What Has King Jesus Called Us to Do?

What does it mean to live as a follower of King Jesus? 

This is a question that Christians have wrestled with for two thousand years. 

In a world that measures value by productivity and achievement, it’s easy to believe that following Jesus is about how much we do for Him—how many prayers we pray, how many chapters in the Bible we read, how authentic our worship is, or how often we share the gospel.

But if we’re honest, that mindset leaves many of us weighed down with guilt. We hear a voice whispering to us, “You’re not doing enough.”  — Not praying enough. Not reading the Bible enough. Not evangelizing enough. Not loving well enough.

That voice is not the voice of King Jesus. It’s the voice of the enemy—the accuser—who delights in distorting our relationship with God into one of shame and fear.

Faithfulness, Not Frenzy

So what has King Jesus actually called us to do?

He has called us to be faithful. To represent Him in all that we say and do. What this means is that how we live each moment and how we treat others matters. 

Faithfulness looks less like a frantic checklist of spiritual tasks and more like a surrendered life. It’s not about hitting some invisible quota of good works, rather it is about giving our heart, mind, and will to the guiding and transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

When we surrender, the Spirit begins to form in us the very character of Jesus—love, goodness, kindness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). These qualities are not manufactured by trying harder; they grow as fruit from a life rooted in Jesus and flowing with the Spirit.

Living in Step with the Spirit

In other words, we don’t have to live with a constant sense of “not enough.” Instead, we walk with the Spirit day by day. We keep in step with Him. We let His presence shape how we respond to the people and situations around us.

How do we do this? How is it possible to be guided by the Spirit?

Part of my daily pray is “I surrender my heart, mind, and will to the guiding and transforming work of the Holy Spirit.” For me I need to do this every day, out loud, other wise I will continue to seek transformation by my own strength and understanding.

It also requires reading and studying the Bible, with people and on our own, which allows the Holy Spirit to use the words on the page change our hearts and minds.

We also need to understand that service is a discipline and that when we serve in ministry the Holy Spirit equips us to do the work that is in front of us.

Here is the beautiful truth: when opportunities arise, the Spirit will empower us to accomplish them. We don’t have to create our own significance. We don’t have to compare our efforts to someone else’s. We simply make the most of the moments God places before us—whether that’s encouraging a friend, showing patience with our kids, serving our neighbors, or speaking the name of Jesus when the opportunity comes our way.

Representing King Jesus

The New Testament reminds us again and again that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador doesn’t act on their own authority. Their role is to faithfully represent the one who sent them.

That’s our calling. Represent King Jesus in everything we say and do.

And here’s the encouragement: you don’t represent Him by doing more and more. You represent Him by surrendering to His authority and will—so that His love, His patience, His mercy, His truth are reflected through your life.

When the world sees that, they see glimpses of the King we serve.

A Gentle Challenge

So let me leave you with this challenge: Stop trying to prove yourself by doing enough. Instead, surrender your life to the Spirit’s transforming work. Let Him lead you in faithfulness today.

Ask yourself:

• Am I giving my heart to King Jesus? 
• Am I renewing my mind in His truth? 
• Am I surrendering my will to His Spirit?

When you do that, you will find yourself representing King Jesus in ways big and small. Not out of guilt. Not out of fear. But out of love.

 Following King Jesus isn’t about doing enough—it’s about surrendering enough. When we give Him our heart, mind, and will, the Spirit shapes us to represent Him in everything we say and do.

That’s what He has called us to do.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

The First Step Toward God

“The first step toward God is a step away from the lies of the world. It is a renunciation of the lies we have been told about ourselves and our neighbors and our universe.” — Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, p. 29

A World Drenched in Lies

We live in a world full of  lies. They zip through our news feeds, hum beneath casual conversations, and flash across billboards and screens. These lies are dangerous, whispering that we’re not enough—too flawed to be loved, too broken to be whole, too ordinary to make a difference. 

These lies  don’t stop at us; they bring harm to our communities, breeding suspicion and resentment among neighbors. They paint the universe as a cold, chaotic void, therefore we need to do what we can to find a little bit of joy in our lives. 

