Joyful music is wonderful but true Godly sorrow is transformational. And we need both in the House of God.

Not long ago, our precious Border Collie, Bear, was hit by a truck in our cul-de-sac and his leg was so badly damaged we were forced to amputate. It was only the second week at a brand-new school for my then eleven-year-old, and I knew it would be better for Selah to be in school while we had Bear at the vet hospital. That morning, rather than having her take the bus, we drove the backroads of Kentucky together in silence, her sitting in the front seat. Her little hands were perfectly clasped in her lap as she gazed out the window, her eyes full of tears threatening to fall at any moment.

I grabbed her hand and started thanking God for the gift that Bear was to our family and how God used him to bring us joy and protection and laughter. Right there in our little Toyota SUV, God met my daughter and me in a time of thanksgiving and lament, because God meets us in both expressions of worship. We don’t have to gaslight ourselves into believing everything is always good all the time. Our children need to see us wrestling with God in situations that feel unfair and unkind. They need to hear us praying, weeping, rejoicing, and worshiping in freedom, not fearing what people will think.

In Acts 16:25 we see Paul and Silas sitting in their prison cell and we’re told, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” 

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with nighttime. During the day I am busy and my thoughts are on the many tasks in front of me, but as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m a prisoner to regret, fear, and insecurity. As someone who has struggled with anxiety, the midnight hour can be filled with Googling mysterious symptoms ailing my body, rethinking old conversations and scenarios, and waking up to every creak in the house as I beg sleep to find me.

Paul and Silas were in their own literal midnight hour, but rather than worry and focus on their circumstances, they began to pray and worship, and it says in the scriptures that the “other prisoners were listening.” (v25)

What should we take away from this?

Those in bondage to this world are watching us as Christ followers to see how we will respond to the midnight hour.

The cancer diagnosis.

The divorce.

Our prodigal.

The loss of a child.

A season of unemployment.

Financial struggles.

Will we worry or will we worship?

There are sounds we can’t un-hear. For me as a church kid, it was the wailing of saints in the pews begging God to bring home their prodigal. It was praying in living rooms for God to restore a marriage. It was the silent sobs of a mother in her birthing room asking for a miracle. It’s a groan like no other. It’s animalistic, primal, raw, a sound I could identify without looking up.

Because sometimes worship and wailing sound the same but I learned they come from two different places. One from what God has already done and the other from a deep hope of what we long for Him to do.

I remember the first time I distinguished the difference between someone worshiping from a place of gratitude and worshiping from a place of deep sorrow because it woke me up. Yes, joyful music is wonderful but true Godly sorrow is transformational. And we need both in the House of God. Both have changed me.

From far away one might not be able to tell the worship from the wailing, but it reaches the throne of Heaven equally. It’s a sound I’ll never forget. It’s a sound that kept drawing me back into the House of God and into the homes of the saints and it’s possible this sound led me into an early ministry of worship leadership. I got to be part of both the celebration and the transformation, in the lives of the congregation as well as my own.

Holy lament is a song few want to sing, but it’s our worship penned in the dark night of the soul that writes a mournful melody in a minor key. We’re singing over those who have lost, wrestling with anger, contending for peace, waiting for answers, grieving, weeping, suffering.

When the Church worships, lives are changed. We don’t worship because we got the outcome we wanted, the test results we prayed for, or the miracle we felt we were promised, but because God promises that when we worship and pray, he will be among us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and unity.

May we be a people who worship and wail, shouting His salvation and mourning with sweet brokenness His amazing grace.

—

Excerpted from The House That Jesus Built: Leading Our Churches Back to God’s Original Blueprint © 2024 Natalie Runion. Used by permission of David C Cook.  May not be further reproduced.  All rights reserved.

The post Sometimes Worship and Wailing Sound the Same first appeared on Live Original.

In order to win spiritual battles, the first thing you have to know is what you’re wrestling with.

Sit with this list a moment: rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heaven lies.

These battles are not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces. Understanding this is critical.

We are facing a battle that goes beyond our human capacity, and it demands spiritual weapons.

Today, a spiritual battle rages around us. The concept of womanhood is under attack from all sides—culturally, socially, and spiritually. As daughters of God, we stand at a crossroads. Will we sit on the sidelines and watch as our identity is eroded, or will we rise up, reclaim our divine identity, and engage in this fight? It’s a choice we must make, and it requires both courage and faith.

Women are increasingly being marginalized, silenced, and objectified. Dark forces are at work to undermine the God-given identity of women, attacking the safety of our children, the health of our marriages, and the stability of our families. These forces aim to destroy what God has declared good. This is not just a cultural battle—it’s a spiritual one. And it’s far too great for us to fight in our human strength. We need divine intervention.

The fight to reclaim what it means to be made in the image of God, particularly as women, requires Heaven’s involvement.

This battle is not just a social issue—it’s a spiritual one, and that principle applies to every spiritual battle we face. Whether fighting for our identity, our marriages, or our children, we must recognize that the root of the conflict is spiritual.

So, what do we do? The first step is to invite God into the battle. We have spiritual authority only when we are under His authority. This is a key truth. We don’t fight in our own name or strength but in the name of Jesus. Through Him, we engage our battles with Heaven’s strategy—and this is where we experience victory.

Our battles are won when we wrestle first in prayer. Prayer is our most powerful weapon because it invites God’s power, wisdom, and strategy into our situation. When we pray, we acknowledge our own limitations and invite God’s strength to take over. He steps in when we surrender to Him, and that’s where victory is found.

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (NLT). The key here is God’s mighty power working in us. Victory doesn’t come from our own strength or wisdom, but from God working through us.

No matter who we are or what we face, submission to God is the key to winning spiritual battles. David modeled this repeatedly throughout his life. Though a skilled warrior, he always sought God’s counsel before engaging in battle. He knew that victory depended on God’s direction, not just his own abilities.

