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Holy Spirit

God’s Spirit Dwells in You

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“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
—1 Corinthians 3:16 (NASB)

Beloved, hear the truth that echoes through eternity: you are the temple of the living God. Not built with human hands, not constructed from brick or stone, but fashioned by grace and made holy by the blood of the Lamb. The Spirit of God—Ruach HaKodesh—does not visit you, He indwells you. He does not pass by. He stays. He abides. This is no metaphor, no poetic suggestion. This is your present reality.

Yet how many of us walk as if we are vacant sanctuaries? How often is our speech, our conduct, our thoughts—divorced from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit? A.W. Tozer wrote with piercing clarity, “Whether He is present or absent makes no real difference to anyone.” If that grieves us, it should. And if it doesn’t, it must.

God’s Spirit dwells in you. Say it aloud. Let that reality stir your soul. The Holy Spirit is not a shadow in the corner of your doctrine, a mere name in a doxology. He is God Himself, equal with the Father and the Son, worthy of glory, honor, and full surrender. Anything less is not true worship.

John the Apostle saw the mystery and majesty of the indwelling God. He wrote, “By this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1 John 3:24, NASB). You are not left to your own strength. You are not meant to live the Christian life alone. The Holy Spirit has come to lead you into truth, convict you of sin, empower you for holiness, and seal you for redemption.

But the Spirit will not share space with idols. He does not dwell in a temple that refuses His rule. He is not a guest—He is the rightful owner. And He comes not just to comfort, but to cleanse. Not just to whisper peace, but to burn away what does not belong.

If we truly believed that God’s Spirit dwells in us, our lives would look different. Holiness would be more than a concept—it would be our heartbeat. Our prayers would burn hotter. Our love would stretch further. Our eyes would stay fixed on Yeshua, and our hearts would long for more of Him and less of us.

So today, yield your temple. Let the presence of the Holy Spirit be more than a footnote in your theology. Let Him shape your thoughts, govern your actions, and fill every empty place. Invite Him to awaken what has grown cold. Ask Him to purify what has been compromised. You are not your own. You were bought at a price. God’s Spirit dwells in you.

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I lift my heart, O Flame divine,
Come cleanse my soul with fire;
Let every chamber be made Thine,
And kindle holy desire.

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Prayer

Father, awaken my heart to the glory of Your Spirit within me. Forgive me for treating Your indwelling as a concept and not a consuming fire. I surrender my body, my thoughts, my will—every part of me—to Your Spirit. Let Him rule where I have resisted. Let Him fill what I have left empty. Make me a living temple that glorifies Your Name. In Yeshua’s holy name, amen.

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See Also

Personal Holiness, Sin

Humbled to Rise

Defeating the Pride of Life

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – 1 John 2:15, NASB

Brother, sister—hear me. This is not a word of condemnation, but a call to awaken. There is a sin that hides in plain sight, a spiritual cancer that often disguises itself as strength, success, or self-confidence. It is the pride of life. This sin does not shout—it whispers. But those whispers grow into lies that lead you far from the presence of El Elyon, the Most High God.

The pride of life tells you that you are enough without God. It causes you to depend on your own wisdom, your own strength, and your own reputation. Over time, it builds a wall between you and the Lord. Pride makes people think they don’t need God. It turns churches into stages for human praise instead of places where the glory of El Elyon is worshiped. It shifts the focus from the throne of Heaven to the applause of men. And that shift, beloved, is deadly.

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6, NASB

You were not created to be independent from your Maker. You were formed from the dust, and it is only by the breath of Yahweh that you live. The way of the Kingdom is not like the world’s way. The world says, “Lift yourself up.” But God says, “Bow down, and I will lift you.” To defeat the pride of life, you must choose the lower road—the road of humility.

Let me tell you a story. There was a skilled craftsman, admired by many for the beauty of his work. One day, a curious boy asked him, “How did you become so great?” The man smiled gently and said, “I only became great when I stopped trying to be. I surrendered my talent to God. I asked Him to shape the work of my hands, and it became His, not mine.” That is the secret. When you humble yourself, God takes over—and what He builds will last.

