“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Maybe you’ve heard this verse preached many times…

Maybe it’s your favorite.

But have you ever paused to read what came before it?

God was about to hand over His people (Judah) into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar.

They had turned away from Him.

Committed abominations.

Provoked Him to jealousy.

The people were terrified by the prophecy Jeremiah spoke.

They were being removed from the Promised Land.

Everything they had built—their homes, their wealth, their legacy was about to be burned, broken, and left behind.

And yet, even in the middle of judgment. God speaks hope and comfort.

Right in the midst of their rebellion.

Right in the middle of provoking Him to jealousy.

That’s the heart of our God.

Even when we’ve turned our backs on Him. He still pursues us.

Even when we’ve messed it all up. He doesn’t give up.

He never stops thinking of us with love.

Even in His judgment, He offers reconciliation.

Even in His discipline, He offers restoration.

Even in His correction, He brings goodness.

“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” – Exodus 33:13

This verse reveals the transformation taking place in Moses’ heart.

He was constantly exposed to God’s presence—

And God is a consuming fire.

His presence began to consume Moses.

As Moses walked more closely with God,

He was drawn deeply into His presence…

Until God’s presence became part of who he was.

Moses’ desires began to change.

His focus shifted.

He became desperate to align his heart with God’s.

Desperate for an intimate and deeper relationship with Him.

He set his heart to know God’s ways.

Because to truly find favor with God is to know His ways.

And to know His ways is to know Him.

No one walks with Jesus and stays the same.

The more we spend time with Him,

The more His presence begins to consume us.

Our desires change.

Our focus shifts.

We no longer seek God for what He can do for us.

We’re simply drawn to be with Him,

To know Him.

And as we remain in His presence,

We are slowly transformed to be like Him.

And it becomes easier to walk in a way that is well-pleasing to Him.

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When your prayers begin to sound like this…

You’re no longer seeking God for what He can do for you,

Or what you can do for Him.

You seek Him simply to know Him.

That’s the heart of a child

Desiring a real relationship with their Father.

‘The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.’” – Psalm 9:9

But if the Lord is our refuge…

Then why is there still so much oppression?

So much pain?

So many children, hungry, abused, and forgotten?

The truth is…

It’s not God who caused the oppression.

It’s not God who left them starving or broken.

It’s us—humans.

And yet… we blame God for the mess we made.

We ask, “Where is God?”

But the real question is… “Where are we?”

You want to see change?

Then be like Nehemiah. Have eyes to see the need, Ears to hear the cry, And a heart willing to respond.

Because God can use each one of us to rebuild a broken world. And this world could look different.

Has God ever turned away a genuine cry?

Not once.

Even when Israel kept failing,

Every time they cried out—He came.

He helped.

He became their refuge.

And He still is.

He put on human flesh, Died for the undeserving.

Still pursuing, still saving, Still willing to be our refuge.

Every time we cry out, He answers.

Every time we fall, He reaches down.

Every time we return, He welcomes us home.

That’s who He is.

Not distant. Not silent.

But near. Present. Faithful.

Even when we’re not.

He hasn’t changed.

He’s near. Even in the troubles we created…

He’s still knocking.

Will you let Him in?

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” Exodus 31:3

The very first person the Bible says was filled with the Spirit of God wasn’t Adam. It wasn’t Abraham. It wasn’t Noah, Not even Moses.

It was Bezaleel!! a skilled artisan.

His name means “in the shadow or protection of God.”

He was from the tribe of Judah, appointed and chosen by God to design the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and more.

But why did God fill him with His Spirit?

Because what Bezalel was assigned to create, wasn’t just a structure.

It was a replica of the heavenly tabernacle. A reflection of heaven on earth.

And to build something so holy…

skill alone wasn’t enough.

He needed the Holy Spirit.

The same Spirit who hovered over the waters in creation.

The Holy Spirit who breathes life into God’s plans.

The Holy Spirit who makes the invisible visible.

The Holy Spirit who brings God’s vision to life.

Bezalel couldn’t fulfill his assignment with skill alone. He needed the Holy Spirit.

And neither can we.

Now we understand:

Just like Bezalel, to replicate heaven,

Jesus sent His Spirit on us.

To represent Him rightly,

To show us how to live as citizens of heaven,

To accomplish what God has assigned and appointed us to do,

And to live a life that is well-pleasing to God.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit!!!

“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” – Luke 5:4

Jesus gave a clear instruction to Peter: “nets” (plural).

But Peter’s response was:

“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)

Peter obeyed, but only partially. He let down one net (singular).

It was in that moment Peter saw the Lordship of Jesus that He is the all-knowing God, the Great Provider, and the One who is truly in control of everything.

Then Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and said,

“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.”

Peter realized, being a professional fisherman didn’t mean he knew better.

He had acted with pride, thinking his experience outweighed Jesus’ words.

But in that moment, he saw the truth: Jesus knows more than we do.

Then Jesus, full of mercy, said to him, “From now on, you will catch men.”

Jesus showed Peter and He’s still showing us that if we trust Him above our experience, above our logic, our fears, and our pride, we will see that God provides when He calls us. When He assigns us to do something, He will also equip and provide for it. And the blessing won’t just be material, it will be spiritual, abundant, and overflowing.

