Envy

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
—Proverbs 14:30 ESV

Envy. Jealousy. Covetousness. It can consume us, stealing the fulfillment that the Holy Spirit imparts and killing the fruit of the spirit. It crucifies our love, robs our joy, and destroys our peace. Whatever patience we may have had vanishes because we are never satisfied. Moreover, whatever kindness and goodness we exemplified disappears because we don’t view others as valuable. We view them as a benchmark for our own lives. Consumed by our desire for more, we lose our self-control, our faithfulness wanes, and our hearts become hardened by constant competition. In the grip of envy, peace is an elusive dream.

Peace is life to us. When our hearts and minds are at peace, we can receive God’s fullness. Our souls find rest, and we no longer strive for more or seek to be the best. We can rejoice with others when they receive blessings. Our hearts are free to love without judgment. We don’t compare because there’s no competition. Without competition and comparison, not only is our soul at peace, but our physical bodies are also not stressed. Peace and joy are found in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).  If we are consumed by envy, constantly comparing our lives to others, and feeling inadequate even when we have enough, we will be driven by an insatiable desire for recognition and superiority. This relentless striving and dissatisfaction will consume us like a cancerous growth, corrupting our souls and bodies. 

Jesus came to rescue us from destruction. He is the solution to all the ailments of our soul and body (Psalms 107:20). While we may have accepted Him as our Savior, He must also be the Lord of our lives. We must surrender to the Word we have received.

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it,” Paul wrote, “and even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3 ESV)?

How immature are we? Do we still need to be treated as spiritual babies requiring milk? When will we grow up and walk by the spirit instead of the flesh? Jealousy not only destroys our spiritual life but also breeds dissension and division. Envy not only hinders God’s ability to work within us but also destroys others. Now is the time to grow up. Instead of allowing envy to crush the Holy Spirit within us, it’s time to crucify envy. If you will walk by the Spirit, you won’t gratify the yearning of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

If God's love is in you, there’s no room for envy. You know He loves you so you love others. Love is patient, and it’s kind. Love doesn’t envy (1 Corinthians 13:4). It doesn't destroy lives. Love builds. Love creates. Love sees the best. Love doesn’t compare, and it doesn’t compete.

The time for solid food has come. Digest the Word until it talks back to you and you know Jesus as Lord.

Settle Only For God's Love

Don’t settle for the least. God doesn’t see the least in you. He sees Jesus in you. Don’t settle for the enemy’s lies. It’s his purpose to destroy you. He only has death for you. God has life and life more abundant for you.

It’s God’s goodness that has drawn you to repentance. Trust His goodness. Jesus died for your sins. They are as far as the east is from the west. He no longer sees all the years that you messed up. Jesus is your identity now. 

Jesus didn’t come to condemn you. He chose you to be blameless before God. The greatest exchange took place. Jesus, who had no sin, took yours by laying down His life for you. He took all your sins—past, present, and future, paid for all of them, and imparted to you the righteousness of God. Don’t keep trying to pay for sins you no longer owe. That is a pain that will hurt and condemn your heart. Don’t settle for that voice that won’t let thoughts of sin go. You cannot make yourself feel forgiven. You can't make yourself feel God's love. Jesus will do that as you keep renewing your mind with His Word. Keep drawing upon God’s truth, and let the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to you. Exercise your senses every day to conform to His truth so you can experience the new person you are in His grace.

Settle only for God’s love. 

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, be able to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height—that you would know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

May You Rejoice Over Me

 

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives.


—1 Chronicles 29:17a NLT

Does the Lord find integrity in my heart?  I can believe I love God with all my heart, but if I don't continually determine to have a heart of honesty and integrity, then I will fall short. Whatever I offer—whether friendship, compassion, correction, time, a listening ear, advice—must be offered from a heart with no agenda. It must be offered from a heart that seeks nothing in return. What I do or words that I speak must come from a heart that surrenders its selfish motives and needs no recognition. I want no mask. My heart lies open before Him. He knows the motives of my heart. Another may not know, but He does. He rejoices when He finds integrity in me.

My life in Jesus Christ is not about me. Whatever I give or whatever I do in His name should come from what He inspires within me and never from anything of my own making. Life tests me everyday to see if I have a heart of honesty and integrity. If I draw close to God, He will draw close to me. His Word will reveal the real intentions of my heart. Nothing will be hidden. I will know if He finds integrity in me or not. 

