Pastor Jason – Page 58 – Kneel Ministries

Processing Through Writing

Journaling is a safe space to process your thoughts and emotions before God. It’s an act of vulnerability, inviting Him into your inner struggles and seeking His perspective.

When I’ve felt overwhelmed or confused, journaling has been a lifeline. Writing out my worries and fears helped me release them to God and allowed Him to replace them with His peace. It became a form of prayer… a way to pour out my heart and trust Him with my burdens.

Through journaling, we can reflect on God’s truths, wrestle with hard questions, and find clarity in His presence. It’s not about crafting perfect words; it’s about being honest with Him and allowing Him to speak into our hearts.

Reflection Questions

What thoughts or emotions have you been carrying that you need to process with God through journaling?
How can writing help you release your burdens and focus on His peace?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for inviting me to bring my thoughts and emotions to You through journaling. Help me to process my struggles honestly and to trust in Your love and guidance. Teach me to listen for Your voice as I write and to find peace in Your presence. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Finding Rest in God’s Presence

True rest isn’t found in vacations or sleep… it’s found in Jesus. His invitation to “come to me” reminds us that He is the source of the peace and renewal we long for.

During a particularly exhausting season, I found myself physically resting but still feeling drained. It wasn’t until I intentionally spent time in prayer and worship that I experienced true rest. God’s presence restored my soul in a way nothing else could.

Resting in God means laying our burdens at His feet, trusting Him with the worries that weigh us down, and allowing Him to renew our spirits. It’s about finding peace not in our circumstances but in His unchanging love.

Reflection Questions

What burdens are you carrying that you need to release to God for rest?
How can you intentionally spend time in God’s presence this week to find renewal?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for inviting me to find rest in Your presence. Teach me to release my burdens to You and to trust in Your love and care. Help me to experience true renewal as I spend time with You. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Daniel’s Fast – Honoring God in Obedience

Daniel’s decision to abstain from the king’s rich food and wine was an act of obedience and devotion to God. His partial fast, which included only vegetables and water, demonstrated his commitment to honoring God even in a foreign land.

This fast resulted in physical health, spiritual clarity, and God’s favor. Daniel and his friends were found to be healthier and wiser than those who ate the royal food. More importantly, their obedience brought glory to God and set them apart as His faithful servants.

Daniel’s fast reminds us that fasting is about more than physical discipline, it’s about spiritual alignment. When we prioritize God’s ways over the world’s, we experience His provision and blessing.

Reflection Questions

How can you use fasting to align your heart with God’s will and honor Him in your daily life?
What distractions or temptations might God be asking you to surrender through fasting?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Daniel’s example of obedience and devotion. Teach me to honor You in every area of my life and to trust in Your provision and guidance. Help me to use fasting as a way to align my heart with Your will. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Addressing the Trend of Medical Marijuana

As medical marijuana becomes increasingly accepted across the nation, many Christians are grappling with how to respond. I’ve been asked repeatedly, “If it’s prescribed by a doctor, doesn’t that make it okay?”

My answer always starts with this: Just because something is legal or recommended doesn’t mean it’s beneficial… or honoring to God. While I acknowledge the potential benefits of CBD, THC is a different story. It alters the mind, creating a false sense of relief while failing to address the deeper issues people face.

Marijuana may provide temporary comfort, but we have to ask ourselves: At what cost? It numbs pain but doesn’t heal. It offers escape but not freedom. As believers, we’re called to avoid being mastered by anything that dulls our ability to live fully for Christ.

I believe God has given us wisdom and resources to find solutions that align with His principles. Instead of turning to substances that impair judgment, we can seek holistic approaches that address both the physical and spiritual aspects of healing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us discernment in a world that blurs the lines between right and wrong. Help us to honor You in our choices and to seek healing that reflects Your design. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Alcohol and the Witness We Carry

As believers, our actions don’t just affect us. They affect those who are watching. Whether we realize it or not, we carry a witness, and our choices can either draw others closer to Christ or push them further away.

