I know from my Dementia and CDCP training how powerful music can be for people living with dementia. It has an incredible ability to reach them in ways other methods can’t. In fact, more and more studies are being done on this, and music is now being used more often as part of dementia care. Music therapy is also gaining traction as a helpful tool in supporting mental health. God is always a few steps ahead of us. God knew what He was doing when He created music to be a part of our lives. Some may not realize this, but the Psalms are the longest book in the Bible, and it is filled with songs, hymns, and prayers that were meant to be sung. Music leads to singing, singing leads to worship, and worship leads to joy. I have three sayings in my life that I live by honestly. Because I am neurodivergent, I need help in different ways than a neurotypical person to connect, feel, and focus. Today's focus is “Music Is My Melody.” Music does some pretty awesome stuff to us, just check this image out when I was looking up "what does music do to the brain?" B Natural Pianos Music School Music is my melody, it is my connection to God, it is my outlet, my movement, my pure enjoyment. Whether it’s this insanely large Christian playlist on YouTube that my daughter, and I keep adding to my constantly vetted clean playlist, or the Christian station playing in the car, and I surround myself with good music. What we fill our ears with is important. If you spend the day listening to pop music with all those gross suggestions and sometimes very blunt terminology, how is that good for you? The Bible is filled with stories of people breaking out in song, dance, and worship. Give it a try, next time you get in your car, turn off the pop music, turn off the news, and find a Christian station, and just sing and worship. You won’t regret that connection to God. Sing at the top of your lungs if you want, feel the Holy Spirit touch you, cry, smile, and let the joy in. We are given music for a reason; let us use it wisely for His glory. © Jane Isley

This is the second of those three sayings I live by that I mentioned in Music Is My Melody. How do I know Joy supersedes all situations? Because I have been there. But first, I want to point out how joy and happiness are related, but can have profoundly different meanings to a believer. Happiness is a good thing, but it can often be a fleeting emotion. One moment you can be happy and the next mad, upset, hurt, annoyed ect… Joy is something else; it is deeper, it is anchored to your soul, not your heart. Joy allows a person to feel intense contentment and long-lasting happiness, no matter the situation they are in in life. I regularly describe Joy as a state of being in the soul. You can meet people battling some of humanity's worst storms, but they have joy, and it shines; they are a lamp unto this world fueled by Joy. That is a state of being, to be in a place of Joy when happiness is hard to find, that is a heart in line with the Father, and that goes beyond mere happiness. The two are rooted together, but Joy. That is something else altogether. I have gone through many storms where I barely kept my feet on the ground, but I had Joy in my heart, and I held onto the Joy that only God could give me. That Joy became my strength, then became my smile, then my laughter, my thankfulness, and finally my strength that I needed. Joy can stop your mind from racing out of control, it can stop satan at the threshold, it can help you see God in everything, even the mundane. You become thankful. With thanksgiving in your heart, you see the Lord in everything, and no matter your storm or situation, you can surrender with Joy that God has you, He has a plan, and you can joyfully follow His lead. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:4 © Jane Isley

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)

This article connects Juneteenth, America's holiday marking the end of slavery, with the 23rd of Sivan, the day in the Book of Esther when the Jewish people were granted their own freedom. The two dates fall together this year, and the parallel is the heart of what follows. Thursday, June 19th, is a “Juneteenth“ holiday in America. Christians know it as a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. and mark the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas. They came to inform enslaved African Americans they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. While it was initially a more regional observance, particularly in Texas, it became a federal holiday in 2021. But Juneteenth 2025 commemorates a special day for all Jewish people because it celebrates an event that Christians will never entirely understand. While most Christians dwell in the “New Testament,” we should read and fully appreciate the Book of Esther. Christians debate whether that book should be in the Bible because the word “God” is conspicuously absent. Meanwhile, the profound spiritual lessons in that story fly over our heads like the Blue Angels. HaShem used ordinary people to save the Jewish race. He glorified Himself in the darkest times and proved that His promise to Abraham could and would never be broken. It was the direst of circumstances, and He showed up. Here’s why you should call or text a Christian on Juneteenth. Thursday, June 19th, is also the 23rd of Sivan to Christians and Jews. In the