Our warfare requires God’s grace and guidance. Though it may seem counterintuitive, overcoming spiritual battles begins with surrender. It’s not about fighting harder; it’s about yielding more fully to God. When we surrender, we exchange our weakness for His strength, our confusion for His wisdom, and our plans for His strategy.

James 4:6–7 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” First, we submit to God, then resist the devil, and the enemy flees. Submission is not weakness—it is the pathway to divine strength.

When we submit, pray, and obey God’s Spirit, His kingdom authority comes to bear on our challenges. We are no longer fighting in our own limited capacity; we’re backed by Heaven’s resources. Surrender places us under God’s authority, where His protection and power flow into our lives.

I encourage you today to lift up your heart in surrender to your Heavenly Father. Lay down your fears, your plans, and your worries. Trust that through Christ, you will have victory over every demonic attack. It may not happen immediately or look the way you expect, but when you invite God into your battle, you position yourself for divine victory.

Spiritual battles are real, but so much greater is the power of God. When we surrender, pray in faith, and stand firm in His authority, we will see the enemy defeated. Victory has already been won through Jesus Christ—our role is to step into it through obedience and surrender. Rise up, daughter. Your victory is assured.

Lisa Bevere is an internationally known speaker, a New York Times bestselling author, and host of The Fight for Female podcast. Lisa has been married to her husband, John, for over forty years, and together they have four sons and nine grandchildren. You can connect with Lisa on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and LisaBevere.com

The post The Key to Overcoming Every Spiritual Battle first appeared on Live Original.

Oftentimes when you want to be something or do something, you have a role model or mentor. Someone who has already become a so-called “expert” in the subject you are trying to master. You watch this person closely and hang onto their every word in hopes to find some bit of the map to your desired destination. Piece by piece, word by word, story by story you’re closer to unveiling how to accomplish this ambition. Your mind begins to expand and your heart smiles as this goal of yours is slowly becoming a reality.

Our first thought for someone who is an “expert” on strength is probably someone with immense physical strength. Like Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, a man of enormous size and physical capabilities. His physical strength was so monstrous that he terrified an entire army and kept them from battle. Yes, an entire army. And if I’m honest, this will never be my kind of strength. I am 5’7. Paralyzing an army from my sheer physical strength and stature is not in the cards for me.

The kind of strength I desire is not this physical strength demonstrated by Goliath or what we typically think of described in the first definition of strong: “having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.”^[1]

The kind of strength I desire is that of David in the Goliath story. He exemplified the second more encompassing and true definition of strength that I believe is far more valuable than just the physical, to be “able to withstand great force or pressure.” ^[2]

When every soldier in the entire army trembled in fear at Goliath’s physical strength, David revealed what it means to be truly strong. He had every pressure to back down from battle but he withstood.

Fully aware that he was just a shepherd and not a soldier, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

Fully aware that Goliath was a GIANT, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

Fully aware of the warnings of fellow soldiers that he was not capable of winning, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

When I read this story, I couldn’t help but wonder how David was able to withstand. How could David be so strong when everything in this world points to just giving in?

It actually took me flying 23 hours across the country, passing out in freezing weather, and climbing the tallest free standing mountain in the world to figure this one out. So I pray and hope this streamlines your process a bit.

The 23 hour flight was to Tanzania. Tanzania is home to a 19,341 foot Goliath of a mountain called Mount Kilimanjaro. I had the incredible opportunity to hike this mountain this summer to raise awareness and funds for Compassion International, an organization committed to freeing children from poverty in Jesus’s name. And that mountain is home to the freezing weather I mentioned a bit ago. For 6 days, this mountain was my home as well.

We ate on this mountain, talked on this mountain, laughed on this mountain, slept on this mountain, and yes…. went to the bathroom on this mountain. But more importantly, we hiked on this mountain.. for hours and hours. The first four days were honestly bliss. All my months of training for this trek had paid off. On the fourth night you wake up at midnight to climb the remaining 4000 feet to the top of the mountain. You eat breakfast in the pitch black with only stars and the moon illuminating the sky and begin your summit to the top.

Staring up at the stars, in the 9 degree weather, I looked up to the heavens and told God “this is one of the best days of my life”. I danced for the next 2-3 hours as I walked step by step up the mountain until something funny happened. I began to feel lightheaded. And then I would pass out. As I am climbing up rocks and in the snow, I begin to pass out for 1-2 seconds at a time and catch myself just before I hit the ground with my handy hiking poles.

Long story short, I did this for the next 2 hours of the hike. All my months of training never prepared me for this moment. My physical strength was gone. My mental strength diminished every time I passed out. I was not strong like David. The very real pressures of this circumstance were weighing on me like I had never experienced weight before and I was entirely too weak to withstand.

I started to pray and ask the Lord for strength because I no longer had it. I was absolutely desperate. And in my desperation, the Lord reminded me of the lyrics of the first song I ever sang in Church “I am weak but thou art strong”.

Step by step. I hiked this mountain for 6 more hours singing this song to myself.

“I am weak but thou art strong.”

And step by step. The Lord gave me strength. Strength to withstand the pressures and summit Mount Kilimanjaro.

I realize that this is how David did it. This is how David withstood the pressures and entered battle. This is how David slayed Goliath. This is how David was made strong.

By first recognizing He is weak but thou art strong.

He didn’t have the strength, but He walked with a God that did.

As I have been home I’ve faced days where the pressure feels like it’s coming from every side. And instead of trying to find the courage, I just simply surrender to God and say “I am weak, but thou art strong.” I put God back on the throne of my heart, I make Him the source of my strength, and humble myself that I am not strong.

And then I walk with the one that is. Just like David did. The song I sang on the mountain is actually a hymn called “just a closer walk with Thee”. How beautiful? I don’t have to muster up the strength, I simply need to walk closer to thee.

