"And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria." 1 Kings 19:15

Elijah had just come through one of the most intense seasons of his life. He had called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, seen the prophets of Baal defeated, and yet found himself running in fear from Jezebel, exhausted and discouraged. In the cave at Horeb, he cried out, believing he was alone and that all was lost. But it was there—in the still small voice—that God revealed His presence and His plan. And then came a surprising command: "Go, return." Elijah was to leave the place of hiding, the place of despair, and return to the world, back into the midst of God’s unfolding plan. There was still work to do. Elijah was called not just to prophesy, but also to anoint, to prepare the way for new leaders, and to participate in God’s sovereign purposes that extended far beyond his lifetime or understanding. The instruction to anoint Hazael as king over Syria reminds us that God is at work in ways that cross borders, kingdoms, and expectations. Even in foreign lands, even through leaders who did not know Him, God was orchestrating His justice and mercy. Elijah’s mission was part of a greater tapestry—a plan that God was weaving through history. Even in the Old Testament, God was at work creating the paths for the greater work of the Kingdom. His dealings with kings and nations, as well as His raising up and tearing down of rulers, were never random or isolated events—they were all threads in the unfolding story of redemption. His plan works to bring forth the salvation that would ultimately come through Jesus, redeeming people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Elijah’s task, though it seemed small or even puzzling at the time, was part of preparing the world for God’s greater purposes. So let us lift our eyes beyond our immediate circumstances. Grab hold of the grand plan and understand the grand framework of His workings. Trust that your obedience, like Elijah’s, fits into a design that is far bigger than you can imagine -- a design that leads to His glory and the redemption of the world. However, we can sometimes feel, like Elijah, defeated or isolated. We may think our role is finished or our strength is gone. But God says: Return. Get up. Keep going. I still have a purpose for you. His plans stretch beyond our sight, and our obedience -- no matter how weary we feel -- places us back in the flow of His divine will. Brothers & Sisters, is there a place where God is calling you to return -- to reengage with His purpose despite discouragement, weariness, or fear? Like Elijah, you may feel alone or that your work has no lasting impact. But the same God who spoke through the still small voice calls you now: Go, return. His plan is far greater than your understanding, weaving your obedience into the tapestry of His Kingdom purposes. What you do today may set in motion blessings and victories that you will never fully see on this side of eternity. So trust Him, step forward, and embrace your part in His unfolding story of redemption! GOD'S PURPOSES ARE BEYOND BORDERS!

"And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 1 Kings 18:36-39

Every true move of revival begins where few look for it—at the hidden brook, in the quiet place of God’s pruning. Cherith (נַחַל כְּרִית) means to cut off, to separate, to covenant. Before Elijah could stand on Mount Carmel and call down fire, he had to be separated, set apart for God’s purposes. Cherith was the place where God stripped away distractions, where Elijah learned to depend not on crowds or acclaim, but on the Lord’s daily provision. Like Elijah, God brings us to Cherith to prepare our hearts, to cut away what hinders His power, and to renew our covenant loyalty. Revival begins when God’s people allow Him to do this hidden work making us ready for His fire. But Cherith is not the end of the journey. God calls His servants from the brook to Mount Carmel (הַר הַכַּרְמֶל)—the mount of decision, where revival breaks forth. Carmel, once a fruitful place, had become barren through compromise and Baal worship. Yet God chose that very place to send His fire. On Carmel, Elijah called for the fire -- and God answered. The fire fell, not just for spectacle, but to burn away idolatry, to awaken a nation, and to turn hearts back to Himself: “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:37). The fire of revival always falls where hearts are ready to return to God. And the fire was not the end. Revival fire makes way for the rain. After the fire came the Geshem (גֶּשֶׁם)—the rain of restoration, the outpouring that brings life to dry ground. Elijah’s prayer brought the rain that broke the drought and healed the land. This is God’s pattern: first He sends the fire to purify; then comes the rain to restore. It is the same pattern we see in Jesus — the judgment for sin at the Cross, then the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:16-19; Joel 2:28) to bring life, power, and true fruitfulness. Revival is the fire that prepares the way for God’s rain of blessing on a thirsty world. Brothers & Sisters, so rise up, beloved! Don’t shrink back from Cherith’s pruning, don’t hesitate on Carmel’s heights, and don’t stop watching the skies for God’s rain. Now is the time to yield your heart fully—to be the one through whom His fire can fall and His rain can pour. Let your life be the spark that ignites a generation, the vessel God uses to awaken the dry bones of a nation. The God who answered Elijah with fire and rain is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is ready to move again—are you ready to be part of His revival? Surrender now. Cry out now. The hour is at hand! FROM CHERITH TO CARMEL: GOD'S PATHWAY TO REVIVAL!

