Faithful Writers

I have a thing for words; words are fun, they are creative outlets. I use words in my everyday vocabulary that make people look twice at me all the time.  I truly believe words and names are important, otherwise why were we given speech by God in the first place? And when a word from the Bible gets stuck in my head for days, I must investigate why. Hebrew to Greek. Machah : To wipe, blot out, obliterate (Hebrew) “But now, please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot  out of my book.” Exodus 32:32–33 Exaleiphó : To wipe out, to blot out, to erase, to obliterate (Greek) “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot  out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” Revelation 3:5 “Blot” Wasn’t Chosen Casually. One thing I noticed right away, and want to convey, is that this word, in Hebrew or Greek, has many individual meanings. But put together, these meanings reveal a more profound and painful final action. We know the Holy Spirit was heavily involved in the Bible being written, but I also believe, despite glitches, personal choices, and knowledge unknown at the time, that the Holy Spirit also had a hand in corralling humanity as they translated it, hence why we have such good translations. “Blot” was chosen to make us see, literally, the act of our name being erased, wiped out, poof, obliterated. It calls up an image of ink on paper being smeared, but ink still left to remind our Father that a name was once there. That is a conscious choice to make that ☝️happen.  So, I’m still sitting here contemplating that word, the finality of it, the seriousness of it, and the fact that there is only one Book of Life at the end. And then something occurred to me: all our names were already written in that book from the moment we were a mere twinkle, and that means something. A big something. Look again at Exodus closely: “But now, please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written. ” The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book .”   We were written in the Book of Life from the moment He knew us. He didn’t decide who was worthy or loved later on; we are already there. He excluded no one.  We are the only ones capable of doing that. We force His hand. And when that happens, He has to open that book and blot out a name that was once lovingly written there. Jesus wept. Do you really think God doesn’t when that happens? © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your tithe helps keep this mission going.

Photo by Roxen Baiju on Unsplash Most mornings, we don’t wake up and choose who we’ll become. We reach. Before we’ve prayed, before we’ve looked out a window, before we’ve even fully remembered our own name, our hand is already searching for the glowing rectangle on the bedside table. We call it normal. We call it “checking messages,” “catching up,” “just five minutes.” But the first thing you reach for is never neutral. It’s forming you. It’s shaping what you love, what you fear, what you expect from the day, and what you assume is true about yourself. It’s setting the emotional weather inside your chest before you’ve even stepped into the world. In older language, Christians called this kind of shaping a liturgy. Not because it happens in a cathedral, but because it happens every day. Liturgy is whatever trains your heart A liturgy is a repeated pattern that teaches you what to worship. Some liturgies are explicit: prayer, Scripture, worship with the church, confession, the Lord’s Supper. Others are unofficial but relentless: scrolling, comparing, performing, reacting, refreshing. The phone trains us with impressive consistency. It trains urgency. It trains appetite. It trains self-surveillance. It trains us to live as though the most important things are the newest things, and the truest things are the loudest things, and the realest things are the things that get affirmed. This isn’t a moral panic about technology. Most of us need our phones. Many of us use them for genuinely good purposes. But if you want an honest spiritual diagnosis, you don’t start by asking, “What do I believe?” You start by asking, “What do I reach for first?” What you reach for reveals what you worship. What your first ten minutes does to you Pay attention to what that first ten minutes tends to do to you. For some people it produces low-grade anxiety: a subtle sense of being behind before the day begins. For others it produces comparison: you haven’t even stood up yet, and you’re already measuring your life against somebody else’s highlight reel. For others it produces irritation: you start the day with outrage, cynicism, or contempt, because the feed is designed to keep you emotionally engaged. For others it produces numbness: you scroll not because you want to, but because you don’t want to feel whatever you might feel if you were quiet. And then, almost without noticing, we carry that shaped self into prayer – if we pray at all. We sit with an anxious, distracted, performative heart and