• 25-329 — Serving With Your Gifts (Not Someone Else’s)
    Nov 25 2025
    Today we’re stepping into a conversation that hits home for a lot of believers — the pressure to serve like someone else.Every church has that one person who seems to do everything effortlessly…That one leader with natural charisma…That one servant whose kindness feels like sunshine…That one worshiper whose voice shakes the room…And if you’re not careful, you walk in thinking:“My gifts aren’t enough.”“I don’t measure up.”“I wish I could serve like them.”Brother… I know that feeling.There were years when I tried to out-serve, out-lead, and out-perform everyone in sight — not because it was my calling, but because it was my insecurity.But here’s the truth God whispered to me when I needed it the most:“Matthew, I don’t anoint the mask — I anoint the man.”Let’s dig in.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”📖 TEACHINGPeter doesn’t say some have gifts.He doesn’t say the elite have gifts.He doesn’t say the loudest, the most confident, or the most spiritual have gifts.He says each believer has received a gift — a specific, God-shaped assignment wrapped in grace.And here’s the key word:Varied.Meaning your gift isn’t supposed to look like anyone else’s.The Church is a body — not a performance team.* Some believers are hands* Some are feet* Some are voices* Some are encouragers* Some are behind-the-scenes miracles* Some are warriors in prayer* Some are leaders in crisis* Some are comforters in painAnd the moment you try to serve like someone else…You stop serving like yourself.God didn’t call you to be a copy.He didn’t design you to be a duplicate.He didn’t gift you to be a shadow.He crafted you with specific assignments in mind — places only you can fill.The enemy knows this, so he whispers:* “Your gift is too small.”* “Your role isn’t important.”* “No one sees what you do.”* “You’re not gifted like them.”But here’s the truth of heaven:Every gift matters because every person matters.When God began rebuilding my life after my “spiritual earthquake,” I kept trying to lead the way I used to — strong, loud, forceful, commanding.But the Holy Spirit kept whispering:“That’s not your gift anymore. I’m reshaping you.”I used to think leadership meant control.I used to think influence meant volume.I used to think impact meant being the center of attention.But in that season, God stripped all of that away.He wasn’t punishing me —He was pruning me.And during that pruning, He used Michelle as a living lesson.Michelle never tried to be anything but who God made her.She wasn’t loud… but she was strong.She wasn’t spotlight-focused… but she was consistent.She didn’t push… she built.And God whispered to me through her life:“You don’t have to compete with someone else’s grace — you just need to steward your own.”That truth changed everything.It changed the way I served.It changed the way I led.It changed the way I saw my calling.Gifts aren’t about greatness.They’re about obedience.🛠️ LIVING APPLICATIONIf you want to serve with power and authenticity:* Accept the gift God actually gave you — not the one you wish you had.* Stop comparing. Comparison kills calling.* Ask God where your gift fits today — not someday.* Be faithful in the small. God multiplies stewardship.* Let God refine your gift without resisting the process.📅 DAILY ACTIONAsk God one question:“What gift have You placed in me that I’ve been ignoring?”Write down the answer. Act on it.🏋️ PRACTICEUse your gift intentionally once today — not randomly, not reactively, but deliberately.Let God direct your steps.⚔️ CHALLENGE OF THE WEEKSpeak this aloud every morning:“God didn’t call me to be a copy. He called me to be a vessel.”🙏 PRAYERFather, thank You for designing me with intention.Thank You for depositing gifts in me that are unique, powerful, and needed.Break the chains of comparison, insecurity, and fear.Help me steward the grace You placed in me with courage and humility.Show me where my gift fits in Your Body — and give me the boldness to walk in it.In Jesus’ name, amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 25-328 — Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ
    Nov 24 2025
