http://www.identitynetwork.net Recently, as I was preparing to speak at Capps Chapel, the Holy Spirit prompted me that there was someone listening who had been attacked by a spirit of fear and that I should minister to them. It was a very strong impression, so I asked that person to respond. God wanted them delivered! Fear is not from God! No one responded, so I prayed a general prayer. Later, I discovered that someone was present who was gripped by fear but did not respond! Fear prevented this person from responding. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=305546&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Do you feel like God is stretching you right now? You're praying for answers to challenging problems, but the silence feels deafening. The tension—maybe in your heart, in your relationships, or in your daily walk. Feeling stretched by God can make you wonder – "Why do I feel this way in this season? I've been there before. As a former coach and health teacher passionate about longevity (body, mind, emotions, spirit, relationships), I know stretching rarely feels comfortable at first. But when God is stretching you this season, it's not to break you—it's to make room for more of His goodness, freedom, and purpose in your life. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=305547&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Last week I wrote about Joseph and how he was proven in the fire through betrayal, false accusation, put in prison and then was elevated to the palace. This week I want to share the story about Daniel because many of you are not just in a pit season, you are in a Babylon season. You are faithful in a foreign land, because as a believer, you are in this world but not of it. You are surrounded by people who don't honor or serve your God. Daniel came from royalty but was taken captive to Babylon as a young man, just like Joseph was taken to Egypt as a young man. He had to be proven in Babylon. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=305562&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. John 4:23 ESV In a dream last night, I saw the body of Christ as a huge orchestra. Dressed in concert attire and seated on two sides of a massive room, many were positioned to take part. Not all had instruments ready, but they were poised and waiting for their cue. But there was no primary leader. Not even a podium or stage. They were all simply dressed, seated in place, and ready to make music. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=305471&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 When you're scheduled as a guest on a podcast, it's typical for the host to send you a questionnaire ahead of time. It helps establish expectations and gives the conversation a framework to work from. Recently, I received one that asked how I would teach Fortune 500 leaders the systems and processes that everyone could use to produce better results. Ultimately, I declined the interview, but the question stayed with me because I think it highlights something we need to pay attention to. We love systems. And for good reason. Systems, processes, and protocols are important. They create consistency. They help us govern what we've learned. They let us repeat what works and help others benefit from what we've discovered. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304933&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 This week I want to tell you about a strange pattern I noticed during my years of coaching on the WTA tour. I would sit with a player after a match she had just won and ask her what she saw. She had hit forty winners. She had served brilliantly under pressure. She had solved opportunity after opportunity for two hours in front of thousands of people. When she answered me, she spoke about none of it. Instead, she spoke about the three backhands she missed in the second set. This was not one player. This was nearly all of them. Some of the most gifted human beings I have ever stood next to could look directly at their own brilliance and see only the cracks in it. Over time I realized this pattern was not a tennis problem. It is a human one. In fact, it may be the most universal habit I have ever encountered in my work, and the one that is quietly shaping more lives than almost anything else I know.  http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304934&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 If someone asked you to name the most anointed, Spirit-filled individual in the entire Old Testament, who would come to mind? Abraham, the father of faith? Moses, the deliverer of Israel? David, the man after God's own heart? Those are all remarkable answers. But what if I told you that the first person in all of Scripture to be explicitly described as filled with the Spirit of God was an artist? His name was Bezalel — and his story carries a revelation for every creative person, every minister, and every believer who has ever wondered whether God truly cares about beauty, craftsmanship, and the arts. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304817&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Do you believe in the power of faith to receive miracles? Or does your human reasoning resist God's supernatural ways? Do you readily surrender to His Spirit? Or do you lock arms against Him? There are many Christians today that believe in Jesus, but they don't believe Him. They believe just enough to receive eternal life in Heaven but shun abundant life while on this earth. And then they wonder where God in their time of need is. For a large sector of God's people, it is more comfortable for them to say this sickness or disease comes from God, then to trust in His word and declare, "By His stripes we are healed." Many would rather live a precarious spiritual life, then abide in the safety of the Almighty. But when calamity comes, and it does come on this fallen earth they shake their fist at God and ask, "Why?" http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304836&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). Paul's statement here seems to make no sense—or, worse, appears to be a contradiction. After all, weakness and strength are opposites. Whether it's our physical bodies, our cognitive abilities, our