Yet, as Eugene Peterson so insightfully writes, the journey to God, and the life He created us to live, begins when we turn our backs on this chaotic noise and renounce the falsehoods we’ve swallowed whole.

Isaiah’s Unraveling Moment

Scripture offers a vivid picture of this turning point in the prophet Isaiah’s story found in chapter 6. Imagine the scene: Isaiah stands trembling before a vision of God—enthroned in splendor, His robe filling the temple, seraphim chanting “Holy, holy, holy.” The sight shatters him. “Woe is me!” he cries. “I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5, ESV). In that moment, Isaiah sees himself without a filter: a sinner, frail and unworthy, standing before infinite holiness. In spite of this new knowledge he doesn’t flee. Rather, Isaiah takes that first, courageous step toward God by confessing his sin.

Grace That Transforms

The next scene is nothing short of amazing. A seraphim (a type of heavenly being) lifts a glowing coal from the altar, presses it to Isaiah’s lips, and declares, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Isaiah 6:7, ESV). This is the breathtaking promise of that first step: when we reject the lies and confess our need, God responds with grace—cleansing, restoring, redeeming. It’s a moment of divine work, turning shame into acceptance, despair into hope.

A Deliberate Shift

This step—away from the world’s distortions and toward God’s truth—isn’t a single, dramatic leap. It’s a slow, intentional shift, a reorientation of the heart that ripples through our lives. It demands we face hard truths: about the pride we’ve nursed, the envy we’ve harbored, the illusions we’ve built to feel secure. The lies we’ve believed—about our worth, our purpose, our neighbors—might feel like reality, helping us make sense of life. But they’re a blindfold intended to keep us living in the dark. To renounce them, as Peterson suggests, is to step into a wild, uncharted freedom—a life rooted in love, wisdom, and the gracious presence of God.

Echoes Across Scripture

Isaiah’s experience isn’t an anomaly. The Bible is filled with stories of these stories. Moses, a political fugitive, stood before a burning bush and heard God call him to lead (Exodus 3). David, a shepherd boy turned abuser and murderer, wept in Psalm 51 for a clean heart—and found it. Mary, a young woman of no status, said yes to an impossible calling (Luke 1:38). Paul, once a persecutor, met Christ on a dusty road and was remade (Acts 9). Each faced their own inadequacy, their own tangle of lies, and stepped toward God anyway. Each found Him waiting—faithful, gracious, redeeming.

The Courage to Keep Walking

This journey isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes courage to peel back the layers of deception we’ve worn like armor. It takes persistence to keep walking when the world’s noise crescendos again and again. But it’s worth it. 

As we move away from lies and toward God, we uncover a life unshackled from shame, bitterness, or isolation. We encounter a God who doesn’t just meet us once but guides us, step by step, into a reality truer and more beautiful than the world’s fleeting promises. So let’s take that first step today—however shaky, however small—and trust Him to lead us on.

Sunday Prayer: Grateful for God’s Kindness

Prayer Based on Titus 3:3–8

Gracious and Merciful God,

We come before You humbled by the truth of who we once were—foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by our own desires. We confess that our lives were once marked by envy, strife, and hatred. But then—You intervened.

You revealed Your kindness and love through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Not because we earned it. Not because we were righteous. But solely because of Your mercy. Thank You for saving us, for washing us clean, and for giving us new birth and new life through Your Holy Spirit.

Thank You for pouring out Your Spirit generously, not sparingly, so we might be renewed from the inside out. Thank You for justifying us by Your grace and giving us the confident hope of eternal life.

Lord, help us to never lose sight of this trustworthy truth. May our lives overflow with gratitude. Let our trust in You be shown in our devotion to doing good—works not to earn Your love, but as a response to it. May our lives become living testimonies of Your grace and kindness, pointing others to the hope we’ve found in You.

Empower us by Your Spirit to walk in love, to serve with humility, and to shine with the light of Christ. These teachings are good and beneficial for all—may we live them well for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Transformed by Grace

Four years ago, Josiah Jackson, an 18-year-old pianist, stood at Chicago O’Hare International Airport near Gate C17, eyeing a public piano. Having played since he was four, he couldn’t resist giving it a try. But the keys were sticky, the sound was awful, and he left disappointed, vowing, “One day, I’m going to come back and tune this piano for free.” 