You don’t have to muster up the strength. Simply surrender. Say “God I am weak, but thou art strong.” And then walk with the one that is.

Remember how earlier I mentioned finding an expert, role model, or mentor? Jesus is that. He is my expert, role model, and mentor. He walked this earth and exemplified to us perfectly how to walk with thee. How to be strong amidst the pressures of this world. And He is so much more. He is the source of this very strength and life I desire.

I’ve learned that if I want to walk with thee, I need to study the one that did so perfectly. And you know what’s beautiful? As I study and read about Jesus’s life, pray, and surrender this crazy thing happens:

Piece by piece, word by word, story by story I’m becoming stronger although I am weak. My mind is expanding and my heart is smiling. Perhaps even doing a dance. And this goal of being strong, through Jesus has become a reality.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

And through Christ, it can be your reality too.

Maia Mae Huff is passionate about spreading love, truth, and light to all people. Whether that be through phone calls with a friend, her In This Together podcast, speaking, or any way that God leads.

Keep up with Maia Mae Huff on Instagram @maiamaehuff

The post I Am Weak, but Thou’ Art Strong first appeared on Live Original.

Those who practice the presence of God have learned to build “bell towers” in the center of their daily life. Certain tasks, moments, people, and even landmarks serve as “bells” throughout their day to prompt them to stop and pray, lift up a praise, or whisper a prayer to the God of heaven.

In the prayer lives of the leaders we interviewed there were many different kinds of bells prompting these leaders to return to Jesus, but some of the more common prompts were meals,  meetings, moods, and moments.

Meals

In the same way that Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed at meals, all the leaders with whom we spoke use meals as a prayer prompt.

Meetings 

We’ve seen many ministries that pray before meetings. This is quite common. But our interviewees tended to also pray during meetings, pausing to listen to God when they lacked clarity or needed wisdom. Mark Zhou, who is the second-generation leader of a major church planting movement in China, said:  When we start a meeting, it’s so natural. You start with prayer. As the meeting progresses, we’ll say, “Let’s pause a little bit to experience another perspective. Let’s pray in the middle of meetings and see if the Lord’s given the favor to do [the thing you’re discussing].”  People will experience that and say, “There’s definitely a change.”¹⁴ The reason for integrating prayer during meetings is clear: The Spirit exists, the Spirit speaks in ways we can understand, and God has insight into the situations addressed in our meetings that we do not. For Mark and many other praying leaders, it would be unsettling and unusual to not address the smartest, wisest One in the room.

Moods 

Feeling a big or deep emotion is a prayer prompt, both for praying leaders and in Scripture. Here’s a partial list of the moods that Scripture identifies as prayer prompts: 

■  In trouble (James 5:13) 

■  Happy (James 5:13) 

■  Sick (James 5:14) 

■  Stuck in sin (James 5:16) 

■  Concerned about politics (1 Timothy 2:1–2) 

■  Anxious (Philippians 4:6-7) 

■  Mistreated (Luke 6:28) 

■  Facing persecution (Matthew 5:44) 

■  Unsure what to say (Romans 8:26)

Mark Zhou acknowledged that it isn’t just good things that should prompt us to prayer: 

I learned that part of our prayer is to talk to God about our disappointment. Lord, why? Lord, I put my trust in You. But then, through brokenness, I learn a new perspective. God brings us into  alignment with Him.

The apostle Paul makes a similar point in Philippians 4:6 when he says, “In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (emphasis added). Prayer and petition. Why did Paul use two words here? In Greek, the word for “petition” is what we often think of as “prayer”: asking for things. When we run through our “prayer list,” those are petitions. The other word here is actually the more common Greek word for prayer, proseuchomai, which has two parts: Prós means exchange. It’s a market place word, like trading money for chickens. The second part, euxomai, means “to wish.” Prayer is an exchange of wishes.¹⁵ 

We hear it in Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). God, here’s what I want, but what do You want? The most common word for “pray” in the New Testament isn’t about prayer lists and endless requests. The truer, deeper concept is “trade my wishes for God’s wishes.” Regardless of our mood or how we might be feeling, we are invited to exchange wishes with God in prayer.

Moments 

A prompt that has deeply affected me (Ryan) personally is merely seeing strangers in crowds. When I’m in a line, I’ll pray for those in front of and behind me. In an airport, I’ll pray for whoever is around me. I’ll pray silently for my Uber driver. I’ll pray for people around me on the street. And sometimes I’ll practice just listening to see if the Holy Spirit shares with me something specific to pray for these strangers.  Commuting, waiting in line, and walking down the street are all opportunities to pray for others. Sometimes I’m deeply moved to love those around me, but most times it helps change my mood from annoyed to a bit less annoyed and more loving .. . and more connected to Jesus.

Leaders use particular moments to prompt themselves to pray: like hiring a new team member or making a major financial decision. One leader shared, “I wouldn’t make any decision without prayer. When in a meeting, I ask God to guide me. When you’re doing the right thing, your heart is light, not heavy and slimy.”

Another leader, when writing his task list, begins each line with “BILJ,” as a reminder that everything he does is “Because I Love Jesus.” One leader of a Canadian petrochemical company explains that he’s praying on a minute-to-minute basis. “ ‘Father, what do You think? Father, what do You want?’ That sensitivity to the Spirit is so central for me.”

Staying in tune with the Spirit is often not about doing different things but just doing them with God. Brother Lawrence wrote that becoming more like God “did not depend upon changing our works,   but in doing that for God’s sake, which we commonly do for our own.”¹⁶

One-Sentence Prayers 

One of the most famous examples of the power of a few brief words comes from the Hemingway Challenge. Ernest Hemingway, the groundbreaking twentieth-century author, was known for packing intense meaning into tight, punchy language. According to literary legend, Hemingway once bragged to a group of fellow authors that he could write a story in just six words. They reflexively balked. Then Hemingway uttered the words: “Baby shoes. For sale. Never used.” The group was awed by this six-word story that evoked incredible emotion.