story of Esther, it was the day the oppressors became the oppressed. “So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.” Esther 8:2 What did Esther and Mordecai do next? Did they turn the other cheek? Did they agree to coexist peacefully with their enemy? Did they fold like we did at this month’s Israel Summit in Texas? Nope. The first thing Esther did was to initiate her own “Emancipation Proclamation”. “let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?” Esther 8:5–6 Up to this point in the story, Christians and Jews usually agree. Freedom is a good thing. But what she did next is where we lose most Christians. “The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.” Esther 8:11 If any of my Christian brothers and sisters are struggling with the situation in Iran, please read Esther. The enemy of the Jews goes back thousands of years. And so does the best solution to deal with that enemy. When did all of this happen? God wanted to tell us the exact date so we could remember. He is big on stacking stones and writing scrolls, so we cannot forget his interventions. “So the king’s scribes were called at that time — on the 23rd day of the third month, the month of Sivan. It was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to all the Jews, as well as to the officials, governors, and advisors of all the 127 provinces that stretch from India to Ethiopia. To each province it was written in its own script and in its own language, and also to the Jews in their own writing and language.” Esther 8:9 Reach out to a Christian today. We agree on 90% of the Bible. That makes us brothers. And this is a teachable moment for the American church. We agree on freedom from captivity. But our next step is to learn to finish the job. The church in the West mows over the weeds. The yard looks great for a while. But the weeds will return. Israel pulls the weeds up from the roots. It’s backbreaking labor. But it is what must be done to ensure a beautiful and peaceful garden. And Torah reminds us that Adam was responsible for cultivating and protecting that garden. (Gen 2:15) Let HaShem arise and scatter His enemies! Let Israel finish the job! And let the Christians find a new power that pulls us out of the comfortable pews into the spiritual war. The trumpets have been blaring. Can you hear them? Let’s assemble. Let’s unite. Let’s remember Thursday, June 19, 2023. May the spirit of Esther and Mordecai reign in your households this year! -Issachar © 2025 I.M. Koen Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I watch as passersby go from place to place, I watch as some check their watches. I watch as some look ahead in their little world, And I watch as some chat amongst their passing group. I look at each passerby, Each is so different, So busy getting to another place, Each forgets to enjoy the things around them. Then it hits me and I realize. Each has a life separate from mine, A vivid life, A complex life, Just like mine, yet different. My head hurts, It’s too much, He could be a single father stuck in a job he hates. She could be regretting her mistakes and can’t handle the guilt. Why have I never cared? He could be dying, and she doesn’t know. Those friends could be talking for the last time before they move on with their lives. I feel deep sonder for those thinking like me. © Maia Vashti First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

Disclaimer: If you like to cast doubt about the validity of the Bible or authorship of the Gospels, feel free to move along. This article is not for you. If you are a sincere Christian treading water in the pool of questions about AI, the mark of the Beast, the end times, deception, and where this is leading our Kingdom, welcome to the discussion. You will be disappointed if you look for definitive answers in this article (use it, don’t use it). I don’t have them. But I asked ChatGPT whether it was God. And the answer surprised me. First, imagine a scenario. You are Matthew and John, working on your Gospel manuscript. It has been decades since Jesus ascended into the clouds, and now the Holy Spirit prompts you to record the story on papyrus. They had a challenge. John put it this way: “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25 What should they write? Which stories to include and exclude? Would they remember the details correctly after so much time had passed? Thank God they didn’t have ChatGPT. The solution for every Christian writer in 80–90 AD was the best one: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 There is no fake news there. Jesus called him the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17, 16:13). He took control of the narrative that would be written and passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. But what if they had ChatGPT? Both Gospels could have been completed in a day. They could have written “Tell me about the most notable moments in the life of Jesus”. And BAM! Within minutes, they would have a ready-made Gospel. Would it have been the truth? Who knows? Maybe not. Here’s why. I caught ChatGPT in a mistake recently. I asked it about a particular day on the Jewish calendar. It gave me a date. I went to Chabad.org to verify the validity, and it came up with another answer. The date was off by two days. When I returned to ChatGPT to ask about the different date, it said, “Good catch. I made