Are You Going to Be in That Number?

 

In Ephesians 4:1(NLT), the Apostle Paul said, “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” One of the reasons that this verse should stick to our bones is because of the condition Paul was in. He had been imprisoned for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was under duress, in bondage, and his situation wasn’t pretty. Yet, he considered the move of God’s Word more urgent and important than the hardships of his imprisonment. He did not allow his condition to diminish the power of Christ in him. And it was with this power that he begged the people of God to live their lives honorably before the Lord. He wanted them to be confident that the fire of God that burns within us can’t be extinguished. Paul wanted God’s people to live with the authority, love, and power of Christ. This is such a timely message for those of us living today.

It is easy to zoom in on the harshness of Paul’s imprisonment and get stuck there. This is what humans do when they don’t see through spiritual eyes and hear through spiritual ears. They become stuck in the physical reality of what’s happening around them or what’s happening to them, and they do not see beyond it. This was not the state of Paul’s consciousness. He had his eyes on what God was preparing for the future and that is where you and I should be focusing our attention right now.

A person cannot face the pressures and suffering that Paul endured without the supernatural courage, faith, and strength that comes from the Holy Spirit. Paul was Spirit-filled. He was led by the Spirit and under the Spirit’s influence as he wrote to the church at Ephesus. He was showing us that no matter our circumstances or conditions, no matter how things may appear, if we trust God, He will saturate us with His power and grace. He did it for Paul, and He will do it for us.

Through Paul, God warned that some people’s minds had become full of darkness and they had wandered far from Him. They closed their minds and hardened their hearts towards Him, and this was totally against God’s Plan and Will for their lives. They were not helping and ministering to one another; therefore, their actions were not representative of the message Jesus Christ preached. He preached unity among the people of God. Ephesians 4:16 tells us that as the body of Christ, we are to function in such a way that each part does its own brand of Christ-inspired work. Each part works together to help the other parts, so that the whole body is strong, healthy, and full of love.

This message of unity in Christ is extremely important to God’s Will and Plan. There can be no question that unity among God’s people must be achieved to move His agenda forward in the earth. Through the Apostle Paul, Heavenly Father delivered His instruction and direction for achieving unity among His children. Not only did God give us His definitive Word on the subject, but He has given us individuals with excellent spiritual gifts to instruct us. They are ordained by God to sharpen us and equip us to operate, not singularly, but as the body of Christ, moving together collectively and in unity.

That’s God’s goal, and in order to move in the way He wants, we must learn more about Jesus Christ and stop going back to vain and ‘baby’s milk’ teachings. We must become spiritually mature in Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15(NLT) says, “14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

Unity of the faith among His kids is God’s objective. From the very beginning, He made unity a byproduct of love’s operating system, and this unity requires that we cultivate a mindset of “We” instead of “Me.” Look around, it’s evident we’re still a long way from the unity in Christ that God has purposed for His people. One of the main things getting in our way is selfishness. Selfishness is unity’s greatest opponent.

Selfishness describes a person that is devoted to caring only for themselves and only looking out for their own interest and welfare. We see this mentality a lot with individuals that have a fear about lack. Survival mechanisms kick in and they put themselves in front of the line in every respect continually, with little thought of others. I personally know of believers that have been in the faith for many years, and I’ve watched as some of them have done this with little regard for veteran saints, small children, or those physically disabled or challenged in some way. Make no mistake, there is a huge price to pay for this. Selfishness is one of the reasons why our blessings continue to be blocked. It is a flat-out refusal to obey God’s Word when it comes to giving and being a blessing to others.

Many of our friends and family members come to a stage in life where they decide to downsize. Sadly, they don’t look at it as an opportunity to give and be a blessing, and they will not give away one thing. Instead, every belonging they no longer have room for has a price tag. I’ve known many people that purge clothes and other home-goods each year, but rather than donating these things to charity or giving to those in their faith communities, they either take it to consignment shops or try to sell it online. Understandably, there are instances where this is a very necessary thing, but we will never, ever be placed at a disadvantage for giving out of the abundance of our hearts. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to take care of each other in this way. Giving should not be a secondary reflex. It should be the first thought on our minds. Acts 20:35 tells us that our Master Jesus said that it’s better to give than to receive. This is not a suggestion, it’s a lesson in Godliness.

