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Caught Between Mary and Martha
How’s your calendar looking this week?
If you’re like most people today, chances are, your week is probably already packed. It could be with work, family, appointments, church, people to catch up with, or the many other responsibilities of modern life. Or maybe you’re someone who just loves to fill your schedule to the brim.
But have you noticed? Life doesn’t slow down on its own.
If we are not careful, our days can fill up quickly with more things to do, more things to be a part of, and even good things that can steal us away from what’s truly needful.
Here’s where the story of Mary and Martha is still so relevant to our lives today.
In Luke 10, we see Martha running around, serving, trying to get everything done. Mary, on the other hand, simply sat at Jesus’ feet. And when Martha complained, Jesus gently defended Mary, saying, “But one thing is needful” (Luke 10:42).
In hindsight, knowing how the story ends, it’s easy to feel like that’s so obvious. But isn’t this the same tension we face every single day? We’re caught between being like Mary and Martha—between sitting and serving, receiving and doing more.
It’s part of life, and we all face it. The responsibilities that come with being a parent, the demands of holding down a job, the call to serve faithfully in church, or even simply being a good friend who shows up when others need you.
And then, on the other side, there is the sweet simplicity of just sitting at the feet of our Lord Jesus.
Now, hear my heart on this. Many times, these responsibilities really are legitimate and important for us to attend to. Whether it’s serving others or being involved in church, these are wonderful things that bless people and honor the Lord.
But not every opportunity to serve is something He’s asking you to take on. When you say yes to everything, even with good intentions, you can end up running on empty. The Lord wants your serving to flow from His supply, not your own.
Paul paints a picture for us in 2 Corinthians 4. We are like earthen vessels carrying a treasure, the Lord Himself. And it’s this treasure that keeps us from crumbling under the weight of life’s pressures.
When you’re conscious of this treasure within, the demands of life don’t overwhelm you. Yes, deadlines and responsibilities may press in, but they can’t crush you.
But when you take on more than He’s leading you to, it’s easy to lose sight of Him. That’s when even good things can start to feel heavy. What once brought joy feels like an obligation, and before long, the weight of it all leaves you weary and close to burnout.
That’s why those private moments you take with the Lord, when you’re seated at His feet, are so important. And it’s not about the quantity of time, but the quality of those moments.
One fresh word from Him… one moment of revelation… can do more than you know.
Picture a balance scale. On one side is a never-ending list of to-dos—people to check on, activities to join, emails waiting for a reply. On the other side is the Lord’s supply, rest, and strength.
That moment in His presence can fill you with His provision and tip the whole scale, lifting you out of demands and into His rest.
So how do we know when to sit and when to serve?
This is what Mary discovered. When you prioritize sitting at the feet of Jesus, you receive the discernment to know when to serve. In fact, just a few chapters later, we see her again at His feet—this time really being of service to the Lord as she anoints Him for His burial.
Isn’t that beautiful? That’s how we can grow in our discernment and be led by the Lord.
So let me encourage you: don’t let the responsibilities in your public life overtake your private life with the Lord. Don’t let the busyness of serving replace your personal moments of sitting with Him.
When you choose to first sit at His feet, you’ll find yourself rested and full, unencumbered by the demands of your calendar. That’s when you truly serve out of the overflow!

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption Through the Ages
The Bible is a very special book.
The more you read it, the more you’ll see it’s not just a book of stories or lessons. From cover to cover, it’s all about our Lord Jesus. And it reveals the Father’s divine plan to redeem you and me and draw us into relationship with Him.
Today, I want to try something a little different. I want to help you see the overarching narrative of the Bible and the wisdom of God shining through the ages, beginning with the very first prophecy in Scripture.
Right at the start, everything was perfect in the garden of Eden. Man walked with God in unbroken fellowship. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, everything changed. Sin entered. And with sin came shame, fear, sickness, sorrow, and finally death.
The Bible says, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). That was the reality. Because of Adam, death became the destiny of all mankind.
But here’s the good news: God, in His mercy, immediately began His plan to redeem us. Right there in the garden, just after Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, He declared the very first prophecy.
He said to the serpent:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
—Genesis 3:15
Now think about this. A woman doesn’t have seed. This was God Himself announcing that the Messiah would come—born not of man’s seed but of a woman, a virgin. And He would be the One to crush the serpent’s head.
From that moment on, the struggle between good and evil began to unfold.
The serpent, knowing the prophecy, began scheming and plotting how he might snuff out the promised Seed.
When he saw how God honored Abel’s offering, he thought, “Maybe this is the one.”So he stirred Cain to murder his brother. But God raised up Seth, and the chosen line continued.
So the enemy escalated his attack. He sought to corrupt all of humanity. Fallen angels took women and produced giants—violent abominations that filled the earth. The devil’s plan was simple: to corrupt mankind so that no pure seed could ever come forth.
But God had Noah, who was “perfect in his generations” and untainted by this corruption (Gen. 6:9). Through Noah and his family, who were preserved in the ark, the seed survived, and the Lord wiped the earth clean with the flood.
Still, Satan did not give up. He raised up more giants to occupy the very land God had promised His people. God’s response? He called Abraham, from whom came the nation of Israel, and this people would in time, possess the land and wipe out the giants.
The devil must have thought, “The Seed must be one of them!” So he enslaved the Israelites under Pharaoh’s harsh rule in Egypt. And when he sensed God raising up a deliverer, he stirred Pharaoh to slaughter all the Hebrew babies two years old and under.
But God preserved Moses. This little baby, hidden in a basket and drawn out of the waters, was destined to lead His people out of the bondage of Egypt. Yet Moses was not the Seed, and the devil’s search continued.
Centuries passed, yet the prophecy remained unfulfilled. Until the fullness of time came, and our Lord Jesus was born of a virgin, not in a palace but in a lowly manger.
The devil must have panicked when he saw the angelic activity around Bethlehem, and when wise men from the East arrived bearing gifts for a King. Immediately, he stirred up Herod, paranoid and cruel, to massacre the infants of Bethlehem. But once more, God outmaneuvered him, sending Joseph and Mary to Egypt with their precious child.
Do you see it? The battle through the ages?
Again and again, the enemy schemed and plotted, only to be outmaneuvered by the wisdom of God. Through every generation, God preserved the scarlet thread of redemption, weaving it through Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, and finally to the Babe in that manger in Bethlehem.
When Jesus came up from the waters of the Jordan River, the heavens opened, and the Father Himself declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).
Finally, the devil had his mark, and he set in motion his schemes to kill our Lord Jesus. He stirred the religious hearts of the Pharisees. He incited the mobs. And when Pilate signed the death sentence, the devil must have thought, “Finally, I’ve won.”
But he couldn’t have been more wrong. There on that hill called Calvary, our Lord Jesus—the promised Seed Himself—was lifted up. And do you know what that hill was called in Aramaic? Golgotha, which means “the place of the skull.” Many believe it was the very spot where David buried the severed head of Goliath.
Can you picture it?
The cross of Jesus, planted squarely in the skull of a greater Goliath. The promised Seed of the woman, crushing the serpent’s head once and for all.
The devil thought he had won. He thought the cross was his greatest triumph. But it became his ultimate defeat. First Corinthians 2:8 tells us, “None of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
At Calvary, the wisdom of God outmaneuvered the enemy in a way no one, not even the devil, could have imagined. On that rugged tree, the Son of God bore our sin, took our curse, and stripped the devil of his power (Heb. 2:14).
And on the third day, when Jesus rose from the grave, heaven declared the prophecy spoken at the dawn of time gloriously fulfilled. Our Lord Jesus crushed the serpent’s head and finished the work of redemption once and for all. In Him, we’ve been raised to a place even higher than what Adam lost (Eph. 2:6).
This is the wisdom of God. This is the love story woven through the ages. And it all points to one glorious truth: our Lord Jesus has won the victory for you!