    Today, we’re diving into a topic that countless believers wrestle with quietly — the feeling of standing in a room full of Christians and still wondering, “Where do I fit in the Body of Christ?”You can love Jesus deeply…You can read your Bible…You can worship with passion…And still feel unsure about where you belong.I’ve been there.There were Sundays when I smiled, shook hands, held the door, served wherever I could — and yet inside, I felt like a man wandering the edges of the campfire, unsure if there was actually a seat with my name on it.But here’s the truth God whispered to me in a season when I felt the most spiritually displaced:“Son, you don’t find your place by earning it. You find it by listening to Me.”And that whisper reshaped everything.OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV)“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.”The Church isn’t spiritual musical chairs.You don’t get lucky.Nobody ends up where they are by accident.Paul says God arranged each person — intentionally, deliberately, lovingly.That means three things:* Your place is not random.* Your place is not fragile.* Your place is not optional.When a believer wanders through life unsure of where they belong, the enemy rushes in to fill the silence with lies:* “You don’t matter here.”* “Everyone else has purpose except you.”* “God uses other people better than you.”But Scripture cuts through all that fog:God chose the place you were built to stand.You don’t have to compete for it.You don’t have to compare yourself into it.You don’t have to convince anyone to give it to you.God Himself arranged you.There was a season in my life when I felt like I had disqualified myself from God’s family table. Not because God pushed me away — but because I pushed people away with my words, my pride, and my reactions.I had moments when I looked around at church and thought,“Everyone else has this figured out. I’m the odd one out.”And in one of my lowest moments, when everything felt strained — my marriage, my walk with God, my own identity — God spoke a whisper that stopped me cold:“Stop. Slow your roll. Don’t let Satan get a foothold.”That whisper wasn’t condemnation.It was rescue.It was the Father saying,“You still belong to Me. I’m not done arranging your life.”And you know what else God used?Michelle.Her steady, faithful presence.Her ability to serve without needing a spotlight.Her commitment to the church even while managing chronic pain, exhaustion, and the weight she carried for our family.Watching her taught me something powerful:Sometimes your place in the Body is discovered through humility, not ambition.Michelle never tried to be someone else.She didn’t compete with anyone.She simply served — and God magnified her faithfulness.And through watching her, God reminded me:“Matthew, your place isn’t found by pushing harder.It’s found by coming closer.”LIVING APPLICATIONIf you want to find your place in the Body:* Start where your feet are.Serve somewhere. Anywhere. Movement reveals mission.* Stop comparing your calling.Someone else’s gift isn’t a threat. It’s reinforcement.* Ask God directly: “Where do You want me?”And wait. He will whisper.* Let humility guide you.Many people miss their place because they look too high instead of too near.* Trust that you were arranged, not abandoned.Your place is secure.DAILY ACTIONAsk the Holy Spirit one simple question today:“Show me where You’ve placed me.”Write down whatever He brings to your heart.PRACTICEActively serve in one small, tangible way this week — even if it feels insignificant.You’d be surprised what God reveals while your hands are moving.CHALLENGE OF THE WEEKEvery time you feel like you don’t belong, declare out loud:“God arranged me.”PRAYERFather, thank You for arranging my life with purpose and precision.Silence every lie that tells me I don’t matter.Heal every wound that makes me doubt my value.Reveal the place You’ve prepared for me, and give me courage to step into it.Use me in Your Body exactly how You designed.In Jesus’ name — amen.Let’s Get To Work.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 💌 25-327 — A Love Letter from God: “You Are Mine, Forever”
    Nov 23 2025

    Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    My beloved child,

    You’ve spent days learning about who I am — your Savior, your Redeemer, your Way, your Truth, your Life. But now I want you to hear something that the world can’t drown out, the devil can’t distort, and time can’t erase:

    You are Mine. Forever.

    Before you drew your first breath, I knew your name. I knit your DNA strand by strand, each one a divine signature of My creativity. You were not an accident — you were an assignment. You were My idea, My image, My masterpiece.

    You’ve stumbled, fallen, and questioned your worth — but My love has never flinched. You’ve run, but I’ve never stopped chasing. You’ve doubted, but I’ve never stopped believing in what I placed inside you.

    There’s nothing you could do that would make Me love you less. Nothing you could accomplish that would make Me love you more. My love doesn’t rise and fall with your performance — it flows from My presence.

    When the nails pierced My Son’s hands, your name was engraved in them. When He said, “It is finished,” that wasn’t just the end of His pain — it was the beginning of your promise. Every drop of blood was a declaration: “You belong to Me.”

    When storms rage and fear whispers that I’ve left you, remember this — I never abandon My own. The world will walk away when you fail, but I draw closer. Others may forget your name, but your name is written in My book, carved into My heart, sealed in My Spirit.

    You may not see what I’m doing, but trust Me — I’m working. Even the waiting seasons are sacred. Even the painful ones are purposeful. You see broken pieces; I see building blocks.

    You are not behind. You are not forgotten. You are not unloved.

    Every time you doubt your value, look to the cross — that’s your receipt of redemption.Every time you fear the future, look to the empty tomb — that’s your guarantee of victory.Every time you wonder if I still care, look within — that’s where My Spirit now lives.

    You belong to Me not because you’ve earned it, but because I chose you before you even knew My name.

    And when you slip, I don’t cross My arms — I reach out My hands. When you wander, I don’t scold — I pursue. When you return, I don’t lecture — I rejoice.

    This isn’t temporary love; this is eternal adoption.You’re not a guest in My house; you’re family at My table.

    So walk boldly. Love deeply. Live freely. You don’t have to prove yourself — you just have to stay close.

    When fear rises, remember who fights for you. When shame speaks, remember who silenced it. When loneliness creeps in, remember who promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    You are sealed by My Spirit.You are covered by My grace.You are strengthened by My joy.You are Mine. Forever.

    With everlasting love,Your Father

    🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.

    Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.