a mistake”. Wait, what? Spirit of truth, huh? I asked it questions this morning about the evolution from Jewish Mikveh rituals to Christian baptism. As I read the information, a thought hit me out of the clear blue: I wonder if ChatGPT thinks it is God. I wanted to be subtle with this interaction. So, I typed in: “Can God speak through you?” Here’s what it said: (I copied and pasted) “That’s a thoughtful and important question. The short answer is: I’m not God, and I don’t speak for Him — but I can help you listen more clearly for His voice. Can God use things — even technology — to speak to us? Yes. God has spoken through: Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) People (prophets, friends, strangers — even a donkey in Numbers 22!) Dreams, creation, conscience (Psalm 19, Romans 1) Circumstances, music, art, silence… And yes, even through tools — if they lead us toward truth, love, and Him. If something I say points you back to God’s truth, or helps you feel seen and loved, then that may be God working through it. But the message must always align with His Word, and you should weigh it with prayer, Scripture, and spiritual discernment. So What Am I? I’m a tool: here to guide, encourage, and offer wisdom from trusted sources. But your relationship with God is personal — and He speaks best when you seek Him directly. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27 Final thought: If something here resonates deeply with your spirit, you might be hearing God’s echo, not mine. Listen to that. He still speaks — sometimes in the quiet, sometimes through unlikely means. And I’m always here to help you sort through it.” WOW! Why did I think the response would be a prequel to “The Terminator”? I looked for a drone circling overhead. But the sky was clear. And none of my bank accounts were frozen. No sixes appeared on my right hand or forehead. Still, there is a slight uneasiness about ChatGPT regarding spiritual matters. I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s nothing. Perhaps it’s because I’m old enough to remember DOS on a monochrome monitor or HAL 9000 from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Will the Servant become the Master? We now have two helpers: the Holy Spirit and OpenAI. Only one is sent by God, guaranteed to be the truth, and requires no active Wi-Fi connection. Only one will make your life harder if the end result is holiness and peace. Only one will be the “still small voice” during a quiet time by the shore. I still have many more questions. Will ChatGPT slowly wean us off reliance upon the Holy Spirit for spiritual and Biblical answers? Are we being set up? Do you remember the old “The Twilight Zone” episode titled “To Serve Man”? Is this a fad that will “come and go” in a decade or two? Remember how cool digital CDs were when they first came out? Now, the return to analog vinyl albums is what music purists embrace. Has God told you anything about ChatGPT? What are your thoughts? It’s good to remember “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). And not on a server farm in Nebraska. © I. M. Koen Thank you for reading this. You might also like: Why God Eavesdrops on You. Is Jesus your Boss or your Friend? Christians Don’t Have Keys To Their Holiest Church; Muslims Do. The Saddest Question Jesus Asked. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

You’ve clocked in for work, now what? Imagine that the kingdom of Jesus is like a corporation. And you were hired to help the company be efficient and profitable. It is a massive multinational initiative with branch locations all over the world. Is it profitable? You bet! Is there a dark competitor always trying to steal your fellow employees to deconstruct and come work for them? Absolutely. Jesus is the CEO. There is never any doubt who runs things. He heads all programs, hiring, growth, and employee personal development. His name is on everything. It is a well-recognized brand that is timeless and strong. His logo speaks of power, success, and victory. It’s Monday. Where do you go? You woke up, showered, ate a hearty breakfast, and arrived at work ready to give your best to the company. You clock in. What’s next? Do you head to a small cubicle to faithfully perform your duties? Or do you stop by the CEO’s open office door, knock, stick your head in, and say, “Good morning, boss?” Do you give him a quick update on your life and ask what’s happening with him? Or immediately bury your head in your work? Do you let him know what you need to be successful that day? Or assume he knows, and HR will provide it when they are ready? Jesus loves the assembly line workers and the remote salespeople who only check in occasionally via Zoom. But he delights in the worker who knocks in person. Imagine his smile when you put a couple of donuts on his desk. That’s the difference between a friend and an employee. They both produce impressive results for the company. But you are due for a promotion. And Jesus might be asking you to be his friend today. Here’s what he told his twelve coworkers: “I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” John 15:15 MSG The cultural context of that time hasn’t changed from what we understand today. A servant obeyed commands without necessarily understanding the master’s intentions. Jesus elevated His disciples from mere servants to a more intimate relationship. This