You were not saved to impress men—you were redeemed to reflect the holiness of Yeshua. Defeating the pride of life begins with surrender. You must choose, daily, to lay down your ego, your rights, your desire to be seen. You must become like the Lamb—silent, obedient, and wholly dependent on the will of the Father.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” – 1 Peter 5:6, NASB
Examine your heart. Do you bristle at correction? Do you crave the approval of others more than the presence of God? Do you rely more on your gifts than on the Spirit? Pride is subtle. But the Spirit will reveal it if you ask—and when He does, don’t delay. Repent. Get low. Open your hands. Humility is not weakness—it is the pathway to true authority in the Kingdom.
God is not looking for the proud. He is searching for those who tremble at His Word, who bow before Him in secret, who do not grasp for platforms but long for His presence. Will you be that one? Will you walk low so that He may raise you up, defeating the pride of life in the process?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3, NASB

Defeating the pride of life is not a single decision—it is a lifestyle. It is choosing the cross daily. It is remembering that every breath you breathe is mercy. It is standing before God, not with your résumé, but with your hands lifted in worship. The humble will see God. The proud will resist Him and fall. Let us be those who fall on our knees now, so we may rise with Him in glory.

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Prayer:

Father, I humble myself before You now. I confess the pride that has crept into my heart—every thought that made me feel sufficient apart from You. I surrender my plans, my gifts, and my desire to be noticed. I choose the way of the cross. Let me be poor in spirit, that I may be rich in Your Kingdom. Lift me up only when I have bowed low before You. Be glorified, not me. Be praised, not my name. Let me rise only by Your hand, and for Your glory. In the name of Yeshua, amen.

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Key Takeaways for Defeating the Pride of Life:

  • Pride of life distances us from God, but humility draws us close.
  • God resists the proud but pours grace on the humble.
  • Daily surrender is the key to true spiritual authority.
  • Humility opens the door to revival and the presence of El Shaddai.

Let your heart burn not for applause, but for His glory. Let your life become an altar where pride dies and holiness rises. It is time to bow low—so you can rise in Him.

See Also

Spiritual Growth

True Holiness: More Than a Life Change

Beloved, do not be deceived—God has not called you to mere outward change, but to inward transformation. Many leave behind the obvious sins of the world, yet unknowingly exchange them for subtler, but just as deadly, sins. They forsake drunkenness but indulge in spiritual pride. They abandon lawlessness but embrace legalism. They turn from impurity but become judgmental toward those who still struggle.

Holiness Is Not Just a Life Change

This is not holiness—it is deception.

Holiness is not about appearing righteous before men but about being truly set apart for God. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). Not a sacrifice of words alone, not a shift in outward behavior, but a full surrender of your very being. Anything less is religion without power—an illusion of godliness without the fire of God’s presence.

Have You Truly Changed? Or Just Relocated?

The danger is this: we think we have been delivered, when in truth we have only moved from one prison to another. Imagine a man who has lived in filth his whole life, dwelling in a pit of mud. One day, he hears of a beautiful palace where people live clean and respectable lives. Longing for something better, he climbs out of the pit and moves into the palace. But instead of washing, he merely changes his clothes.

He looks clean. He walks among noblemen. But inwardly, he is the same man—still carrying the stench of his past.

So it is with many believers. They leave behind the filth of the world and enter into religious circles, surrounding themselves with others who look holy. But their hearts remain unchanged. They have moved locations, but they have not been transformed.

The Pharisees did this. Yeshua rebuked them, saying, “You clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25 NASB). Outwardly, they appeared righteous. Inwardly, they were filled with pride, hypocrisy, and spiritual death.

Have you done the same? Have you left behind the sins of your past, only to embrace the sins of the religious? Have you exchanged rebellion for self-righteousness? Lust for spiritual arrogance? Worldly ambition for the love of man’s approval?

Holiness is not about where you stand—it is about who you are before God.

True Holiness: Surrendering All Sin

Do not bring only some of your sins to the altar. Bring them all. It is easy to surrender the sins we despise, but true holiness requires that we lay down even the sins we secretly love.

  • You may have repented of lying, but do you still gossip?
  • You may have abandoned immorality, but do you still hold bitterness in your heart?
  • You may no longer steal, but do you rob God of your full surrender?