Lord, I am so thankful that when I seek you, you reveal the real motives of my heart—the ones I haven’t even realized were in me. Help me to honestly look at myself, humbly admit when my intentions are wrong, and allow you to change me. I desire the renewing power of your forgiveness and grace. Forgive me for anything I have ever done or said that has come from any other motive than yours. Continually create in me a pure heart, and renew your steadfastness within me. May what I do or say or offer always come from a heart that is surrendered, knowing its secure in you. May I walk in integrity, having nothing in my life to be discovered that doesn’t honor you. May you rejoice over me.


“He who walks with integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9).

Betty

Her name was Betty. She was my son-in-law’s great aunt. She passed over a week ago at the age of 101. I knew no one like her. She could have given up because of a lifetime of incredible hardship. But she never did. She served her family instead of herself. She loved and physically took care of a husband with dementia, two daughters, and a granddaughter until they all passed. Betty opened her home to family and those who needed her. She was always available to help others through the hard times of life.

Years ago when I first visited Betty in her home, her kitchen counters were filled with food she had fixed, and her heart overflowed with joy you had come. Her heart at 101 still overflowed with joy and concern for others. She always asked about your family and how you really were. When young people visited assisted living, they would always come to see her. She would declare that these children were the very best and she had such high hopes for them. The truth is people wanted to visit Betty. If you were having a hard day, her laughter and encouragement would bring joy to your heart. 

Betty always saw the best in people, listening to the concerns of their hearts and unashamedly giving advice. She never stopped wanting to take care of people. She wanted to take care of herself at NHC Place so that those who took care of her wouldn’t have to work so hard. She declared they had their own lives at home, husbands and children to take care of, yet were so good to her. It concerned Betty that her granddaughter, Cindy, who was responsible for her care, chose to put her own life on hold because of her. She knew Cindy would always be there to take care of her, and she wanted Cindy to be free to go to Tennessee where she had built a new home.

There is so much more I could write about Betty. But no words I write could explain how this beautiful person has impacted my life. She was always quick to tell you who had impacted hers. Each time my friend, Debbie, and I visited Betty, she wanted to talk about Jesus. She said Jesus had walked right in front of her all the days of her life and was still walking in front of her. She never got in front of him. She declared that it wasn’t her place to do that. Betty often said she could just reach up, and there Jesus was, helping her button her blouse that her fumbling fingers couldn’t button or helping her do the hard things that she had once found easy. 

I visited Betty recently on a Saturday. For the first time she didn’t know who I was. She kept looking over my shoulder and smiling at something behind me. Betty had been tired for quite awhile. Debbie and I had prayed that Jesus would send His angels for her. Three days after my visit, this sweet lady who was always quick to declare she had followed Jesus all the days of her life, followed Him right into eternity.

This month I turn 78. Remembering Betty has make me think about my own time to leave this world. I’m so thankful that I will not only see Jesus and my family who have gone before me, but I’ll also see Betty. She promised to prepare a grand feast for me. I yearn to share heaven one day with my family. Betty would always lean forward in her recliner and take my hand and tell me to just keep loving and praying for them. To never give up. I have to continually trust that Jesus will reach each one of them with His unconditional love and grace. 

If you are older like me, you know what it means to anticipate your life on earth will soon be over. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, He has loved you from the very beginning. His grace looks beyond the sins that have tried to destroy you and sees your need to be free—to be loved. Open your heart to Him. Lay everything down. Invite Him to come into your life. He won’t force you. He loves you enough to give you the right to choose or refuse Him. Don’t refuse Him. He will come into your life and wash away all that has separated you from His love. All your past, present, and future sins will no longer be yours. You will no longer own them. You will never have to carry them again. You can have a new life in Jesus. You can receive the gift of His unconditional love and grace. No words I write can describe the relief and joy you will experience. 

To my dearest friend, Betty, “You have been one of my greatest encouragers. I will see you again. You said to me only a few weeks before you passed, ‘We will sit down, Lynn, and have a cup of coffee that I can make again and eat something I can bake again. And we will rejoice in Jesus.’”

“Oh, yes, Betty, we will."




Love Without Hypocrisy

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
—Romans 12:9

Hypocrisy is “a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude” (dictionary.com). The Greek word that was used in Romans 12:9 for “without hypocrisy” was “anupokritos,” and it means “unfeigned, undisguised” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). A Christian who loves “without hypocrisy” is sincere, honest, and transparent. He has no need to pretend to be something that he isn’t. He’s secure in his relationship with God.

Paul continued in this verse, still talking about love: “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” “Abhor” means “to detest utterly.” True love hates the things that hurt those we love. If we don’t hate the things that steal, kill, and destroy someone, then our love isn’t God’s kind of love. And if we don’t hate evil, our love for God is hypocritical. 

