SEASON OF MOVING FORWARD IJMN!

Keep worshiping, keep trusting—God is working even when you don’t see it. Worship shifts your focus from the problem to the One Who is greater than the problem!

Trust keeps your heart anchored when circumstances feel shaky. Every prayer, every tear, and every act of faith matters to God.

Breakthrough often comes after seasons of persistence in faith/prayer/keeping the promises of God continually on your heart. Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by today’s feelings. He is moving behind the scenes, arranging what you cannot see yet (the definition of faith Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the confident assurance in things hoped for and the conviction of realities not yet seen. As the opening of the “Faith Hall of Fame” chapter, it emphasizes a, active, trust-based reliance on God’s promises, serving as a foundation for endurance and obedience. 

Key interpretations of Hebrews 11:1 include:

• Substance/Assurance: Faith provides a solid, present foundation for future hopes.
• Evidence/Conviction: It acts as proof of spiritual or unseen realities.
• Context: It sets up the following verses, which provide examples of how biblical figures lived by trusting God, despite not seeing the fulfillment of all promises during their lifetimes.
• Application: It encourages believers to trust in God’s character and promises rather than relying solely on physical sight. 

When you feel tired, lean into His presence. When you feel discouraged, hold onto His promises. Your situation is not permanent, but God’s power is.
Stay faithful in the waiting. Your breakthrough is not late—it is being prepared. The same God who helped you before will come through again.

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY.

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Bible stories frequently cited as matching modern-day struggles include Joseph’s, for betrayal and family dysfunction; Job, Naomi, or Ruth, for enduring profound loss or tough times; and David, who navigated fear, hiding, and waiting for God. Others include Moses for leading through challenges or Paul for enduring imprisonment. 

• Betrayal/Dysfunction: Joseph (sold by brothers, imprisoned, yet redeemed).
• Overwhelmed/Anxiety: David (running from Saul), Moses (wilderness).
• Grief/Loss: Job, Ruth, Naomi.
• Fear/Doubt: The disciples (storm), Thomas.
• Uncertainty/Waiting: Esther (facing risk). 

You’ve probably been in a situation that just doesn’t seem fair. Perhaps you’ve been mistreated or hurt. Maybe you’ve been cheated in a business deal, lied to by a friend, or had something special taken from you.

In these situations, you and I naturally start to wonder, What is God doing? Why is He letting this happen in my life?

If you’ve ever felt like life is out of control, I want to give you two words of comfort: But God. These two words have the power to bring a new understanding to every negative situation you will face. To show you what I mean, I want to look at the story of Joseph.

In Acts 7:9-10, we read a summary of what he experienced:

“… the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.”

Joseph’s story is the ultimate example of reassurance for all of us who wonder, What is God doing in my life?

Joseph was betrayed by his own family and led into circumstances beyond his control. He was sold as a slave, falsely accused of attempted rape, and thrown into prison. He experienced a frightful downward spiral like no other, until those two beautiful, life-changing words that we find right there in Acts 7:9—“But God.”

The odds were against Joseph, but God was with him.

His life was out of control, but God had a plan.

He was left with nothing, but God was about to give Him everything.

God delivered Joseph from all of his troubles, gave him favor and wisdom, and took him from the bottom to put him on the top. He was released from prison, given special favor by Pharaoh, and eventually promoted to become the second most powerful person in the whole land.

And at the end of the story in Genesis 50, when his conniving brothers finally realized that Joseph was the governor over all of Egypt, they understandably assumed he would take his revenge on them. But instead, Joseph turned to them and said in verses 20-21, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid.”

Friend, what the devil and his bunch mean for evil, God can turn into good.

If you find yourself today betrayed by those you trusted, or thrown into circumstances beyond your control, remember those two words: But God. You see, when you don’t factor God into the circumstance, things can appear utterly hopeless. But when you factor Him in, all things are possible.

So don’t allow your circumstances to make you bitter. Don’t give up just because you can’t see what God has planned for you right now. Keep looking to God, even if it seems that for a season He’s not working in your life. Friend, He is working. You just hang in there. Don’t quit. He is faithful. You stay plugged in, and you’ll be able to say at the end of your story, “It looked bad, but God…”

5 people in the Bible who got through tough times (and how!)

Click to access 9-Gifts-of-the-Holy-Spirit.2025.vs2_.pdf

Is that love or Love? What are the definitions about? ‘love’ –

Similar

passion for

love for

adoration of

desire for

fondness for

feeling for

regard for

devotion to

penchant for

preoccupation with

obsession with

fixation with

craze for

mania for

addiction to

fancy

passing fancy

crush on

thing about

hang-up about

We could go endlessly on!

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/love

Definitions of Love – Foundations

Yup! Just what is Love? Not infatuation or any of those terms above!

God is Love!!!