God does not desire partial holiness—He desires your entire life to be set apart for Him. The fire of God does not come to warm you; it comes to consume you. Either you are fully His, or you are deceiving yourself.

Stop Managing Sin—Be Transformed

Too many believers try to manage sin instead of being delivered from it. They discipline themselves into better habits, suppressing certain desires, but they never allow the Holy Spirit to fully transform them. They white-knuckle their way through self-control, never experiencing true freedom.

But Yeshua did not die to modify your behavior—He died to make you new.

“If anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Do you believe this? Or are you still trying to improve what should be crucified?

Holiness is not about doing better—it is about dying to self and allowing the Spirit of God to make you new. Stop striving in your own strength. Lay yourself on the altar and let the fire of God consume what is not of Him.

A Prayer for True Holiness

Let this be the cry of your heart:

Abba, I do not want an illusion of holiness—I want to be truly holy. Search me and know me. Show me the sins I have excused, the idols I have clung to, the self-righteousness I have hidden behind. I lay them down now. Holy Spirit, consume everything in me that is not of You. Let me not be satisfied with mere religious change—make me new. Transform me into the image of Yeshua, that I may walk in true holiness before You. In His name, amen.

Beloved, now go. Be holy, for He who called you is holy.

See Also

Giving

Give to God with a Pure Heart: The Devotion He Desires

Beloved, hear this truth: God desires your whole heart. He is not deceived by appearances, nor is He impressed by offerings given with hidden motives. To truly give to God with a pure heart is what He seeks. He looks upon the heart and calls for surrender—not just in part, but in full.

In Acts 5:1-5, we encounter a sobering moment. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold their property. They conspired to keep back part of the proceeds, yet they laid the rest at the apostles’ feet, pretending it was the whole. But their lie was not to men; it was to God Himself. And in an instant, Ananias fell dead. The fear of the Lord gripped all who heard of it.

What lesson burns through this story? God does not demand a portion; He desires all of you. Your time, your finances, your service, your obedience—He calls for complete devotion. Not for His gain, but for yours. For what can you hold back from the One who holds your very breath?

Peter asked, “Was it not [the money] at your disposal and under your control?” (Acts 5:4 AMP). The issue was not how much Ananias gave, but the lie he lived. He wanted the appearance of devotion without the cost of true surrender. How many today do the same—offering words of worship but withholding obedience? Giving part of their time but reserving the best for themselves?

Beloved, do not be deceived. What you hold back from God reveals where your trust truly lies. When you delay in serving, when you hesitate in giving, when you cling to comfort instead of obedience, it is not man you rob, but God. And though He is merciful, He is also holy. He calls His people to walk in truth.

Do not fear giving your all. What is surrendered to God is never lost—it is invested in eternity. Yeshua said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NASB). When you give with a pure heart, you align your heart with heaven. When you serve, you honor the One who first served you. When you surrender your time, you invite His presence into your life.

God seeks worshippers who give from pure hearts. Not for show, not out of obligation, but from love and trust. Will you be counted among them?

How to Give with a Pure Heart

  1. Examine Your Motives: Ask God to reveal any hidden pride, fear, or selfishness in your giving. Let your gift flow from love and gratitude to truly give with a pure heart.
  2. Give Your First and Best: Whether it’s time, finances, or service, offer God the first fruits, not leftovers. He deserves your best.
  3. Surrender Completely: Trust God with everything. Hold nothing back, for all you have is already His.
  4. Walk in Integrity: Let your actions reflect your heart. Give openly, truthfully, and joyfully with a pure heart.

Beloved, do not let fear or selfishness rob you of the blessing that comes from full surrender. God does not demand your perfection—He desires your heart. Come before Him with open hands and say, “Lord, all I have is Yours.” For what you release to God, He multiplies for His glory.

Prayer:

Father, search me and know me. Reveal every place where I have withheld from You—whether in my time, my giving, or my obedience. Forgive me for offering half-hearted devotion. Teach me to give with a pure heart, trusting that what I surrender to You will bear fruit in eternity. I lay my life at Your feet. Use me, shape me, and lead me. Let my giving honor You, and let my life be a testimony of Your faithfulness. In Yeshua’s holy name, Amen.