wonder why devotion feels thin. Or we try to read Scripture while our attention is still trained to switch tracks every three seconds. We wonder why God feels far, when perhaps the problem isn’t that God is absent; perhaps it’s that we’ve been catechized elsewhere. Why New Year’s goals don’t stick This is why New Year’s resolutions often fail, even when the goals are good. Goals are downstream from worship. You can set a goal to “be more peaceful,” but if your morning liturgy trains you to be anxious, your nervous system will win most days. You can set a goal to “be more grateful,” but if your morning liturgy trains you to compare, gratitude will feel like pretending. You can set a goal to “be more faithful,” but if your morning liturgy trains you to be distracted, faithfulness will become another burden you feel like you’re failing. The answer isn’t harsher discipline. The answer is a gentler replacement liturgy. Not a productivity plan, but a practice of presence. This is where devotionals can be quietly powerful. Not because they make you “a better Christian,” but because they offer a small, concrete alternative to the phone’s shaping power. Devotionals are scaffolding: a set of rails for people who want to meet God in Scripture but don’t always know where to begin, or how to slow down, or how to respond honestly. Used poorly, they become another checkbox or another piece of spiritual content. Used well, they become something else: a daily return to reality. A way of saying, before anything else speaks to me, I want to be addressed by God. What you’re really looking for when you scroll If you want to change your morning, it helps to name what you’re actually seeking when you scroll. Usually it’s one of a few things: control (“If I know what’s happening, I’ll feel safe”), comfort (“If I’m amused or distracted, I won’t feel heavy”), validation (“If I’m seen, I’ll feel solid”), or escape (“If I’m anywhere else, I won’t have to face this day”). The irony is that Scripture speaks to those desires deeper than the feed ever can. Not with quick dopamine hits, but with something sturdier: the voice of a Father, the presence of a Savior, the companionship of the Spirit. The phone promises bread and gives you sugar. Jesus offers daily bread, and teaches you to ask for it. A gentle morning liturgy you can actually keep If you want a concrete alternative that doesn’t turn your mornings into a spiritual boot camp, try a gentle liturgy. Not as a law, but as an invitation you can actually keep. Put your phone out of reach – not across the room as a statement of righteousness, just far enough that reaching requires a decision. Then open Scripture or a devotional and read a short passage slowly. If you’re using a devotional, read the verse first, then the reflection. After that, pray one honest sentence to God. Not polished. Not impressive. Honest: “God, I feel anxious about today.” “Lord, I don’t want to forgive.” “Father, I’m tired and numb.” Then choose one sentence of truth to carry – write it down or say it aloud: “The Lord is my shepherd.” “There is no condemnation.” “My life is hidden with Christ.” Finally, choose one small act of obedience that fits the passage: a text you need to send, a confession you need to make, a boundary you need to hold, a person you need to encourage, a rest you need to receive. It can be seven minutes. It can be less. The point is not to earn God’s favour; it’s to begin the day being formed by God’s voice rather than the world’s noise. Why devotionals stall If devotionals haven’t worked for you in the past, it’s often because of one of three quiet misfires. First , you used them like content: reading about God without turning toward God. Second , you used them like a scoreboard: feeling “good” when you kept up and “bad” when you didn’t. Third , you used them without a return loop: you read, then the day swallowed it whole, and nothing lingered. That return loop matters more than people realize. It can be as small as bringing back your one sentence of truth once later – at lunch, on a walk, in the car, before bed. Not as performance. As re-centering. A way of letting Scripture remain a thread through the day rather than a morning moment you immediately forget. And maybe that’s the real goal – not “less screen time,” but a different kind of heart. The goal isn’t to become the kind of person who never scrolls. The goal is to become the kind of person whose inner life is not ruled by scrolling. The goal is to start the day with a different voice in your ear. A truer one. A gentler one. Because the gospel doesn’t just forgive you; it re-forms you . Not through intensity, but through repeated returning. Not through proving yourself, but through abiding. If you want a New Year reset that actually lasts, don’t only set goals. Replace the liturgy. Choose, once a day, to reach for Jesus first. Practical next step If you’re looking for a simple, Scripture-based devotional that helps replace the phone’s morning ritual with a gentler one, Identity in Christ was designed for exactly that: short daily readings, honest reflection prompts, and space to pray without pretending. You can find the devotional here (image link below). What’s the first thing you reach for most mornings – and what do you think you’re looking for when you do? © Nathan Cole