If a six-word story can pack such power, imagine the power of a similarly brief prayer. One-sentence prayers help us practice the presence of God amid busy days, in the middle of meetings, or absolutely anywhere we find ourselves. Brief prayers may seem trivial, but research and practice show that a single sentence can reorient our mind, will, and emotions, pointing them back to Jesus.¹⁷

The leader Nehemiah offers a biblical example of a one-sentence prayer. He was far from his Jewish homeland, working as cupbearer to the Persian king, when word reached him that Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down and its gates burned, leaving his cherished city defenseless.  He wrote that he “quickly prayed to the God of heaven” in the seconds before answering an important question posed by the king (Nehemiah 2:4 NET). We imagine this wasn’t the time for verbosity, yet the prayer was noteworthy to Nehemiah, and out of that moment with God flowed the conviction and courage Nehemiah needed to make a bold request to return to and restore the city.

Again and again, Jesus Himself changed lives and history through a single sentence: 

■  “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). 

■  “Father. ..not my will, but yours” (Luke 22:42). 

■  “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43) 

attribute ■  “Be healed!” (Luke 5:13 NLT) 

■  “Come out of him!” (Luke 4:35) 

■  “Little girl .. . get up!” (Mark 5:41)

One-sentence prayers drawn from a deeply rooted relationship with God carry the power and grace of heaven. 

Looking for help in their own leadership, Skoog, Greer, and Doolittle spent three years researching and logged over one hundred hours of interviews with leaders in six continents who collectively serve in over one hundred countries. They researched or spoke with global entrepreneurs and business executives as well as some of the most influential pastors and ministry leaders in the world—leaders such as Joni Eareckson Tada, Francis Chan, John Mark Comer, Christine Caine, David Green, Mark Batterson among many more. Check out their book Lead With Prayer here to be encouraged!

The post Ringing Reminders to Pray first appeared on Live Original.

I have to admit I’m sometimes scared to pray boldly.

It’s not at all that I don’t believe God can do anything. I absolutely do. I’m a “wild about Jesus” kind of girl. Wild in my willingness. Wild in my obedience. Wild in my adventures with God.

So, my hesitation isn’t rooted in any kind of doubt about God.

It’s more rooted in a doubt about myself and my ability to absolutely discern the will of God. The reality is sometimes God chooses not to do things. And if His will is no, while I am boldly praying for a yes, it makes me feel out of step with God.

Can you relate?

I so desperately want to stay in the will of God that I find myself praying with clauses sometimes. Like, “God please heal my friend but if it’s Your will to take her, I will trust You.” I wonder why I don’t just boldly pray, “God, please heal my friend.” And then stand confidently that my prayers were not in vain no matter what the outcome.

The reality is, praying boldly boots me out of a stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself.

Prayer opens my spiritual eyes to see things I can’t see on my own. And I am convinced prayer matters. Prayers are “powerful and effective” if prayed from the position of a righteous heart, like James 5:16 says.

So, prayer does make a difference – a life-changing, mind-blowing, earth-rattling difference. We don’t need to know how. We don’t need to know when. We just need to kneel confidently and know that our simple, short prayers extend far wide and far high and far deep.

In case you’ve been wrestling through some unanswered prayers recently, lean in here: Keep pressing into God. Keep praying. Don’t pull away. He isn’t ignoring you; He is listening. He loves you too much to answer your prayers at any other time than the right time and in any other way than the right way.

Letting that truth slosh over into my soul, snuffs out the flickers of hesitation. It bends my stiff knees. And it ignites a fresh, bold wildfire within me. Not bold as in bossy and demanding. But bold as in I love Jesus with all my heart, so I want to show up and try again. Pray again. Ask again.

Look at these words from Jesus:

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him,” (Matthew 6:6-8, NIV).

Friend, what do you need to pray boldly about today? Don’t listen to fear – go ahead and ask. And ask again. Not so that we can cause God to move, rather so that we can position our souls to be able to see Jesus move in any which way He pleases.

Dear Lord, I believe that You are the giver of life and Lord over all things. Thank You for providing me with exactly what I need, even though it isn’t always what I may want. I trust that You have my best interest in mind today. I need You Lord. Show me Your way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If we’re honest, when we’re already in a difficult season, connecting with God through praying and reading our Bibles can feel overwhelming. Lysa TerKeurst understands this struggle and has teamed up with other authors at Proverbs 31 Ministries to bring you a new devotional, Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry. Written by busy women for busy women, this devotional is filled with 50 encouraging devotions, scripture verses and guided prayers, making it easier than ever for you to simply show up and spend time with God at the end of your day. Order your copy today!

The post When You’re Scared to Pray Boldly first appeared on Live Original.

One crisp, cool October afternoon, I was getting home from a doctor’s appointment. Within a matter of seconds, after I had entered the house, I was upstairs in my closet crying. You know those deep sobs where you can hardly cry because you are so upset? I had hit my third season in a row as an elite runner with a new injury nagging me and was seeing many doctors a week to try and get to the bottom of health issues. My body was failing me, so I felt like a failure even though I was working harder than I ever had to try and get healthy and happy again. It felt like all of my dreams for the future and running and who I thought I was were crashing to the ground.

I sat in the closet crying, asking God to explain, just wanting to go back to the way my life was before. My dad heard me from downstairs. Shortly after, there was a soft tap, tap on my bedroom door. I got up to answer, and as soon as I saw my dad’s face, I burst into another fit of tears. I could see the empathy he felt in his eyes. He came and sat with me in my closet and let me have a good, long cry. “Why me?” I asked him. “Why do I have to go through this when none of my friends do?” Have you been there? Wishing for another story? My dad held me and rubbed my back as he answered in a slow, apologetic voice, almost on the edge of tears himself. He told me he did not know why I had to go through this.