"And the word of the LORD came to him: 3 "Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook." 1 Kings 17:2-6

Before God's servants can stand in high places before men, they must first bow low before Him. Elijah, fresh from proclaiming God's judgment to Ahab, might have felt indispensable to God's plan. Yet the following command was unexpected: "Hide yourself." The brook Cherith became Elijah's place of humbling, where pride was stripped away, self-reliance was broken, and his soul learned the sweetness of depending on God alone. So it is with us. We are often too eager, too confident in our own strength, too certain of our usefulness. But in His wisdom, God leads us to our own Cheriths--hidden places where we learn to trust Him afresh. Shabbat is our Cherith, week after week--not just a pause from labor, but a posture of the soul that says, "I trust You." It is God's invitation: "Cease striving. Rest by the brook. Let Me supply your need." Like Elijah, we cannot stand on Carmel in victory until we have first knelt at Cherith in surrender. Even at Cherith, the brook dried up. Day after day, Elijah watched the stream diminish until the final drop was gone. But God had not forsaken him. The drying brook taught Elijah to trust--not in the gift, but in the Giver. It revealed a more profound truth: when one source runs dry, God opens another. So it is with us. We, too, find ourselves beside drying brooks--when health fades, resources run low, friendships waver, or doors of opportunity close. In those moments, God invites us into deeper rest, into stillness of soul, into unwavering trust. "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my hope is from Him" (Psalm 62:5). His living water never fails. His grace flows, undiminished by the thirst of generations, unwearied through the ages. The promises of Jesus remain true, especially in our Cherith moments: "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst." (John 4:14). If you find yourself beside a drying brook—take heart! God has not forgotten you. This is not the end. Beyond Cherith lies Zarephath. Beyond this wilderness, fresh provision, new purpose, and greater power await. Hear His voice above the silence: Rest in Me. Trust in Me. Shabbat is His gift—a holy invitation to be renewed, strengthened, and refreshed. Like Elijah at Cherith, hide yourself in Him. Trust His miraculous provision, even when it comes in ways you never expected—as when ravens fed the prophet in his secret refuge. The God who sustained Elijah will sustain you. His grace still flows. His living water has not run dry. Brothers & Sisters, now is the time to be refreshed and renewed—for Cherith and Zarephath were God’s training ground for triumph on Carmel, where the prophets of Baal were crushed and a nation was turned back to God. But it all began with Elijah first learning the lessons of surrender and trust at Cherith! BEFORE THE TRIUMP COMES THE TRAINING!

"Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 1 Kings 17:2-4

God's servants must learn to walk by faith--one step at a time. This is a simple lesson, yet one that challenges even the most faithful. Consider Elijah: before he left his quiet home in Thisbe to stand before King Ahab with the word of the Lord, how many questions must have stirred his heart! What would happen after he delivered his message? How would Jezebel, known for slaying God's prophets, respond? Where could he go to be safe? If Elijah had waited for answers to all these questions, he would never have begun the journey. But this is not how our loving Father leads His children. He does not show us the entire path at once. He reveals only the next step and invites us to take it in faith. And if we ask, "Lord, what will happen next? Won't this path lead to difficulty?" He often gives no other reply than this: "Take the step, and trust Me." And so it was with Elijah. After he obeyed and delivered God's word to Ahab, then the next direction came: "Get thee hence...hide thyself by the brook Cherith." Later, only after the brook ran dry, did the Lord speak again: "Arise, get thee to Zarephath." Each instruction came at the right time, no sooner, no later. Notice this: Elijah did not need to search for God's word; it came to him. And so it will come to you. Whether through Scripture, the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, or the unfolding of circumstances -- God's direction will find you. Like Saul on the road to Damascus, we must simply ask, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" and trust that He will reveal it. Perhaps you have long sensed God urging you toward a particular act of obedience, but you have hesitated because the next step is unclear. Do not delay. Step forward in faith. What appears to be mud will become solid ground beneath your feet. With each step, God will provide a firm place to stand, a new word, a fresh supply. The bread is given daily. The manna comes each morning. The strength arrives at the moment of need. Brothers & Sisters, God gives no more than we can bear at once. He teaches us, little by little, to walk in the peace of obedience and the joy of trust. So take the step before you today. He is faithful. The next stepping stone will appear just when you need it. ONE STEP AT A TIME: THE PATH OF TRUST!

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months." James 5:17

As we continue our journey through the life of Elijah, let us take heart in this: Elijah was a man just like us. He was not born with heroic strength or unshakable resolve. He knew weakness, fear, and moments of failure—the same struggles we face. And yet, this one man, by faith, stood alone against a tide of sin and idolatry. By faith, he turned a nation back to God. This is what makes Elijah’s story so captivating. He did not rely on some hidden, mystical power that is beyond our reach. Nor was he made of stronger stuff than the rest of us. If that were true, his story would discourage us -- a model we could never follow, an ideal forever beyond our grasp. But no! Elijah was, in himself, a man just like us. It was faith in God that made him a pillar of strength, a torch that burned brightly for truth. And the same faith is available to you and me today. All power belongs to God, and He longs to pour His Resurrection power in and through us. The Holy Spirit channels that power into our lives in proportion to our faith and our readiness to receive it. Oh, that we would have hearts as open as Elijah’s—willing to be filled, willing to believe, willing to act! But know this: before Elijah stood in boldness on Mount Carmel, he first had to be shaped by God at Cherith and refined at Zarephath. So it will be for us. God invites us into His school of faith -- a place where our trust is deepened, our self-reliance is broken, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Only then can we be ready to do great exploits for God and truth. Brothers & Sisters, let Elijah’s life remind us that God is not looking for heroes made of stronger clay -- He is seeking men and women who simply believe. The same power that turned a nation back to God through Elijah is available to us today. We do not need greater strength; we need greater faith. We do not need more ability; we need more surrender. The God who worked through Elijah stands ready to work through you. Will you let Him? Let this be our prayer: “Lord, take my weakness and fill it with Your power. Shape me, teach me, and use me, that I may stand for You in this generation as Elijah did in his.” ELIJAH: A MAN LIKE US!

"Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over." 2 Kings 2:14

Over the past few years, some leaders who once inspired many have fallen into scandals that have brought harm and confusion to the body of Christ. In moments like these, it's easy to feel disillusioned or lost, as if the work of God depends on human vessels who have failed us. But I'm reminded of how Elisha responded when Elijah was taken from him. His eyes were not on the departing servant but on the living God. "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" he cried -- not, "Where is Elijah?" That cry holds a lesson for us today: our hope and strength are not in human leaders, but in the God who works through them—and who remains faithful even when men falter. Elisha's heart longed for the God who had empowered Elijah--the God who shuts the heavens, calls down fire, feeds the hungry through ravens, and defends His name before kings and nations. Mighty acts of faith marked Elijah's life because his confidence rested in the Almighty, not in himself. And when his race was run, God's power was no less present, no less ready to act, no less able to raise up a new servant and continue His work. The God of Elijah is the God of life and death, of judgment and mercy, of fire and rain, of heaven and earth -- and He is unchanged today. When Elisha stepped forward, he met his first obstacle -- the swollen Jordan, barring his way. But he did not shrink back. He lifted Elijah's mantle, struck the water, and cried out, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And the God of Elijah answered. The river parted. The path opened. And Elisha stepped into his calling. So it will be for us. When our Jordans rise up, when leaders disappoint, when challenges seem insurmountable, let our hearts cry not for men, but for the God who never fails. The God of Elisha revealed Himself not just in mighty acts, but in tender mercies -- healing poisoned waters (2 Kings 2:19-22), multiplying a widow's oil (2 Kings 4:1-7), feeding a multitude (2 Kings 4:42-44), restoring the dead to life (2 Kings 4:18-37), making iron float (2 Kings 6:1-7). This is the God who steps into our kitchens and workshops, our debts and needs, our hidden battles and silent cries. He is as present in the ordinary as in the extraordinary, as near in our weakness as in our victories. Brothers & Sisters, beloved, today God calls us to lift our eyes from men to Himself. Leaders may fall, heroes may stumble, but the Lord God of Elijah and Elisha remains. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He waits for us to trust Him afresh, to cry out for His presence, to believe in His power -- not in our strength, not in human vessels, but in Him alone. WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?