I struggled to come out of the fog of sleep, searching for awakeness after a broken night’s rest. Lying still with my eyes closed, my brain sorted through its daily reality check. Sunday morning. Church. Lunch with friends. Evening to relax. Got it.  But then the flood of anguishing memories from the previous week hit me. It would be an overcast day at best. I pictured myself walking into church, locking eyes with a smiling friend, and bursting into tears. The music would open the floodgates. The sermon would surely hit the bullseye.  Should I just walk into church with a box of Kleenex? I quickly decided to tell Hubby we need to watch the livestream; I’m not in the mood to see smiling faces. But then I remembered the chopsticks, and I smiled.  The chopstick’s smile study was conducted in 2009 by Daniel Wiswede and his colleagues at the Otto-von Guericke Universität Magdeburg, in Magdeburg, Germany.  The researchers were trying to determine if the physical act of smiling had an effect on dopamine levels. Dopamine levels run parallel to mood.  A person with low levels of dopamine may feel sad or depressed.  A person with excessively high levels of dopamine may be more aggressive and have trouble sleeping.  Maintaining a ‘normal’ level of this neurotransmitter helps with the regulation of a person’s generally happy mood.   The Chopstick’s Study (as I will refer to it) had participants hold a chopstick horizontally between their teeth, thus forcing their face into a ‘smile’ position. Other participants held a chopstick vertically by their upper lip, thus forcing their face into a ‘frown’ position. These people sat with a chopstick either horizontally or vertically in their mouths for five minutes.  The people with the horizontal chopstick between their teeth were found to have an elevated mood and higher dopamine levels. The mere act of smiling makes you feel happier! An alternate study involving the Mirror Neuron System (MNS) was also referenced in the Chopstick’s Study literature. “Mirror neurons in the brain fire not only when the action is performed, but also when the action is observed.”  So if I am feeling blue, and someone smiles at me, happy neurological activity starts firing in my brain! As a believer in Jesus, I not only have an MNS, but I also have an MJS (Mirror Jesus System) !  Of all the things God created, humans are the only ones created in His image.  We were made to reflect His glory.  If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, people see Jesus when they see you.  When you smile at someone, it causes the other person to smile back, thus releasing dopamine in their brain. Be a mirror of Jesus! Hubby lovingly denied my request to watch the church livestream.  I gave myself a mental pep talk on the 23-minute drive to church, my purse loaded with Kleenex, just in case. Stepping out of the car, a smile greeted me.  I mirrored.  Three more smiles were beamed in my direction.  I reflected.  By the time I sat down, I had been smiling nonstop for minutes.  The dopamine in my brain was flowing.  The dark cloud of the previous week had not gone away- But my church family was there holding my umbrella. Chopstick’s Study First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind,  tessalind.substack.com

"How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me." Psalm 13 is a difficult prayer. If you have ever felt like God is absent or silent, it is a guide for the soul. 1. Bring God Your Unfiltered Heart David asks, “How long will You forget me? Forever?” These words do not seem to line up with what David knows about God. David knows God is faithful and present. But when he is in pain, what he knows and what he feels do not match. David doesn’t give God a polished, Sunday-morning version of himself. He gives God the truth of his experience. Sincere honesty is always better than empty correctness. This is something that I still struggle with. Even now, I find myself mid-prayer trying to “edit” my thoughts to make them sound more scripturally sound. I’ll start to tell God I feel abandoned, and then I’ll immediately correct myself: “But I know you’re always with me, so I shouldn’t say that…” I treat prayer like a theological exam I’m afraid of failing. But I’m learning that while theology is meant to be meditated on and reflected on (it is the anchor for the mind), the heart is meant to be poured out . When I am standing before God, He doesn’t want a lecture on His own attributes; He wants the raw, jagged truth of my perspective. 