Then he began to slowly unpack the story of Lazarus in the Bible to me. He said, “I don’t know why, but this is what God does to his friends, all throughout the Bible he does this to his closest friends.” This past fall I spoke at a small women’s conference about the story of Lazarus. I encouraged them to see Jesus’ empathy for Lazarus as an example of how He cares for us in the pain we face in life. I want to be clear here that I do not mean God wishes evil upon us. I believe that whatever pain we walk through in life God is able to use. Before speaking at this women’s event, I reread the passages in John 11-12 over and over to study exactly what Jesus did in this story of Lazarus. I wanted to make sure I said everything in the right context. I wanted to truly share the heart of God with these women through this moving story. About the third time reading through it I remember being so powerfully moved by these four verses, 32 “Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ 35 Jesus wept.” (John 11:32-35 ESV).

Now, in the previous passages John talks about when Jesus first got news that Lazarus was sick. He waited two days before going to Judea to see him. It also states that Jesus was very good friends with Lazarus and his sisters. Mary and Martha are two very significant people in the Bible and love the Lord intimately just as He loves them. Imagine knowing you had the power to help a close friend or relative who was on death’s doorstep, and you had to let them pass and wait two days before going to check on their family. I think the most significant verse in this story is verse 35, the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept.”

Now, you might think, yes, it was His best friend, of course He cried. But, to me the crazy beautiful part of Jesus being moved by Mary and Martha’s tears, being “deeply moved” as it says, is that He knew He was about to go raise Lazarus from the dead. He had been dead four days and Jesus knew He had the power to heal him and had told his disciples verses before this, 11 “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” He knew what He came to Judea to do. He could have come in dancing and praising and joyful for He knew He was about to bring glory to God. Friend, God loves you, with a capital L. However, sometimes things in our life must die before He can raise up something beautiful. When things in our life die, our most helpful response is, “Lord, come.” We must ask Him to come and be with us in the broken we do not understand. If you just started reading because you saw this linked on Instagram or popped up randomly for you and you are not sure if it is for you, maybe reading this story about Lazarus reminded you a bit of your own story? I encourage you to keep reading! Do not become bitter to your pain. Know that we serve a God who knows the plan. Know that we serve a God who does allow Lazarus to die, but not a God who does not have a backup plan for greater glory. Do not miss out on the story God is writing. There is a reason for your broken dreams. Something beautiful getting broken can lead to something even better. We can surrender our broken in order to allow God to do His better. We can work with God and allow Him to take us from our lowest, to and for His highest.

Instead of coming in dancing and praising to the mourning family, Jesus hurts with them, He physically weeps with them. And then He says, “Show me the tomb.” After Lazarus is raised, much glory is brought to God, and many believe. The pain of Lazarus and his family was intense. There was death and there were tears. Jesus hates to see us hurt but He loves us so much that He feels the pain with and for us. How significant a love our father has that He does not simply show up celebrating when He knows the end of the story. He knows the final outcome is good, but He still holds us and allows us to lean back against his chest and feel his heartbeat for us. He is a good father who knows how to love his children better than anyone.

My husband and I used to read the Narnia series to each other anytime we were on a long road trip or getting ready to go to bed. We try to read aloud instead of being on our phones all the time. We were reading The Magician’s Nephew, the first of the series by C.S. Lewis. If you have not read Narnia, I will give you a little context. In the series Aslan represents God and He is a lion. The Magician’s Nephew is the first book and is a parallel to the creation story in the Bible. Digory, the main character, a child, has a very sick mother. He is realizing Aslan might heal her as he gets to know how powerful and kind Aslan is. I couldn’t hold back my tears when I read the following passage aloud, “‘But please, please – won’t you – can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?’ Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his mother than he was himself.”1

I don’t claim to know why God does what he does and allows certain things to happen to us, but the truth is his “best friends,” those who have enviable intimacy with Him almost always have hard stories because that’s how that intimacy grows. We do not have to know why He allows us to break, we just must know He does not leave us that way. We draw closer to God by fighting battles with Him and for Him. The circumstances of this life cannot be what defines my joy (or yours). Running fast/being injury free was not my purpose. And God was using every “closet moment” with Him to develop a sense of identity, purpose, and love for Him far beyond what I already had. Every time we look into God’s eyes just as Mary did after her brother Lazarus died, just like Digory did when he thought about his mother dying and being sick, we get to see His character. And His character is love. His character is empathy, His character is good. He cares for you.

“God, thank you that you love us, with a capital L. Thank you that sometimes, things in our lives have to die before you raise up something beautiful. In the midst of the hard of this life we say, “Lord, come.” We ask you to come and be with us in the midst of the broken we cannot understand.”

Blessings,

Kat Shultis

For Deeper Study:

1. For a practical guide on how to grow in trusting God, grab a copy of Kat’s book, My Lowest For His Highest 2. Another great resource on this topic is, Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard

3. Psalms 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (NIV)

1 The Chronicles Of Narnia. The Magicians Nephew. C.S. Lewis. Copyright 1982. HarperCollins. Page 83.

The post Jesus Weeps with You first appeared on Live Original.

His question caused me to reflect on where we go to for help when we are in crisis. Where do we turn when we exhaust the resources of our own self-reliance and can no longer be our own ‘ambulance driver?’ We know that we are called to prayer, but is it the first place we reach for help?

Often, our desire to pray is directly proportional to our sense of need. A friend of mine, who was an atheist, found herself praying in the midst of a near-fatal car accident. Her response showed me that even those who don’t believe in God find themselves in prayer in moments of extreme crisis. It’s desperation that ignites our urge to pray. A part of our human nature compels us to reach out for a strength beyond our own when we’re finally face to face with our own human limits. In such critical moments, prayer becomes an act of surrender, an acknowledgment of the hope that perhaps God is the source of our rescue and the one who can protect us.