Tune In to the Voice That Matters Most
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We all need affirmation, and it’s okay to admit that. You’re not the only one.

Afterall, the Lord designed us that way. He created our hearts to respond to love… to the voice that says, “I see you. I know you. I’m proud of you.”

But here’s where some of us get tripped up. It’s one thing to need affirmation. It’s another thing to try and draw it from the wrong source.

The problem comes when we start turning to other voices rather than the Lord’s for our worth and identity.

When we start looking for affirmation in what people say about us… in what we achieve… or in trying to please others so they’ll think well of us… that’s when we get trapped in the fear of man.

We become self-conscious. Easily shaken. Always second-guessing ourselves. Never finding the true rest and assurance our hearts need.

That’s why your heavenly Father invites you to receive your affirmation and approval from Him first.

He never meant for you to base your identity on people’s approval. And we see this clearly from the life of our Lord Jesus.

Before He ever did a single miracle—before He preached, healed, or called His disciples—His Father spoke over Him. As Jesus came up from the waters of the River Jordan, the heavens opened. The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Isn’t that beautiful?

Before Jesus stepped into the wilderness to be tested…

Before He started ministering to the crowds…

Before His fame started to spread throughout the land…

He first heard His Father’s voice of affirmation and approval.

When your heart is filled with your Father’s voice, when you know that He delights in you and is proud of you, you stop living for the approval of others. That’s what breaks the fear of man.

So here’s what I want you to do. Before you step into your day—before the noise, the pressure, the demands—take time to hear your heavenly Father’s voice of affirmation and approval over you.

He wants to draw you close. To pour His love right into the places you’ve felt unsure or unseen. To tell you again, “You are Mine. You are loved. And I’m so pleased with you.”

My friend, I want you to come back to this: What does your heavenly Father say about you?

Even if you don’t have an answer right now, I want you to know this: You are accepted and highly favored in the Beloved. That’s Jesus.

This Is How Much He Wants You Well
If you’re walking through a health challenge, or if someone you love is battling sickness, I want to take this opportunity to encourage you and strengthen your heart today.
Maybe you’ve heard about how the Lord can heal, but you’re wondering, “Do I have enough faith? Can I really believe for divine healing?”
Maybe there are doubts in your heart about whether the Lord really wants you healed, questions like, “Will this really work? Will the Lord really heal me?”
If that’s you, I believe the Lord wants to show you something beautiful today. Something that I pray will drive out every doubt and fill your heart with hope as you see His love afresh.
You know, I’ve always found it so striking that under the old covenant, when animals were brought as sacrifices to the temple, they were killed swiftly and humanely with no prolonged suffering.
Yet when it came to our Lord Jesus… He endured unthinkable pain.
The Bible tells us He was scourged not just once or twice, but thirty-nine times with a Roman flagellum. This wasn’t a normal whip. It was a brutal instrument laced with metal and bone, designed to shred flesh.
When it struck, it didn’t just bruise. It wrapped around His body. And when the soldiers yanked it back, it tore through His skin and muscle, until even His bones were exposed.
The Scriptures describe it like this: “The plowers plowed on My back; they made their furrows long” (Ps. 129:3). And again, “My bones stare and look at me” (Ps. 22:17).
This wasn’t a quick or clean death. Our Savior suffered like no one else ever has. And He didn’t use His power as God to numb the pain. He felt every lash. He absorbed every ounce of agony.
But why? Why such unbearable pain, when no animal sacrifice was ever treated this way?
You see, our Lord Jesus not only redeemed us from sin, but He also purchased for us divine healing and wholeness through His suffering.
Isaiah 53:4 (NASB) tells us: “It was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, and our pains that He carried.” And then in the next verse, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5 NKJV).
I always think of that moment in the movie The Passion of the Christ, when our Lord Jesus, already writhing in pain at the whipping post, pushes Himself up to take the full brunt of the next blow. It’s as if He was saying, “I can’t leave one condition unaccounted for. Not one pain, not one disease, not one affliction.”
I believe that was a divinely inspired moment in the film. But even that scene can’t fully capture the depth of suffering the Lord went through for you.
In 1 Peter 2:24, the apostle Peter quotes that same passage from Isaiah 53, “By whose stripes you were healed.”
Here, the Greek language brings out a powerful revelation. It doesn’t say “stripes,” plural. But “stripe,” singular.
Why? Because after the scourging, there wasn’t a single sliver of skin left on His back. It was one massive, gaping wound. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be accurate to call it a stripe.
Every stripe on His back was for your complete healing and wholeness.
For that bad diagnosis. For the condition you’ve been carrying for years. For the pain you’ve silently endured. For the symptoms that doctors can’t explain.
He bore it all so you could walk in the fullness of His shalom-peace and wholeness.
This is the assurance that the Lord wants you to have today, even as you continue to believe Him for your complete healing.
Keep pressing in and claiming the healing promises in His Word. Keep receiving the Communion even as you continue taking your medication.
Do all these with a fresh and burning revelation in your heart of all He has done for you. He suffered unthinkable pain for you.
And by His stripe… you are healed.

