Author: Pastor Jason

Where Did the Time Go?

Scripture:
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

I blinked… and another month flew by.

Sometimes I wonder where all the time goes. Not in a lazy, “Oops I forgot to write” kind of way, but in that deeper, soul-level way that makes you sit still and ask:

Am I spending my time on what matters most?

Life is full right now. Parenting. Ministry. Marriage. Work. Bills. Ballgames. Church events. Texts I haven’t answered. People I haven’t checked on. Prayers I keep putting off till tomorrow. And somewhere in all of it… the days just slip away.

But God doesn’t waste time, even when we do.
And He’s not asking us to do more. He’s asking us to be more; more present, more faithful, more intentional with what He’s already placed in our hands.

Time isn’t just measured in hours or days. It’s measured in impact.
It’s in the way we sit and listen, the way we show up, the way we honor the Lord in the ordinary.

So maybe the better question isn’t Where did the time go?
Maybe it’s What did I do with the time God gave me?

Today, I’m slowing down just long enough to give Him thanks. For the breath in my lungs. For the people I get to love. For the grace that keeps chasing me down. And for the gentle way He keeps pulling me back when my pace runs ahead of His purpose.

Bible Promise:
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Reflection Questions:

  1. Are you spending your time on what truly matters?
  2. What is one area where God is asking you to slow down and be present?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for each moment You’ve given me. Forgive me for rushing through days and missing Your presence in the small things. Teach me to value time, not as something to control, but as something to steward. Help me be present with the people You’ve entrusted to me. Help me follow Your pace. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

The Danger of Dirty Jokes

Dirty jokes are often brushed off as “just humor,” but as Christians, we’re called to a higher standard. Coarse joking may seem harmless in the moment, but it reflects what’s in our hearts and influences those around us.

When we laugh at or share inappropriate jokes, we’re not just participating in them, we’re normalizing sin. It might feel like no big deal, but every time we engage in coarse joking, we step further away from the purity and gratitude God calls us to.

I’ve been in situations where I’ve heard or laughed at a dirty joke to avoid being awkward or standing out. But each time, I felt a conviction afterward. Those moments reminded me that my words and actions should reflect Christ, even in small, everyday interactions.

Choosing not to participate in dirty jokes isn’t about being uptight, it’s about honoring God with our speech and protecting the witness of our faith.

Reflection Questions

  1. How have you responded to dirty jokes in the past?
  2. What steps can you take to avoid or respond differently to coarse joking in the future?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for reminding me of the power of words and the importance of honoring You in my speech. Teach me to avoid coarse joking and to use my words to reflect Your goodness. Help me to stand firm in my faith, even when it feels uncomfortable. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Building Resilience Through Prayer

Prayer has been my lifeline in the darkest moments of my journey. It’s not just something I do to check a box… it’s the way I cry out to God, pour out my heart, and find the strength to keep moving forward.

Resilience begins in those quiet moments of prayer, where we invite God into our struggles and surrender our burdens to Him. During the nights when I felt most alone, prayer reminded me that I wasn’t abandoned. It became the place where I could release my fears and doubts and be filled with God’s peace.

Building resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship, it’s about cultivating a deep connection with God through prayer. When we stay watchful and thankful, even in the midst of pain, we tap into the unshakable hope that only He can provide.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can prayer help you build resilience during life’s challenges?
  2. What specific burdens can you bring to God in prayer today?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of prayer and the way it strengthens my spirit. Teach me to come to You with every struggle and to trust in Your faithfulness. Help me to stay watchful and thankful, even in the midst of hardship. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Evidence of Jericho’s Walls Falling

The fall of Jericho’s walls is one of the most dramatic miracles in the Bible. Archaeological evidence supports the biblical account, providing fascinating details about this ancient city and its destruction.

Excavations at the site of ancient Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) reveal collapsed walls and layers of ash, consistent with a sudden, fiery destruction. Interestingly, parts of the wall appear to have fallen outward, which aligns with the idea of divine intervention rather than a traditional military siege. Archaeologists also discovered storage jars filled with grain, indicating that the city was destroyed quickly, during the spring harvest. Just as the Bible describes.

The story of Jericho’s walls reminds us of the power of obedience and faith. The Israelites didn’t conquer Jericho through their own strength but by trusting God’s instructions. It’s a powerful reminder that when we follow God’s lead, He can accomplish what seems impossible.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the evidence for Jericho’s fall strengthen your faith in the Bible’s historical accuracy?
  2. What areas of your life do you need to trust God with, even when His instructions don’t make sense?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the story of Jericho and the reminder of Your power and faithfulness. Teach me to trust in Your plans, even when they seem impossible. Help me to walk in obedience and faith, knowing that You are always in control. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Starting Your Day with Prayer

Starting your day with prayer sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s an opportunity to invite God into your schedule, surrender your worries, and align your heart with His purposes.

Begin with Gratitude: Thank God for the gift of a new day and the blessings in your life. Gratitude shifts your focus from challenges to His faithfulness.

Surrender Your Plans: Commit your day to the Lord, asking for His guidance in every decision and interaction.

Pray for Others: Lift up your family, coworkers, and those you’ll encounter throughout the day, asking God to use you to reflect His love.

Morning prayer doesn’t have to be long or formal… it’s about connecting with God and starting your day with His presence.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you incorporate prayer into your morning routine?
  2. What difference does it make when you start your day with God?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of a new day. Teach me to begin each morning with gratitude, surrender, and trust in You. Help Kneel Ministries encourage others to make morning prayer a daily habit. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

The Grace That Saves

Grace is one of those concepts that sounds beautiful but can feel hard to accept. I’ve struggled with this myself. There have been seasons where I’ve felt completely unworthy of God’s love, times when my failures and shortcomings seemed louder than His promises. But that’s the amazing thing about grace: it’s not dependent on us. It’s rooted entirely in God’s character.

I remember a moment when this truth hit me deeply. I was driving home after a particularly tough day, feeling weighed down by all the ways I thought I’d fallen short. My prayers weren’t elegant; they were raw and desperate. “God, how can You still love me? How can You still use me?” Then a verse I’d memorized years ago came to mind: “My grace is sufficient for you.” It wasn’t just words… it felt like a whisper straight from God to my heart.

Grace reminds us that we don’t have to earn God’s love. In fact, we can’t. That’s the beauty of it. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9 remind us that God’s grace meets us in our weakest moments, not our strongest. It’s in our brokenness that His power shines the brightest.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift of grace. Teach me to rest in Your sufficiency and trust in Your love, even when I feel unworthy. Help me to extend that same grace to others, reflecting Your heart in all I do. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Esther: Trusting God’s Sovereignty (Part 2)

In the first part of Esther’s story, we explored her courage to step into God’s plan. But equally important is her trust in God’s sovereignty. Esther didn’t know how her story would unfold. Approaching the king uninvited could have cost her life. Yet, her faith allowed her to declare, “If I perish, I perish.”

This trust in God’s sovereignty didn’t come without preparation. Esther spent three days fasting and praying before taking action. She sought God’s guidance, trusted His control, and moved forward with boldness. The result? God used her to save an entire nation.

Esther’s story reminds us that trusting God’s sovereignty often requires surrendering our fears and uncertainties. It means believing that He is in control, even when the outcome is unclear. When we place our lives in His hands, we can move forward in faith, knowing that His plans are good.

Reflection Questions

  1. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God’s sovereignty?
  2. How can fasting, prayer, and preparation help you trust God in uncertain times?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the example of Esther and her trust in Your sovereignty. Teach me to surrender my fears and uncertainties to You and to trust in Your plan. Help me to act with boldness and faith, knowing that You are in control of every detail. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Esther’s Three-Day Fast – A Cry for Deliverance

When Queen Esther faced the impossible task of approaching King Xerxes to save her people, she called for a three-day absolute fast. This fast united the Jewish community in prayer and humility, seeking God’s protection and favor.

Esther’s fast teaches us the importance of surrender and dependence on God. She recognized that the situation was beyond her control and turned to Him for strength and guidance. Through her obedience and courage, God delivered the Jews from destruction.

When we face challenges that feel insurmountable, fasting can be a powerful way to seek God’s intervention. Like Esther, we can trust that He hears our cries and works on our behalf.

Reflection Questions

  1. What challenges in your life might God be calling you to surrender to Him through fasting?
  2. How can fasting unite you with others in prayer and dependence on God?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the example of Esther and her faith in Your power to deliver. Teach me to trust You with the impossible and to approach fasting with humility and courage. Help me to rely on Your strength and to seek Your will in every situation. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Social Media and Faith

Social media has become a huge part of our lives, offering connection, inspiration, and entertainment. But it can also be a source of distraction, comparison, and negativity. As Christians, we’re called to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things, and that includes how we engage with social media.

There have been times when I found myself scrolling endlessly, feeling more disconnected than ever. Social media is a tool. It can be used for good or for harm. The question we need to ask ourselves is: How is it shaping my heart?

Colossians 3:2 challenges us to focus on what is eternal. This doesn’t mean we avoid social media altogether, but it does mean being intentional about how we use it. Are we sharing God’s love and truth? Are we guarding our hearts against envy and comparison? When we use social media as a tool to glorify God, it becomes an extension of our witness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How is your social media use influencing your thoughts and actions?
  2. What changes can you make to align your online habits with your faith?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the tools You’ve given us to connect with others. Help me to use social media in a way that honors You and encourages others. Teach me to set my mind on things above and guard my heart against distractions. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Forgiveness Through My Daughter’s Eyes

Forgiveness is one of the hardest journeys I’ve ever walked. When my marriage ended, I thought I understood forgiveness. I prayed daily, asking God to help me release the hurt and betrayal. But the truth is, I was holding on to bitterness, even as I convinced myself I had moved on.

One day, my daughter asked a question that pierced my heart: “Daddy, why don’t you ever say anything mean about Mom?” Her innocent words stopped me in my tracks. I realized that while I wasn’t vocalizing my hurt, I hadn’t truly forgiven. I was merely suppressing it, keeping it bottled up. God used our daughter’s question to show me that forgiveness wasn’t just about what I said or didn’t say. It was about the posture of my heart.

From that moment on, I knew I had to do better. Not just for myself, but for our daughter. She needed to see forgiveness in action, not just as a concept but as a lived-out example of grace. I wanted her to understand that forgiving someone doesn’t mean excusing their actions or pretending the pain didn’t exist. It means choosing to let go, trusting God to heal what’s broken.

Forgiveness didn’t happen overnight. It took prayer, tears, and a lot of surrender. I had to bring my hurt to God every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. Slowly but surely, I began to feel the weight lift. The bitterness that had taken root in my heart was replaced by peace. Not because the circumstances changed, but because God changed me.

Now, I see the power of forgiveness not just in my own life but in the way it impacts those around me. our daughter taught me that our children watch how we respond to pain. They learn how to navigate hurt and disappointment by watching us. I’m far from perfect, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to show her that forgiveness is possible, even when it feels impossible.

Bible Promise:

Forgiveness brings freedom. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Reflection Questions

  1. How can your example of forgiveness impact those around you, especially your children?
  2. Are there areas in your life where you need to release bitterness and trust God for healing?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me time and time again. Help me to extend that same grace to others, even when it’s hard. Teach me to forgive fully, trusting You to heal my heart. Let my life reflect Your love and grace to my children and those around me. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.