So don’t hold back. Don’t hesitate.

Let down all your nets.

Lay down your life, worries, and plans.

Trust His word, not your own understanding.

“And they (demons) begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.” – Luke 8:31

These were demons “fallen angels” begging Jesus not to be sent into the abyss.

That abyss is hell.

They know it’s real.

They know it’s terrifying.

Even they don’t want to spend eternity there.

Yet some people say with pride:

“I don’t mind going to hell.”

I’ll party there with my friends.”

But do we really understand what we’re declaring?

Hell isn’t a joke.

It’s not a hangout spot.

It’s a terrifying place created for evil spirits and even they don’t want to go.

Jesus described hell as a place

“where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

The worm is regret and anguish that never ends.

The fire is a constant reminder that you rejected the gift of salvation Jesus offered.

Hell is complete and eternal separation from the presence of God.

God is life. There’s no life in there. Only death, filled with misery, torment, and suffering.

God is light. Hell is absolute darkness.

God is love, joy, and peace. None of that exists in hell.

Hell is everything God is not.

And that’s what makes it truly terrifying.

But here’s the good news:

Jesus came to save us from that place.

In heaven, God wipes away every tear.

There is no more pain. No more sorrow.

Only life, light, love, joy, and peace Because He dwells with us.

So if demons begged not to go to hell?

Why are we acting like it’s nothing?

“But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.’”Luke 8:50

Jairus was no ordinary man.

He was known. Respected. A ruler of the synagogue.

But when his daughter was dying, his power, his influence, his wealth.

None of it could save her.

Because when death shows up, everything this world offers falls short.

And that’s when we come face to face with the truth:

Only God gives life.

Only God restores life.

And death has no power over Him.

He conquered death by His own death.

What we need in those moments isn’t panic or fear—

It’s faith.

Faith that God is good.

Faith that He is faithful.

Jesus reminded Jairus,

“Don’t listen to them. Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”

People may speak fear, but they hold no power.

Even death can speak, but Jesus has the final say.

And when Jairus believed, he held his daughter again— alive, filled with the glory of God.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

Even hell cannot prevail against His Church.

So where is your focus today?

What voice are you listening to?

Look to Jesus.

He alone has the final say.

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.” Genesis 2:21

This is where you see that God is an all-knowing God. He declares the end from the beginning.

That’s why the Bible says we’re predestined.

Even before Adam sinned,

God was already revealing the plan of redemption

through the way He created the woman.

Do you know that deep sleep means death?

For Adam to receive his wife,

he had to die, be opened, and bleed.

And in the same way, the Lord Jesus

had to die and bleed to receive His Bride.

Imagine this:

For a man to truly receive a wife,

he must die to himself.

That’s why Paul said,

“Husbands, love your wives.”

Because she was created for him,

taken from him—not from anything else,

but because she belongs to him.

Just like Christ loves His Bride,

He gave His life to bring her back to Himself.

A man represents Christ, for Christ is his Head.

So if you’re not willing to die,

not willing to sacrifice your life…

then you’re not ready to receive a wife,

You are not ready to be one with her again.

And you’re not ready to lead her into eternal life with Jesus.

“For this is the will of God—your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” —1 Thessalonians 4:3

Why is abstaining from sexual immorality part of God’s will?

First, God created us in His image and likeness.

His image is holiness, and His likeness is love—

Which means God intended us to walk in righteousness, kindness, and truth, just like Him.

Second, God created mankind with a specific purpose:

To tend the earth, to rule with authority, and to walk in fellowship with Him.

But man was never intended to live in sin.

Sanctification means being set apart.

And when we set ourselves apart for God, something powerful happens:

We begin to understand our true identity

Our character is transformed and starts to align with His

Our purpose becomes clearer and more rooted in Him

We are filled with peace a real peace not based on validation from others

We walk in boldness, no longer bound by shame or fear

And most of all, we grow closer to the heart of God

Lastly, Sexual immorality was the very ground Jesus gave for divorce, God never intended us to be separated from Him. He loves us deeply, but He hates sin because sin leads to eternal death. Hell is eternal separation from His presence.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9

You have probably heard these, “Follow your heart.”

And maybe you did, But it led you into heartbreak, guilt, addiction, regret a mess you never saw coming.

That’s the difference between worldly advice and God’s truth.

Why is the heart deceitful?

Because it’s ruled by emotions and emotions change with moods, moments, and seasons.

When we let our feelings lead, we chase what feels good in the moment but it often leads to long-term pain.

“I ate too much… because it made me feel better, even though it’s hurting my health.”

“I keep drinking… because being high feels better than being broken.”

“I use drugs… because at least then, I don’t feel the pain anymore.”

“I watched porn… because it gives me pleasure, even though it’s stealing my purity.”

“He’s a married man… but I still want him, because he makes me feel special.”

“I keep shopping… because it makes me happy, even though I’m drowning in debt.”

This is what happens when we let the heart lead. Without the Word of God, the heart becomes a green light for every desire.

No brakes. No conviction. Just destruction.

The heart is desperately wicked because it constantly craves comfort, escape, and pleasure even when it’s destroying us.

 But the Word of God?

It searches the heart.

It exposes what’s hidden.

And it guards us from ourselves.

Remember: Jesus is the Word of God.

Would you let Him lead your life?