When you give to God with a pure heart, you align with heaven’s purposes. Let your devotion be complete, and watch as God moves through your surrender.

See Also

Devotion to God

A Heart Laid Bare Before God

“Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23-24 (AMP)

This is not a casual request. It is a daring prayer—a plea for God to examine the deepest places of our hearts. David invites God to search him, to expose anything hidden, anything unclean, anything that does not align with His holiness. It takes courage to pray this way because when God searches, He reveals. When you pray “Search my heart O God,” you must be ready for an honest examination.

Our hearts can be deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). We often justify our actions, excuse our motives, and dismiss the small compromises that dull our sensitivity to God. But David doesn’t want anything left in the shadows. He longs for the refining fire of God’s presence to purify him and lead him into the way everlasting. Thus, the prayer to “Search my heart O God” is a call for cleansing and renewal.

Are we willing to pray like this? Are we ready to surrender our defenses and allow God to reveal the places in us that need healing, repentance, and transformation? This is the posture of a heart that truly seeks after God—not just in word but in surrender. Saying “Search my heart O God” means giving God permission to fully examine us.

Let today be the day we echo David’s prayer. Invite God to search you, to test your thoughts, to uproot anything that does not belong. He does not search to condemn but to cleanse. He leads us, not into shame, but into the everlasting way—closer to His heart, deeper into His presence. It starts with the sincere prayer: Search my heart O God.

Search my heart O God

Prayer:

El Roi, the God who sees all, I come before You with an open heart. Search me. Reveal anything that does not please You. Expose the hidden motives, the unspoken fears, and the compromises I have ignored. Purify me and lead me in the way everlasting. I long to walk in Your truth, unhindered by sin, fully surrendered to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

See Also

Faith, Trust

Trust God’s Plan—Even When You Don’t Understand

Beloved, do not be troubled when life does not go as you had hoped. Do not let disappointment take root in your heart. The Lord is faithful. Trust God’s plan, He is not confused, nor is He caught off guard. What you see as delay, He sees as preparation. What you call failure, He calls foundation.

Lift your eyes to Him. Trust God’s plan and that He is working, even now, in ways beyond your understanding.

“O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, even purposes planned of old [and fulfilled] in faithfulness and truth.” — Isaiah 25:1 (AMP)

Do you see it? His plans were set in motion long before you were born. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is forgotten. Every trial, every unanswered prayer, every path that led somewhere unexpected—it is all in His hands. Trust God’s plan in these moments.

His Ways Are Higher

You make plans. You set goals. You dream of how things should unfold. But when the path takes a turn you did not expect, do you still trust Him? Trust God’s plan even when it seems unclear.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB)

You do not see what He sees. He is not leading you into ruin—He is leading you into something greater. Do not lean on your own understanding, for it will fail you. Instead, lean on Him. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Remember to trust God’s plan through it all.

What feels like a delay is not a denial. What seems lost is not forgotten. The seed has been planted, but only God makes it grow. Trust God’s plan as He nurtures what He has started.

The Seed Is in the Ground—Trust the One Who Gives the Harvest

You have prayed. You have sown. You have watered with tears. And now you wait.

“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NASB)

Listen to me—God is not idle. The seed is buried, but it is not dead. In the perfect time, it will rise. It is not for you to force the growth, nor for you to determine the season of harvest. That belongs to the Lord alone.

Do not become weary. Do not let impatience turn into despair. The season will come, and you will reap if you do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

God’s Plan Is Good—Even When You Cannot See It

You may not understand now. That is why you must trust. Trust God’s plan even when the way forward is hidden.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)

Does God lie? No. Does He forget His promises? Never. If He has spoken it, He will fulfill it. What He begins, He completes. (Philippians 1:6)

So stand firm. Do not let your heart waver. Praise Him now, even before you see the answer. For He is faithful, and His plans will not fail. Trust God’s plan and know that His timing is perfect.

Prayer

Father, I surrender to You. I release my need to control, my desire to understand, and my fear of the unknown. I trust You. Even when I cannot see, even when I do not understand, I believe that You are working.

The seed has been planted. It is in Your hands. Grow it in Your perfect time. And whether I am the sower or the reaper, let me never forget—You alone make things grow.