Not only is Josiah a pianist, he is also a piano tuner. Because he did not like the pressure of performing in concerts, he started to learn how to tune pianos, and by 15 he shifted his passion from performing to tuning pianos, finding joy in transforming broken instruments. He called himself The Piano Doctor, sharing his work on YouTube. In 2024, he returned to O’Hare during an eight-hour layover, armed with tuning tools. The piano was in worse shape than he remembered—covered in dust, keys glued with some mysterious substance. After seven hours of meticulous work, Josiah played “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and the piano sounded wonderful. Travelers now play it with joy, and his YouTube video has inspired thousands. Josiah didn’t just fix a piano; he restored its purpose, bringing music back to a busy airport.

Like that piano, we too are out of tune. Sin has broken us, leaving us unable to play the music God created us to sing. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin curses our world, fractures our relationships, and separates us from God, our source of life. We’re not just out of tune; we’re incapable of living out our design to bear God’s image in the world. 

But what if we could be restored? What would it be like to live free from sin’s grip—fully known without shame, loving others perfectly, representing Jesus in all we do? It would be freeing and it would be glorious. We would be able to do the very thing God created us to do.

In Romans 6:1-14, the Apostle Paul shows us how God’s grace transforms us, making us new people who reflect His restoration in how we live. Writing to the church in Rome to summarize his theology, unify believers, and seek support for a mission to Spain, Paul explains how Jesus’ death and resurrection deal with sin’s consequences. Through grace, we’re not left broken but are tuned to play God’s song. Here are three ways grace transforms us, drawn from this powerful passage.

1. Transformed to Live New Lives (Romans 6:1-4)

Paul is appalled at the idea that we’d keep sinning to make God’s grace shine brighter. Grace cost Jesus His life, and through baptism, we’re united with his death and resurrection. Baptism isn’t just a symbol; it’s an act of faith and repentance that ties us to Jesus, his death paying for our sins and his resurrection empowering us to live anew. When we repent, we turn from sin to follow Jesus’ way. We can’t keep sinning intentionally, banking on grace to cover us. God has already given us new lives through His grace, and we’re called to steward them well, living in a way that honors Him.

2. Transformed to a New Relationship (Romans 6:5-11)

Through baptism, we’re dead to sin and alive in Christ’s resurrection. Paul says we’re “set free from the power of sin” (v. 7) and that “death no longer has mastery over us” (v. 9). But temptation still tugs, and death remains a reality—so what does this freedom mean? In 1 Corinthians 15:56, Paul explains that sin’s sting leads to death, and the law gives sin its power by defining right and wrong but not offering a way out. Jesus’ death fulfills the law’s demands, freeing us from its condemnation. Grace builds a new relationship with God, not based on keeping rules but on His unmerited love. We’re no longer slaves to sin but children of God, invited to live in His grace.

3. Transformed for Freedom (Romans 6:12-14)

Grace gives us a choice: How will we live? Will we offer our hands, feet, and minds to sin, walking the wide road of rebellion? Or will we offer ourselves to righteousness, pursuing the narrow road of God’s Kingdom? We’re no longer under the law’s condemnation but under grace’s freedom. This freedom isn’t a license to sin but an empowerment to choose righteousness, to represent King Jesus in all we say and do. And when we stumble, grace promises forgiveness, catching us and setting us back on the path.

A Safety Net of Grace

Imagine San Francisco in 1936, where workers built the Golden Gate Bridge on slippery beams high above the Pacific. A fall meant certain death, and the industry expected one life lost per million dollars spent—35 deaths for a $35 million project. But engineer Joseph Strauss refused to accept that toll. He installed a massive safety net beneath the bridge, costing $130,000 during the Great Depression. That net caught 19 men who fell, earning them the nickname the “Half Way to Hell Club.” One survivor, Al Zampa, said, “They said a man who fell to his death was gone to hell. But we fell only half way to hell.” The net didn’t just save them; it gave them a new chance at life.