Made to Live on More than Bread
Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up, and before you even get out of bed, a wave of fatigue just hits you?
Your body feels heavy. Your mind feels foggy. It’s like you slept, but you didn’t really rest. Or maybe it hasn’t been just one morning. Maybe it’s been a string of days where you’ve been feeling this way.
And instinctively, the questions start coming:
“Did I not get enough sleep?”
“Is something wrong with me?”
“Is it my diet?”
“Am I low on vitamins?”
Now, let me say this upfront: There’s wisdom in caring for your body. Nutrition, rest, and exercise all have their place. And if you’re under a doctor’s care, continue with it. If you’re on medication, keep taking it.
But can I show you something that people often overlook?
Sometimes what you’re feeling is not just your body asking for attention. It’s your inner man. Because you are not just flesh and bones. You have a spirit. And your spirit also needs to be fed.
That’s why our Lord Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
Just pause and let that sink in.
All of us understand bread. We understand food. We know we can’t function well without it. Some people miss just one breakfast, and by lunchtime, they’re tired, irritable, and they can’t think straight.
Your body has a way of telling you, “I need nourishment.”
In the same way, when your spirit has not been fed, you can feel worn down inside, even if everything looks fine on the outside.
And this is what I want you to really catch today.
There is a greater source of life available to you, one that can minister strength and vitality far beyond what sleep, vitamins, or diet can provide.
Look at what Proverbs 4:22 says about God’s Word:
“For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”
Did you catch that?
Not health to some parts. Health to all their flesh.
Your mind. Your emotions. Your body. Every cell, every system.
God’s Word isn’t just knowledge or information. The Lord said in John 6:63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” In other words, His words are meant for your spirit, and as you take them in, they impart life to your whole being.
When you open the Scriptures, you are not merely reading ink on a page. You are beholding the Lord Jesus. And as you behold Him, His resurrection life is being ministered to you.
Even if you don’t feel any “fireworks”... even if your symptoms haven’t changed yet… even if you’re still a little tired… something is happening.
Now, there’s something very important in that verse in Proverbs 4 that I don’t want you to miss. It says His words are life and health “to those who find them.”
In other words, the provision is there, but you and I must come and receive it.
Just like food can be sitting right in front of you, but it won’t strengthen you until you partake, God’s Word carries life, but it only becomes your experience as you “find” it, as you make space for it, as you feed on it.
So today, if you’ve been feeling tired or a little off, perhaps what you really need is not just another natural boost.
You need to feed on the Word of God.
Let me share with you what I personally like to do.
When I’m feeling worn out or even a little under the weather, I open my Bible and begin to fill myself with God’s Word, especially the healing miracles of our Lord Jesus.
I’ll read about the woman with the issue of blood.
I’ll read about the man with the withered hand.
I’ll read about blind eyes opening, the lame walking, the weary being restored.
And as I move from one account to another, something begins to happen within me. Faith rises. Peace settles.
I remember a time when I came down with a fever. I began feeding on the healing miracles in the Gospels, and along the way, I wasn’t even conscious of how or when it happened, but the fever left.
That’s the power of God’s Word.
Another thing I love to do is to play Healing Scriptures and just let the Scriptures wash over me. Let them fill the atmosphere. Let them fill my mind and heart even when I’m asleep.
I’ve heard from so many people who have experienced the same strengthening and restoration simply by letting the Word minister to them like this.
So yes, take your vitamins. Yes, eat wisely. Yes, rest well. Do those things with faith. But don’t neglect feeding your spirit.
As often as you take your medication, take time to be in the Word. Let the Lord’s healing power minister to you. It comes with no negative side effects, and it can address things you may not even be aware of.
And if you don’t feel anything immediately, don’t be discouraged. Something is happening deep within you.
As you feed on His Word, the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is working in you, bringing life to your mortal body and health to all your flesh.

The Lord Cares Deeply about You

Do you know the Lord cares about how you feel?
“Really, Pastor Prince? Does God really understand how I feel? But He’s God!”
Maybe you’ve thought about that before. Maybe you’ve felt something so deep and heavy that you couldn’t even bring yourself to talk to a friend or spouse about it.
But can I tell you this?
There is One who knows, there is One who understands perfectly, and He is your High Priest.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:15,
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
The Bible says He can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”
That word “touched” is powerful.
It’s not just sympathy, where you feel sorry for someone from a distance. It’s empathy.
Our Lord Jesus doesn’t just observe what you’re going through—He understands and feels it with you.
He steps into your shoes. He walks every part of this journey with you. And if you’re in tears right now, He even cries with you.
Why do you think God chose to appear to Moses in a burning bush of all things (Exod. 3:2)?
At that time, the children of Israel were in the furnace of affliction under Pharaoh’s cruel bondage. That’s why God chose to reveal Himself in a bush burning with fire, yet not consumed.
It was His way of saying to them, “I see your suffering. I feel your pain. And I am right here with you in the midst of it.”
Isaiah 63:9 puts it this way, “In all their affliction He was afflicted.”
Even when the children of Israel were in unbelief and wandered in the wilderness, God did not abandon them. He dwelt in a tent with them as He led them through the wilderness.
What grace. What tenderness.
The Lord doesn’t stand at a distance and wait for you to get it together. He comes near. He draws close. He walks with you even in your weakness, even in your mess.
And when you know this—when you really see how gentle and kind He is with you—it changes how you treat those around you too.
You begin to slow down. To listen more. To show more care.
Maybe a colleague snaps at you or comes across as cold. Instead of matching their tone, you pause. You realize they may be going through something difficult at home, so you respond with grace and take a moment to check in with them.
Maybe your spouse is feeling weighed down and just needs a listening ear. So you don’t rush to offer a solution. You choose to simply be there for them, to listen and to empathize.
Maybe your teenager is going through a phase you don’t fully understand. Instead of nagging or reacting in frustration, you give them space. You stay patient and open. You make it safe for them to come to you when they’re ready.
That’s how the Lord is with you.
He meets you where you are.
As you receive His empathy, it naturally flows through you to others, showing them the same grace and gentleness you’ve first received from Him.