emotional health, or our socioeconomic position, we understand that strength in these areas is good and that weakness is bad. But as with many other things in the kingdom of God, what seems to be a contradiction is actually a paradox in God's redemptive plan (see, for example, the Beatitudes in Matt. 5:1–12). What does 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 teach about how God views weakness and strength, and how can its truths be manifested in our own lives to His glory and our good? http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304837&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Throughout history, God has raised up servants to preserve His purposes on Earth, chosen to stand against the advance of evil and deception. Before darkness can move beyond its appointed boundaries, the Lord establishes barriers and governing authorities to contain its influence and prevent its premature manifestation. Paul alluded to this mystery when he wrote, "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time" (2 Thess. 2:6). The mystery of lawlessness was already at work in Paul's day, yet it was restrained until the appointed time set by God. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304437&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 In the last few years, I believe that G-D has been spiritually refocusing my heart. I am just as committed to Yeshua and to serving in G-D's Kingdom as I have ever been. I have not changed my core beliefs in Yeshua being the Messiah or in the absoluteness of G-D's Word. But as the world seems to spiral into greater moral chaos, and as more and more people twist G-D's Word to fit their heart's desires instead of turning their hearts toward G-D's desires, I have concluded that, in many ways, we, the body of believers, have been much less effective than we could have been. I believe this is the result of a misdirection of our focus, efforts, and energies. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304443&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 2 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Have you ever been halfway through a conversation when you suddenly realized that you weren't listening at all? You were looking at the person. You were nodding at all the appropriate moments. You might have even thrown in an occasional "uh-huh" or "I understand." But if you are honest, your mind was already crafting your response. You were preparing your defense, gathering your thoughts, or deciding exactly what you wanted to say next. I think we've all been there. Recently, I was spending time in James chapter 1, and one verse seemed to leap off the page and settle deeply into my heart. James writes, "Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" (James 1:19). What a simple verse. And yet, what a challenging one. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304358&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 I think sometimes we have the wrong idea about what it means for God to save us. We pray for God to keep the bad thing from happening. Keep us from getting sick. Keep the person we love from dying. Keep the relationship from ending. Keep us from losing the job. Keep the diagnosis from coming. Keep our children safe. Keep the world from becoming more violent and divided. In other words, we pray for God to keep the fire away from us. And sometimes that happens. But sometimes it doesn't. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304206&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is an offensive way in my way, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24 The small warning light flickered on the dashboard just as the highway merged into heavy morning traffic. For a few miles, the temptation was simply to ignore the tiny orange glow and turn up the radio, hoping the engine trouble would fix itself. But experienced drivers know that a warning light is never an enemy. It is a quiet mercy. It tells you about a hidden problem before you find yourself stranded on the shoulder miles from home.  http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304177&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 We are the church of Jesus Christ. We are human. We make mistakes. We tear each other down in our pride, self-righteousness, or in the name of trying to steward our responsibility to protect the flock. We have many diversities and differences of opinions. We seasonally lack and other times are abundant. We suffer, and we win. We sometimes walk in pride more than humility. We sometimes point fingers at others more than ourselves. We take the glory when it's only God's, and other times are more concerned with ourselves more than others. We are imperfect, we are weak, we are divided, and our denominational lines create more divide than unity. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=304084&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Scroll social media long enough and you'll find it: the steady drumbeat that says evil capitalists and corrupt politicians are conspiring to steal your happiness, and the only path forward is to demand what is owed you from your oppressors. It shows up constantly in DSA-themed politics right now — a whole worldview built on the premise that you are, first and foremost, a victim of someone else's cruel agenda… and you should trust us to take care of you. Social researchers who study identity politics call this Victim Mentality: once a group is cast as a victim class, it's positioned to make claims against an "oppressor" class — claims that are never actually negotiated, just asserted. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303961&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 God doesn't want us living fearfully. He wants us to fully plug in to His amazing power that comes through His grace. Unfortunately, I know from experience we sometimes short-circuit God's power through negative mind-sets that get in His way. There is no power shortage in heaven. God is never in a recession. His grace is sufficient to meet every need if we'll just allow ourselves to be open and available to His will. So to help you do that, I want to share three things that commonly short-circuit our faith, cutting off our access to God's power: complaining, self-pity and pride. