights and a 12-hour bus ride later, we were on the ground. The trip was mostly smooth (I’ll save that for another article), and we were linked up with our point of contact ready to talk about Jesus. We’d already seen some incredible things happen, and one of our team members even led a local to Christ on the bus ride, so by the time we arrived we were on cloud nine thinking about all the Lord was going to do over the next couple of weeks. Remember how I said I was the most unseasoned Christian on the trip? Well, it had me believing that I wasn’t a target. I believed that all the wild tales I’d heard from former team members wouldn’t happen on this trip because of how smoothly it was going. My false sense of security left me totally unprepared to face what would happen. The Night that Shook Me to My Core Each of us on the team shared a hotel room with one of the other team members, and my roommate was one of my good friends who was just a few years older than me. She was, and is, a faithful Christian who loves the Lord, and I will forever treasure the conversations we had on that trip. We ended one of our days making preparations to go up into the mountains the next day. We’d been in the city thus far, so it would be different in the villages. In the area we were working in, there was a night and day difference between city life and village life. So stark was the difference, it almost felt like stepping into a completely different country as we ascended the mountain just outside the city, leaving the modern comforts of hotels and restaurants to find that some of the highest points didn’t even have electricity or running water. We had finished our preparations and bags were packed for the early morning bus ride up the mountain. Excitedly, we drifted off to sleep thinking about what the mountains had in store for us. At some point during the night, my roommate got up and went to the restroom. It woke me briefly, but I soon drifted back off. Shortly after, she got up again. This time, she was walking around the room, so I assumed she couldn’t sleep and was up looking for her Bible or something. Again, I drifted off. The third time I was woken up, I felt the heaviness. I rolled onto my back and looked over to see my roommate fast asleep on her bed. So what had woken me up? I wanted to get up, but my body couldn’t move. Completely paralyzed, I lay there, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I felt a presence in the room, but was unable to move or do anything but stare up at the ceiling. At the same time I felt the heaviness, I also experienced the warmest feeling of peace I’d ever felt. Though I couldn’t move, I knew in my spirit that it was a good thing. I felt like I was trapped inside a holy bubble, being shielded from the darkness in the room. I wasn’t scared ; I was at peace. Soon, I drifted off one more time . WHAM! At 6 am, I sat straight up in bed and caught a glimpse of my roommate flinging the door open and running out of our room. I got up and followed her as she went next door to another of our team’s rooms, which her mom and our team leader were staying in. As it turns out, she was violently sick, and we’d soon find out two of our other team members were too. I asked my roommate if that’s why she’d been up so much during the night, to which she responded she’d never gotten out of her bed until she’d left the room. Confused, she informed me that she’d heard me all night long getting up and down and walking around the room. I hadn’t. At this point, I had chills. Neither of us had been out of bed. Neither of us had been walking around. The heaviness, the presence in the room? That was the enemy. The four of us talked and were able to put more pieces of the puzzle together. We discovered that at least one of us had been awake just about all night long. Each time one of us were woken up, we prayed and went back to sleep. All night long, the wake-ups grew progressively more intense, and around the time I was feeling the heaviness, my roommate’s mom was praying over our room because she’d felt it too. That explained the peaceful shielding I felt the night before. As we reevaluated our day ahead, we decided to move forward with the plan, albeit with a smaller group. Of the 6 of us ladies, 3 were sick and stayed behind, while the other 3 of us went up to the villages for the day. There weren’t any earth-shattering miracles that day. No salvations that we were able to witness. But we sure planted seeds. We spread the message of the gospel to anyone who would listen, in an area that was saturated with idol worship and unbelief. We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, met with many wonderful people in the villages, and rode back down the mountain on a bus next to a man carrying a live chicken. Most importantly, we accomplished what the Lord had sent us and equipped us that day to do. What it all Means Spiritual warfare is real and ever-present. What we experienced that night was a demonic attack, intended to stop us from what we were planning to do the next day. We could have cancelled the plan. We chose to follow the Lord instead. I had never experienced that type of attack before. Thankfully, someone else was covering me in prayer