    My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    6 mins
  • 🎙️ 25-326 — Eternal Life Begins Now
    Nov 22 2025
    Too many believers live as though eternal life is something waiting on the other side of death. But Jesus never said eternal life starts when you die. He said it begins when you believe.In John 17:3, He defined it clearly: “This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”Eternal life isn’t just about a destination — it’s about a relationship. It’s not simply “living forever” — it’s living with God forever, starting right now.You see, salvation isn’t fire insurance — it’s transformation. It’s not escaping Hell someday; it’s escaping hopelessness today. The moment you gave your life to Jesus, Heaven didn’t just become your future home — it became your current address. You became a citizen of a Kingdom that’s already active and alive.That means you’re not waiting for victory — you’re walking in it. You’re not waiting for peace — you carry it. You’re not waiting to experience God’s love — you’re living in it.I remember talking with Michelle during a season where life felt heavy. Bills, ministry, deadlines, fatigue — all pressing in at once. We were both running on fumes. One night, she said, “It feels like we’re surviving instead of living.”I nodded, feeling it too. Then the Holy Spirit whispered: “You’re living for Heaven, but you’ve forgotten Heaven is already living in you.”That changed everything. Eternal life isn’t a countdown to someday — it’s a celebration of right now.When Jesus rose from the grave, He didn’t just conquer death — He injected eternal purpose into every moment. You’re not working toward victory; you’re working from it. Every act of obedience, every prayer whispered in faith, every step of endurance — it all echoes in eternity.And here’s where assurance comes in. Eternal life isn’t fragile; it’s finished. If you belong to Jesus, you don’t have to fear losing what He already sealed. You’re not holding onto Him — He’s holding onto you.John 10:28 says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”Let that sink in. Your salvation doesn’t depend on your grip — it depends on His.Eternal life means living fearless. It means waking up every day knowing your eternity is secure, your purpose is divine, and your story has already been written by the Author of Life.So stop living like eternity is postponed. Heaven is already invading earth through every believer who dares to live like it’s true.When you forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it — that’s eternal life in action.When you choose peace instead of panic — that’s eternal life manifesting.When you worship through tears — that’s the eternal breaking into the temporary.You are not waiting for eternal life. You’re walking in it.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHORJohn 17:3 (ESV) — “This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEEternal life isn’t something you reach — it’s Someone you know.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONTake five minutes today to thank God — not for what you’re hoping He’ll do, but for the eternal life already pulsing inside you right now.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read John 10 and John 17 out loud.* Tell someone today, “Eternal life doesn’t start after death — it starts after Jesus.”* Walk through your home and declare: “This house belongs to the living.”💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYStop living like Heaven is far away. Every breath in Christ is a preview of eternity.🙏 PRAYERJesus, thank You that eternal life doesn’t begin in a grave but in a relationship with You. Teach me to live aware of Heaven’s presence now — to walk with purpose, to speak with hope, and to love with eternity in mind. Amen.🔥 IN CLOSINGYou’re not just headed for eternal life — you’re already in it.So live today like Heaven is your home address.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 🎙️ 25-325 — Bold Faith in a Fearful World
    Nov 21 2025
    Faith was never meant to blend in. It was designed to stand out.We live in a world that rewards silence about truth and punishes conviction. A world that bows to comfort, compromise, and convenience. But God didn’t save us to survive the times — He called us to shape them.When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before the fiery furnace, they weren’t trying to make headlines. They were simply obeying God. Nebuchadnezzar said, “Bow or burn.” They replied, “We will not bow.” That’s what bold faith looks like — calm, steady defiance against evil, rooted in trust, not arrogance.And that same spirit is what we need today.Michelle and I have felt this pressure too. When you stand for biblical truth — whether it’s about marriage, life, or morality — you’ll be called intolerant, outdated, or even hateful. But the real hate is staying silent while people walk blindly toward destruction. Love tells the truth even when it costs you.I’ll never forget when we decided to start speaking boldly about Israel, about truth in Scripture, about the deception in modern culture. Some people applauded. Others walked away. But the peace that came from obedience was worth every uncomfortable goodbye.See, bold faith doesn’t mean being loud; it means being loyal. It means your confidence is in God, not the crowd.Daniel didn’t close his window to pray in secret. He opened it — knowing full well what the cost would be. The lions didn’t scare him because he had already decided: I’d rather die in faith than live in fear.Faith like that isn’t born in comfort; it’s forged in conviction.Too many believers want to be liked by a world that crucified their Savior. Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” If your faith never offends darkness, it’s probably not shining bright enough.Fear says, “Stay quiet.”Faith says, “Stand firm.”You can’t follow Jesus and keep your reputation safe at the same time. You’ll either carry your cross or protect your image — but you can’t do both.Bold faith doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances; it thrives in pressure. It’s standing in the boardroom, the classroom, or your own living room and saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”And here’s the key — bold faith doesn’t mean reckless arrogance. It means Spirit-led courage. It’s knowing when to speak, how to speak, and when to simply stand and let your presence declare your allegiance.Michelle often reminds me, “Courage is contagious.” And she’s right. When one believer stands up, it strengthens the knees of another. That’s how revival starts — one act of obedience at a time.