"Look, a people rises like a lioness, And lifts itself up like a lion; It shall not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain." Numbers 23:24

Numbers 23:24—a verse that declares a timeless truth: God calls Israel and His people everywhere to rise with strength, purpose, and courage, regardless of the challenges they face. The image of the lioness rising and the lion standing tall is a heavenly call to action: to stay alert, be courageous, and lead with boldness. God’s people are not meant to shrink back in fear, but to stand in faith. And here’s the greater truth: the Lion of Judah lives inside you. His Spirit empowers you not to cower or stay silent, but to roar—proclaiming salvation through Jesus, the coming Kingdom, and the soon return of the King. Just as Israel rose in Operation Rising Lion, so must we—not in our strength, but in His. Now is the time to wake up, shake off spiritual slumber, and stand firm for truth in a world drowning in confusion. Brothers & Sisters, this is not just a word for a nation—it’s God’s call to you. In every trial and moment of uncertainty, rise with the courage and the strength of the lion—alert, bold, and ready in God’s power, knowing the Lion of Judah goes before you as your Defender, Deliverer, and King. Now is the time to rise and roar! RISE LIKE A LION!

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5; "Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29 Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. Mat 11:30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

When we read the Beatitudes, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’s heart and the values that define His Kingdom. His words unveil the kind of life that God calls blessed—marked by humility, mercy, purity of heart, a hunger for righteousness, peacemaking, and faithful endurance in the face of suffering. But to fully grasp the contrast between heaven and earth, we must also look at the flip side. Only by considering the opposites of the Beatitudes can we truly see how far humanity has fallen from God’s design. Pride replaces the poor in spirit. Arrogance takes the place of meekness. The world chases pleasure rather than weeping over sin. Instead of hungering for righteousness, the self-satisfied boast they need nothing. And rather than rejoicing when persecuted for truth's sake, the world strikes back -- demanding justice for behaviors once rightly called sin. The very air we breathe is thick with self-interest, and our culture doesn't merely tolerate it -- it celebrates it and even sanctifies it as virtue. Yet into this broken and upside-down world, Jesus speaks a better word—so pure, so radically different, it sounds like it comes from another realm altogether. And that’s because it does. His words are not shaped by opinion or cultural wisdom; they flow from divine authority. When He declares, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," He isn’t offering a poetic ideal—He is proclaiming eternal truth. In a world that prizes power, pride, and self-promotion, Jesus exalts meekness as the path to blessing and lasting inheritance. Among His most powerful invitations are these words: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." The One who blesses the meek does not stand far off—He embodies meekness Himself. And in calling us to walk in it, He offers us what the world can never give: true rest. Jesus offers more than a break from activity — He provides rest for the soul. He doesn't invite us to strive harder, climb higher, or perform better. He invites us to take His yoke--gentle, humble, and anchored in meekness. Meekness is not weakness — it is power restrained and strength brought under the authority of God. The truly meek may walk with confidence and courage, yet they have surrendered the relentless need to defend themselves or seek recognition. They are no longer striving for the world’s applause, but have found peace in God’s presence alone: in themselves, they are nothing; in Him, they have everything. Jesus offers freedom from the relentless weight of ego—the constant pressure to be seen, admired, and validated. But when we take on His meekness, we step into a new kind of freedom: the freedom to stop comparing, competing, or pretending. The meek, like little children, live with simplicity and sincerity, unbothered by status or recognition, and fully content to walk in truth. This is the path to soul rest. Peace will never be found in climbing higher, shining brighter, or striving harder. True rest isn't found in exalting yourself--it's found in surrendering before the Lord. When you lay down your pride, release your need to be seen, and lose yourself in the greatness of Jesus, you'll discover the rest your soul has craved all along. Brothers & Sisters, so come. Let go of the pressure to perform, the fear of being overlooked, the weight of comparison, and image. Embrace His yoke--the yoke of meekness, quiet strength, and full surrender. Walk with Jesus, the One who is meek and lowly in heart, and find the rest that no success, status, or applause can offer. Not just momentary relief, but deep, soul-satisfying rest--rooted in His presence, anchored in His peace, and carried by His strength. This is His promise. This is His invitation. Choose it--and embrace it. MEEKNESS: A KINGDOM PRINCIPLE THAT BRINGS TRUE PEACE!