This is God’s grace. The law says our sin deserves death, but grace catches us. Like Josiah tuning that O’Hare piano, God restores us, not because we earn it but because He loves us. Because we know His grace is there, we can live confidently, loving God and others, trusting He’ll rescue us when we fall.

Big Idea: God’s Grace Transforms Us

God’s grace transforms us from slaves to sin into instruments of righteousness, free to live for His glory. We’re not defined by our mistakes but by His redemption. Like a tuned piano, we’re called to play the music of His Kingdom, reflecting His love in how we live.

Challenge: Live Transformed

Each day, do two things:

1. Confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness.
2. Commit to follow Jesus that day.

This simple practice reminds us who we are and how we’re called to live. Reflect on where sin is holding you back—your words, thoughts, or actions—and offer that part of your life to God as an instrument of righteousness. Live boldly, knowing His grace catches you.

Closing Thought

You are not the sum of your falls. You are a new creation, caught by grace, tuned by a loving God, and called to sing His praise. So go, live transformed, and let your life be a song for your Creator, Savior, and Father.

Sources: Cathy Free, “An airport piano was filthy and out of tune. He fixed it during a layover”; Historical accounts of the Golden Gate Bridge from Wikipedia, WebUrbanist, and SFGate; Biblical text: Romans 6:1-14, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:56.

Sunday Prayer: Alive to Christ

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, for we are no longer bound by sin but alive in Christ. Thank You for Your abundant grace that frees us from the power of death and calls us to live in righteousness.

Lord, we confess that we sometimes forget the gift of Your grace and the new life we have through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Forgive us for the times we return to old ways, living as though sin still reigns over us. Help us to embrace the truth that we are dead to sin and alive to You.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may walk in the newness of life You have given us. Strengthen us to offer every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness, not yielding to temptation but surrendering to Your holy will. May our lives reflect the freedom and victory we have in Christ, bringing glory to Your name.

We pray for those struggling under the weight of sin, that they may know the liberating power of Your grace. Use us, Lord, to share the hope of Your gospel, pointing others to the life found only in You.

In Jesus’ precious name, we pray, Amen.

Shattered Dreams: The Megaphone of Pain

Part 2 of 4 in the "Shattered Dreams" Series

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
~ C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Shattered dreams cut deep. The collapse of a marriage, the loss of a cherished job, the forced move from a beloved home, or the sting of rejection from someone you love—these aren’t just setbacks. They’re wounds that pierce the heart. When our dreams break apart, we feel the ache in our bones.

We despise pain, don’t we? Whether it’s physical or emotional, it’s an unwelcome guest—throbbing, relentless, impossible to ignore. We might escape it for a fleeting moment, but it always creeps back. Life, we tell ourselves, would be better without it. Yet pain isn’t just an intruder; it’s a signal.

Consider Ashlyn Blocker, now a young adult living with a rare condition called CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis). As a child, she couldn’t feel pain—she once ran on a fractured ankle for days without noticing, and her parents found her with bloody lips from teething, unaware of the damage. Now in her twenties, Ashlyn still faces the challenges of a life without pain’s warnings. She might burn herself on a hot stove or miss a serious injury, relying on others to spot the danger.

Pain, as harsh as it is, alerts us when something’s wrong. Without it, we’d miss the cues that our bodies—or our lives—need attention.

Pain as a Signal

Emotional pain works the same way. It screams that things aren’t as they should be. We live in a broken world, where sin and death guarantee pain as a companion. It’s a reminder we’re not in Heaven yet.

And here’s the twist: God uses that pain to wake us up. C.S. Lewis called it His megaphone, a loud call to look beyond our own plans. We get so fixated on our dreams—our perfect job, our ideal family—that we miss the life God envisions for us. Pain, messy as it is, pulls our eyes upward.

But let’s be honest: understanding pain’s purpose doesn’t make it easier to bear. When agony hits, we wonder why a loving God stays silent. If we saw someone we loved hurting, we’d rush to fix it. God could erase our pain—yet often He doesn’t. That silence stings. Does He even get it? Does He know the loneliness, the sorrow, the weight of a shattered dream?