2. Trust Doesn’t Always Feel Like Confidence We often picture trust as calm confidence. Psalm 13 shows that trust can look like holding on when everything inside wants to let go. David turns from fear to hope within the same breath: “Will you forget me forever?” then immediately“ But I trust in Your unfailing love.” This is not a sudden emotional change. It is a decision. David is reminding himself of what is true because his feelings are lying to him. Trust is not the absence of fear. Trust is choosing God while fear is still present. If you are still praying, even if those prayers are accusations, you are trusting. After all, you don’t scream at a God you don’t believe is there. 3. Joy is a Protest, Not a Feeling The psalm ends with David singing. This does not mean his situation has changed. The enemy he fears is still real. David’s joy isn’t a reaction to a solved problem; it’s a protest against his circumstances. He rejoices in salvation. It’s the one thing the world didn’t give him and the one thing the silence can’t take away. Your joy is not found in a change of scenery. It ’s found in the fact that your soul has already been rescued, even if your body is still in the dark. © Mikiyas Astatke

Something from the textbook " Invitation to World Religions" (anthropology student here) that I thought was incorrect or should have been explained as having other points of view was on p. 460, where the authors talked about “ God-breathed ” and “ divinely inspired ” Scripture. The textbook asserts that the reference made in 2 Timothy 3:16 , " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," was only talking about the Old Testament, or Jewish scriptures, because the New Testament, or the letters and text written by the apostles, was not yet recognized as Scripture. I disagree with this statement, and I feel many other Christians would as well because the New Testament works were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The next sentence in the textbook acknowledges that 2 Peter 1:21 describes the prophets of the Old Testament as being men who “ spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. ” This passage follows into the argument of why the New Testament is considered God-breathed, as the apostles and those who believe in Jesus’ resurrection are baptized by the Holy Spirit (NIV, 1973/2011, Acts 2:38–39 ), therefore receiving the gifts of the Spirit (NIV, 1973/2011, 1 Cor. 12:1–11 ). This, along with the events in all of Acts 2 , proves to me that the texts of the New Testament are indeed God-breathed, as the writers had the Holy Spirit within them. © Maia Vashti Reference: Brodd, J., Little, L., Nystrom, B., Platzner, R., Shek, R., & Stiles, E. (2021). Invitation to World Religions (4th ed., pp. 475, 492, 494). Oxford University Press Academic US.

Psalms 23 was written in the Hebrew language. A language I have fallen in love with, because one word can have so many meanings, and it’s those other meanings that need to be known sometimes to really feel and understand what the Holy Spirit was saying to us. That’s what I brought to the surface here, or at least attempted to the best of my ability: I took the words, researched their roots, and wrote Psalms 23 using the expansive meanings of these words.  I wanted to write it in a way so that when people read it, they see the beauty and meaning behind every translated word chosen for this prayer. And when they pray it next, it is not the mindless chant that it has become in churches.  Father, you are my vigilant Shepherd who tends to my every need and constant companion who keeps my company. Never am I without, or in need, nor do I find myself left wanting because You have created and provided for me a beautiful place.  It is rich with fragrant blooms, savory herbs, and tender grasses to lie down and rest, I nestle against waters so still and tranquil that my soul is at ease. I am restored and refreshed as I repent, and You build in me a renewed mind. Thank you, Father, for I know you continue to lead before me, always directing every course of my life, through deep or shallow trenches, waysides, and hardened paths You are always there.  Moreover, even when I go through those valleys and gorges that are shaded by ruin and death, never will I be frightened by the unpleasant, or wicked because, indeed, You continue to walk alongside me, staying my ever present companion, using your rod to correct my path and providing me your staff for support and rest when I grow weary. You have set a standing reservation in my name at your table. You have honored me greatly with your invitation, Father. Just as a shepherd provides and protects his flock, You continue to welcome, nurture, and protect me in the face of adversity at your table. Honoring and anointing me just like the kings and priests of old. I openly sit before adversaries, overflowing with blessings and joy, honored with your grace and generosity.  Thank you, Father. I do not fear life or death because of You. Your joyful favor, precious mercy, and steadfast love are always with me. I anticipate the moment we meet upon my death, when I dwell forever eternal in Your house.  © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going.