And we pray:

Father LORD, Your will be done in my life I pray in Jesus’ MIGHTY Name, Amen. Your plans for me are more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine or believe. I submit myself entirely/willingly to You. Father LORD, be Thou glorified in and with my life, I decree and ask in the Name of Jesus.

Father, as I come before Your Essence, wash me pure with the blood of Jesus shed for me on the cross at Cavalry. I confess that I have erred in following Your will. Forgive me LORD. Cleanse, direct, and nurture me in Your way. In my life, LORD be glorified in Jesus’ Name, Amen 🙏🏾

He came back different.

Based on the themes of spiritual transformation, a profound, life-altering event that often changes a person’s heart, actions, and desires is a genuine encounter with God (often described as being “born again” or surrendering to Jesus). 

This experience commonly involves:

• A Shift in Focus: A transformation from self-centered desires to a desire to serve God and others.
• The Transformation of ‘Want-To’: The fundamental changing of one’s heart, where old habits, passions, and goals are replaced with new, godly ones.
• Total Surrender: A decision to stop trying to control one’s own life and instead trust God’s direction. 

Personal Life-Altering Events

While such transformations can be gradual, they are often triggered by specific, dramatic events: 

• Hitting Rock Bottom/Desperation: A moment of crisis (e.g., addiction, loss, or deep fear) that forces a person to turn to God for salvation.
• A Near-Death Experience: A close brush with death that shifts focus from temporary pursuits to eternal, spiritual realities.
• The Power of Scripture/Truth: A moment when a specific truth from God’s word cuts through, sparking a desire to change one’s life.
• A Radical Relocation or Life Shift: Moving or changing careers, which forces a person to rebuild their life on a new foundation. 

This kind of life-altering, personal, spiritual encounter is described as a “new creation” where the old way of living disappears. 

Rather than dwell on my change, let’s talk about what is possible for you!

WHAT DOES SURRENDERING EVERYTHING TO CHRIST MEAN/ENTAIL?

When we talk about surrender, it often sets us up for defeat.

It sounds like giving up. Like waving a white flag, almost as if we’re saying, “Fine. Whatever,” and moving on defiantly.

But Scripture paints a very different picture of surrender in the Bible. It teaches us that.

• Biblical surrender isn’t passive.
• It’s not shutting down emotionally.
• It’s not pretending you don’t care.

It’s choosing to release control while still staying close to God in obedience.

In practical terms, that means you stop trying to control outcomes. You stop rehearsing worst-case scenarios, and you stop carrying what God never asked you to manage.

Instead you choose to trust His character. You obey what He’s clearly shown you. And you let Him carry the weight of what you cannot fix.

That’s what makes surrender so powerful — not because the situation changes or disappears, but because your focus shifts to the God who has victory over it all.

And if you never learn this?

You stay stuck in the exhausting cycle of gripping worry, replaying every conversation over in your head, and second-guessing everything you do.

Surrender breaks that vicious cycle of spiraling emotions.

How to Surrender to God When You Don’t Want To

Let’s be honest.. sometimes we don’t want to surrender.

We want clarity. We want guarantees that everything will be okay. We want assurance that if we release control, things will go the way we hope.

But that’s not surrender — that’s negotiation.

True surrender often begins in discomfort. It starts with something as simple as, “God, I don’t like this… but I’m choosing to trust You more than I trust my fear right now.”

It’s important to note, you won’t feel peaceful when you first begin to surrender. You likely won’t feel calm. But you choose to trust God and His character anyway.

And that choice — even when your emotions haven’t caught up yet — is what surrender really looks like.

How Many Times Should You Surrender

If only we could know exactly how many times we should surrender to God. It seems like it would make it everything easier, doesn’t it?

But letting go doesn’t work that way.

Surrender is rarely a one-time decision, but a daily choice. And on some days, it’s a moment-by-moment choice.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re learning to rely more fully on your Father.

If you’ve ever said, “Why do I keep taking this back after I give it to God?” — that isn’t proof that something is wrong with you or that you’ll never grow past this.

It’s proof you’re human. And surrender grows stronger with practice.

How to Let Go and Let God (Without Pretending You’re Fine)

The phrase “let go and let God” gets tossed around a lot. And if I’m being honest, it’s one of my least favorite Christian phrase, because it often feels dismissive.

Like you’re supposed to instantly stop caring. Stop grieving. Stop thinking about it.

But that’s not what Scripture models.

In the Bible, surrender often coexists with tears, waiting, and honest emotion.

Letting go doesn’t mean you stop praying about it. It means you stop trying to control how God answers it.

It means you…

• Pray honestly.
• Do what obedience requires, and bring it back to God again and again.
• Release what’s outside your responsibility (even when you grow tired of doing so).

And when your mind drifts back to fear, you gently place it back into His hands again.

That’s surrender. It’s not dramatic or loud or perfect.

It’s steady trust in the Father, practiced repeatedly.