The God Who Understands

He does. Jesus proves it. The Son of God didn’t float above pain—He walked through it. Rejection by His own people, brutal beatings, the agony of the cross—Jesus felt it all. And God the Father? He endured the gut-wrenching tear in the Trinity’s fellowship as Jesus bore our sin. The cross isn’t just a story of redemption; it’s a loud declaration that God understands suffering.

Still, in our pain, God can feel distant. That’s when we need to cling to what Jesus shows us: God cares. Without that truth, the weight of broken dreams crushes us. With it, we can endure more than we ever imagined—just look at the countless Christians through history who faced persecution and martyrdom, sustained by certainty in God’s love.

Shattered dreams don’t mean God’s abandoned us. They’re a chance to see how fragile our plans are—and how much greater His are. Pain isn’t evidence of God’s indifference; it’s a sign this world isn’t our final home.

So, if your dreams lie in pieces today, listen through the hurt. God’s shouting something worth hearing.

Next time, we’ll explore how to grieve what’s lost while reaching for what’s ahead.

For now, what’s one way pain has redirected your focus? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Stay tuned for Part 3 in the "Shattered Dreams" series as we continue exploring how God’s plan transforms our understanding of life and fulfillment.

Walking with God: The Heart of True Discipleship

“Only by walking with God can we hope to find the path that leads to life. That is what it means to be a disciple. After all—aren’t we ‘followers of Christ’? Then by all means, let’s actually follow him. Not ideas about him. Not just his principles. Him.” — John Eldredge

Being a disciple of Jesus isn’t like being a student in a classroom. A student studies to gain knowledge—facts and skills to navigate the world. Discipleship goes deeper than just learning information. Yes, it involves learning truths and principles, but it’s not just about filling our heads with knowledge. What discipleship is truly about is the transformation our hearts. To be a disciple is to become like the One we follow, to let his character shape ours. And if we’re to take on the character of Jesus, we must walk with him—day by day, step by step.

I think John Eldredge captures it beautifully in the quote above: discipleship is “walking with God.” Discipleship is not learning basic Bible doctrine or living according to the right moral standard (though those things are important); it is living a life that is actively pursuing Jesus. 

How do we do that? I believe this journey unfolds through three vital practices: leaning into community, embracing spiritual disciplines, and following Jesus’ example of love.

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Community: We Don’t Walk Alone

From the beginning of humankind, God said it’s not good for us to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We were made for relationship—with Him and with each other. Jesus didn’t teach in isolation from people; he gathered disciples around him, living and learning together. The early Church followed this example, devoting themselves to fellowship (Acts 2:42-47).

Walking with God happens best when we walk alongside others. Christian community offers:

• Encouragement and Accountability: Friends in faith spur us on and keep us grounded.
• Shared Wisdom: We grow as we study Scripture and share the ways God is working in our lives.
• Strength in Struggle: Bearing each other’s burdens lightens the load and deepens our trust in God.

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Spiritual Disciplines: Staying Close to the Guide

Walking with God doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention. Spiritual disciplines are the habits that keep us connected us to God, tuning our hearts to His voice. They are also the way we “practice” the character of Jesus. Consider:

• Prayer: Talking and listening to God builds a living, breathing relationship.
• Scripture: His Word is the map for this journey, renewing our minds and guiding our steps.
• Rest and Worship: Pausing to honor God—whether through a Sabbath or a song—restores our souls.
• Giving and Generosity: Blessing others with what God has given us and trusting Him to continue to provide for our lives.
• Fasting: Going without food for a period of time to express our grief and repentance or to teach us how to say no to our flesh.

These aren’t duties to perform; they’re invitations to draw near to the One who knows the way and develop His character.

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Loving Others: The Fruit of the Journey

Jesus tied loving God and loving people together (Matthew 22:37-40). Our walk with Him shows up in how we treat those around us. Discipleship isn’t just the maturity of our heart—it’s the transformation of our character:

• Serving: Meeting needs reflects Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.
• Forgiving: Extending grace mirrors the mercy we’ve received.
• Sharing: Inviting others into this walk multiplies the joy of following Him.

Love isn’t optional—it’s the evidence of a life shaped by King Jesus.