Alcohol is one of those areas where our witness matters. Even if we drink responsibly, the example we set can have unintended consequences. Someone struggling with addiction might see our behavior and think, “If they can handle it, maybe I can too,” leading them down a dangerous path.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 8:9 challenge us to consider how our choices impact others. Are we prioritizing our freedom, or are we placing others’ spiritual well-being above our own preferences?

Choosing to abstain from alcohol isn’t about legalism, it’s about love. It’s about being willing to give up something we might enjoy for the sake of helping someone else grow in their faith. That’s the kind of witness that reflects Christ’s love to the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of the impact my choices have on others. Help me to live in a way that builds others up and points them to You. Give me wisdom to honor You in everything I do. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

The Persistent Widow: Never Give Up in Prayer

Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow to teach His disciples about the power of perseverance in prayer. The widow, despite facing resistance, kept coming to the judge until she received justice.

Faithful Persistence: Prayer is not a one-time event but a continual act of faith. God honors those who persist in seeking Him.

Trust in God’s Justice: Unlike the unjust judge, God is righteous and loving. He hears our cries and works on our behalf, even when we don’t see immediate results.

Strengthened by Waiting: Persistence in prayer builds our faith and deepens our relationship with God. The waiting period is often where God does His greatest work in us.

This parable reminds us never to give up in prayer, trusting that God’s timing and answers are always perfect.

Reflection Questions

What prayers have you been tempted to give up on?
How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness as you wait for His answers?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for teaching me to persist in prayer, trusting in Your timing and faithfulness. Strengthen my faith as I wait for Your answers, and help Kneel Ministries encourage others to pray without ceasing. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Addiction: The Hidden Cost of Marijuana

Reflection Questions

Do you know someone who might be struggling with marijuana dependency?
How can you lovingly point them toward God’s freedom?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Help those battling addiction to find hope, healing, and strength in You. In Jesus’ name, AmenI don’t want new blogs.

The document has been updated to reflect all blogs concerning marijuana.

The High That Keeps Us Low (Part 2)

Date: August 16, 2021

Bible Verse:

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7, NIV)

Message (Part 2):

Michael’s story didn’t change overnight. In fact, it hasn’t really changed at all. Despite his friends’ and pastors’ efforts to help him, Michael remains in the same cycle. He continues to stay high 24/7, using legal and illegal marijuana along with THC gummies. And while he claims it’s not his “conviction” to quit, the impact is undeniable.

Michael still works, but the lines between his work life and his habit have blurred. He’s surrounded by others who normalize the same behaviors, making it even harder for him to see how far he’s drifted. His memory issues have grown worse… he’ll start a conversation and forget what he wanted to say halfway through. When it comes to anything important, he avoids the discussion altogether, brushing it off with a joke or a quick change of subject.

His anxiety, which he says marijuana helps him manage, seems to have grown worse instead of better. He constantly feels on edge, worried about things that never used to bother him. He struggles to plan for the future because the present feels overwhelming enough.

Michael’s health continues to decline, though he refuses to acknowledge it. Low blood pressure, low heart rate, and chronic fatigue have become his normal, but instead of seeking help, he blames it on stress or other factors. Prescriptions that might offer real relief are turned down in favor of his routine.

Spiritually, Michael is stuck in a difficult place. He loves God and serves faithfully in his church, volunteering and contributing in ways that inspire others. But no one realizes he’s high when he does it. For the past eight years, this has been his norm. To those around him, Michael is dependable and kind, but they don’t see the internal struggles, the anxiety, the compromise, the quiet ache of knowing there’s more to life than this cycle.

What’s hardest to watch is the disconnect. Michael’s potential is enormous, he’s talented, charismatic, and capable of so much more than he’s allowing himself to pursue. But he’s hiding behind the high, letting it numb him instead of facing the deeper issues.

I often think of Galatians 5:7: “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” Michael was running a good race, but somewhere along the way, he allowed something to pull him off course. And now, he’s stuck, unable, or unwilling, to take the first step back.

There’s still hope for Michael, as there is for all of us. God’s grace is bigger than any habit, any failure, any setback. But the first step has to come from him. Acknowledging that the high he’s holding onto is keeping him low and trusting God to show him a better way.

If you’re in a similar place, let me remind you: God isn’t angry with you. He loves you deeply and longs to set you free. But freedom starts with surrender. Letting go of the things that keep us stuck and trusting Him to guide us forward.

Bible Promise:

God offers strength to let go and find freedom.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NIV)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and patience. For those of us who feel stuck, help us to see the chains holding us back and give us the courage to surrender them to You. Teach us to trust You for freedom and healing. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Prayer

When the High Becomes a Hiding Place (Part 1)

Date: November 12, 2021

Bible Verse:

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

Message (Part 1):

I’ve watched a friend’s life take a path that’s all too common today. Let’s call him “Ryan.” Ryan was someone who had a passion for life. He loved his work, stayed active, and had dreams he talked about endlessly. Traveling, starting a business, maybe even learning to cook gourmet meals. But that was before marijuana became his escape.

It started innocently enough. Ryan said he wanted to relax after stressful days, and he loved how marijuana helped him “take the edge off.” At first, it was an occasional thing. But over time, “occasionally” turned into “regularly.” He got his medical marijuana card, which gave him an excuse to use legally.

At first, Ryan seemed fine. He was still fun to be around, still working, still keeping up with life. But slowly, things started to change. His focus began to slip, his energy waned, and his once-bold dreams took a back seat to just “getting through the day.”

Studies show that long-term marijuana use has consequences most people don’t realize. For instance, regular use over five years can lower IQ by an average of 8 points. I saw this happening with Ryan, his sharp wit dulled, and he wasn’t as quick to think things through. But the changes went deeper than that.

Ryan stopped doing the things he loved. He traded hobbies like hiking and photography for sitting at home, zoning out to the latest show. His standards of living shifted too. Once proud of his space, he stopped caring about cleanliness. His meals turned from home-cooked creations to fast food. The things that once gave his life richness fell away, replaced by a cycle of highs and complacency.

And then there was his health. He brushed off the coughs and the lack of motivation, saying it was just part of life. But as his focus faded, so did his care for his body. I saw the lines of morality blur too. Not in huge, obvious ways, but in small, subtle shifts. His sense of right and wrong wasn’t as sharp, and his priorities became harder to understand.

In Part 2, I’ll share how this journey played out for Ryan and explore the deeper impact marijuana had on his life. But for now, I want to leave you with this: Marijuana might promise relaxation or relief, but it often delivers something far more destructive.

Bible Promise:

God calls us to stay sober-minded so we can live fully in His purpose.

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6, NIV)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to the subtle ways that distractions like marijuana can lead us astray. Help me to stay alert and of sober mind, seeking fulfillment and healing through You alone. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.

Prayer

The Blessing of Serving Others

There’s a unique blessing that comes from serving others. When we give our time, energy, and resources to meet the needs of those around us, we not only bless them… we’re blessed in return.

I’ve experienced this truth firsthand. During a season when I felt depleted, I chose to serve at a local outreach event. What I thought would be draining turned out to be life-giving. God used that experience to renew my spirit and remind me of His purpose for my life.

Serving others shifts our focus from ourselves to God’s work in the world. It reminds us that true joy comes from giving, not receiving, and that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Reflection Questions

How has serving others blessed you in unexpected ways?
In what areas can you step out of your comfort zone to serve and bless others?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the blessing of serving others and for using it to renew my spirit. Teach me to give selflessly and to trust in Your provision as I meet the needs of those around me. Help me to find joy and purpose in reflecting Your love through service. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.