Receive the Fullness of Deuteronomy 28
I really enjoy reading the Old Testament. But what I especially love… is seeing glimpses of the new covenant shining through the pages of the old. And one of the most powerful places you’ll see this is in Deuteronomy 28.
It starts with this glorious list of blessings—about your body, your career, your family, your storehouse, your going out and coming in… And because of Jesus’ perfect obedience, every one of those blessings belongs to you today!
Now, I know what some of you are already thinking. “Wait… what about all those curses that come after the blessings?”
Ah, that’s where the New Testament comes in to show us something amazing. Galatians 3:13 says:
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).”
When our Lord Jesus hung on the cross, He didn’t just carry your sins—He bore every curse of sin so that you could live free from its dominion.
He bore it all, so that you don’t have to.
So how should we read Deuteronomy 28 today?
Read it with joy in your heart! Read it through the lens of Jesus’ finished work!
When you come to a blessing, activate your faith to receive it. When you come to a curse, thank our Lord Jesus that you’ve been redeemed from it!
Let me show you what I mean. In Deuteronomy 28:38, the curse of the law says,
“You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall consume it.”
The good news is, because of Jesus’ finished work, that’s not your story. You won’t labor in vain. When you involve the Lord, He can cause you to be effective. Fruitful. Whatever you touch will prosper. The work of your hands will be blessed.
If you read on, you’ll see that the curse of the law also relates to every sickness and every plague. That means whatever medical condition you might be dealing with, you can know beyond the shadow of any doubt that by His stripes you are healed!
Now, that does not mean you should disregard professional medical advice on your own accord. I am standing in faith with you for your breakthrough, but please exercise faith together with godly wisdom, and seek the Lord for His guidance regarding your specific condition.
Coming back to Deuteronomy 28, verse 65 talks about how under the curse, one will have “a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul.”
Now pay close attention to this. Because of the cross, that’s not your portion anymore. You can trust Him to guard your heart with His peace, renew your vision, and restore your soul. By God’s grace, you will not suffer heart failure. Your vision shall not deteriorate. And depression and anguish of soul have no claim on you because His joy strengthens you.
And the list goes on…
So here’s what I want to encourage you to do: Read the whole chapter of Deuteronomy 28. And as you do, let faith rise in your heart.
Every blessing? It’s yours because of Jesus. Every curse? It’s been nailed to the cross and forever removed from your life.
If you see anything in your life that resembles any of the curses—a health challenge, a financial struggle, a mental battle—don’t accept it as your reality. It no longer has a right to stay. Declare out loud:
“Lord Jesus, You took this curse for me, so I don’t have to bear it. I receive Your abundant grace, wisdom, and blessing in this area today!”
As you lay hold of this wonderful truth, begin to receive your healing, your restoration, and your blessing by faith today.
You are no longer under the curse. You are under grace. And whom the Son sets free… is free indeed!

Stay Faithful in Your Daily Grind
We’re living in a time when it feels like everything is measured by big results and quick wins. The louder, the faster, the more impressive, the better. If we’re not careful, it can be so easy to look at the small things in our lives and start to wonder, “Does this even count?”
Maybe you’ve felt overlooked at work. You’ve been putting in your best day after day, but someone else got the promotion. Another team got assigned that exciting project you were hoping for.
Or maybe you’re a homemaker, taking care of your family, neck-deep in the everyday, not-so-glamorous responsibilities that often go unnoticed. And you’re feeling underappreciated, wondering, “Does my spouse or my kids even see all the things I do?”
Or perhaps you’re still studying or serving behind the scenes. And it’s hard to see how what you have in front of you—that seemingly small role or portion in your hand—could possibly lead to the dream the Lord has put in your heart.
Can I encourage you today? Don’t despise the day of small beginnings. People may overlook us, but the Lord never does… He sees every little thing that you do unto Him. In fact, He often prepares and promotes us through them. That little act isn’t nothing to Him. It is seed. That small beginning? It is your training ground. It is your preparation.
In other words, what’s in your hand today matters.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”
So, what task are you faced with today? At school, at work, or in ministry? Maybe it feels small and inconsequential. Maybe it feels “beneath you” in the eyes of others. But in the Lord’s eyes, it’s an opportunity to steward what He’s placed in your hands with a good spirit.
And this is where David’s story as a young shepherd in the fields becomes so encouraging.
Even though David had already been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, he didn’t run off to the palace to try to make things happen for himself. He went back to taking care of his father’s sheep. He stayed submitted under his father’s authority and served his family faithfully.
In 1 Samuel 17:20, when David was tasked with bringing food to his brothers on the battlefield, Scripture gives us this little detail:
“So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him.”
I love that. David didn’t just abandon what had been entrusted to him. He first made sure the sheep were cared for.
That’s faithfulness in the little. That’s having the right spirit, even with a small assignment.
Even though delivering food to the camp was not the most glamorous assignment, he did as his father instructed without complaining.
Who would have guessed that fulfilling that “little errand” from his father would become a divine appointment for David that day?
Because he was faithful, he stepped right into the promotion and destiny that the Lord had prepared for him. With a sling and a smooth stone, he took down the giant Goliath and won for Israel a great victory. And the rest is history...
Isn’t the Lord just so good? He can take the seemingly small and ordinary moments in your life and weave them into a story of destiny.
Talking about small beginnings, I remember very clearly what it was like when I first started out as a young pastor. This was before I was married. And at that time, I didn’t even have a proper study room to prepare my sermons!
My “study” was the staircase outside the small apartment where my family was living. That’s right, the staircase.
Late at night, sometimes until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., I would sit there with my Bible open, studying the Word, spending time with the Lord.
And I had some unusual companions during those times. Once in a while, a cockroach would come out, then another, and look at me as if to say, “What are you doing here?” and then scurry away. I think I knew their whole family. And they knew me. Sometimes a stray cat would pass by, glance at me, and continue on, probably thinking to itself, “What an odd place for a human to hang out…”
It wasn’t glamorous. There was no spotlight. No crowd. No big platform.
But it was in those very ordinary moments that the Lord was building something in me. He was grounding me in His Word. He was shaping my convictions. He was preparing me for what I could not yet see.
Now make sure you don’t miss this today: stay faithful even in the daily grind.
Don’t leave that place of grace. Right there, in that smallness, God is doing something greater than you realize.
Our Lord Jesus Himself tells us in Luke 16:10, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.”
And again in verse 12, “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”
Don’t despise what’s “least.” Don’t despise what belongs to “another man.” Your job… your studies… the place you serve… This is often the very place where the Lord trains our hearts, strengthens our character, and prepares us for increase.
So whatever is in your hand today, will you do this? Be faithful with it and leave the promotion to the Lord. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him for favor. Ask Him to bless the work of your hands.
The Lord who sees in secret will be faithful to bring you into what He has prepared for you—at the right time, in the right way, with His unmistakable favor.