I praise You now, before the harvest comes, for I know Your plans are good. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

See Also

Uncategorized

If David could speak to us today

If young David could speak to us today, his words would likely echo the faith, courage, and unwavering trust in God that defined his life. Trust in God, not in your strength. He might say something like this:

“Do not fear the giants before you—God is greater.”

I was just a shepherd, the youngest in my family, overlooked and underestimated. But God does not choose as men do. When others saw a boy, He saw a king. When others saw weakness, He saw a heart that trusted Him completely.

When I faced Goliath, it was not my strength that won the battle. It was the Lord’s. Trust in God, not in your strength. The world will tell you that your weapons are too small, that you are too weak, that you are not enough. But it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves—it is by His power. If you trust Him, no giant can stand against you.

“Worship is your weapon—never stop praising God.”

Before I was a warrior, I was a worshiper. I sang to the Lord in the fields long before I ever set foot on a battlefield. And I have learned this: when you praise God, darkness flees. When you lift your voice in worship, strongholds break. Therefore, trust in God, not in your strength.

If you are facing battles, do not let fear steal your song. Worship in the storm. Sing in the valley. Lift your voice even when you do not feel strong—because God is always worthy, and He fights for those who praise Him.

“Your heart matters more than your appearance.”

Men look at the outside, but God looks at the heart. I have seen the downfall of mighty warriors and the ruin of kings because their hearts strayed from the Lord. Your victories, your gifts, your position—none of these matter if your heart is not fully His.

Guard your heart. Trust in God, not in your strength. Keep your hands clean and your spirit pure. Let your greatest desire be to dwell in the presence of the Lord all the days of your life. That is the only place where true peace is found.

“Run to God, not away from Him.”

I have failed. I have sinned. I have fallen short. But when I did, I did not hide—I ran back to God. He is merciful. He is faithful. He does not reject the one who repents with a sincere heart.

Do not let shame keep you from Him. Cry out to Him. Return to Him. His love is greater than your worst failure. His grace is deeper than your sin. He is a refuge for the broken.

King David

“Pursue God with everything.”

The greatest battle you will ever fight is not against giants—it is against complacency. Do not settle for a faith that is shallow or a life that is half-hearted. Run after God with everything in you. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I have tasted power, victory, and wealth. But there is nothing greater than the presence of God. No throne, no kingdom, no victory on earth compares to the joy of knowing Him. So, trust in God, not in your strength.

So I ask you today—who will you trust? Whose voice will you listen to? Will you live for yourself, or will you give your life fully to the One who made you?

As for me, I have only one desire:

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4, NASB)

Seek Him. Trust Him. Worship Him. And watch what He will do through you. Trust in God, not in your strength.

The battle belongs to the Lord.

See Also

Blessing, Faith

Have You Seen? Have You Heard?

What if I told you that what your eyes have seen is only the smallest glimpse of what God has prepared? That what your ears have heard is but a whisper of the symphony He is composing for those who love Him? The plans of the Almighty stretch beyond imagination, beyond human wisdom, beyond even the deepest longings of the heart. As it is written:

“THINGS WHICH THE EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND THE EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, AMP)

But do you love Him? Do you honor Him with your life, obeying His Word, seeking His face above all else? If you do, then hear this: what you have experienced of Him is only the beginning. You have tasted His grace, but the feast is still before you. You have glimpsed His glory, but the fullness remains hidden, waiting to be revealed. What God has prepared is beyond what we can fathom.

For the prophet declared long ago:

“For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
who acts in behalf of one who waits for Him.” 
(Isaiah 64:4, NASB)

Testimony: He Called Me to Lay It Down

I thought I knew beauty. I thought I had heard music that stirred the soul. But I was wrong. I once filled my ears with the sounds of this world—songs written by men, melodies crafted for pleasure but not for glory. I thought they satisfied. But one day, God called me to lay them down. He whispered, “Come away from that which fades, and I will give you something eternal.”

It was not easy. The world had trained my heart to crave what was temporary, but in obedience, I surrendered. And then, He poured out His abundance. What God has prepared was now becoming clearer to me.