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he was afterward going to receive for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he went." Hebrews 11:8

We often celebrate beginnings—new chapters, breakthroughs, divine appointments. But in God’s economy, every true beginning requires a holy crossing. Before the Hebrews could enter the Promised Land, they had to leave Egypt. Before they entered the Promised Land, they had to cross over the Red Sea. And before Abraham could receive God’s promises, he had to obey a single command: “Leave.” Abraham stood at that threshold. When he obeyed God’s call to walk away from his homeland, his security, and all that was familiar, he became the first Hebrew—the first Ivri, literally one who crosses over. He stepped across the invisible boundary between the known and the unknown, the natural and the supernatural, the seen and that which was promised. The identity of God’s people is rooted in crossing: from unbelief to faith, from bondage to freedom, from death to life. God didn’t just call Abraham to a destination—He called him to a transformation. And transformation begins when we say goodbye to what’s behind. Leaving is not just an act of trust—it is a declaration of faith in the unseen. It’s Abraham turning his back on everything familiar—his land, his family, his future plans—to follow a voice, a promise, a God he could not see. It’s the Hebrews standing at the edge of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army closing in behind them and nothing but water before them—yet stepping forward, believing that the God who delivered them once would make a way again. Leaving is the willingness to let go before you see what’s coming next. It’s choosing to release your grip on the known in exchange for the eternal. It’s not a loss—it’s a surrender that leads to something greater. Think about the disciples. Their journey with Jesus didn’t begin with great sermons or miracles. It began when they dropped their nets. They left their boats, their routines, their comfort zones—and followed Him. Without leaving, there would have been no following. Without the exit, no entrance. It’s not just a principle of geography. It’s a paradox of the Kingdom. How often do we pray for a breakthrough while clinging to what God is asking us to release? We want resurrection, but resist the cross. We want the Promised Land, but won’t leave our Egypt. Yet, the exodus is not punishment—it’s preparation. God doesn’t just take things away—He delivers us from what no longer fits our future, so He can place in our hands what was always meant to be ours. He strips away what cannot stay, to make room for what cannot be shaken. What He asks you to release is never greater than what He’s preparing to give. Brothers & Sisters, perhaps for you, it’s a mindset that needs to be left behind, a fear that has kept you stuck, or a comfort zone that has become a cage. "Crossing over" means trusting that what God is leading you toward is greater than what He’s asking you to leave behind. What lies ahead with Him always outweighs what’s left behind. It’s believing the Promised Land ahead is worth every Egypt that's left behind. It’s choosing, like Abraham, to become one who crosses over. YOU'RE CROSSING OVER!