Your Standing Before God Is Irrevocable

We’ve all had moments when we let our feelings get the better of us. Maybe it’s a tense situation at home. Maybe it’s the strain of a long and draining day at work.
Before you know it, your emotions start heating up, words spill out that you wish you could take back… you snap at your spouse or children… and then the guilt sets in.
The Bible says in Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
Now think about that… In the Lord’s eyes, it’s mightier to have mastery over your own emotions than it is to conquer an entire city.
But how do we rule our spirit in these moments?
I want to share with you something the Lord taught me that has really helped me in moments like these: Don’t judge your standing by your state. Judge your state by your standing.
What do I mean by that? Your emotional state—your mood, even your behavior—can fluctuate. Some days you feel on top of the world. Other days, you feel anything but spiritual.
But here’s the good news: Your standing before the Lord never changes.
Why? Because of this unshakable truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
At the cross, there was a divine exchange. Jesus took all our sin upon Himself and gave us His perfect righteousness in return. Because of that exchange, your righteous standing before God as a believer is secured—settled once and for all—and irrevocable.
The trouble is that many of us do the opposite. We judge our standing by our state.
We think, “If I felt that way, I must not be a very good Christian.”
Or, “I shouldn’t have reacted like that... Maybe God’s disappointed in me.”
But listen carefully: How you feel, the thoughts you have, even your reaction in a moment of weakness… none of these can change the truth that you are the righteousness of God in Christ.
And when you’re rooted in that truth, you begin to discern something deeper. You start to see with spiritual clarity. You realize that not every flare of anger, worry, or frustration is “just you.” Not every negative thought or emotion is “you having a bad day”…
Some thoughts don’t even belong to you—they’re planted by the enemy to steal your peace, stir up strife, and derail you from the good the Lord has prepared for you.
That’s when you can say: “Lord, I thank You that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I refuse to let this anger, offense, or worry take root. I come against every plan of the enemy to rob me of my peace, in Jesus’ name.”
That’s what it means to rule your spirit.
Not because you never feel the heat of emotion, or because you’ve mastered them by your own willpower. But because you’re standing firm in who you are in Christ.
Remember… in Christ, you’re not fighting for victory ground, you’re fighting from victory ground!

The Art of Getting Ourselves Out of the Way

Have you noticed this? There’s really no life more miserable than one that is consumed with self.
Just think about King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He had everything the world could offer—wealth, wisdom, women, wine, entertainment, even incredible works of architecture and engineering. He tried it all.
Yet, do you know what he concluded? “Therefore I hated life” (Ecc. 2:17).
Can you imagine that? The richest man in history, with every pleasure at his fingertips, saying he hated life.
If you read Ecclesiastes 2, notice how many times he says the word “I.”
“I said in my heart… I searched in my heart… I made my works great… I built myself houses… I planted myself vineyards…”
Over and over again, it was all about “I.” And to the degree he was occupied with himself, to that degree he suffered.
Isn’t that so true for us, too? We may not be building palaces or planting vineyards, but we all have our own “I’s.”
How am I doing? How do I look? Did I say the right thing? What do they think of me?
That kind of inward focus wears you out. It traps you in this cycle of comparison, performance, insecurity… and it robs you of joy.
But here’s the good news I want you to hear today: You were never meant to be the center of your own universe. Only Jesus can take that place. And when He does, life becomes full again.
That’s why John the Baptist’s words in John 3:30 are so powerful. When his disciples came to him, worried that more people were going to Jesus instead of him, John didn’t react with jealousy or insecurity. Instead, he said simply, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Wow. That’s it right there. John understood something so freeing—that feeding of the self often makes life heavier, but giving Jesus the center place will make life lighter.
That is the art of getting ourselves out of the way. It’s not about trying to suppress yourself or deny yourself. It’s about letting Jesus shine, and letting Him take His rightful place at the center.
And here’s why this matters so much. Colossians 1:17 (AMP) says, “And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
When you step aside and allow the Lord to increase, He will hold everything in your life together. He will integrate you from the inside out.
When you take yourself out of the equation, you discover a whole new measure of rest and security with the Lord.
You won’t feel the constant need to be ahead of everyone, to be liked by everyone. You will find it easier to let others around you shine. You will live life with a greater release and not be easily offended or slighted by what others do or their opinions of you.
You’re giving up a life of self-occupation and self-consciousness for a life of deep, faith-filled consciousness that your worth, identity, and person are held in the loving hands of the One who created and redeemed you.
And putting Jesus at the center doesn’t have to be difficult.
Even as you take time to seek Him before starting your day, like you’re doing right now, you’re letting Him increase. You’re saying, “I don’t just want to live my life for myself, but with You in mind, Lord.” That’s a great start!
Now, look at this beautiful part of John’s story. When John said those words, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” he wasn’t losing himself. No, he was stepping into the very thing he was created for: to point to our Lord Jesus.
And the same is true for you. The more you let Jesus increase in your life, the more you step out of that small, suffocating world of “I, me, myself,” and the more you will become who you were always meant to be.
Secure. Free. Full of His life. And a glorious testimony and pointer to Him.
That is the joy of getting ourselves out of the way.

Let God’s Word and Wisdom Transform Your Life
Each time you open the Word and sit under anointed teaching, something powerful is happening, even if it doesn’t feel like it right away. A seed is being planted, and not just any seed, but one that carries within it God’s life, peace, and provision for you.
Don’t ever think it’s small or insignificant. You might not see the change immediately, but the Word is working deep in your heart.
And that’s why the enemy works overtime to distract you, cloud your mind, or get you to give up too soon. Because he knows, once the Word is deep in your heart, he can’t easily steal it from you.
Our Lord Jesus used the Greek word suniemiwhen He talked about understanding the Word. It’s not just intellect or head knowledge. It’s when the Holy Spirit helps you put two and two together. Suddenly, it’s not just ink on a page. You see Jesus and His heart for you in the Word.
That’s what happened with those disciples on the road to Emmaus.
One moment, they were discouraged and confused… the next, their hearts were burning within them. Why? Because they saw Christ in the Scriptures.
And this suniemi wisdom isn’t limited to just when you’re in church.
When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, it wasn’t just about prophecy. It was divine wisdom that positioned him to save nations during a time of famine.
When Daniel stood before kings, the Bible says God gave him skill in all literature, wisdom, and understanding in visions, making him ten times wiser than the rest of the experts of that time.
God’s wisdom touched every facet of their lives. It positively affected their work, their influence, and their decision-making abilities.
That’s what suniemi does. It overflows into your studies, your workplace, your relationships, your ministry.
Can I encourage you to make a commitment today? Open the Bible daily, right here in this app, and simply say, “Holy Spirit, give me suniemi wisdom. Show me Jesus.”
Don’t worry if it’s just a couple of verses; the Holy Spirit knows just what you need and how to give you your portion for the day.
As you do, you’ll find clarity where there was confusion, solutions where there were problems, and peace where there was anxiety.
And your life will bear fruit—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, hundredfold—simply by abiding in His Word.