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Step by Step, Together

Walking with God isn’t a sprint to perfection; it’s a steady, lifelong hike. Some days we’ll stumble, but the call is to keep going—together. Community keeps us moving, disciplines keep us close, and love keeps us true.

This is the path to the life Jesus promised: full, abundant, real (John 10:10).

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So, where are you today? Are you walking with God, or just thinking about it? Let’s take the next step—side by side, eyes on Jesus, hearts open to what he’ll do along the way.

Choices that Shape Us

As human beings, our choices shape and form us into the people we are. With every decision, we are not just acting; we are becoming. This is why it is crucial to have high expectations for the younger generation and to encourage them to make choices that lead to maturity and responsibility. For Christians, this is especially significant, as we are called to become a different kind of people—a people who reflect the character of Christ.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this transformative journey in Colossians 3:1-4, where he urges us to set our minds on heavenly things rather than earthly things. Similarly, in Galatians 5:16-26, he calls us to walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh. This walk involves living humbly, putting others ahead of ourselves, as seen in Philippians 2:1-11. These are not just isolated commands but reflections of the characteristics of Kingdom people—people who embody the values of God’s Kingdom.

Greg Boyd, in his book Satan and the Problem of Evil, offers an insightful perspective on this idea. He writes:

“Moral culpability is not just about people acting certain ways when they could have and should have acted differently. It’s more about people becoming certain kinds of people when they could have and should have become different kinds of people” (p. 122).

This quote challenges us to think beyond actions and behaviors and instead focus on identity and transformation. The Gospel calls us not just to do good but to become good—to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts (Romans 12:2). As Christians, we are called to encourage others to become different kinds of people, ones who are shaped by the power of the Gospel and reflect Christ in all they do.

The Path to Becoming Kingdom People

How do we help others on this journey of becoming people who represent King Jesus in all that we say and do? Here are three key steps:

1. Proclaim the Way of Redemption
   Transformation begins with Jesus. As Paul writes in Romans 5:6-11, it is through God’s love and intervention that we are saved. Without God’s grace, we would have no hope. The message of redemption is central to becoming Kingdom people. By pointing others to Jesus and His sacrifice, we help them understand that real change starts with faith in Him.

2. Pray for Transformation
   The Apostle Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 is a model for us. He prays that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and spiritual wisdom, so they might live lives worthy of the Lord. Our prayers for those we influence can have a powerful impact. Through prayer, we invite God to work in their lives, guiding them to become people who honor Him.

3. Provide Tools for Training in Godliness
   Transformation requires discipline. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Train yourself for godliness.” Spiritual disciplines such as meditation, prayer, worship, service, fasting, solitude, and celebration are tools that help us train our bodies and minds to resist the pull of the flesh and follow the Spirit. Teaching others these disciplines equips them to grow in their faith and character.

A Life of Becoming

Each of us is in the process of becoming. We are either growing more fit for God’s Kingdom or becoming more aligned with the kingdom of darkness. Our choices play a pivotal role in this process. As Christians, we have the responsibility to encourage and guide others toward making choices that reflect the character of Christ. By proclaiming the Gospel, praying for transformation, and teaching spiritual disciplines, we can help others become Kingdom people who shine as lights in the world.

Let us remember that our calling is not just to act differently but to be different—to become the kind of people who embody the love, humility, and holiness of Christ. This is the essence of our faith and the heart of our mission as followers of Jesus.

Sunday Prayer: Produce the Fruit

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who works within us to make us more like Jesus. Lord, my great desire is to bear the fruit that comes from being guided by the Spirit. Fill my heart with love, that I may love others as You have loved me. Let joy overflow in my life, even in trials, so that I may be a witness of Your goodness. Grant me perfect peace, calming the storms within me and helping me trust in Your will.

Teach me patience, Lord, in every situation and with every person, just as You are patient with me. May kindness and goodness flow from my words and actions, reflecting Your heart to the world. Strengthen my faithfulness, that I may walk in obedience and remain strong in my commitment to You.

Father, help me to be gentle in my responses, showing grace as You have shown grace to me. And give me self-control, that I may resist temptation and choose to live a life of holiness that reflects Your character in the world.

I surrender to the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. Shape me, mold me, and let my life bear fruit that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.