Often, real feelings are hidden behind a self-righteous mask. While it’s important to be tactful and avoid intentionally hurting others, there are times and places when speaking the truth in love is necessary.

In Leviticus 19:17, the Lord commanded, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” 

This verse is saying that if we fail to reprimand our brother or sister when we see sin, then we hate them. Many people have hidden their true feelings about evil under the pretense of loving someone too much to hurt their feelings. However, the truth is a person who is unable to speak the truth in love is a hypocrite. They say nothing because they run the risk of being rejected. 

We must love the sinner but hate the sin. It’s impossible to truly love someone with the kind of love that comes from God without hating anything that threatens their well-being. There is a righteous type of anger that isn’t sin (Matthew 21:12). Our anger should never be at our brother or sister in Christ. Our anger is at the devil for defrauding, swindling, and deceiving them. 

We reveal the truth of the enemy’s lies with God’s unconditional love and grace, never with a “I’m better than you” attitude. God’s love is perfectly good and full of mercy. His love sees beyond the fault in us and sees our need. His love reveals the real intentions of the heart, not only the heart of the one we love, but also ours. The true love of God is never above anyone else. It comes to serve. God’s love in us can draw someone to repentance.

Is your heart hurting for someone right now? Perhaps, a brother or sister in Christ that has been deceived by the enemy? They may be blind to the fact that their sin and their attitude is stealing the abundant life Jesus has for them, or they may be fully aware of their sin and think that they care less. Deep within, they don't care less. Deep within, they are scared to death. You can see them restored. You can see them healed. How much do you love them? Really love them? Enough to risk their rejection and anger? Enough to say, “I’m hurting for you and where you are right now. Will you let me help you, friend?”

Love with the love of Jesus. He looked beyond your fault and saw your need. You can do the same. Let your love be without hypocrisy.

Practicing God's Presence

Prayer is nothing else than a sense of God’s presence.
—Brother Lawrence

In the midst of crisis or change, Christ is with me. In the midst of the storm, He is my safe fortress. He guards me from the breakers that would crush me. But He is more than just a secure fortress. He is my strength to not only endure, but to victoriously overcome. There is never any reason to fear when the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have the perfect love of Christ within me. God is the one great constant in my life—the same yesterday, today, and forever. Abiding in His love, He claims my thoughts, and His peace guards my soul. I discover that I, also, am strong in His grace. Because He is steadfast and unchanging, I can be steadfast and unchanging. As He is in this world, so am I. I can walk in His peace that overcomes this fallen world with the authority He has bestowed upon me.

Doesn’t this sound amazing? Isn’t this the abundant life Jesus died to give us? But don’t we all struggle at times to walk in it? He is consistent. We are the ones who don’t allow Him to be constant and consistent in our lives. We are the ones to leave the fold and wander off. 

Abiding in God’s presence is what makes the difference between living a defeated life and a victorious one. The presence of the Holy Spirit in my life must be practiced. To live an overcoming life, I must be in fellowship with God daily in prayer until His Word becomes a habit, and He is unconsciously rendered. I unconsciously “pray without ceasing.” He is just “there” at the moment I need Him. He is just “there” in moments of sudden disaster when, without Him, my world would cave. But practicing His presence everyday has brought His immediate peace in that moment. 

I don’t always know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit prays for me. I consciously submit to Him, and He prays God’s perfect will. The external voices are silenced, and I know His peace, no matter the waves crashing around me. I choose to practice His presence everyday. I choose to abide in Him. I may go through a busy day with no issue, and my conscious mind is busy with my schedule. Then suddenly I hear or see something that is earth-shattering. It bombards me. I speak the name of Jesus because I know He is in me just waiting to be drawn from the unconscious depths of my spirit into the consciousness of my soul. Peace arises that transcends logic. It defeats the emotions that attempt to have control. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Practicing His presence has brought His peace.

Do you have that sense of God's presence? He is right there within you speaking peace in the midst of your storm, but you may not realize it. Christ is always in you, my friend in Christ, never forsaking or leaving you. But for Him to make a difference in your mind, will, and emotions, you must draw Him into your conscious existence. He must impact you and your world. His presence is practiced by faith. If you will pray in faith and practice His presence everyday, He will go with you consciously through the days of your life, rendering peace, joy, and victory.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). 

If you are born-again, you have Jesus on the inside of you to be exercised in your life. Practicing His presence transcends all the conscious bombardment of hardship, pain, and suffering, and brings it all under the authority of Jesus Christ. His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Practice His Presence everyday until He is only what is rendered in your life. May His joy always remain in you so that your joy shall always be full.