Partake of the True Rest and Refreshing!
When was the last time you felt truly rested?
I’m not talking about the kind of rest that comes from a short nap or a weekend getaway. I’m talking about a rest that goes deeper. One that quiets your thoughts… lifts the heaviness from your heart… and brings a calm and peace to your soul.
In our world today, I know rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford.
There’s always something demanding our attention—someone to care for, something to fix, another problem to solve. And even when we do pause, our minds are still racing. It’s as if we don’t quite know how to switch off.
It’s important for you to know today that the Lord’s heart is not for you to live this way.
He’s made a way for you to enter into deep, supernatural rest even in the middle of your day.
In Isaiah 28:12, we see this beautiful promise:
“‘This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing.’”
I love that.
The Lord doesn’t just invite you to rest. He causes you to rest.
He ministers to your weariness and refreshes you from the inside out.
And how does He do that? Just one verse earlier, the Bible says, “With stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people” (Isa. 28:11).
This is the wonderful gift of praying in the Spirit.
As you pray in the Spirit, you’re allowing rivers of living water to flow out of your innermost being (John 7:38–39). And as those rivers flow, they begin to wash away any stress or anxiety… clear out mental clutter… and bring healing to places of weariness you may not even be aware of.
It’s not just a spiritual exercise. It’s heaven’s remedy for the emotional and mental fatigue we all face. And it affects more than just your emotions.
A study conducted by a medical doctor at Oral Roberts University observed that praying in tongues activates areas of the brain that, in turn, appear to boost the immune system by 35 to 40 percent.
That’s the wisdom and grace of God at work, even in your physical body!
And do you know what Jude 1:20 tells us?
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”
That word “build” in Greek is oikodomeo. It means to build a house or restore a structure.
When you pray in the Spirit, you’re not only being refreshed—you’re being rebuilt. Strengthened. Repaired from the inside out.
Even on days when you’ve only had a few hours of sleep, as you take time to pray in tongues, you’ll find yourself energized in a way that goes beyond reason… because it’s not natural, it’s supernatural.
So let me encourage you today: start using this gift more intentionally.
Even if it feels unfamiliar at first, just keep going. Soon, you’ll begin to experience what I call an “aggressive peace.” It’s a peace that touches your mind, your emotions, and body, and affects them for good!
And this peace isn’t based on your circumstances… or whether you had a stress-free day.
It’s a peace and rest that flows straight from the person of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you.

Stay Close to the Scent of Water
Can I ask you a question? Is there hope for a tree when it’s been cut down?
The Bible says yes, there is.
Job 14:7–9 tells us,
“There is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again.… at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.”
This verse is such a picture of grace, and I believe the Lord has a strong encouragement for us here, especially if you’re going through a dry season.
Maybe today, you feel like that tree. Cut off. Worn down. Spiritually dry. Like the life you once had or the dream you once carried has been severed at the root.
Maybe it’s your marriage that feels bland or even too far gone.
Maybe it’s a calling you’ve stopped believing in.
Maybe it’s a hopeless situation that has stolen your joy… your peace… even your intimacy with the Lord.
But listen. Even when the root is buried and the stump looks dead, God’s Word says, “At the scent of water it will bud again.”
Not the downpour. Not a river. Just the scent. That’s all it takes for life to return.
The Word of God is often described as water. Ephesians calls it “the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). It is powerful. It revives. And even just a touch, a whisper from the Word, can bring God’s life to places that feel lifeless and barren.
So don’t give up. Start exposing yourself to the living Word.
If you don’t know where to start… Or perhaps you feel too weary to read the Bible… Can I encourage you to try listening to a worship song?
On Spotify. On YouTube. Right here in this app.
Anointed worship contains the Word of God. As you simply take time to sit in an atmosphere of worship—whether in church, in your small group, or just by yourself in your bedroom or car—something supernatural happens.
I love what it says in Psalm 32:7,
“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”
You’re letting the Lord surround you with His songs of deliverance.
That means that as you worship… He is delivering you. He’s preserving you from trouble. He’s keeping you safe in the secret place. He’s restoring the dry, weary places within.
So today, put on that one song. The one that draws your heart to Jesus. Immerse yourself in His presence. Let the scent of His Word fill the atmosphere around you. And watch as every dry and broken area in your life begins to bud again.

Don’t Take Your Protection for Granted
Psalm 91 is one of the most powerful promises we have in the Word of God when it comes to divine protection.
It’s not just a beautiful psalm; it’s a covenant declaration for every child of God. And I want to encourage you today: don’t take that protection for granted.
Whenever I board a plane, I’ve made it a personal habit to place my hand on the side of the aircraft as I walk in and pray over the aircraft and my journey.
I’d say under my breath, “Thank You, Lord. Your angels bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone. I cover this plane with Your precious blood of protection.”
That’s not a religious ritual; it’s a conscious act of faith. I’m reminding myself that I’m covered. That I’m not traveling alone. That Psalm 91 isn’t just a nice verse… It’s real. It’s alive.
It’s mine to claim, and it’s yours too.
The world we’re living in is changing so fast. One moment it’s headlines about global instability, the next it’s a rise in crime, economic pressure, pandemics, or unexpected health scares.
If you’re a parent or caregiver, maybe you’ve found yourself wondering, “What kind of world are my children growing up in?”
But here’s the Lord’s heart for you today: Don’t live weighed down by fear. Live aware that His protection surrounds you every moment of the day.
Psalm 91 begins with, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” It continues to paint a beautiful picture of divine protection—of how the Lord delivers us from danger, how His angels guard us, how we are hidden under the shadow of His wings.
But have you ever asked... what gives us the right to dwell in this secret place and claim these promises?
That secret place isn’t a physical location—it’s a spiritual position. And today, you and I have access to that place of refuge and protection because of the blood of Jesus.
It’s His blood that brings us near and qualifies us to dwell there. Not just to visit occasionally, but to remain. To abide.
The reason we can declare Psalm 91 with boldness is because of what our Lord Jesus accomplished at the cross. When He shed His blood, He didn’t just redeem us from sin. He also broke the enemy’s power to keep us in bondage to death and fear.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 2:14 that through His death, Jesus destroyed the one who had the power of death and released us from a lifelong bondage to fear and to death itself.
That means today, His blood doesn’t just speak of forgiveness… it also speaks of protection. It declares, “This one is covered. This one belongs to the Lord.” It marks you and your family with heaven’s covenant of protection and safety.
And you don’t have to wait for fear to arise before you respond. Be proactive in applying the blood of Jesus.
Before your children head out the door, take a moment to bless them. Place your hand gently on their heads and declare, “I plead the blood of Jesus over you.”
Or “I declare the blessings of Psalm 91 over you.”
Or “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you…”
Say it over your mind when anxious thoughts try to sneak in. Say it over your travel plans, your workplace, even your sleep.
These aren’t just empty words. The Bible tells us that the way we overcome the enemy is by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).
Every time you plead the blood of Jesus, every time you declare the blood-bought promises of protection in Psalm 91, you’re aligning your heart with heaven’s reality. You’re testifying to what Jesus has already secured for you.
So let’s be people who live conscious of the covering we have in Christ. Not complacent. That’s how we abide in the secret place of the Most High.