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHORJoshua 1:9 (ESV) — “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEBold faith doesn’t come from personality; it comes from proximity to God. The closer you are to Him, the less you’ll fear them.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONAsk God to reveal one area of your life where fear still dictates your obedience. Then replace that fear with faith — act on His Word even if your knees shake.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read Daniel 3 aloud this week.* Pray for courage to speak truth in love.* Encourage someone else who’s standing strong — tell them you see their faith.💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYDon’t wait until it’s popular to be faithful. By the time the crowd applauds, it’s no longer boldness — it’s bandwagon.🙏 PRAYERFather, make me strong where fear tries to rule. Let my faith roar louder than my anxiety. Give me courage to stand when it’s costly and peace to endure when I’m misunderstood. Help me live unashamed of the Gospel — because You were never ashamed of me. In Jesus’ name, amen.🔥 IN CLOSINGThis world doesn’t need quiet Christians. It needs courageous ones.When others bow, stand tall. When they whisper, declare. When they run, remain.You don’t represent fear — you represent the King.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 🎙️ 25-324 — Women and Men in the Word
    Nov 20 2025
    Every battle we face in this world starts in the mind and ends in the heart. And the only weapon sharp enough to cut through the lies is the Word of God.You can’t fight a spiritual war with emotional weapons. Feelings shift. Opinions fade. But God’s Word stands unshaken.Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Without that lamp, we stumble. With it, we stand.For years, Michelle and I lived by prayer, passion, and purpose — but not always by pattern. We studied the Bible, sure, but we didn’t live in it daily. We loved God but often let the pace of life replace the practice of being in His Word. And when storms hit — they hit hard.There were moments when stress, disappointment, and spiritual exhaustion left us both drained. I’d try to push through with willpower; Michelle would try to carry everything through sheer determination. But we learned something the hard way: when your roots aren’t deep in Scripture, every storm feels like a threat.Then one morning, I opened the Bible not because I had a sermon to write — but because I was starving for truth. God led me to Matthew 7:24: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”That verse hit like a lightning bolt. I realized I’d been building with emotion instead of foundation. God wasn’t condemning me — He was inviting me to start digging deeper.And Michelle’s moment came too. She told me, “When I opened the Bible again after a dry season, it was like oxygen. The same verses I’d read for years suddenly felt alive.” That’s what the Word does. It’s not a book — it’s breath.We live in a generation drowning in opinions but starving for truth. TikTok theology and YouTube prophets can’t feed a hungry soul. If we don’t know what the Bible says, we’ll believe whatever the culture screams.Jesus used Scripture to fight Satan himself. In the wilderness, He didn’t argue — He declared: “It is written.” If the Son of God needed the Word to fight temptation, how much more do we?Being anchored in the Word isn’t just about reading it — it’s about living it. You can highlight verses all day long, but the power comes when you let those verses highlight you.Every promise in Scripture is a loaded weapon against fear, doubt, and deception. But you have to know it, speak it, and stand on it.When Michelle and I began reading the Word together again — every morning, even if just a few verses — something shifted. Peace replaced panic. Clarity replaced confusion. Our marriage got stronger, our prayer life got deeper, and our faith got bolder.The Word didn’t just change what we knew — it changed who we were.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHOR2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) — “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEYou can’t stand firm in a world that’s falling apart if you’re not standing on something eternal.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONBefore checking your phone tomorrow morning, open your Bible. Let the first voice you hear each day be God’s.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read one Psalm and one Proverb daily this week.* Ask your family: “What verse is getting us through this season?”* Write it on a sticky note — put it where your eyes fall often.💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYDon’t just quote the Word — live it loud. Be the Bible your friends and family can read through your actions.🙏 PRAYERFather, thank You for the living Word that lights my path. Help me hunger for truth more than comfort. Root my life in Scripture so deeply that when storms come, I don’t move. Speak through every verse, and teach me to live by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. Amen.🔥 IN CLOSINGThe Bible isn’t just ink on pages — it’s the voice of God on paper.Read it until it reads you. Believe it until it breaks you. Live it until it becomes you.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 🎙️ 25-323 — Following Jesus Daily
    Nov 19 2025
    Discipleship isn’t a title; it’s a trail.When Jesus walked the shores of Galilee, He didn’t hand out pamphlets or build a following through social media. He looked a few fishermen straight in the eyes and said two words that changed everything:“Follow Me.”That’s it. No marketing pitch. No promise of comfort. Just a call — and an invitation to leave everything behind for something greater.Following Jesus isn’t about location — it’s about direction. Every disciple starts the same way: walking away from self and walking toward the Savior.I still remember the day that truth hit home. I’d been a Christian for years, but I was still driving the car while asking God to bless my route. Then one morning, the Holy Spirit convicted me hard: “Matthew, I can’t lead what you won’t surrender.”That’s when I realized being a disciple isn’t about asking Jesus to walk with me; it’s about me walking wherever He’s going — even if it’s uncomfortable.Michelle and I have lived this out over and over. From ministry highs to financial struggles, from seasons of clarity to moments of silence — we’ve had to decide: Will we trust Him when the map runs out? Will we still follow when it costs us pride, plans, or comfort?The answer had to be yes — because discipleship is not a once-a-week commitment. It’s a daily death and daily resurrection.Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”Notice that word — daily. Discipleship isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence.You won’t get every step right, but every step you take with Jesus changes you. The disciples weren’t perfect men — they argued, doubted, ran, and failed. But here’s the difference: they kept following.Every day, you and I wake up in a world screaming, “Follow your heart.” But Jesus says, “Follow Me.” And that one command flips everything.When you follow your heart, you’ll end up lost. When you follow Jesus, you’ll find your heart’s true home.Maybe your path today looks uncertain — your marriage tested, your kids wandering, your faith stretched thin. Following Jesus doesn’t mean you won’t face storms. It means when the wind howls, you’ve got the One who commands it walking beside you.When Michelle and I look back at the times we tried to carry everything ourselves — our ministry, our dreams, our disappointments — we see the same pattern. Every time we surrendered control, peace came back. Every time we followed His whisper instead of our worry, doors opened we didn’t even know existed.That’s what discipleship looks like — obedience over outcome.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHORLuke 9:23 (ESV) — “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEDiscipleship isn’t about arrival; it’s about pursuit. You don’t have to be perfect — just willing to keep walking.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONAsk God to show you one area of life you’ve been leading instead of following. Then hand Him the reins — no conditions, no backup plan.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read Luke 9 aloud with your family.* Journal what “taking up your cross” looks like in your current season.* Pray together before bed: “Lord, wherever You go, we’ll follow.”💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYWhen life gets messy, don’t ask, “Where is Jesus?” — ask, “Am I still following?”🙏 PRAYERJesus, I don’t want to just admire You — I want to follow You. Even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts. Teach me to pick up my cross daily and walk in Your footsteps. Let obedience become my default and surrender my strength. Amen.🔥 IN CLOSINGYou were never called to be a fan of Jesus — you were called to be a follower.And followers don’t need all the answers; they just need the courage to keep walking.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • 🎙️ 25-322 — Born Again
    Nov 18 2025
    “Born again.” Two words that changed eternity.It was late one night when a religious leader named Nicodemus slipped through the shadows to talk to Jesus. He wasn’t an atheist; he was a scholar. He knew the Scriptures. He had reputation, respect, and religion — but not relationship.Jesus didn’t flatter him or talk theology. He said something shocking: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)Nicodemus didn’t understand. “How can a man be born when he’s old?” he asked. But Jesus was pointing to a rebirth that happens inside — the transformation of the heart.Brother, that’s where most of us start. We try to be better versions of ourselves instead of becoming new creations. But you can’t renovate sin; it has to die so new life can rise.Being born again isn’t self-improvement — it’s spiritual resurrection. It’s the moment your past is buried and your spirit comes alive.I remember my own moment like it was yesterday. I’d been raised around church, but my heart was still hardened. Then came the collapse — the night I realized all my effort, all my logic, all my pride had built a wall between me and God. When it all fell apart, I cried out: “Jesus, if You’re real, I can’t fix this anymore — You’ll have to.”And He did. Not with fireworks, but with peace that silenced every storm inside me. That’s when I understood what Jesus meant — new birth doesn’t start with emotion; it starts with surrender.Michelle has told her story, too — working, serving, homeschooling, holding everything together while living in chronic pain. She said the night she surrendered control was the first time she actually breathed. That’s the Holy Spirit — He doesn’t just visit; He inhabits.Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) You can’t manufacture this. The Spirit of God breathes into dead hearts and makes them beat again.When you’re born again, everything changes — not instantly perfect, but instantly alive. Your desires shift. Your eyes open. Your heart begins to recognize the Father’s voice. It’s not behavior modification — it’s identity transformation.And that’s why the enemy hates new birth. Religion can’t stop him; rebirth destroys him. A born-again believer isn’t just forgiven — he’s empowered. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.If you’re listening today and something inside you says, “That’s what I need,” this is your moment. Jesus isn’t asking you to clean up first — He’s asking you to come as you are. He’ll handle the cleanup.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHORJohn 3:3 (ESV) — “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEYou weren’t created for renovation — you were created for resurrection.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONAsk yourself: “Have I truly been born again, or have I just been around Christianity?” Then talk to Jesus honestly — He can handle the truth.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read John 3:1–8.* Journal how your life looked before Jesus — and how it could look if you let Him start over.* Say aloud: “Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me today.”💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYDon’t settle for religion that informs — ask for relationship that transforms.🙏 PRAYER — SALVATION INVITATIONJesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I need a new beginning. I turn from my old life and ask You to make me new. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Let this be the day I’m born again.In Your name, amen.If you prayed that prayer, your past is buried and your new life has begun. Welcome home.🔥 IN CLOSINGYou can’t fix what only God can resurrect. Stop trying to live better — start living born again.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe
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    6 mins