Equipped to Fulfill Your Purpose

 

Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
—2 Tim. 1:9

God’s grace comes into your life with a purpose. A resurrected Jesus found Paul on the road to Damascus. “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me” (Acts 26:16).

God’s grace works for good to those who are called according to His purpose. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

God has a purpose for your life and grace for you to walk in that purpose. You have distinct gifts and talents to be discovered and developed. You can only experience God’s peace, joy, and faith to the extent you understand your purpose.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8, 10).

Not only does grace save us through faith. Grace also leads and empowers us to do the good works God has planned for us. Our lives should express and reveal His life within us.

Grace without a purpose is robbed of its power. Unexpressed grace brings the enemy great joy. He loves for us to be saved, selfish, and stuck. Passivity will keep us from knowing and moving in the fullness of God’s purpose. You must intentionally discover and pursue your purpose with the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering you.

Those we know and those we meet are our purposes. Each relationship, family member, friend, and person you come in contact with is your purpose. We are here to express and reveal the grace of Jesus to those who are easy and to those who aren’t. There is His grace for us to do this work. Grace and more grace is always available.

You are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus! You are uniquely gifted and of measureless value to Him! Once you comprehend that Jesus loves and accepts you, and that it is He who works within you, you will be empowered to fulfill your purpose.You can accomplish anything God guides you to do. He is the one who empowers you. 

You Are Rich In His Grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
—2 Corinthians 8:9-11

Do you have a vision from God that you believe in with all your heart? Is it something into which you have poured your heart and soul? Perhaps, you haven’t seen the work you’ve done bring you any closer to that vision. Perhaps, you’ve become weary because of constant struggle to complete it. You were the one to whom God imparted the vision. You were the one to get it started. 

“Now finish the work” Paul writes, “according to your means.” 

God's perfect will is for the vision to be completed, but you can't make a vision come to life―even with all that you’ve poured into it and even with all you’ve done to inspire others to catch it. You can only finish to the best of your ability according to what you’ve been given. What you may have forgotten is that you’ve been given everything you need to complete it. When God inspires a vision and you say, “yes,” all the spiritual riches of heaven are at your disposal. It’s not a matter of a lack of resources. It’s a matter of drawing His resources out of the spiritual realm by faith. The enemy will do everything he can to keep you from receiving from God. You must stand against the enemy’s tactics. He wants to destroy the vision God birthed in you. Cooperate with God instead of giving up and bringing joy to the enemy. Remember that God’s timing isn’t yours. You must rest in Him when you’re weary, listening to Him and drawing strength from Him. When God gives a vision, He also supplies you everything you need to complete it. 

Don't ever forget that the vision doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to God. You’re just a yielded vessel for Him to use for His purpose. His vision is fluid. It’s not etched in concrete. You can have an idea of how a vision should pan out, but that is just your perception. His thoughts are greater than yours, and His ways go beyond any preconceived notion. The vision He has imparted to you is only a part of His whole purpose. It’s greater than you can ask or think. He gives you a particular vision to be your focus and to anchor you. Whatever He has imparted to you, it’s your offering back to Him. Realize He owns it. You are to steward His vision. You are to press in and pray, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and give Him room to inspire others to catch it. If it isn’t caught, others made that choice. You can’t change them. Only He can. Lay that vision on the altar. God has never given up. It’s His will. And when you pray His will, believing, He brings to life what you’ve asked of Him.

You’re not the only one with a vision from God. The visions that He imparts to His children are ultimately meant to unify us in His ultimate purpose―to bring the Gospel of Grace to a dying world and to prepare those who believe in Him to live a life of faith that perpetuates the message of His salvation. You are part of God's highest work—His greatest plan. Do whatever He leads you to do with whatever you have now, believing that there is no end to His supply, and trusting Him with as much enthusiasm as when you first stepped out in faith.

The perfect and finished work of Jesus has made you rich in grace. Although He could have had anything―although He had every powerful resource at His bidding―although He was perfectly God and without sin, Jesus became poor for your sake. He humbled Himself, took all of the worst of you and gave you the best of Himself so that you might be free and rich in His grace. 

The vision He imparted to you is just as rich as when you first had it. You have all the wealth of God’s grace. The means to finish the work are available to you, just waiting for you to receive them by faith. Now believe in the inheritance you have in Christ. Your life is His for His purpose. When He’s ready for your vision to manifest, not only will the vision He gave you birth more visions; you and others shall be inspired to receive more grace upon grace for His Kingdom.

The means He has given to complete your vision are outstanding and eternal. Release by faith your vision and see God breathe His life into it.