The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God , knowing good and evil.” -Genesis 3:4–5 I once heard a pastor say something quite profound and quite accurate. He pointed out that there are ONLY two religions in the world. One is that man is or can become God. The other one is that ONLY God is God. When I first heard this, I thought it was an oversimplification. But then after thinking about it carefully, I realized he was right. In a broad sense, every religion in the world fits into one of those categories, including atheism. Religions that teach that man can become a god are generally very works based. They will tell you that you have unlimited potential that only needs to be tapped into and they appeal to your ego. This is exactly how Satan tempted Eve in the garden. First, the tree itself was very beautiful. It had an alluring quality to it, similar to how expensive jewelry is very appealing to the eyes. And when the devil told Eve… …”For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and YE SHALL BE AS GODS , knowing good and evil” …the temptation was too much for her. This was what finally tipped Eve over the edge and caused her to reach out and eat from the tree. The opportunity to become a god herself, independent and free from the Father was just too tempting for her. I’ve noticed that followers of “Man-can-become-God” religions tend to have prideful egos (even if disguised under a veil of false humility) and are quick to envy others. On the other hand, when we realize who we are and all that we have come from God and when we surrender to the Biblical truth that we are NOT Gods, nor will we ever be Gods, it results in an instant and healthy humility. This truth is also quite liberating. It frees me from my ego trips (which get the better of me from time to time) and allows me to be more relaxed. Let go and let God! The teaching that man can become a God is at the heart of new age teaching and secular humanism. Mormonism also teaches this Satanic doctrine. © Richoka

The number one reason gossip is completely unnecessary is because other people’s actions speak for themselves . In the spirit of honesty, I must confess I wanted to title this post “Why I Don’t Gossip” but knew that act would make me a dishonest hypocrite. Considering this topic-related streaming series I have admittedly been indulging in recently, and the information about a family member I shared with my kids this past weekend, I am not innocent. Wisdom from Proverbs About Gossip: “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (Proverbs 11:13) “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28) “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9) “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. ” (Proverbs 18:8) “ For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases .” (Proverbs 26:20) “A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.” (Proverbs 20:19) So I know better. And I want to be better. With God’s help, I know I can. The number one reason gossip is completely unnecessary is because other people’s actions speak for themselves. The six verses from the Bible book of Proverbs quoted above are reasons enough to STOP! Plus, my own opinion about a person’s actions speaking loud enough that it renders any musings or murmurings from me completely superfluous. The entertainment provided by God’s Word is of significantly higher quality and worth than any tantalizing teasers I could stream online or drama I could choose to participate in related to family, friends, colleagues, or other community circles I frequent. So there you have it… my reasons for praying to my Heavenly Father to help me abstain from meditating on whatever things are not suggested in the fourth chapter of Philippians. 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9 NIV May we be trustworthy friends, family members, co-workers, members of our fellowship groups, and disciples of Christ as we progress like the pilgrims we are on this temporary life journey into eternity. Want more of this positively peaceful energy? Your coffee helps me create it :) © Nora Gwen