Initially, we might try to mend our wounds or solve our problem by ourselves, seeking to bandage them up with online shopping, more alone time, or a weekend away. Depending on the problem, if that doesn’t remedy the situation, we might seek a primary care physician, turn to self-help books, or a friend’s advice. If the severity escalates, we may turn to the E.R. doctor or a counselor; someone who we really think can fix the problem. But often, it is only when faced with a life-threatening situation, something we can’t easily fix, or when all hope seems lost, that we turn to prayer to ask God for help. And in that moment, we come to the end of ourselves and acknowledge our own fragility, asking the mighty God of the universe to step in to save us, our one true ambulance driver.

The beauty of prayer is that it’s a place to acknowledge our own limitations and frailty and to seek God’s help and protection. We don’t have to tough it out or act like we have it all together. We are like plants in a field, sometimes fruitful and growing, but then suddenly we find ourselves at the mercy of grazing animals. We find ourselves defenseless to protect ourselves from a world that often doesn’t play by God’s rules. As our fragile leaves become the food of deer and rabbits, we also recognize our vulnerability to life’s metaphorical food chain through prayer. Recognizing that we are actually in need of God every day, prayer is an admission of our defenseless state, a request for His protection and ultimately a trusted place where we build an intimate connection with the truest of friends, Jesus. I used to watch the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” where the contestant had a series of four multiple choice questions to choose from. If they answered the question correctly, they got a prize of money. But, at times, the contestant was stuck, unable to answer the question. At this, they were given the option to request a lifeline. The lifeline allowed contestants to call a pre-selected friend, relative, or acquaintance when they were unsure of an answer to a question. The friend was at home waiting, available to take the call. The friend was then given the current question wherein they would give their answer in a limited timeframe. We often view prayer in much the same way. If we get desperate enough, if we finally come to the end of our own answers, we’ll reach out and “call a friend,’ God.

But, what if we viewed prayer differently as a place to develop an intimate friendship with the God of the universe as opposed to someone we called upon only when we got desperate enough to need Him? Don’t let prayer become your phone-a-friend, only calling God when you’re really stuck or in need of wisdom. God knows we need prayer and He instructs us to pray at all times, pray until you die, and to pray and never give up. Pray at all times: As scriptures say, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Pray all the time: And also as scripture says, “pray as long as you have breath. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2) And never give up: And also as scripture says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (Luke 18:1)

From the surface, prayer may not appear “productive’” and yet we might be shocked if we knew how prayer enacts real change in the Kingdom. Prayer cannot be measured or quantified, but I can only imagine the saints who had no book deal, Instagram platform, or accolades who committed their lives to prioritizing prayer—it was in conversing with God that so much was accomplished on behalf of their prayers. I’m reminded of Jesus days. He had ended His time of active ministry on earth, He had stopped healing the sick, performing miracles, and preaching, but He still prayed. And within that prayer (John 17), He interceded on behalf of you and me. He prayed for the glory of the Father to be revealed, He prayed for unity among the body of believers, and He prayed that we would experience our Father’s love.

God has entrusted us with a powerful weapon to combat the forces of darkness: prayer. Through prayer, we ask that the power of Christ shake the ground around our circumstances or our friend’s circumstances by praying and agreeing with God’s Word. When believers collectively pray scriptures, it fosters unity. They are essentially coming together under the authority and guidance of God’s Word. May you and I remember the importance of prayer in all things, and urge each other onward in the practice of prayer. Knowing that in all things, prayer makes us even more aware of God’s presence in our midst.

Mikella Van Dyke is a wife, mother and the Founder of Chasing Sacred, ministry that provides resources to help women study the Bible and grow closer to God. What began as a devotional blog became an organization with a team of writers who produce theologically rich Bible Study resources. As she studied for her MA in practical theology at Regent University, she fell deeply in love with the process of hermeneutics and wanted to spread her knowledge and love of the Word to others. She also serves at her local church, Hope Fellowship in Jaffrey, NH where she co-leads women’s Bible study.

Keep up with her on Instagram @mikellavandyke

The post Prayer: The Opportunity to Call a Friend first appeared on Live Original.

While there, my team and I got to be a part of a church dedication. We were on the tallest mountain in Thailand, in a village the furthest away from civilization called the Huey Wai Village. While here, we got to witness the dedication of a church that was built by the generous funds raised by people affiliated with the group we went with, Far Flung Tin Can.

The village was packed with people in their traditional outfits. They were with friends, family, and even people from other villages that traveled in to celebrate this day.

I got to witness people from a different culture, desperate for just a glimpse of the Gospel.

This taught me a lot and I would love to share those lessons with you!

1. We overcomplicate the Gospel so much.

At this church dedication, it was so simple.

There were no fog machines, “welcome home” signs, or loud music.

It was just the people coming together with a genuine love and desire for the Lord.

It was so pure, so rich, and so evident in this room. I have never experienced something so sweet.

This is the blueprint. If we think about it, this was the example the first church set for us. It was people coming together desperate for the Gospel, worshipping and fellowshipping as one body of Christ despite language barriers or cultures.

Further than that, they were only concerned about Jesus.

Often times, we get caught up in all the theatrics of what we think makes church, church. And lose sight of what our relationship with the Father is designed to look like.

Jesus just wants your heart, friend.

In Matthew 6:33-34 it says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

All we have to do is keep our eyes on things above, seek first HIS kingdom, and HIS righteousness and everything else will fall into place!

The only thing that matters in this life, and I mean the ONLY thing that truly matters, is your relationship with Christ.

We do not have to overcomplicate our relationships, friendships, and community.

We do not have to overcomplicate our calling, jobs, and passions.