Suddenly, I heard music unlike anything I had ever known. Melodies not made by man, but flowing from the throne of God. Worship that pierced the soul, harmonies that resonated in my spirit, songs that were not just heard, but experienced. The heavens opened, and I was swept into a river of praise that had no end.

What I had forsaken was dust compared to what He gave me. I had never heard such music, and yet—it had always been waiting for me. What God has prepared for those who love Him is truly magnificent.

Testimony: The More I Surrendered, the More He Revealed

It was not just music. I once wasted my time on the fleeting things of this world—distractions, entertainment, pursuits that neither satisfied nor remained. But when I laid them down and turned my heart toward Him, He showered me with revelation.

The more time I gave Him, the more He revealed. The Scriptures became alive, His voice clearer, His presence overwhelming. It was as if a floodgate had been opened, and what had once been a trickle of understanding became a torrent of truth. Truly, what God has prepared for those who seek Him is extraordinary.

I did not see with my earthly eyes, but I knew in my spirit. This is what it means to live by faith.

The Call to Press In

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20, NASB)

My faith was small, but my God was not. I could not see the fullness of what He was doing, but I knew. Just as Abraham believed in a promise he never fully saw on earth, just as the prophets declared things that would only come to pass generations later, I now stand in that same faith. What God has prepared for us surpasses our understanding.

There are things I have never seen with my eyes, but I know them as surely as I know my own name. Even in death, I will hold onto what He has spoken, for His promises are more real than the very air I breathe. What God has prepared for us is truly remarkable.

Have You Seen? Have You Heard?

No, not yet. But you will.

Keep your eyes fixed on Yeshua. Keep your ears tuned to His voice. Do not be distracted, do not grow weary, do not look back. The time of revealing is at hand! The Kingdom is near! The glory of the Lord is coming, and those who wait for Him will see it with their own eyes. Indeed, what God has prepared will be revealed in its due time.

Come, beloved—the best is yet to be revealed!

See Also

Love, The Pursuit

Love the Lord with Your Whole Being

What Does It Mean to Love God with Your Whole Heart? Loving the Lord with your whole being is a profound and transformative experience.

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (AMP)

God is not divided, nor is He one among many. He alone is the true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and He calls for your complete devotion. The greatest commandment is not a suggestion—it is a call to love the Lord with every part of your being.

But do you truly love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength? Or have you offered Him only a portion while keeping the rest for yourself? God does not want lukewarm love; He calls for an all-consuming devotion. Jesus reaffirmed this in the New Testament, saying:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37 (NASB)

Nothing less than everything belongs to Him.

God Held Nothing Back—Will You?

God gave everything for you. The proof is in Jesus Christ:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (NASB)

God did not hold back His only Son. He gave everything so that you might live. Will you now hesitate to give Him your whole life?

The Holy Spirit is still calling, still convicting, still transforming lives.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Hebrews 3:15 (NASB)

Yet the world tempts you to hold back—to divide your heart, to love God when it is convenient. But God demands your whole being. He is worthy of nothing less than your full surrender.

Jesus said:

“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23 (NASB)

This is the love God desires—a love that lays everything down, seeks Him above all else, and forsakes sin to follow Christ completely.

Do Not Hesitate—Respond to His Call

Do not be one who hears and refuses to respond! If hell is real, if sin is death, if the blood of Jesus was the price of salvation—will you hesitate?

Tear down every idol. Forsake every distraction. Let your love for Him be total, consuming, and undivided. This is the only love worthy of the Lord your God.

Understanding the Command: A Word Study on Loving God

A deeper look into the original Hebrew words in Deuteronomy 6:5 reveals the full depth of God’s command:

1. “Love” (אָהַב – ahav)

  • Ahav is more than an emotional feeling—it is a devoted, covenantal love that includes loyalty and action.
  • It is the same kind of love God commands in Deuteronomy 6:5, which Jesus later reaffirms in Matthew 22:37.
  • Loving God is not passive—it is a wholehearted commitment that shapes every thought, decision, and action.