Pexels If you flip through the Gospels, you’ll notice something Jesus never said: “Come back when you’ve got your act cleaned up.” He didn’t walk the shoreline of Galilee hunting for the holiest, most polished citizens. He went after fishermen who smelled of dead fish, tax collectors with sticky fingers, zealots with hot tempers, and women pushed to the margins. The truth is, Jesus never asked for perfect people. He picked messy ones on purpose. Jesus’ Track Record with Imperfect People When Jesus called Peter, James, and John, they were ordinary laborers. Nothing holy about cleaning nets all night (Luke 5:1–11). Matthew, the tax collector, was a social outcast and viewed as a sell-out to Rome (Matthew 9:9–13). Mary Magdalene carried deep wounds, and rumors trailed her name (Luke 8:2). If you were forming a movement to change the world, would you choose these people? Yet Jesus did. He built His kingdom out of cracked stones, not polished marble. As Paul later wrote, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things… to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Messiness Is Not a Disqualification Some of us carry the quiet ache of believing we’ll never measure up. We think, if I could just be more faithful, more disciplined, more holy, then maybe God would use me. But Jesus flips that script. Nadia Bolz-Weber once said, “Never once did Jesus scan the room for the best example of holy living and send that person out to tell others about him. He always sent stumblers and sinners.” That’s the point: our messiness isn’t a barrier — it’s the very space where grace shines brightest. Why Did Jesus Do It This Way? Because perfection was never the requirement. Love was. When the Pharisees grumbled about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, He said plainly: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). Brian Zahnd puts it like this: “Jesus doesn’t begin with the demand for perfection. He begins with the offer of mercy.” Jesus called broken people because broken people know they need help. They’re not pretending to have it all together. And when they encounter grace, it’s not theory. it ’s lifeblood. What About Us? So where does that leave you and me? It means your doubts don’t disqualify you. Your anger doesn’t exclude you. Your rough edges don’t make you unusable. Think about Peter: he denied even knowing Jesus three times. Yet after the resurrection, Jesus didn’t discard him. He restored him (John 21:15–19). The story of the early church was carried on the back of a man who failed publicly. Rachel Held Evans once wrote, “The gospel doesn’t need a coalition devoted to keeping the wrong people out. It needs a family of sinners, saved by grace, committed to tearing down walls and throwing open doors.” That’s the kind of community Jesus started with, and that’s the one we’re still invited into. The Power of Grace in the Mess Now hear me on this: Grace isn’t a ticket to stay stuck. It’s fuel to grow. But growth doesn’t erase the fact that Jesus loved us first, while we were still messy. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Notice Paul doesn’t say “after we cleaned up” or “once we proved ourselves.” Grace met us in the dirt. And grace still does. Living Like This Matters Here’s the challenge: if Jesus picked the messy ones, maybe we need to stop trying to curate our image of perfection and start telling the truth about who we are. Because honesty breeds connection. Vulnerability breeds compassion. And the world doesn’t need more perfect Christians. It needs more honest ones. Now, somebody might be saying, “But what about the verse that says, “Be perfect as I am perfect '?” I’m glad you asked. Let me explain: If you look at the verses right before Matthew 5:48, Jesus is talking about love for enemies. He says God makes the sun rise on both the good and the evil, and sends rain on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). Then He pushes His disciples beyond tribal, transactional love. So when He says, “Be perfect, as your Father is perfect,” He’s calling them to grow up into God’s kind of love, complete, impartial, generous love. Barbara Brown Taylor once said, “Jesus hung out with all the wrong people. So if you’re trying to avoid the wrong people, you’re going to miss him.” That’ll preach. Take This with You Jesus never asked for perfect people. He asked for willing people. He called the messy, the doubting, the overlooked, and the broken — and He still does. So the next time you catch yourself thinking, I’m not good enough for God to use me, remember this: your story is exactly the kind of story Jesus builds His kingdom on. Not the polished one. Not the Instagram-ready one. The real one. And that’s very good news. © Gary L Ellis Gary L. Ellis (1944–2026) served as an editor and contributor to this publication. His work remains part of our archive in grateful remembrance.