Not by Luck, but by the Lord’s Hand
Have you ever looked around and thought, “This doesn’t make sense. I worked harder, studied longer, planned better… yet someone else got that promotion, that coveted opportunity”?
Well, you’re not alone. Solomon noticed this same thing. And he penned down his observation in Ecclesiastes 9:11:
“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”
That completely flips our idea of success on its head, doesn’t it?
All our lives, we’ve been told that the fastest, the smartest, and the most skilled will win in life. But Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived besides our Lord Jesus, saw it differently.
He realized that it’s not always the most qualified who get the promotion, the strongest who win the fight, or the most intelligent who prosper. It’s those who are at the right place, at the right time.
Haven’t we all seen it?
People less qualified getting higher positions and better pay.
Others working fewer hours yet achieving better results.
A business with a simple product starts booming because they showed up at the right time—just when there was a need.
Now, the world looks at that and says, “Well, that’s just luck.”
You’ve probably heard it before. Someone lands a promotion and people say, “What a lucky break!” Or a business takes off and people call it a stroke of good fortune.
But here’s what I want you to see: what the world calls luck, we know is the Lord’s hand of divine positioning. And only your heavenly Father can do that for you.
With all our planning, strategizing, and striving, we still can’t place ourselves perfectly. But the Lord can arrange divine appointments, bring the right people into your path, open doors no one can shut, and yes—even keep you from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I’ve heard testimonies of people who missed flights or had a “random” delay that later turned out to be for their protection. What looked like chance was really the Lord’s loving hand.
One of our church members was traveling overseas when a terrorist bombing occurred in his hotel. At the precise moment the bomb went off in the lobby, he happened to be walking behind a huge pillar. Shielded from the blast by that pillar, he was supernaturally protected. Had he been just a split second earlier or later, it could have been a very different story.
That’s why we need the Lord more than we realize.
It’s not about being the fastest, the strongest, or the smartest. It’s about being led by His loving hand, moment by moment.
So here’s something simple you can do today. Instead of relying on your own abilities, start your day by saying, “Lord, I surrender my schedule to You. Position me where You want me to be.”
You don’t have to leave your life to chance. You can place it in your heavenly Father’s hand.
When you trust Him like that, you’ll begin to notice His fingerprints in your daily life. And you’ll find yourself at the right place, at the right time—not by coincidence, but by His divine hand at work in your life.

Good Morning Greatly Beloved
The One Jesus Loves

When you remember your clothed in a spotless robe of righteousness, you won't want to go back to the pigsty of sin.

Break Free From the Cycle Through The Cross!
https://gspl.app/d/kpj

📝
Second Peter 1:9 tells us why believers fail or exhibit un-Christian behavior—they have forgotten that they have already been cleansed from their past sins.

Don’t miss that, my friend. The root of sin isn’t just that we are weak or susceptible in our flesh in that area. It’s actually because we have forgotten that our sins have been forgiven!

When you forget how completely clean our Lord Jesus has made you, sin begins to look tempting again. But when you remember—when you see yourself clothed in a spotless robe of righteousness—you won’t want to go back to the pigsty of sin.

This is what
the Holy Spirit does for you. He wasn’t sent to condemn you. Your conscience or the enemy might do that. But not the Holy Spirit. He convicts you of righteousness, reminding you of how clean, how loved, how righteous you already are in Christ.
Don’t give up. Don’t believe the lie that this is who you are or that you’ll always be stuck. The cross has already broken the power of that habit, along with the guilt and condemnation that have kept you in that cycle of defeat.

Now, start to walk in that freedom. See yourself the way the Lord sees you—washed, clean, radiant in His righteousness.

As you do, you’ll find the desire losing its hold, and the abundant life of Jesus rising up in you.

🗣️"I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus & this area of addiction shall not have any power over my life! Lord, I receive Your abundance of grace & gift of righteousness."

June 6, 2026
Bible Readings
Psalms         126
Proverbs      6
II Chronicles 20-22
John 16:1-15
OR
PLAN  B
Chronological Bible Reading:
Proverbs    10-12
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

👂🏻REVELATION OF ROYALTY
https://youtu.be/GtFFmk8d0nw

🎶🙌🏻Rain Upon My Life
https://youtu.be/Bsxf5mmq9BY

🙏🏻Thank Abba for the gift of a new day, where Your mercies are new every morning. Thank You Abba for the abundance of Your Amazing Grace & Free Gift of Righteousness.
Hallelujah Praise Jesus For His Finished Work On The Cross!!
🙌🏻All Glory Honor & Praise To Almighty God!! My Abba, Daddy God!! 🙌🏻

Don’t Build Your Confidence on Shifting Sand
Have you ever felt like you’re just not confident enough?
Maybe you’re about to step into something new, or facing a situation that feels bigger than you. And everywhere you turn, the world says, “Be confident! Just believe in yourself!”
Have you tried that?
You try to psyche yourself up, and maybe you succeed in front of others… but then behind closed doors, you crash. It just doesn’t work, does it?
You’re not alone. So many people struggle with confidence.
But the real question we need to ask is this:
Where is our confidence from?
You see, the world builds confidence from the outside in: “If you dress better, look better, speak better… maybe you’ll feel better.” But placing trust in the self is like building on shaky ground. It may hold up for a while, but when adversity comes, it collapses.
In Matthew 7, our Lord Jesus spoke of two men, one who built his house on the sand and one who built his house on the rock.
The one who built on sand? His house looked fine… until the storm came. And when it did, everything collapsed.
But the one who built on the rock? His house stood strong, even when the winds blew and the rain came down hard.
That’s the difference between self-confidence and Christ-confidence. One is built on shifting sand, the other is built on the eternal Rock.
So, where does the Bible say true boldness and confidence come from?
Proverbs 28:1 tells us, “The righteous are bold as a lion.”
Who are the ones bold as lions? The righteous!
While the world tries to build confidence from the outside in, the Lord builds true confidence from the inside out. And it begins with this revelation: you are righteous in Christ.
When you know deep down that you’ve been made right with God…
When you know that because of Jesus, there’s nothing standing between you and Him…
No sin-consciousness, no guilty conscience…
Just an unshakable assurance that He’s in your corner…
That’s where Christ-confidence begins.
It’s not based on your performance. It’s anchored in His finished work. And it flows from a living, daily relationship with Him.
The more you know that He delights in you… His hand is on your life… He’s guiding you and ready to catch you when you fall… the more you’ll walk with a quiet, steady confidence.
“But Pastor Prince, how do I build that kind of confidence? How do I live it out?”
I love how simply Acts 4:13 puts it.
When the people saw Peter and John’s boldness and realized they were untrained, ordinary men, they marveled. They couldn’t explain it until they noticed this one thing: they had been with Jesus.
That’s the secret, isn’t it? Just being with Jesus.
So, if you’ve been feeling inadequate or like you don’t have what it takes…
You don’t need to fake it till you make it.
You don’t have to force something you don’t feel.
Just come back to Jesus. Spend time with Him.
Let Him remind you who you are in Him: You are righteous. You are deeply loved. And you are backed by Almighty God Himself.
Because when you walk with Him each day, you won’t just get by—you’ll begin to walk bold as a lion.