We do not have to overcomplicate our prayers, sermons, or platforms.

Jesus simply wants your heart – your heart humbly, desperately seeking HIM first.

2. The great commission is to all of us, not just missionaries.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

As followers of Christ, we each have the command on our life to, “GO!”

Now, my “GO” might look different from yours. We all have different callings on our life, different passions, and careers to pursue. The Lord has given us our own personal vocation to step into, so that we can live out the great commission within that.

That starts with a heart posture to “GO” and a mindset to seek spreading the Gospel no matter where you are. To start each day praying for moments to witness to others and to be to be constantly searching for opportunities to share the Good News.

By doing this you can…

GO on your campus.

GO at your local coffee shop.

GO within your family.

It does not always look like going into the ends of the earth, but for some of us it will. Sometimes it simply looks like having a renewed mindset to abide by the commandment to “GO” each and every day.

It can also look like giving regularly to your church and devoting your prayers to the unreached (we will touch more on that in a sec!)

The church we got to dedicate was funded by people who gave to their church and supported Far Flung Tin Can.

These people generously gave and did so in faith that their money would go to support a project bigger than themselves. A project for the first ever church built in this village. A village these people have never even been to. They gave in faith that that the Lord would take their funds and turn them into something to greatly impact the kingdom and that would change lives forever – and He did.

We can “GO” with our mindset, heart posture, funds, and prayers.

Give God your “GO” and see what He will do with it!

3. Your prayers can change the World.

I read a quote a few years ago and it said, “If God answered all of your prayers, would it change the world or would it change your world?”

This completely wrecked me and changed the way I prayed for a season. I wish I could say that it changed the way I prayed forever, but to be totally transparent with you, over the years I have resorted back to my selfish prayers.

My prayers look pretty much the same. Praying for the day, the people in my life, and whatever there is to be concerned about.

I want peace, patience, and joy. I want to do well in my classes, know what I am going to do after graduation, and have time to work out. I want to rest, spend time with my family, and get married.

I want, I want, and I want some more…

What would happen if what I wanted went further than what is in reach of me, and my prayers stretched to the ends of the earth?

Do not get me wrong, it is more than ok to pray for personal things. The Lord cares for the desires of our hearts – from the smallest to the biggest of things!

But along with praying for these things…

Let us not neglect the power of prayer.

Let us not put God in a box.

Let us not forget that our prayers truly could change the world.

This was evident in Thailand as I saw prayers being answered by projects fulfilled, ministries growing, and hearts touched by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 11:1 we find the definition of faith which is, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

We have to have faith that prayer is not just words, rather is direct communication to the Father. Our faith is things HOPED for that we cannot see, that has not happened yet, and that we are trusting will come into fruition.

James 2:17 says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Our faith is nothing without works, it is DEAD! How we coincide faith and works is actively devoting ourselves to prayers bigger than ourselves each and every day, HOPING that they will ultimately change the world.

We can begin to pray for unreached people groups, poverty, politics, lost religions, and the oppressed. We can pray for people we do not even know to come to the Lord. Pray for the safety of those on mission overseas. Pray that the Lord blesses our funds to do the unthinkable.

We can “GO!” with our prayers if we just give it all to the Lord!

It really is simple; at the end of the day, He just desires our heart.

Our heart desperate for the Him.

Our heart committed to the great commission.

Our heart devoted to prayers that will change the World.

Thank you, friend, for reading these lessons taken from Thailand!

Hey hey LO fam! My name is Raylee Evans and it is a joy to be here with you! I am a Senior Public Relations major at Lee University, which happens to be right in my hometown, Cleveland, TN! I am the second oldest of six in my family, which makes life so fun – never a dull moment! You can either find me on the pickleball courts, drinking coffee, or planning a last-minute trip. I currently work at Ever After Bridal as a bridal consultant, give campus tours at Lee to upcoming students, and I also have a little photography business on the side as well. I am a multi-passionate gal with a lotta dreams, 27 to be exact! My biggest prayer is that whatever dream I am pursing, that I am spreading His love, His joy, and His truth with everyone I come into contact with. Again, it is a joy to be here so thanks for being apart of one of those 27 dreams!

The post 3 Lessons Taken from Thailand first appeared on Live Original.

PRAYER: What? Why? + Where do I begin? 

Don’t know what to say when you go to pray?

I get it. I’ve been there too.

But really, it’s as simple as can be.

I’ll get you started.

Just say…

“Hi God, it’s Me…”

In a time where we are in need of prayer more than ever… I honestly think we so overcomplicate it.

Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever felt not equipped? Like when you’re asked to pray out loud, or when you tell someone you’re gonna pray for them… but you totally forget, andddd it never happens?

Yeah. I’ve been there too.

As intentional as we are with keeping up with the newest social media trends (like Treads LOL) or making sure we keep our nails filled, our hair touched up, or all caught up with our favorite shows…

We should be all the more intentional with what trullyyy matters most.

Loving God.

And loving His people.

And with Loving God AND people… How can we love someone we don’t even spend time getting to know? We’ve gotta interact with them! We have to know what’s going on in their lives, by sharing what’s going on in ours, alongside knowing what they like, + what they don’t. & this comes from a little time + vulnerability + intentionality!

IF IM HONEST…

Before having a true friendship with the Lord, I only came to God if I was in a pickle, or reallllyyy wanted/needed something.

I never came to just… hangout.

What about you??

Friend, if you grew up in the Church, or even you’re a new believer of Jesus, PRAYER is such a churchy word that is so very commonly thrown around. But have we never stopped to really think about what PRAYER is?

In its simplest form…

Prayer is… a two way conversation between YOU & God.

Where you actively participate in sharing your life with Him while also listening to Him through His Word, and by His Spirit.

Prayer is… a miracle! Where you break through the natural and step into Heavens Hotline, having direct access to The Creator of the universe. Your Heavenly Father.