“ Stop bringing meaningless offerings! ... I cannot bear your worthless assemblies...Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. ” Isaiah 1:13–17 Throughout Scripture, God abhors empty religion that sounds good but lacks spiritual depth. He hates superficial piety and superficial repentance. Prayer that is divorced from justice and truth is not only ineffective but also offends Him. And yet, in the public square, we hear a call for the National Day of Prayer on May 7th as though it were a grand act of righteousness we should be proud is happening once a year, as if the announcement itself confers spiritual credibility of our leaders and the ones that decide to participate in their finest attire. The official theme for the National Day of Prayer this year is: “Glorify God Among the Nations — Seeking Him in All Generations.” This sounds poetically beautiful, like the nation is coming together in unity for our children, it sounds humble, and more importantly, it sounds hopeful to the people whose world just got ripped to shreds when that veil lifted on what has really been going on behind the scenes. But what’s missing? If you don't really pay attention to these themes or history, you probably missed this one. Repentance is missing. National Prayer Historically Included Repentance If you trace the history of national prayer in America, even before the formal National Day of Prayer, the emphasis was on public confession, humility, fasting, and turning from sin. Early proclamations often called for days of fasting and prayer with confession, penitential observances in times of crisis. Acknowledging that the nation had strayed from righteousness. Notable examples include New Hampshire in 1786, which called for a day to “penitently confess ... sins and transgressions,” President James Madison’s 1814 proclamation linking public humility to divine pardon, and George Washington recording in June 1774: “Went to church, fasted all day,” modeling personal fasting and national repentance. The National Day of Prayer, created in 1952, was intended to mobilize public prayer and repentance for America, rooted in a Judeo-Christian understanding that leaders and families need divine intercession. Over the decades, however, the emphasis on repentance has faded. Why Repentance Matters 2 Chronicles 7:14  commands: “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways...” And Psalm 66:18  warns: “ If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. ” And Jesus’ first proclamation in the Gospel was a call to repent: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 Repentance is not some soft add‑on, and repentance is not optional. It is central to Biblical teachings. It is absolutely necessary for our salvation and effective prayer. Invoking Scripture without genuine repentance undermines the Biblical pattern of national humility we are to have and becomes hypocrisy, or what I call a "PR stunt." When Ritual Becomes Empty Scripture repeatedly warns against religious performance that ignores justice and righteousness. Isaiah 1:13–17 is blunt: God rejects meaningless offerings and assemblies when the oppressed are ignored, and injustice continues. Similarly, Amos 5:21–24 declares that God despises feasts and songs if justice does not flow like a river. Prayer without repentance or accountability from anyone who participates appears righteous outwardly, but masks the reality of hearts unconverted to Christ. Such displays can mislead observers, giving the impression that participants are true believers when, in fact, their actions, or lack thereof, reveal otherwise. This not only confuses the public about what genuine faith is, but it grieves God, who detests empty worship. As Psalm 24:4–5 reminds us: “ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ” Those whose hands are unclean, yet present a façade of piety, will not claim His favor. A Notable Omission On February 24, 2026, President Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union address. Amid coverage of many topics, he did not once recognize the horrific abuses detailed in the Epstein files, despite the clear and urgent call from the public for justice. There were many difficult topics covered in the speech, so it wasn’t a matter of timing or appropriateness. It was the perfect moment, especially as people from across political divides were willing to work together on this issue. While some undoubtedly had ulterior motives, those motives still aligned with advancing investigations, arrests, and justice. Members of Congress from both sides wore pins during the speech referencing the release of Epstein documents, and survivors of Epstein’s abuse were invited as guests by Democratic lawmakers to highlight the ongoing lack of accountability. Yet Trump’s silence stood in stark contrast, failing the Biblical pattern of leaders confronting wrongdoing and