How to Surrender Without Shutting Down Emotionally

Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to surrender in the hard times is to anchor myself in Scripture and speak truth over my thoughts with Christian affirmations.

When my feelings start getting the best of me, I’ll repeat those truths until His peace begins to steady my heart.

So to help you do the same, I’ve gathered 47 powerful Bible verses on surrender — verses that will help you yield to God’s will and experience the peace and freedom that come from letting go.

Do You Need Divine Restoration?

Forget your past
Forgive yourself
Delete negative people
Restart your life
Speak positive things into your life everyday

You will get there with/in the Name of Jesus!

Divine restoration in the Bible is God’s power to renew, heal, and return individuals or communities to a state of wholeness, often better than before. It encompasses spiritual, emotional, and physical renewal, restoring joy, health, and lost years. Key themes include God as the “Master Restorer” who reverses the effects of sin and hardship. 

Key Aspects of Divine Restoration

• The Nature of God: God is viewed as a redeemer who makes “all things new” (Revelation 21:5), restoring what was broken by sin or circumstances.
• Restoration of Life and Joy: Psalm 51:12 asks for the “joy of salvation” to be restored, while 1 Peter 5:10 promises that after suffering, God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” believers.
• Restoration of Fortune and Health: Scripture promises restoration of health and the repayment of “lost years” (Jeremiah 30:17, Joel 2:25).
• Total Restoration: Acts 3:21 mentions the time of “restoration of all things,” pointing to the ultimate renewal of creation. 

Scriptures on Restoration

• Joel 2:25: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”
• 1 Peter 5:10: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will himself restore you…”
• Psalm 23:3: “He restoreth my soul…”
• Job 42:10: “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends.”
• Isaiah 61:7: “…instead of shame there shall be a double portion…” 

The Process of Restoration

• Repentance and Faith: Restoration is often linked to turning back to God and believing in His promises.
• Prayer: Seeking God in times of trouble is a key trigger for restoration.
• Action: It involves acting in faith, such as forgiving others or pursuing obedience. 

In the New Testament, the theme of divine restoration takes on a more personal and spiritual dimension through the work of Jesus Christ. The ministry of Jesus is characterized by acts of healing and restoration, both physically and spiritually. His miracles often serve as a foretaste of the ultimate restoration that He brings through His death and resurrection.

The apostle Peter, in his sermon in Acts 3, speaks of Jesus as the one appointed for the restoration of all things: “Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets” (Acts 3:21). This statement underscores the eschatological hope that Christ will ultimately restore creation to its intended glory.

The apostle Paul also addresses the theme of restoration in his epistles. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, Paul writes about the new creation in Christ and the ministry of reconciliation: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” . This passage highlights the transformative power of Christ’s work in restoring individuals to a right relationship with God.

Theological Implications

The plea for divine restoration is not merely a cry for relief from temporal suffering but a profound acknowledgment of humanity’s need for God’s redemptive work. It recognizes that true restoration comes from God alone, who is both willing and able to renew His creation.

Throughout Scripture, the plea for restoration is accompanied by repentance and a turning back to God. It is a recognition of human frailty and sinfulness, coupled with faith in God’s mercy and grace. The biblical narrative assures believers that God hears their cries and is faithful to restore those who seek Him with a contrite heart.

In summary, the plea for divine restoration is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting the hope and assurance that God will renew and restore His people. It is a testament to God’s enduring love and faithfulness, offering believers the promise of spiritual renewal and ultimate restoration in Christ.

Do You Need Divine Restoration? 

By Brooke Holt

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:19).  

Have you ever been desperate for restoration? Maybe you needed restoration for a broken marriage, a lost job, or a wayward child. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, God’s people have longed for full restoration. Our Psalmist for today is no exception.  

In Psalm 80, the psalmist cries out to the Lord to remember what He has done for the nation of Israel. Israel, as God’s promised nation, was being ravaged by the Gentiles. In this last section of the Psalm, the cry was for God to help His people to be faithful. There was the acknowledgement that the nation had turned away from God. They needed his help. They needed Him to shine His face upon them to lead them back to Himself. Ultimately, they were desperate for God’s restoration.  

Aren’t we so much like them? We fall away, we face the consequences of our sin, and we in turn must cry out to the Lord beseeching him to bring us back to himself. Throughout the Advent season, the Scriptures have called us to repent and return to the Lord. This turning back is the means to make ourselves ready to celebrate His first coming and to prepare for His second coming.  

The return of Jesus Christ is our hope for full restoration; thus, these words of Psalm 80:19 can be your prayer today: “Restore me, O Lord of hosts! Let Your face shine, that I may be saved.” The Lord is always more ready to restore you than you are to ask for it as he is the God of steadfast Love and mercy. Thus, you can pray without fear, guilt, or shame. Your God longs to shine His face upon you!  

Related Resource:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and Love God more and find life in Him.