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303976&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Fear. Perhaps there's no emotion more common to the human experience. Google it and you'll find a list of thousands of phobias ranging from "fear of rejection" to "fear of leaves." We've all felt it. And unfortunately, it's a stronghold that many battle every day. Fear defined is "a feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something." It's often propagated through questions that tumble through our minds: "Will I get hurt by this person?" "Will God really provide this month?" "What if I fail in this venture?" Left unchecked, fear is debilitating and has the power to hold you back and keep you from the blessings and opportunities of God. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303726&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1). It can make one proud and arrogant. But wisdom will make you humble and teachable. You can read extensively and accumulate a lot of knowledge, but still lack wisdom. You also don't become wise just by growing older and having more experience in life. Wisdom is not natural. It does not matter if you are young or old, experienced or inexperienced, highly educated or not. Wisdom comes by God's unmerited favor. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303738&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 The Lord gave me this awesome word for many of you who have been asking- Why does it seem like the most dedicated believers go through the most horrific tests and trials? I asked the Lord that same question, and He led me into a deep study of men and women in the bible who were called to high positions in the Kingdom, after they endured great seasons of testing. He began to show me the pattern of how He first proves us in the fire before He elevates us for our assignment. He brought me to the book of Genesis to the story of Joseph. He was favored by his father who gave him a coat of many colors. I believe this was a prophetic mantle the Lord placed on his life. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303739&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 I was walking across the floor of my house one day. I wasn't praying; I was just going about my business when I heard something loudly in my spirit. Not out loud with my physical ears, but on the inside, I heard: The goal is souls. I stopped and said it back to myself. "The goal is souls." I knew it was an impartation from the Spirit of God. It came straight from the heart of the Father, and it landed in me with a weight that has never left. Of course, if you ask any Christian whether souls matter, they will say yes without hesitating. We all know about the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18–19 says, "Jesus said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...'" (ESV). http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303639&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Would you like your daily Bible study time to truly come alive, no matter how long you've been walking with the Lord? These 7 practical Bible study tips—drawn from my personal journey and shared with countless believers—have helped people at every stage of faith deepen their understanding of Scripture, gain confidence in hearing God's voice, strengthen their relationship with Him, and discover greater purpose and meaning in life. Whether you're seeking fresh insights after years of study or simply wanting to renew your quiet time, these simple habits invite you into a more intimate, Spirit-led encounter with God's Word. They're easy, accessible, and powerful for anyone ready to grow closer to God through consistent, heartfelt engagement. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303116&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 We need to make sure the enemy doesn't have any legal right to harass the body of Christ.  This is an area many might neglect checking to see if the door is closed here. "To the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'" Genesis 3:16. I've been meditating on Genesis 3:16 this week. One Bible translation interpreted it as Eve's desire to dominate Adam, while others saw it as her desire for her husband. I read a commentary that scholars debate whether the verse means to dominate or simply to desire. After the Fall, [fall of man] we came under a curse that caused many to follow their lust and pride instead of God. I felt the verse meant Eve desired to dominate Adam. Adam became frustrated and wanted to rule over Eve.  http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303122&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 There is a word we have all been raised to honor. From the time we are small we are told to be nice. Be nice to your brother. Be nice to the guest who has come to the house. We learn very early that niceness is the currency of belonging, the thing that keeps us safe, approved, and welcome in the rooms we wish to remain in. For most of my life I prided myself on being a nice man. What I did not see for a long time is that my niceness was rarely about the person in front of me. It was about me. It was about being liked. It was about avoiding conflict and managing how others felt so that I could remain comfortable in their company. My niceness wore the costume of love, and underneath it was quietly serving myself. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303123&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Barbara Brown Taylor once wrote something that has stayed with me: "The only clear line I draw these days is this: when my religion tries to come between me and my neighbor, I will choose my neighbor... Jesus never commanded me to love my religion." That last sentence will probably make some religious people uncomfortable. Maybe it should. Because Jesus said a great deal about love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Love your enemies. Love one another. Care for the hungry. Welcome the stranger. Visit the prisoner. Show mercy. Forgive. But love your religion? I can't find that one. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=303124&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400