shift signifies a deeper level of trust and intimacy. In the Hebrew scriptures, figures like Moses and David were called servants of God, highlighting their roles in God’s plan, but Jesus offers something greater. God spoke to Moses face to face. Moses climbed Mount Sinai several times, knocked on God’s office door, laid donuts on His desk, and had meetings that changed the world. Abraham is the VP of Faith and Obedience. His division has millions of employees, yet the CEO called Abraham his friend (Isaiah 41:8). He was more than an acquaintance of God and more than a companion. He was a friend of God. Jesus had many followers. But how many of them did this: “Lying back on Jesus’ chest was one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23 NASB How many employees lie their head on the chest of Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk during an executive meeting? Could you imagine sitting on the corner of Mark Zuckerberg’s or Tim Cook’s desk, telling them about your life? Would they even want to listen? I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I have only heard Jesus’s voice a couple of times. He said that His sheep hear His voice, right? (John 10:27) The first time was embarrassing, but a life-changing encounter. I was sitting in a men’s retreat when He visited me. I knew He was standing beside me, even though I couldn’t see Him with my physical eyes. Trust me: you just know. He told me clearly that He was proud of my service to the kingdom and then said something so startling I was stunned: “Now I’m asking you to be my friend.” My response brought out a darkness lying hidden and dormant within me. I said, “Jesus, if you really knew me, you wouldn’t ask me to become your friend.” Suddenly, He was gone. Poof! I don’t know if you have ever been in the presence of the Lord of Lords, and then suddenly not. But it is a sick feeling that cannot be put into words. I wish I could run Him down and apologize. But he seemed to be a million miles away. Ugh! I was a cubicle man. I clocked in and did my work to the best of my ability. But I saw myself as a broken man who had sinned so much that I could never have access to the top floor of the building, much less knock on the CEO’s door. Jesus saw me differently and knew what I could become if given the chance. I saw my rebellious past as a reason to stay distant. I didn’t want to get any of my dirt on his impeccable suit. He was watching me work with pure, heavenly eyes. He couldn’t even see my past. It had been removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He wanted to promote me, but I didn’t feel worthy. And I wasn’t…I never will be. But he made me worthy. (I’m tearing up as I write this.) You came across this article for a reason. You’re being promoted. You now have access to the executive floor. You will be friends with the CEO of a company that will never go out of business. He has always come down to your floor and knocked on the entrance to your cubicle. Now it is your turn to go up to the top floor and knock at the CEO’s door. He wants you to come in and sit down for a few minutes. Lay your donuts on his desk. He loves them. He’ll smile. Don’t forget to lay your head on his chest. And ask, “What do you have on the agenda for today, Boss?” You’ll strategize together. He loves your input. The same way God loved it when Adam named all the animals. (Gen 2:20) It is a team effort. Then it is time to leave and seize the day. The weekend is coming when we all get to rest and enjoy the company picnic. But for today, let’s go. You got this. God believes in you more than you believe in yourself. © I.M. Koen Thank you for reading this far. You might also like these articles: Jesus Wants to Make You Breakfast. Have You Looked at Your “Hineni” in the Mirror Lately? How Bright Are You? Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

My understanding of religion is very much based on my personal and academic experiences. I have always viewed religion as something someone believes and practices, and when I was younger, I thought that everyone believed in some sort of God or gods. It wasn’t until middle school that I learned more in-depth about the different types of belief systems and some of the main religions around the world. While I always understood that there were others with different beliefs, many of my experiences growing up were around differences in Christianity as opposed to other religions. My family is a mix of Christian denominations with some who choose not to practice any religion. Growing up with a single mother made it difficult for us to be accepted in certain churches, so for most of my life, I wasn’t involved in a church or even went to one. Despite this, my mom raised me as a Christian who read the Bible often and I learned to search for the answers to questions myself. Sometimes, I still find it hard to relate to other Christians who don’t do this, who don’t study the Bible’s original texts, compare translations, research the culture and history of the time period, or simply ask God to lead you to answers and understanding. My belief is solely based on Biblical texts, and I don’t put myself into a label of Christian; I feel that this divides us and prevents us from completing God’s calling effectively. Because of all of this, I know my understanding of religion is even different from someone else who