Unity requires us to have a change of heart and mind. God is a Righteous Judge, and He will judge us according to our flexibility to His Will and our willingness to change and align our motives and actions with those of Jesus Christ. He tells us in Jeremiah 17:10(NIV), “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” God is righteous and perfect. He doesn’t change, neither does His Word. We can’t hide our selfishness from Him.

It’s important for us to hold ourselves under a microscope about this, because God is doing a new thing in the earth. For too long, our blessings have been blocked and some of us have blamed it on everything except the divisive thoughts that rule our minds and the selfish heart that has governed our actions far too long. God desires to do so much more in our lives. There are new connections to be made, new ideas and opportunities slated to come our way. Let’s get on board with the message of unity within the body of Christ. Let’s give where we can, be kind to one another, and love each other better. Jesus Christ is coming back for a people that is loving, generous, fearless, faith-filled, and bold in the power of the Holy Spirit. God is watching, so make sure you’re in that number.●

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Are You Going to Be in That Number?”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2026. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Do Not Be Weary in Well Doing

 

God tells us through the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9(NKJV), “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” This verse of scripture is extremely essential in the Christian life. The first indication that it’s packing a mighty wallop of necessary spiritual information is in what it warns us not to do. God tells us that we shouldn’t let ourselves grow weary while we’re doing good. To grow tired of something implies we’ve put forth persistent effort. There’s some sowing going on. It means we’re positively investing in people and situations, and truly this is what Christian living is all about. However, God did not keep it a secret that it’s possible to get weary from doing good. It’s also not a secret that bad people doing wrong things outnumber good people that are doing good things. God says that we must continue doing good consistently and patiently, even though the evildoers try their best to get us down. The question we must ask is if the reaping season is worth our battle to never let weariness stop our grind for good.

One of the reasons we grow weary in doing good is because we often expect to see the harvest sooner than God intends. We live in a culture that values quick results, immediate gratification, and visible progress. When those things don’t happen, it’s easy to become discouraged and wonder whether our faithfulness is making any difference.

Yet God’s Kingdom doesn’t operate according to the world’s timetable. His law of sowing and reaping requires patience as well as perseverance. Every seed needs time to take root before it can produce a harvest. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Acts of obedience, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, and faithful service are all seeds we sow in faith, trusting that God is at work even when we cannot yet see the results.

We naturally look forward to the harvest, but we sometimes forget that every harvest begins with faithful sowing. God’s blessings are not based on hurried expectations but on His perfect timing. When we continue to do good without losing heart, we demonstrate that our confidence is in Him rather than in immediate results.

Good Works Are Part of Our Calling

Doing good is a choice, but for those who follow Jesus Christ, it’s a choice that flows from who we are. Good works are more than a Christian lifestyle—they are part of our God-given purpose. As believers, we are Christ’s ambassadors, representing Him in the earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). His Spirit lives within us, enabling us to reflect His love, His character, and His compassion. Jesus declared in John 14:12 that those who believe in Him would continue His works, not because of their own ability, but because of what He accomplished through His death and resurrection. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) reminds us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Living out that purpose requires intentional choices every day. Romans 12:2 urges us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can discern and demonstrate God’s good, acceptable, and perfect Will. Every decision we make either reflects the new identity we have in Christ or pulls us away from it. Our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions should increasingly resemble His character. This is the lifelong work of spiritual maturity, and according to Ephesians 4:13, it is God’s desire that we grow into the full stature of Christ. Because His Spirit is at work within us, we can live out the purpose He has placed on our lives.

Your Faithfulness Will Be Tested

If we’re honest, doing good isn’t always easy. There will be times when our faith is tested, our motives are challenged, and our patience wears thin. Jesus warned us in John 10:10 that the enemy comes “to steal and kill and destroy.” One of his greatest tactics is discouragement. If he can convince us that our obedience isn’t making a difference, he’ll tempt us to stop sowing before the harvest arrives. That’s why Galatians 6:9 is so important. God already knows the journey will require perseverance, and He promises that those who refuse to lose heart will reap in His appointed season.