The Church On The Hill

I’ve sown the Word for decades in my heart, praying for it to be manifested in my life. Through the years, I’ve seen the Lord fulfill many promises in His Word; I’ve waited a long time for others. Now I’m seeing seeds sown many years ago coming into harvest. I’ve made mistakes like anyone else in my Christian walk, but I’m on a continual journey of spiritual discovery that I never want to end. I’m hungry for the Lord to give me wisdom, understanding, and revelation in my knowledge of Him.

According to 1 Corinthians 14, prophecy isn’t just for edification, encouragement, and comfort; prophecy is also a word of knowledge. When the secret of someone’s heart is revealed, it causes him to fall down on his face, worship God, and say that God is truly in this place (1 Corinthians 14:25-26). 

Many Christians who believe in prophecy think that only certain individuals are chosen to prophesy. It’s true that only certain believers are called to the office of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11). However, the spiritual gift of prophecy, listed in 1 Corinthians 12:10, doesn’t refer to the office of a prophet. According to the Word of God, “all” can prophesy. 

“For you can all prophesy, one by one,” Paul writes,” that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31). 

Our pastor declared yesterday morning that he doesn’t want us or our church to miss out on what God has for us.

Months ago, I had a vision of three golden bowls coming together as one. It hung above our congregation. There was a spout, and it was slowly tipping. I could see a thick golden liquid at the edge of the spout just ready to pour. I asked the Holy Spirit what this meant. The Holy Spirit led me to Revelation 5:8. God has heard and gathered all our prayers in his golden bowls of incense in heaven, and our answers are ready to be poured out. His salvation, His healing, His deliverance, and His anointing are waiting to be manifested in this place. But we must do our part. We must empty ourselves and allow God to move without prejudice. We must press in deeply in prayer and petition Him to open the heavens. And when He pours, He shall pour through our yielded hearts into the lives of a starving people. Compassion will be as water turning into new wine. And this outpouring of heaven will flow through and out of us into Anniston and all around.

Thirty-five years ago I was driving up Quintard Avenue past this church on the hill, which was Harvest Temple at the time. I was listening to Dr. David Yonggi Cho prophesying that one day God would pour out His Spirit in great power in northern Alabama. Perhaps, this church on the hill was a part of his vision. I wouldn’t know about that, but I do know we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

This church on the hill is chosen to be His light in the darkness. The Lord has set apart this house, this place for His holiness and power.  All can prophesy. Humble yourself. Seek the Lord. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. You are a chosen people. He can give you another vision of His purpose. Perhaps, you shall see what I have experienced with greater clarity or bring a fresh perspective to it. We were created for such a time as this. Are we preparing our hearts and gathering for the Holy Spirit to open the heavens and pour? Will we let God be God? Will we press in and pray?

 

“Therefore, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).


“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18).

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).


https://www.lynnlacher.com/2026/06/the-church-on-hill.html

Endure To Partake

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
—Hebrews 10:36).


The promises of God aren’t dependent upon our efforts. They are dependent on His. But we must cooperate with Him. We must trust Him, accept His will, and step out in faith. Although we may fail at times, we must never give up. His promise will ultimately be fulfilled through our surrender. He cannot deny what He has accomplished for us on the cross. If we trust His perfect work and cooperate with the Holy Spirit, His promise will be fulfilled in us.

Do you think that when Jesus called Peter to follow Him that He did not know his strengths and his weaknesses? God knew Peter. He knew that despite human weakness, Peter would discover strength in Him. If you feel weak and lacking in power, remember the Lord chose Peter knowing His potential―knowing that one day He would be filled with the Spirit and minister in His power.

God's choice of Peter is incredibly encouraging. Choosing a weak Peter to serve Him encourages us that, we too, can be used for God's purposes. Take heart. No matter what your struggle or your area of weakness, God knows your potential, too. He extends grace and forgiveness along your lifetime of service so that you may achieve it. Peter, as a result of God's grace, forgiveness, and power, gained spiritual maturity. God took a man who had once denied Him by a coal fire and used him to powerfully declare and demonstrate His purposes.

Peter writes: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Jesus has called you to partake of Himself—not because of who you are. Not because of any lack. Not because of any failure. He sees your perfection in Him. He sees who you are in Him. He calls you to partake of Himself because of who He is and what He has accomplished on your behalf. His divine power is available so that through Him, and through His precious promises, you may mature to be more like Him. 

Just as Peter, you can reach a level of spiritual maturity where you are effective and productive in your Christian walk (2 Peter 1:9). You can experience God working powerfully in and through you in ways you never anticipated. 

Persevere no matter your failure. Ask to learn from it. Persevere no matter how weak you feel. You can’t live on feelings. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you. Endure to partake. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).