Who You Walk with Matters More Than You Know
Have you noticed how the people you hang around with can affect your spirit?
You spend time with gossipers, and you’ll find your heart becoming more critical. You hang around people who constantly speak fear, bitterness, or frustration, and before long, it starts to weigh on you too. You start feeling more anxious, more cynical… even without realizing where it’s coming from.
There’s a reason the Bible tells us to guard this area of our friendships and who we allow into our inner sphere. Because what—and who—we allow in has the power to shape the way we think, speak, and believe.
There are certain relationships that are just not fruitful and can hinder what the Lord wants to do in our lives.
I call these kinds of influences “Madras crab” friends.
Do you know what happens when you put a bunch of these crabs in a basket? If one tries to climb out, the others will pull it right back down. You don’t even need a lid. It’s almost as if they’re saying, “If I’m stuck here, you’re staying here too.”
And maybe you’ve experienced that.
You try to move forward with the Lord… step into something new… rise up in faith… but someone in your circle pulls you back down, questions your decisions, sows doubt, or reminds you of your past.
But can I say this to you as your pastor and friend?
That’s not God’s heart for you.
He wants you surrounded by people who lift you up, not limit you. People who speak into your future, not those who tie you to your past, your mistakes, or to their own low level of thinking.
I’m not talking about just surrounding yourself with people who flatter you and make you feel good. I’m talking about surrounding yourself with godly people who will speak His counsel and His gentle correction when you need it the most.
Proverbs 13:20 puts it this way: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
This is not just a warning. It’s a promise. There’s a kind of wisdom, strength, and courage that comes just by walking with the right people.
And just like wrong associations can drag you down, the right godly alliances can lift you up.
There’s a spiritual principle I want you to catch today. It’s called anointing by association.
Let me show you what I mean.
In 1 Samuel 22, the Bible tells us that a group of men came to David while he was hiding out in the cave of Adullam. But these weren’t mighty warriors. They were in distress, in debt, and discontented.
I like to call them the “3D army.” Not exactly your dream team, right?
But even in all their mess, they did this one thing right. They aligned themselves with the right person.
And as they stayed with David, fought alongside him, and served with him, something began to change. The same anointing that was on David came upon them. These men, once broken and bitter, became David’s mighty men. Warriors who took down giants. Champions of Israel.
Second Samuel 21 even tells us that they were the ones who took down the rest of Goliath’s family. Think about that. The very anointing to slay giants that was on David now flowed through them, too.
But here’s what I really want you to see.
It wasn’t just about David. We know David was not perfect. But he was a man who walked closely with the Lord. He worshiped. He trusted. He inquired of the Lord often. He was a man after God’s own heart.
So when these men associated themselves with David, they caught what David carried—a genuine relationship with the Lord. They began to see the Lord the way David saw Him.
That’s the power of walking with the right people.
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Just learn to walk with those who are walking with the Lord. Let their faith stir up yours. Let their vision expand yours. Let their words of grace and encouragement renew your soul.
So this week, ask the Lord, “Who are the people You’ve placed in my life to walk with in this season?” and, “Are there any voices I need to guard my heart from?”
Then, take a step. Reconnect with a mentor, a leader, a faith-filled friend. Or maybe start spending more time with those who speak life and remind you of the Lord’s goodness.
Because who you walk with really does shape the person you become and the way you go. And when you are intentional about who you choose to associate with, you’ll catch that same anointing, too.

Your Words Today Shape Your Life Tomorrow
If you look around your life today and don’t like what you see, maybe it’s time to check out what you’ve been saying.
What words have been coming out of your mouth lately?
Maybe without even thinking, you’ve found yourself saying things like:
“Things will never change.”
“Life is so meaningless.”
“This is really killing me.”
“This is driving me insane.”
“I feel so blah.”
Now, I know… we don’t always mean it. Sometimes we’re just expressing how we feel in the moment. But here’s the truth: what you say matters more than you realize.
The Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). And the enemy knows that too. That’s why he works so subtly, slipping defeat and death into our everyday language, until we end up speaking them without even realizing it.
But listen, the Lord wants you to see today how powerful your words really are.
Just look at what Psalm 34:12–13 NLT tell us:
“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!”
And in Proverbs 13:3 ESV, it says,
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
Do you see it? Our words are not just harmless rants. They have the power to preserve our lives.
This isn’t about being legalistic with your words. No, it’s simply about being conscious that what we say shapes the life we see.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.” And yes, it’s good to live out what we believe. But when it comes to the things of God, the Bible shows us that our words and what we speak out, often come first.
Look at what Jesus said in Mark 11:23:
“Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”
Notice that? Three times Jesus mentions the word “says,” and only once “believes.”
We tend to think, “I’ll say it once I really believe it.” But the Lord is saying, “Start saying it. Keep saying it. And your believing will catch up.”
In other words, don’t wait till you feel full of faith before you start speaking. When you start speaking it by faith, you will begin living it!
Romans 10:10 shows us exactly how faith works:
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Think about this. Even eternal salvation, the greatest miracle, came by us believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths. If that’s how the greatest blessing of all comes, how much more every other blessing in life?
As you align your words with what God says, you’ll begin to see healing, peace, provision, and family blessings flow into your life.
So don’t underestimate your words. Your words today shape your life tomorrow. Instead of speaking what you feel or fear, begin speaking what God says about you.
Even if you don’t feel it, will you start declaring His promises today?
Speak life over your family.
Speak strength into your emotions.
Speak provision over your finances.
Speak healing into your body.
You’ll find that as you speak, something happens on the inside. Your heart starts to align with His Word. Faith begins to rise. And soon… you’ll see your walk begin to reflect what you’ve been saying in faith.