at a time I was too immature in my faith to see it. No doubt there were others back home praying for us, too. That night, I learned firsthand that we can’t walk through life with spiritual blinders on. We can’t pretend the enemy doesn’t exist. Our struggle is not against humans, but rather spiritual forces ( Ephesians 6:12 ). That’s why it’s vital as Christians that we put on our spiritual armor — every single day ( Ephesians 6:10–11 ). We have got to pray over everything ( Philippians 4:6 ), and often (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Spiritual attacks don’t always look like this one. In fact, I’ve not had one quite like that since. However, living in the Bible Belt, the enemy typically doesn’t need to go to such lengths to stop us from spreading the gospel. He simply has to make us busy, stir up drama in our churches or whisper a few lies to us about how we “deserve” to be treated so that we lash out when we are treated differently. Oof, stepped on my own toes there… I believe our attack overseas was so different because the above methods wouldn’t work there. He needed to use something stronger because we were little beacons of light headed into an area of heavy darkness. We were pointedly marching into enemy territory, and needed to be stopped — except we weren’t. The Lord is more powerful than any fiery dart the enemy throws at us. He’s our refuge in times of trouble ( Nahum 1:7 ). He is greater than any scheme of the evil one, which means we win in the end ( 1 John 4:4 )! Stay ready, friends. Pray always, and don’t be caught off guard like I was. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings ( 1 Peter 5:8–9 ). Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. 🫶🏻 Other articles you might want to check out: Trauma, Sin and Breaking Cycles Quick Guide to Start Reading the Bible: 6 Books to Start With Today © Stephanie M

Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙  on Unsplash Knock Knock Something dark is coming. It’s knocking at our doors. This death was just the beginning. It’s a hardcore spiritual war. Knock Knock Don’t mean to scare you, but the time is now. God calls you His warrior. Don’t break your vow. When you chose this life, you knew it wouldn’t be easy. Are you ready, child?  Knock Knock It’s time to strap up. Tighten your belt and secure your breastplate.  Don’t forget the truth you’re fighting for. Slip on your helmet and pick up your sword. Are you ready for God’s love to pour? Peace is at your feet.That alone is no defeat. However, it’s time for more. Don’t let that faith of yours keep hiding in that drawer. Grab your shield and be ready to roar. Knock Knock Go open that door. You ’re equipped for war. September 10th, 2025, changed everything.  You see, Charlie’s death wasn’t just political —  it was spiritual.  His death is showing the evil and hatred that is going on in this world, but it’s also showing how many people want to stand up and fight for the truth. Since Wednesday, Christians all over the world have sensed that something is coming. I, too, have felt something similar, and so have people that I personally know. Deep down, I think we all know that something is coming, whether or not you are a believer.  I believe it’s a hardcore spiritual war that’s about to hit. Now, spiritual warfare has always existed. If you’re a follower of Christ, you know this. You know that satan will do anything to slow us down or to make us want to walk away from Christ altogether.  However, what I am saying is that satan is going to try and use this death to make us, as believers, stay quiet. He wants us to be scared of being persecuted so that we don’t speak up. In fact, there are people in this world right now who want people who are similar to Charlie Kirk (aka devout Christians) to be killed. I don’t mean to scare you, but this is the reality that we chose to face when we decided to follow Christ.  “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.” — John 15:19–20 [ESV] Now more than ever, we need to stand bold in faith.  We need to put on the armor of God. It’s time to put on the belt of truth, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Spirit, sandals/feet of peace, and the shield of faith.  We are entering into a season of spiritual warfare, and now is not the time to just sit on the sidelines. We need to gather as Christians and spend time together in fellowship, prayer, and in God’s word!  We need to get out into the streets and show people who God is through love. That means openly talking about who Jesus is. That means offering to pray with strangers who are having a hard time.  That means putting aside extra cash if you can for those who need it. That means being willing to have civil conversations with people who have opposing views from you.   That means so many different things. God gave every single one of us different spiritual gifts that we can use to help lead people to Christ, so I encourage you — find a way to know what that spiritual gift is so that you can use it!  Even if you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, God has empowered you to go and spread the Gospel and stand firm in your faith. None of us wants to be persecuted for what we believe in, but think about all the lost souls out there!  