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also." John 14:2-3; "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Corinthians 5:1

When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they traversed a rugged, unpredictable landscape — mile after mile of mountains, valleys, rocks, and desert sands — as they journeyed from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. They didn't build homes or cities along the way. They lived in tents, always ready to move when God gave the word. Their lives were shaped by transition — constant change, daily dependence, and unwavering trust in the Lord's leading. And that, friends, holds a powerful truth for us today: this life is a journey, not a final stop. We are not home yet. We are travelers, passing through on our way to the place Jesus Himself has gone ahead to prepare. Paul echoes this hope in 2 Corinthians 5:1: "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Everything in this life--each season, trial, joy, or sorrow--is temporary. It's part of the wilderness we pass through as we move toward something better, something eternal. Like the Israelites, we move from one phase of life to another. Childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age--each is like a tent we live in for a time. Our moments of success and seasons of struggle, the highs and lows--they all come and go. Even our bodies, Scripture reminds us, are like tents--fragile, temporary, not meant to last forever. So what does this mean for us? It means we should not get too comfortable with this world. This isn't where we settle. We are pilgrims, called to walk by faith, not by what we see, but by what we know is coming--"the things which are not seen... for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Whatever season you're in right now--whether joyful or painful--remember, it's not forever. One day, every tent will be taken down. And for those who belong to Him, there is a permanent home waiting -- a mansion built by God, not with human hands, but eternal in the heavens. So I urge you today: live like a traveler, not a settler. Don't anchor your heart to what won't last -- whether possessions, status, or fleeting seasons of life. Hold loosely to this world and tightly to your calling. Fix your eyes on the eternal. Travel light. Walk with purpose. Stay ready. Brothers & Sisters, because this world is not your home--you're only passing through. And soon--sooner than we think--the One who went ahead to prepare a place for you will return again to bring you home. YOU'RE JUST PASSING THROUGH!

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" Psalms 34:8

For many, God remains a theory—an idea borrowed from tradition, deduced from the cosmos, or tucked quietly into the corners of a creed. He is believed in from afar, but is rarely encountered. Even among believers, it’s not uncommon to live with a distant reverence for God while lacking a vibrant, personal communion with Him. But Scripture offers something radically more intimate. God is not an abstract concept or a distant force. He is a Person—a loving Father who walks with His children, speaks to them, and invites them into His presence. The invitation is not to believe in a shadow or serve a principle, but to know Him. To experience Him. To taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). This is not a poetic metaphor—it is the reality of the spiritual life. Just as we use our physical senses to engage the world around us, so we are equipped with spiritual faculties—quickened by the Holy Spirit—to perceive, respond to, and delight in God. His presence is not imaginary or symbolic. It is real—closer than the ground beneath our feet. Have you settled for knowing about God without truly knowing Him? Is your faith limited to forms and facts instead of fellowship? The door to His presence stands open—not just in the life to come, but right here, right now. Today, don’t settle for simply thinking about God. Taste and see that He is good. Reckon upon His reality—draw near in quiet trust and let your spiritual senses awaken. You were made for this: to encounter, enjoy, and walk with the living God. Brothers & Sisters, this is the kind of vibrant faith that births revival—not manufactured in crowds, but ignited in hearts that have truly tasted His goodness and seen His glory. When even one soul is set ablaze by the presence of the Living God, the spark can become a wildfire. May that flame rise in you today. May revival be fresh and new within you, rooted in a firsthand taste of the One who is altogether good. O TASTE AND SEE!

"Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies having been washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