2. “Heart” (לֵבָב – levav)

  • In Hebrew, the heart is not just emotions—it includes the mind, will, and intellect.
  • Loving God with all your heart means surrendering every thought and desire to Him.
  • Scripture commands us: “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)

3. “Soul” (נֶפֶשׁ – nephesh)

  • Nephesh means “life” or “whole being.” It includes emotions, personality, and the very breath of life.
  • Loving God with all your soul means giving Him everything that makes you who you are.
  • “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” – Psalm 103:1 (NASB)

4. “Strength” (מְאֹד – me’od)

  • Me’od doesn’t just mean physical strength—it means “muchness,” intensity, and everything that you are.
  • It is a call to love God with all your energy, resources, time, and ability.
  • This is the kind of devotion seen in Luke 9:23, where Jesus says: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Bringing It All Together: A Call to Total Devotion

Loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength is not optional—it is a command. It is a love that consumes everything in you.

This is the love Jesus demonstrated when He laid down His life for you. This is the love the Holy Spirit ignites when you surrender to Him.

God has given everything for you. Will you hold anything back?

A Prayer of Total Surrender

Holy Spirit, search me and expose every place where my love is divided. Let me not be deaf to Your voice or resistant to Your transforming power. Fill me, consume me, and make me wholly devoted to the One who alone is worthy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

See Also

Faith, Spiritual

Come Higher: Lay It All Down Before the Lord

{Day Six}

Beloved, do not be deceived—there is always more of God to be found. Have you tasted the sweetness of His presence, only to realize how little you have truly known Him? Has the fire of His revelation burned away the illusions of your past faith, leaving you undone? Do not shrink back. This is His mercy drawing you deeper. Remember, there is always a chance for more of God no matter the cost.

Many say they know Him, yet they walk in shadows, content with a dim reflection of His glory. But you—He is calling you higher. He is shaking the very ground beneath you, removing what can be shaken, so that only He remains. Will you resist Him? Will you cling to the old, lifeless things He is tearing away? Or will you fall before Him and say, Take it all, Lord—only give me more of You!

The Fire of His Presence Demands Everything

Isaiah saw Him and cried out, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). Moses trembled before Him and removed his sandals (Exodus 3:5). Peter fell at Yeshua’s feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord!” (Luke 5:8).

What will you do when the weight of His glory comes upon you? Will you shrink back in fear, or will you press in, crying, “Burn away every impurity, Lord—only let me know You!” This is the journey of seeking more of God no matter the cost.

The Spirit is calling, but the cost is high. You cannot hold onto your comfort, your pride, your reputation, your control. He is asking for your entire life. Nothing less. All that you are, laid at His feet.

“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23 NASB)

Many have stopped at salvation, satisfied that they have escaped hell. But there is more, far more. Yeshua did not die merely to rescue you from destruction—He died to bring you into the fullness of Himself. His cross was not the end of your journey but the beginning. Will you press on, or will you settle for less? Choose to seek more of God no matter the cost.

Break the Illusions—Come Into the Light

You thought you knew Him before. Perhaps you did. But now you see—there is an ocean of glory you have yet to dive into. Every revelation, every breaking, every fire He allows is an invitation: Come closer. See more. Be transformed.

Paul, a man who saw the risen Lord, who was caught up into the third heaven, who performed mighty signs and wonders, still cried out:

“I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Yeshua my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NASB)

Are you willing to count all things as loss? Your past experiences, your reputation, your plans—will you lay them down, if only to have more of Him? This is the path of desiring more of God no matter the cost.

The lukewarm will not see His face. The comfortable will not taste the depths of His presence. But to the hungry, to the desperate, to those who cry out, “More of You, Lord!”—He will reveal Himself.

Will You Answer His Call?

This moment is holy. He is drawing you now. You feel the stirring, the weight of His voice calling you out of shallow waters. Will you listen? Will you follow?

Do not delay. Do not harden your heart. Lay everything down and run after Him. He is waiting to fill you with more of Himself than you ever thought possible. Truly, you can have more of God no matter the cost.

A Prayer of Surrender

Father, I hear You calling, and I will not turn away. I lay my life at Your feet—every dream, every plan, every comfort. Burn away everything that is not of You. Take me deeper. Open my eyes. Break me if You must, but do not let me remain as I am. I want You, Lord—more of You, no matter the cost. I give You my whole heart. In Yeshua’s name, amen.

See Also