Deep down, those lost souls do not understand what they are doing, missing, or what they will be facing on judgment day. Your boldness in your faith and love for Jesus could be the reason why someone turns to Christ. Your boldness could be the last seed that needs to be planted to save them from eternity in hell.  And if you’re afraid, that’s okay — that’s what makes us human. But just because we’re afraid of something doesn’t mean we shouldn’t move. Don’t let your fear be the reason that someone doesn’t get to hear the Gospel. Charlie Kirk’s death broke so many hearts.  We all can feel that gap. We know we lost a brother in Christ who was a steadfast warrior. However, we must have hope and remember that we will see him again one day!  Until then, we need to make God and Charlie proud! We must stand and fight this spiritual war the way Jesus would — through bold faith, love, grace, mercy, and hope! Here are some bible verses for encouragement: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.” — Isaiah 40:28-29 [ESV] “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me — the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 [NLT] © Sierra Loew

ChatGPT We all do it. We pick verses. That in itself isn’t a bad thing. I’ve got verses tacked all over my office walls for references and research. The issue comes when a verse is cherry-picked, yanked out of its context, and treated as a complete thought or command, and is used to fuel an opinion, personal agenda, or doctrine that’s not Biblical.  Then everything else around that verse is conveniently ignored. That’s the problem here. Honestly? It’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, right up there with sticking your finger in a light socket or trying to tip a cow. A Quick Little History  1445 — Mordecai Nathan Jewish teacher who divided the Old Testament into either chapters or verses (can’t figure out which for sure) . Long before that, though, scribes were already making divisions in the text to mark sections for teaching or public reading. 1205 or 1227 — Stephen Langton He was a professor and an Archbishop, credited with the chapter system we currently use today. He added chapters to the Latin Vulgate. 1244 & 1248 — Hugo of Sancto Caro He was the first person believed to have attempted to divide the Bible into chapters (thinking this was for the NT, by the sounds of it) . He did this twice while revising the Latin Vulgate, and in 1236, he also gave us the first concordance. 16th Century — Back to Langton His chapter arrangement was put into Greek manuscripts of the New Testament sometime during this period. 1551 — Robert Estienne He was the one who numbered the verses within the chapters, and they were printed in his Greek New Testament edition. 1553 — Hebrew Bible — Robert Estienne Here we get the complete French Bible (OT & NT)  printed with chapters and verses. 1557 — Geneva Translation First complete English New Testament translation with chapters and verses. 1560 — Geneva Translation We get the full English Bible  (OT & NT) printed with chapters and verses. So, that is  definitely   not  the complete history. But I’m not burning more brain cells on Google today. Why The History Lesson? Because it was people who applied chapters and verses only to assist in studying and teaching both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  It was not done to permit people to pick one line, slap it on a bumper sticker, and die on that hill. All the writers, all their words, were inspired by God. He wouldn’t hand us this incredible book just for us to slice it into isolated fortune-cookie quotes. And nowhere did Jesus ever say, “Yeah, just ignore the Old Testament now.” The Old Testament didn’t die when Christ died. To prove that point, when Jesus was teaching and reading, guess what He was referencing and reading from? The texts WE call the “Old” Testament. Also, so did the apostles after Christ died. God’s Perspective. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are outside of time; humanity has time because we need it, God doesn’t.  He doesn’t see “Old” and “New,” like we do. He sees only His  words on paper. Words that are interconnected between books written decades apart from each other. He saw what was written before His Son came and died for us, and what is written afterward. His one complete message to us. And we should to. The more I study, the more I come to see these complex interconnections within the entire Bible, and the absolute need to not die on any cherry-picked hill that leads to unbiblical doctrine or teachings. We are to lead the world to Christ by example. So when you’re busy out there cherry-picking, why can't an unbeliever? You just fed them their permission. I came across a fantastic video on this. Don’t worry, it’s actually entertaining and engaging. The creator, Hailom, defines cherry-picking as: “An argument that only takes into account pieces of data or information that are favorable to the argument while ignoring anything that is not.” Smart, wise young lady. She discusses complexities and nuances in Scripture that we need to wrestle with. It’s just 15 minutes and 28 seconds, and it covers things I would have missed here. Two of her standout points (to me at least) : “We often put words into the author’s mouth.” “Human beings are capable of rationalizing and spiritualizing violence. Maybe it’s [the Bible] showing us something about ourselves, how quickly we fall into tribalism that destroys lives.” I’m going to end this here. She finishes this article very well, and I believe my point has been made.  