calling for repentance. Words Without Action Trump has publicly addressed the Epstein files, but only to claim exoneration, dismiss the matter as a “Democratic hoax,” or express indifference. Recent reporting suggests the DOJ may be withholding facts related to Trump and the Epstein files, raising serious concerns about transparency and the faith he claims to practice. Talking about wrongdoing is not the same as acting on it, and this silence should be a warning signal to all congregations. From a Biblical perspective, all leadership roles (not just the presidency) carry a responsibility to repent, act justly, and defend the oppressed ( Isaiah 1:17 ). Silence, denial, or dismissal creates a widening gap between publicly invoking God and pursuing true justice. And Scripture does not treat that gap lightly. Isaiah 1 is blunt: “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” God rejects prayer that is divorced from repentance and justice. If a National Day of Prayer omits repentance, this is what remains: A public performance without confession, and a spiritual appeal that is blind to God Hypocrisy as Defined by Scripture Jesus reserves His sharpest rebukes not for pagans, but for religious leaders who appear righteous externally but are corrupt internally ( Matthew 23 ). He calls them Blind Guides. Hypocrisy in Scripture is more than inconsistency with one’s stated beliefs or principles. It is the deliberate substitution of outward form for inward obedience, where ritual, piety, or moral pretense is used to create an illusion of righteousness. The Bible does not use the phrase “act of following satan” for every instance of hypocrisy, but it makes clear that satan is the source behind such behavior, exploiting deceit and pretense to advance his aims. In doing so, the heart turns from genuine repentance, justice, and humility, substituting human approval for God’s approval. This is not merely a personal failing; it is a distortion of God’s law and the ethical truths the prophets worked to reveal. The consequences of hypocrisy are profound. It misleads both the hypocrite and the people they influence, masking the reality of sin, injustice, and moral decay. Satan benefits from this deception, using it to confuse, misdirect, and weaken God’s people, while spiritual leadership becomes a tool for appearance rather than a reflection of God’s truth. Discerning believers must be vigilant to recognize true obedience from mere performance. Conclusion I do not write this out of fear or to attack any one person or party, nor am I telling anyone what political side they should stand on. I see good and evil on all sides, so I choose no side but God's. I write to open eyes to what Scripture calls us to see. We cannot ignore patterns of misconduct simply because a leader does something good or claims to be a Christian. The occasional right decisions do not erase ongoing failures of justice, nor does lip service to righteousness equal true obedience. Perhaps the most important question we each must ask ourselves is: to whom are you truly pledged? A party, a person, a campaign slogan, or to God? Are we evaluating leaders’ words and actions against Scripture, weighing the fruit they produce over time, and letting Christ guide our discernment? Or are we letting politics and personality shape our faith, instead of letting our faith shape our view of politics? I am not naive; no person, leader, or politician is perfect by any standard, but we are called to seek discernment in how God wants us to engage with the world. When we center Christ in our lives first, He will guide our decisions—in prayer, advocacy, voting, support, and giving—and we must refuse to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing and evil, resisting the temptation to excuse the behavior of others. By doing so, we become far less susceptible to satan’s deception. In living faithfully, we can serve as beacons of light, spreading God’s Word and helping restore the authority and truth of Scripture in our communities. I leave you with this: " First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1 Timothy 2:1-2 © Jane Isley Sources & References National Day of Prayer 2026 Theme History of Prayer in America / Early Proclamations Mission and Vision of National Day of Prayer Trump Longest State of the Union / Epstein Omission Congressional Pins Highlighting Epstein Files PBS News "Hoax" Comment NPR Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump PBS News Doesn't Care About Files Comment Epstein Accusers at State of the Union Trump Exoneration Statements / Video Clip Trump on Epstein Files as “Hoax” DOJ Withholding Some Epstein Files / NPR Coverage Congressional Democrats Investigating Epstein Files 2 Chronicles 7:14 , Psalm 66:18 , Matthew 4:17 , Daniel 3 , Proverbs 10:9 , Isaiah 1:15 , Matthew 23:1–36 , Ephesians 5:11 , Isaiah 1:13–17 , Isaiah 1:17