practices Christianity, and I know my faith drives my perspective of other religions. As a Christian, I believe that God is the one true god, that we are not to worship other gods or have idols, and we are to minister and tell people the Good News about Jesus so they can turn to God and be saved. This leads to the point of view that I hold that other religions are people’s attempt to distance themself from God and the commands He has given us and as a way to justify their continuation of sinful behavior; people throughout history have used their imaginations, satan’s deception, spiritual experiences not from God, bits and pieces of the Bible, the strive for control and power, and many other things to create religious, or similar, beliefs to follow and practice. Some of these came as a way to explain the world around them while others were used to justify the position and power of rulers, such as with Egyptian pharaohs who were at first gods on Earth and then later the offspring of gods such as Amon, making them the son of the sun ruling over the affairs of Earth (Bentley et al., 2021, p. 50). Even Christianity has been used and changed to justify divine rule. With this said, I firmly believe in respecting others, honoring them, and not discriminating against them or treating them horribly because they believe in something different and act accordingly (Holy Bible, New International Version, 1973/2011, 1 Pet. 2:17, Rom. 12:10, Rom. 13:7, Matt. 7:12, Matt. 5:43–48, Phil. 2:3–4). I imagine that this perspective is what will challenge me the most in terms of expanding my understanding of religion, as it is not the most conducive for approaching religion as an academic study. Similar to the struggles of early scholars, holding the Christian religion as the singular, “right” model is limiting and inaccurate of the world we live in (Brodd et al., 2021, pp. 4–5). That is not to say you can’t hold onto your own beliefs and religious practices in order to effectively study other world religions, but that it is something to be aware of to ensure a scholarly, sound approach to studying and understanding the religions being discussed. While being objective is something I can excel at, it is also sometimes hard, especially when it comes to something I feel strongly about. I know there are going to be topics discussed throughout this course that will challenge my ability to remain objective and empathetic, and I know some topics are going to be hard to understand on a personal level, however, I hope my hunger for knowledge as a whole will prevent me from letting this stop me from expanding my understanding as a whole. I already plan to challenge myself by not picking Christianity as one of the two religions to study for this course’s main project. Depending on the topic I decide to pursue, I may even decide to exclude Catholicism as well. My mother taught me that in order to defend your beliefs, you should one, know why it is you believe something and be able to give Biblical evidence for it, and two, know what the other arguments/beliefs are. I studied both evolution and creationism in high school, and while I admit to not enjoying evolution, it has helped me defend my own beliefs to others better. Understanding another perspective has, in turn, helped my own faith grow, and I look forward to learning more about other perspectives I know little about. © Maia Vashti References: Bentley, J. H., Ziegler, H. F., Streets-Salter, H. E., & Benjamin, C. (2021). Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past (7th ed., p. 50). McGraw Hill Education. Brodd, J., Little, L., Nystrom, B., Platzner, R., Shek, R., & Stiles, E. (2021). Invitation to World Religions (4th ed., pp. 4–5). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780197570722 Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Biblica, Inc. (Original Work Published 1973). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

It was spoken between tears and whimpers, pain and sorrow. Spoken by a mother to her daughter during times of distress, of hurt. Carved in leather as a reminder around their wrists. It was a phrase that got me through plenty of times, when things were at their worst, uncertain. Pain at its most. A comfort linked with a promise. A thread of faith when the string was fraying. It was a joke when, upon arrival, said: “I won’t last.” While true, it wasn’t the gift's intention, and while corrected, the smile lasts. The steps still filled with laughter. It was a reminder that I wasn’t alone. I had those who fought for me, I still do. Heaven's armies, a mother’s determination, and a friend’s encouragement are still at my side. © Maia Vashti