SoooOoOOo why should we pray?

Let’s be honest. We NEED help. Heaven is home, but here on earth… it’s a little crazy. As we know, allllll sin and fall short of the glory of the Lord, so we making mistakes is a part of the journey. Some mess-ups are private. Some become more public than others. Some are small. And some are way bigger than others. And as we try to navigate this adventure we call, “life” well, we need something greater…SOMEONE greater to help us.

REALITY IS…

We have a Heavenly Hope.

We have someone who understands.

Jesus.

As Jesus walked this earth as our perfect example, showing us that He is the Way the Truth, and the Life, and that no-one can come to the Father except through Him… Jesus displayed His Kingdom here as He walked with His homies, (the disciples!) As they journeyed from town to town—they. saw. it. all. From the blind seeing, to the deaf hearing, to demons being legit cast out, to 5 fish & 2 loaves feeding 5,000 people… they saw what was impossible, become POSSIBLE right before their very eyes because of JESUS.

The Savior of the World. The One who walked with them, talked with them, taught them… but also then hung on a cross for them, and rose three days later.

Oopppps, I hope I didn’t spoil the story for ya (LOL!)

We serve this Risen Savior!

BUT! Out of ALLLL the incredible things He did while on earth, there was only ONE THING the disciples actually asked Jesus to teach them…

Nope, it wasn’t to do a miracle, or multiply food.

The disciples actually wanted Jesus to teach them HOW to pray.

In Luke 11:1-2 we read about this…

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come…”

I love that it doesn’t say IF.

Not, “if you pray”

But WHEN.

As God’s girls, we SHOULD be praying. We SHOULD be talking to God to strengthen this friendship with Him!!

SISTERS + FRIENDS.

When I got real with God, He got real with me.

And I hate to say that it had to get to this point… but something happened to a friend.

When I was in college, one of my besties told me she had gotten taken advantage of at a party. I was devastated. As we sat on the couch, I froze. I didn’t know what to say, or do.

At this point in my walk with Jesus, I didn’t even feel confident enough to pray out loud over someone, so… I just gave her a big hug.

As I made my way from the living room back into my little shoe box of an apartment, I remembered a movie I had recently seen. Maybe you’ve seen it. It’s called, “War Room”. It’s about how a prayer strategy saved a hurting family. This precious older woman faithfully prayed in her closet. Up until this point in my life, I did NOTTTT have a walk in closet. But here, in this tiny apartment, I did.

Somehow my feet made their way into the closet, and I shut the door. And I sat. & ever so brokenly, I called upon the Father with such honesty. I was so sad I couldn’t really do anything to fix this situation. I needed someone higher. I needed Him. I needed Heaven. I needed God. So I wrote a prayer out for this friend on a notecard, and then I stuck it on the wall. Then after my sleeves dried my tears, I got up.

And everyday since then, I have prayed in my closet.

I’m no longer in college, nor living in that apartment, but praying in brokenness on the behalf of another believer built my relationship with Jesus deeper.

I pray our hearts would be broken and built by what breaks & pleases His.

And we find out what He loves and what He doesn’t through spending time with Him in His word, and in hanging out with Him. HONESTLY coming.

I never thought I’d have the chance to share my very own prayer journey with you. Honestly sis… that wasn’t on my radar. But GOD, am I right?!

I am so excited to share with you my VERY FIRST devotional, “Hi God, it’s Me: 20 Days to a Stronger more Powerful Prayer Life” releases ONE WEEK FROM TODAY everywhere books are sold!

The post PRAYER: Where Do I Begin? first appeared on Live Original.

The Bible often refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-33). Our relationship with Jesus is like a marriage—but in a perfect way. He makes us beautiful, then admires us as we walk down the aisle toward Him on our wedding day (Revelation 19:6-9). Perfectly pure. Impeccably white. Kind of awesome.

So now comes that part about intimacy.

Let’s say, physically speaking, there are varying levels of intimacy. Those levels might begin with any sort of public display of affection and graduate all the way to the most intimate, behind-closed-doors, one-flesh moments meant to be shared only between a husband and wife. It’s really nobody’s business, and it’s deeply personal. A husband and wife are, indeed, one flesh. The intimate covenant they share, like Christ’s covenant with us, is sacred.

When it comes to our relationship with God, it can be the same way. There’s PDA and then there’s sacred intimacy. There are grand public gestures of skywriting and singing telegrams (praying on the street corner “to be seen by people,” as Matthew put it in 6:5). And then there is knowing the love language of God: taking time in secret to show Him the only affections you’re chasing after are His. Pursuing Him privately, closing the doors, enjoying sacred intimacy.

Any relationship that only goes as deep as public displays, or mere physical intimacy without an emotional bond and commitment, is not true intimacy. This is what Jesus warns the crowds about in Matthew 6:1, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward with your Father in heaven.”

Jesus doesn’t want your love to be a spectacle. He wants it to be sacred.

In a marriage—in any relationship that lasts past the honeymoon phase—intimacy takes intentionality. Sometimes it takes scheduling regular dates on the calendar, even committing to block out distractions and making space for, ahem, intimacy on a regular basis. Intimacy can be enjoyed organically, only when it is supported intentionally. Jesus told us this: “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret” (v. 6:6).

How are you pursuing intimacy as the Bride of Christ? Are you intentionally closing the doors, scheduling dates, and setting aside time in order for your relationship to deepen? Or are you publically kissing Him, then living as strangers at home?

Is your prayer life simply a spectacle, or is it spectacularly sacred?

The blog post is an excerpt from our upcoming Sermon on the Mount 4-week reading plan that begins Monday, September 4th at SheReadsTRuth.com and on the She Reads Truth app. Readers can also buy the book at ShopSheReadsTruth.com

The post Spectacle or Sacred first appeared on Live Original.