God has always longed for intimacy with us. He formed us for Himself--to walk with Him, to know Him, to delight in His Presence. This is the very heartbeat of creation: relationship, not religion. Yet sin drove a wedge between us. A veil was drawn, shutting out the light of His face and placing distance where there was once communion. But now, the veil has been torn. When Jesus died, the veil in the Temple that once separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was ripped from top to bottom--heaven's own declaration that the way into God's intimate Presence had been opened. The blood of Jesus didn't merely forgive us; it opened a door. Not just to salvation, but to intimacy. We are not invited to stand in the outer courts, content with distance and ritual. We are summoned into the very heart of the throne room. Into the Holiest. Into the place where God dwells in glory. Into a communion deeper than words, where His love fills every crevice of our being and His whisper becomes our life. This is not a metaphor. It is a reality. The torn veil is not just a symbol--it is a passage. A blood-stained trail that leads into the very arms of the Father. And it calls for boldness. Not arrogance, but a confidence grounded in Jesus' finished work. His blood has made the way. There is nothing left to earn. Nothing left to prove. Only one thing is required: come. Yet many remain outside--not because God holds us back, but because we have not yet surrendered our inner veils. Pride, fear, shame, self--these are type of veils that must be torn. But the Spirit is ready to do the tearing. He waits for our surrender. For the heart that says, "Whatever it takes, I want to know Him." And when that veil is removed, the soul enters a realm not of theory but of encounter. Brothers & Sisters, intimacy with God is not a privilege for the spiritual elite—it is the birthright of every soul redeemed by the blood of Jesus. To draw near is not striving for favor, but surrendering to love. The veil is no more. The way is open. And the Father waits -- not with judgment, but with joy -- to welcome you into the fullness of His embrace. ENTER IN, THE VEIL IS TORN!

"A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah" Psalms 3:1-8

David wrote Psalm 3 while running for his life -- betrayed, heartbroken, and hunted by his own son, Absalom. The weight of rebellion wasn’t just political; it was personal. His household had turned against him. Friends became foes. Loyal hearts grew cold. The throne he once held was now surrounded by enemies, and the whispers grew louder: “There is no salvation for him in God.” (Psalm 3:2) But David didn’t answer his enemies -- he answered with worship. “But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3) In the midst of collapse, David turned his eyes upward. When everything else was falling apart, he clung to the truth that God had not. The Lord was his shield -- not just ahead of him, but around him, covering the blind spots, the unseen threats. When others stripped away his dignity, God became his glory. When grief bowed his head low, God lifted it again. David didn’t just endure—he rested. “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5) That single verse speaks volumes. David didn’t sleep because the danger was gone—he slept because his trust was anchored in the God who never sleeps. Surrounded by betrayal and hunted in the dark, he laid his head down in faith, not fear. And when morning came, breath still in his lungs, it was proof: God was still writing his story. And because of that, he faced the day unshaken. “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalms 3:6) The odds didn’t matter anymore. God was with him. The same voice that silenced storms now steadied his heart. “Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God!” (Psalm 3:7) David called out -- not in panic, but in confidence. He had seen what God could do. He knew the One who breaks the power of the wicked and silences every mocking mouth. And then he makes a bold declaration that echoes across generations: “Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be on Your people.” (Psalm 3:8) This isn’t just David’s testimony -- it’s the battle cry of every believer who’s ever stood in the fire and refused to bow. When betrayal breaks your heart, when fear grips your chest, when the enemy hisses, "You’re finished" -- lift your eyes. The same God who shielded David surrounds you now. He is your defender. He is your honor when shame tries to stain you. He is the hand that lifts your head when the weight of life pulls it down. Brothers & Sisters, your rescue doesn’t come from strategy or strength, from plans or performance. Salvation is God’s alone -- and He’s never lost a battle. His blessing isn’t fragile. It doesn’t vanish in the storm. It rests still -- on those who trust Him. Let that truth thunder through your soul while the battle rages on! LIFT YOUR HEAD -- THE BATTLE ISN'T OVER!