God’s promises are certain because His justice is perfect. Galatians 6:7 (NLT) reminds us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” Our heavenly Father is a righteous Judge who faithfully honors every act of obedience offered from a sincere heart. We may not always see immediate results, but no seed planted in faith is ever wasted. Every act of kindness, every sacrifice, every prayer, and every step of obedience matters to Him. So don’t allow disappointment or delayed results to keep you from doing good. Keep sowing, keep trusting God’s timing, and rest in the confidence that He will bring forth the harvest He has promised.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Do Not Be Weary in Well Doing”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2026. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The Sound of A Gentle Whisper

 

1 Kings 19:9–13 (NLT) shows Elijah in a moment a lot of us can relate to more than we want to admit. He’s overwhelmed, frustrated, and convinced that everything around him is falling apart. He ends up in a cave, and God asks him a simple question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah answers out of his pain and frustration, listing everything that looks wrong, everything that feels unfinished, everything that feels like it’s gone too far. And honestly, it sounds like many of our own conversations with God when life feels heavy and unanswered.

The passage goes on to show something deeper about how God moves. A strong wind comes through, then an earthquake, then fire—but none of those are where God chooses to reveal Himself. And then Scripture says, “after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12 NLT). That alone challenges how we think God is supposed to show up. Because most of us expect God to answer in something dramatic, something undeniable, something that matches the urgency we feel. But God is not predictable, and He is not moved by panic. He is intentional, and He speaks in ways that require us to be attentive.

Elijah’s reaction makes sense though. He wasn’t wrong about what he was seeing around him. He was watching real disobedience, real rebellion, real consequences unfolding in front of him. But where he got off track was assuming that God’s response would match human emotion. We do that too. We start trying to predict how God should handle things, how He should respond, how He should move, and when He doesn’t move the way we expect, we start questioning what He’s doing. But God is not limited to our expectations, and His purposes are never up for negotiation.

There’s a part of this that hits closer to home when we look at how easily life fills up. Schedules, responsibilities, conversations, distractions, and even good things can take up so much space that we don’t realize how hard it becomes to really be present with God. It’s not always rebellion—it’s often just overflow. But overflow still has consequences, because what fills our attention eventually shapes our sensitivity to God’s voice.

A real shift happens when we start recognizing that hearing from God is not only about Him speaking—it’s also about us positioning ourselves to listen. The whisper was always there, but Elijah had to step out and respond to it. That’s still true for us. God has not stopped speaking, but we can become so filled with everything else that we miss the very thing that gives direction, peace, and correction all at once.

And maybe that’s the invitation in this passage—not to chase louder experiences with God, but to make space again for Him to be heard clearly in our lives. Because He is still God, still speaking, still leading, and still steady. And when we actually slow our lives enough to recognize His voice, we realize He was never absent… we were just learning how to hear Him again. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“The Sound of a Gentle Whisper”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2026. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Turning to God in Total Surrender

 

God Delights in Surrendered Hearts

From the very beginning, God has desired wholehearted surrender from His people. That hasn't changed. In Deuteronomy 30:10(NLT), Moses told the people of God living in Old Testament times, “The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.”

God’s call to turn to Him with our whole heart is still relevant today. The difference is, we now have His Spirit living within us—and with that gift comes a greater responsibility. It isn't enough to turn to God only when life falls apart. Even people who don't know Him will cry out for mercy when they are overwhelmed by trouble. But when the crisis passes, many return to the very things that pulled them away from Him in the first place.

God wasn't asking His people for a temporary response. He was calling them to turn to Him with all their heart and soul. That kind of turning is total surrender. It means letting go of everything that competes for our trust and depending on God through Jesus Christ with everything we are. This is what our Heavenly Father has always desired.

Disappointments That Redirect Us

We are often surprised when we can't make something work, or when we put our whole heart into something and it turns out to be far from what we expected. In reality, disappointment has a way of revealing where our trust has been. Heartache, loss, and unanswered prayers often become invitations to put God back in His rightful place and seek Him more deeply than we did before. God is faithful, and He can be trusted with our hearts because they belonged to Him before they ever belonged to us.

Before King David died, he gave his son Solomon the most important advice a father could give. In 1 Kings 2:2–4 (NLT), David said, “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”

Any loving father passes down what matters most. David knew his success hadn't come from his own strength. It came from the Lord, who had been faithful to him again and again. David wanted Solomon to understand that real success begins with obeying God. The same is true for us. Through Jesus Christ, God has made a way for us to walk with Him, and wholehearted surrender is still the path that leads to the life He desires for us. ■

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Turning to God in Total Surrender”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2026. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.