We have had a very busy week and while I have been debating on which point I am going to start with, I have to check in with you first.

How has refreshing been going? Have you taken those moments with God and really immersed yourself with time with Him? If not, try and try again. Thankfully, God never runs out of patience with us. He truly is a perfect gentleman. 

On day one, we talked about Psalm 139, but this time I want to take you to another area of scripture. This time I want to take you to Isaiah 1:19-20 "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the best of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The one thing I think we can agree on is Isaiah did not sugarcoat anything. He told it plainly and to the point. Now, I am all for a good feeling message, but I fully believe that if you do not feel any conviction during a sermon, you are not growing. You see, we are changing every single day, and in order to do that consistently you have to be open to correction, which is not meant to break us but refine us. 

Now, another place I want to take you is, Jeremiah 7:23 "But this thing I did command them: 'Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, so that it may be well with you."

Right after this verse God tells us what happen to the people He led out of the land of Egypt who followed the counsels and the stubbornness of their own evil hearts. 

Obedience isn’t just about following commands—it’s about trust. Faith calls us to walk even when we don’t see the path clearly and obeying what God has for us leads us to victory. Yes, we get there faster if we listen to Him quicker rather than our own thoughts and ideas. God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Could you image what it would have been like if the children of Israel did not have to walk around that mountain in the wilderness for 40 years... and just listened to God instead?

Learn to have a "Be not moved" mentality, take Job for example, even in immense suffering he stayed faithful. When you feel those thoughts or feelings start to sway you and distract you, pray, get in touch with your prayer team at church or even a friend you love praying with. You can even just have a venting moment with someone you trust. Or read scripture that goes with whatever you are dealing if. I am absolutely sure you can find every problem we have, talked about in the bible. 

Our purpose is to have an abundantly full life (John 10:10). So, how do we have that abundantly full life? By following the word of God. By repenting when we are in the wrong and refusing to be moved by our emotions and circumstance. Friend, listen to me when I say, this will not happen overnight. This is going to be a constant battle for the rest of your time here on earth. You may fail daily, but remember Psalm 139, He already knows you! He has already seen and made ways for you to get back into right standing with Him. That path is already laid out for you. But God will never force you. You have to choose to do as He says, and because our flesh fights us so hard it can be extremely difficult. 

Please, do not think every Christian is out here living free from trouble, because I can tell you from experience, the devil tries me every day. John 10:10 tells us plainly the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. So, that bond you have with the Father, satan will try every which way he can to destroy it. 

But do not give up. God always makes a way. Especially, when we're standing in the midst of a storm. Sometimes our problems become bigger than God. And that happens usually (may not always) when we have skipped those moments of studying God's word. When our prayer life has shift and we keep putting it off because of some other reason. Time just gets away from us or we're too tired. Any excuse we use you can lead us down the road of fear, depression, loneliness, anger, anxiety, you name it. 

Either way it disrupts our purpose.

So, the key points I want you to take away from this today is:

1.) Fix that personal relationship with God, and if you are in right standing, great! Keep going.

2.) Live a life of radical obedience to the best of your ability. You may fall off. The routine may be askew, but restart. Do not quit.

3.) Come to know God deeply. The way you live your life should glorify Him. When people come around you, they should hear Him when you speak, see Him in the way you carry yourself, and how you treat others. 

These points are just the beginning of fulfilling our purpose. We have so much more to uncover, and I plan to do just that. So, for today we will finish with a prayer and another day is coming.

Father God, I come before you humbly and ask that you would show me where I need to work on my relationship with you. Lord, go before and behind me. Keep me safe in whatever trials or mess that comes against me. Holy Spirit remind me when I start to get off track and lose sight of you and your plans for me. Keep me grounded in my faith in you. Help me to seek your will for my life. Father, I thank you for your word and your promises. Lord, I thank you for knowing me and having patience when I stumble. God, and like a little child thank you for teaching me when I mess up and fall down. Lord, thank you for picking me up out of the mess of this world and planting my feel out your firm foundation. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.

 Remain unshaken, hardship doesn’t mean abandonment—it’s an opportunity to deepen your faith in Him.

Stay Blessed!

-FASP