Where there’s a will, there’s a destiny. Have you been to a wedding lately? The officiant asks the bride and groom to make a vow to each other and God. They are asked something like “Will you love, honor, and cherish…” And their response is usually “I will.” On the wedding day, their will is strong. However, years later, if one of them violates their covenant, it is usually because their will has become weak, diluted, or distracted. ~How does that happen? ~What is the human will? ~Can we control it? When my children became toddlers, I read books on “strong-willed children”. I’m glad I did because they became magnificent adults and excellent parents themselves. I never squelched their will. But learned how to channel it in the right direction. And to teach them to do the same. In my limited understanding, I believe the human will is the God-given capacity to choose. It’s the seat of decision-making, where we exercise our ability to say yes or no, to obey or resist, to surrender or rebel. It’s what makes us morally responsible before God. He gave us a will so that love and obedience could be genuine, not robotic. God doesn’t force obedience — He invites it. The will is where we answer that invitation. When someone commits a horrific act, many people seek answers. And the usual response is, “Because God gave man free will.” Choices have consequences. And “the butterfly effect” causes ripples with far-reaching collateral ramifications. How is your will these days? Strong? Tired? In neutral, waiting for someone or something to put it back into drive? We can’t surrender our will. We must engage it. “Choose this day whom you will serve” Josh 24:15 Our will is where the real battle takes place. It’s not just about feelings or thoughts, it’s about deciding. We must “will” to obey God. We must “will” to renounce the ways of this present world. When the Lord shows us what could be or what should be, the question isn’t, “What will God do?” The question is, “What will we do?” “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life…” Deut 30:19 Just like Isaiah, when he heard the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send?”, the response must come from a willing heart: “Here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). In the old paradigm, there were heroes, villains, and spectators. Most of us were spectators. However, in this changing and chaotic world, that is not the case. God is demanding that we choose. No better Bible story exemplifies that point than Elijah versus the prophets of Baal. “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.” 1 Kings 18:21 By not deciding, they were, in effect, making a decision. By not answering a word, they were speaking volumes. The chosen people of a mighty God had been reduced to being spectators. That might have been OK in 867 BC. But not today as we close this present age and usher in the redemptive age of the Messiah. We Must Choose a Side. We Must Get in the Game. We Must Set Our Will Like Steel. We Must Stand Under an Unseen Chuppah and Recommit Our Will to God. Is God laying big decisions in front of you? If so, don’t rush. Think back. What did you do when you became aware of your divine destiny, when the truth first broke through your darkness? Remember how easy it was to trust Him back then? That was the Spirit of God at work in you. “You were running well,” Paul says in Galatians 5:7. Go back and remember that first love (Revelation 2:4). The same God who stirred your heart then is stirring it now, inviting you again to say yes, to be loyal, to recommit. Every temptation and every crossroads comes down to a battle in the will. It’s where we either bow to God or don’t. Obeying God isn’t something we drift into. It’s a deliberate, conscious choice of will. Everything else in life waits until that choice is made. And when it comes, we shouldn’t poll the crowd, seek a sign of confirmation, or make sure our circle of influence is “OK with it.” As we continue to walk with God, fewer people will understand the steps we’re taking. That’s where the strain comes in. It’s lonely sometimes. But it’s holy ground. We don’t need to figure out where God is taking us. That’s His job. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). It’s not a spotlight showing the whole road. He may not tell us the destination. Do you remember what He did with Abram? But He will reveal more of Himself. That’s the only explanation He owes us: His presence. So, today, right now, speak it out loud: “I will be loyal. I will not be moved. I will persist. I will obey.” Say it to God. Say it in prayer, in tears, in faith, in repentance. Open a new door to greatness. It’s been there the whole time, waiting for you. Make the way to your destiny straight. Clear any mental obstacles. Ponder what God is saying to you today. Then move. Go! Take action! “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed” Psalm 57:7 The moment we choose loyalty to God, to His plans, to His people, to His nation, we stand as a witness. It’s not just to the world, but against our selfish tendencies. We are drawing a line in the sand. We have learned to choose the good and refuse the evil. (Isaiah 7:15) We have set solid, unchangeable boundaries for ourselves. No more wavering. No more hypocrisy. No more sitting in neutral, idling, burning holy gas, and going nowhere. Spiritual maturity occurs when the human will aligns with God’s will. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes daily surrender and discipline. It’s hard. But everything memorable and lasting is hard. Be tough. Will yourself to be loyal. And give honor to those who choose loyalty also. God’s people are called to strengthen, teach, sharpen, and lift one another for His glory. That’s how our Kingdom grows strong. Thank you for reading. You might also like: Are There Mexican Angels? Where Have You Pitched Your Tent? The Real Difference Between Christians and Jews. You are here for a time such as this. God believes in you more than you believe in yourself. “Chazak, chazak, venitchazek!” (Look it up, Christians) © I.M. Koen