You cannot cherry-pick verses and expect to hang your entire theology on them and justify sinful behavior, unbiblical teachings, and personal agendas, and still expect to stroll through the pearly gates. The Bible is and always was one complete book. © Jane Isley Like what you read? Help keep the kettle warm by   buying me a cup of tea  — every sip sparks a new idea and supports my work. 💡 Faithful Writers  on Medium. Tumblr Facebook Email

I used to think maturity in faith looked like a chalkboard covered with answers. Every verse had a tidy explanation, every question had a bullet-point response. If someone asked me about suffering, I’d have a theological paragraph ready. If they brought up doubt, I had a proof-text waiting. It felt impressive for a while. But deep down, not so much. Somewhere along the way, I confused being “answer-ready” with being Spirit-led. It’s easy to cling to certainty because it makes us feel safe. But certainty and maturity are not the same thing. Jesus Didn’t Hand Out Answer Keys Read through the Gospels and notice something strange: Jesus was constantly being asked questions — and half the time He responded with a question of His own. “Who do you say that I am?”“What do you want me to do for you?”“Do you love me?” If maturity meant being able to hand over airtight answers, Jesus didn’t model it. Instead, He invited people into conversation, tension, and even silence. That’s unsettling for those of us raised to think discipleship equals downloading information into our brains. Do you know what I mean, or am I the only one who was standing in that box with a false bottom? There’s a Beauty in Not Knowing All the Answers The older I get, the more comfortable I’ve become with the phrase, I don’t know. And strangely enough, that phrase feels like progress. Spiritual maturity looks less like a vault of answers and more like a posture of love and humility. Think about it: love doesn’t require perfect explanations. If a child asks, “Why is the sky blue?” and you stumble through an answer, they don’t love you less. They’re not looking for a scientific breakdown — they’re looking for the response of your presence. In the same way, God isn’t impressed by how fast we can flip through our mental index of Bible trivia. He’s after hearts that stay open, even when our heads are foggy. Growth Looks Like Fruit, Not Flashcards Paul said it plainly in Galatians: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Notice he didn’t say the fruit of the Spirit is knowing all the correct answers. Fruit grows slowly. It requires sunlight, water, and time. It can’t be crammed for like an exam. Real maturity is measured not by how fast we can win a debate, but by how deeply we can embody respect and love for those who disagree with me. When Answers Become Idols Here’s the danger: sometimes we worship certainty instead of Christ. We prop up our systems of answers as if they can save us. But when life collapses — when the awful diagnosis comes, when the prayer seems to go unanswered, when the job disappears — our neat answers crumble too. A Faith That Breathes Spiritual maturity isn’t about stacking up theological bricks until you build an impenetrable wall. It’s more like planting a garden: alive, unpredictable, and in constant need of tending. Gardens change with the seasons. So does faith. The Psalms give us permission to rage, weep, rejoice, and question — all in the same breath. David was called “a man after God’s own heart,” not because he had everything figured out, but because he kept showing up with his whole self. What Do We Do With This? So if maturity isn’t about having all the answers, what is it about? Here are a few thoughts: Learning to listen. Instead of rushing to respond, let people wrestle. Sometimes the holiest thing we can say is, “Tell me more.” Holding tension. Faith often lives in the in-between, where we’re sure of God’s love but unsure of the details. Trusting presence. Answers may fail, but presence — ours with each other, and God’s with us — never does. The Paradox of Growth Here’s the paradox: the more spiritually mature you become, the less pressure you feel to have it all nailed down. The questions don’t disappear, but your anxiety about them does. You realize that the goal was never to master God like a subject in school. The goal was to know Him, love Him, and let His love change you. Final Thought Spiritual maturity isn’t a diploma you hang on the wall. It’s more like a long walk with a friend. Some days you talk. Some days you sit in silence. Some days you argue. But the point is that you keep walking together. So don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have all the answers. You weren’t meant to. Maturity isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about trusting the One who does. © Gary L Ellis