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed [Meshiach], saying, 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Psalms 2:1-2,7-8,11-12

Psalm 2 is a divine announcement -- a heavenly decree that demands the world’s attention. It begins with a question: “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?” (Ps. 2:1). The nations rise up, not against injustice or tyranny, but against the rule of God’s Messiah. That Anointed is Jesus -- the Son whom the Father has set on His holy hill in Zion (Ps. 2:6). The psalm strips away all pretense and exposes the heart of human rebellion: it is a refusal to be ruled by His Messiah. In this psalm, the Father proclaims that Jesus has been given the nations as His inheritance and the ends of the earth as His possession (Ps. 2:8). This is not poetic symbolism -- it is a declaration of destiny. Jesus is not merely Savior -- He is King. He will not rule by diplomacy but with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9). His authority is final, His dominion unstoppable. Though the kings of the earth conspire, their defiance is met with divine derision—God laughs from heaven (Ps. 2:4), because no scheme can overturn His decree. And when grace is ignored, wrath is awakened. Yet even in the face of judgment, Psalm 2 is laced with mercy. The Father offers a clear warning: “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O judges of the earth” (Ps. 2:10). This is not the cold judgment of a distant God -- it is the loving rebuke of a holy God who desires repentance. The call is urgent: "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Ps. 2:11). There is joy in submission, but only when it is coupled with reverence. Then comes the command that pierces every heart: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way” (Ps. 2:12). To kiss the Son is to surrender, to lay down arms, to recognize that Jesus is Lord. The picture is one of homage and honor. This is not the kiss of affection but of allegiance. It is the line in the sand. We either bend the knee to Jesus willingly, or we face His righteous anger. This psalm reminds us that God’s love and wrath are not opposites -- they are expressions of the same holy nature. He is patient, but He is not passive. He warns not because He enjoys judgment, but because He longs to show mercy. But mercy must be received. The alternative is to "perish in the way," because the way of rebellion always leads to ruin. Brothers & Sisters, blessed are all who take refuge in Him (Ps. 2:12). That is the final word of Psalm 2, and it is the heartbeat of the gospel. Refuge is available -- not in defiance, but in surrender. Jesus is the Son whom the Father has exalted. He is the rightful King. The question is not whether He will reign -- the question is will we bow, or be broken? Kiss the Son while there's still time. Surrender in faith, and find life, joy, and mercy in Him -- for the Kingdom of God is at hand. THE KING IS COMING: WILL YOU BOW OR BE BROKEN?

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Psalms 1:1-6

Psalm 1 opens with a sobering warning about the quiet, deadly slide into sin. The man without God doesn’t become a scorner overnight -- he drifts there gradually. First, he walks in ungodly counsel, entertaining worldly thoughts. Then, he stands in the path of sinners, embracing their way of life. Finally, he sits in the seat of the scornful, hardened in heart and mocking what is sacred. This progression -- from a man without God to scorner -- reveals how small compromises grow into full rebellion, dulling the conscience and deadening the soul. In contrast, the righteous man doesn’t merely avoid sin, rather he delights in His Word. God's Word isn’t a burden to him, but a feast for his soul. It renews his mind, directs his steps, and transforms his desires. He doesn’t follow God out of duty, but out of joy. His obedience is not performance-based -- it’s affection. He is like a tree, planted by rivers of water -- strong, steady, and nourished by the Spirit. His roots go deep, and his fruit appears in season, feeding others and glorifying God. He is not shaken by droughts or storms, because his source is divine. His secret is not willpower, but the indwelling presence of the Lord. Like an artesian spring, the Holy Spirit flows from within -- wisdom, love, joy, power. He doesn’t merely try to live like Jesus -- it's deeper ... he lives through Yeshua. The life of a believer is not just imitation, it’s impartation. It is Christ in us -- the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) This man is truly blessed. Not because life is easy, but because God is with him. His prosperity is measured not in wealth, but in fruitfulness and eternal purpose. The Lord knows his way -- approves of it, delights in it, and watches over it. While the wicked seem to flourish for a time, they are like chaff -- weightless, rootless, and blown away. But the righteous man, grounded in truth and filled with grace, will stand forever. Brothers & Sisters, in the end, Psalm 1 is not just poetry -- it’s a choice of lifestyles. We are either descending in sin or being deeply rooted in Him. One life ends in emptiness, the other in everlasting joy. And the secret is not striving harder, but receiving deeper. Jesus alone can make you a fruitful tree by rivers of water -- thriving now and flourishing forever. Blessed is the man whose roots run deep in Him. BLESSED IS THE MAN PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER!