Control. Many of us, myself included, have wrestled with control issues. We love the feeling that all is well because we've done a good job of ordering our lives. The problem is that having control is the opposite of trusting God. The Gospel of Matthew invites us into a story about a mom who wanted the best for her two sons. Who can blame her? I can sure relate—can you? Her two wonderful sons, James and John, were followers of Jesus, and their mama was proud of her boys! She approached Jesus with what I imagine she thought was a wonderful request; she asked if her two sons could sit at the right and left hand of God in the kingdom to come.
We all have times in life when it seems like we've hit a dead end or things aren't turning out the way we hoped or expected. However, I've learned from experience that when we feel stuck, discouraged, or disappointed, that's not the time to throw in the towel and give up! I realize this isn't easy. There have been times in my life when I've felt discouraged and even wondered if I could hold on and keep going to get through the pain to the place of victory. Through these experiences, I've learned that when you're in the middle of a painful situation, it can often feel like God isn't doing anything about it. But it's vitally important to trust Him during this time, because He is working in your heart to make you more like Christ.
Years ago, I had an encounter with a couple angels in a dream. This was not my first encounter with angels. I have had many encounters with angels in dreams. And the angels have told me things that take place in my life or give me direction. I also can see angels in the natural while I am awake as I am a seer and can see into the spirit realm. My encounters with angels are usually pleasant and positive but there was this one dream that stands out in which it wasn't so great.
I asked her how it felt, this tennis match she'd just played. "It was amazing," she said. "I didn't feel the need to think about what would happen if I lost this point or how I would be three-zero down instead of two-one." This was a player who had spent her entire career imprisoned by her thoughts. Every point was weighed down by calculations about the future, assessments of risk, fears about outcomes. The mind had been running the show, and it was exhausting and incredibly limiting to her potential.
Since encountering my own situations with wolves in sheep's clothing, I found myself reflecting on these encounters and trying to learn from them. My stories regarding wolf-wrangling bear some similarities with those other people have shared with me. I've written articles about healing from a wolf attack and how to wrangle with a wolf, so I wanted to take some time and learn from these situations. We must learn how to spot a wolf.
We all feel it—this world is inundated with noise. Both on and off the Internet, the countless voices that vie for our attention make it a challenge to know what to let in versus what to shut out. Consequently, this chaos of the natural world often makes it even more difficult to discern the voices in the spiritual world. It's no wonder well-meaning people frequently confuse the enemy as God.
Henri Nouwen once said, "The whole message of the gospel is this: Become like Jesus." It's a sentence that feels almost too simple for something as vast and debated as the gospel. Yet in its simplicity lies its weight. Nouwen doesn't point us to doctrines to defend, arguments to win, or systems to uphold. He points us to a person to become like. Not admire from a distance. Not quote selectively. Not use as a badge of identity. But to actually become like Jesus in how we live, love, respond, and engage with the world around us.
Jesus is raising up strong leaders, who are firmly established in their personal relationship with Him. Those who are humble, have integrity and unwavering obedience. These are the ones who will transform and shake the nations with the glory of God. The Holy Spirit gave me this word today for those of you who have known The Lord for some time but have become complacent in your relationship with Jesus. If you reflect on the past 2-5 years, you will notice a lack of growth in your spiritual life. Your relationship with the Lord may feel stagnant and unfruitful because you lost your original vision and purpose.
Modern thinking has trained us to see covenant as an agreement—conditional, fragile, and heavily dependent on our performance. We assume the burden is on us to meet the requirements, prove our worth, and maintain the relationship through flawless obedience. This mindset quietly shapes how many believers relate to God: striving, negotiating, and living under constant pressure to "get it right." But from a biblical—Hebraic—perspective, covenant is something entirely different. Covenant is not initiated by the lesser trying to qualify for the greater. Covenant is initiated by the greater for the sake of the lesser. This distinction changes everything.
In life, we all go through seasons of trials and tests of our faith as we continue to rely on the promises of God. In my own experience, I have been through this many times, and what I have learned is that God is always with us and he will never leave or forsake us. As promised, the things he has promised will be fulfilled in his perfect timing. I recall before going on a trip out of the country, I received some news contrary to God's promises, and the enemy was constantly speaking to get my attention away from God.
