Kept by His Power

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Mark Cole

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.” Jude 1:24 (NLT)

On the Christian journey, most believers know what it feels like to be tired, tempted, or discouraged. In those moments, Jude’s doxology reminds us that our hope rests far more on God’s grip on us than our grip on Him.​

This verse is not just a closing line to a short New Testament letter; it is a window into the heart of God for His people. Jude wants weary, battle-tested believers to lift their eyes from the chaos around them to the God who faithfully keeps them.​

God’s Ability, Not Ours

Jude doesn’t call us to admire our own endurance; he calls us to worship the God “who is able to keep you from falling away.” The emphasis is on God’s power and faithfulness, not on our spiritual performance.​

Scripture consistently shows God as the One who guards, preserves, and carries His people, like a shepherd who refuses to abandon His flock. Even when we feel fragile, the security of our salvation rests in the strength of the Savior, not the stamina of the sheep.​

From Struggle to Glory

Jude goes beyond “keeping” and points to a future moment: God “will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.” That is not exaggeration; it is the destination of every believer who is in Christ.​

One day, God will present His people blameless before His glory, not because they lived flawless lives, but because they stand clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Every failure, regret, and scar of sin will give way to joy, worship, and wonder in His presence.​

Living in Assurance Today

Knowing that God will keep us and complete His work in us does not make us careless; it makes us grateful and devoted. Assurance fuels worship, obedience, and perseverance because the pressure to “save ourselves” has been lifted.​

In a society that feels unstable, this verse invites believers to walk in a quiet, confident trust: you are being kept, guarded, and led toward glory by One who never fails. That confidence frees us to love boldly, serve sacrificially, and worship wholeheartedly.​

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Thank You that You are able to keep me from falling and to bring me into the Father’s presence with great joy. When I feel weak, remind me that Your grace is strong enough to carry me all the way home. Teach me to live with confidence in Your keeping power and to respond with love, worship and a willing heart. Amen.

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What Changed? Why Old Testament Believers Were Filled With the Spirit but Didn’t Speak in Tongues

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Mark Cole

If you’ve ever read your Bible from Genesis to Acts, you eventually notice something curious:
People were filled with the Spirit in the Old Testament… yet none of them spoke in tongues.
But once you reach the Book of Acts, everything changes. Suddenly, when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they often speak in tongues.

So what changed?

Understanding this shift is crucial, not only for theology but for understanding God’s beautiful plan for the nations. Let’s walk through it.

1. In the Old Testament, the Spirit Came Upon People for Specific Tasks

The Holy Spirit was absolutely active in the Old Testament—He’s eternal, after all. But His work looked different than what we experience today.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit:

  • came upon people, not necessarily within them permanently
  • empowered individuals for specific assignments
  • rested on prophets, kings, judges, craftsmen, and leaders
  • could depart (as in Saul’s life)

Bezalel was filled with the Spirit for craftsmanship.
Samson was empowered for supernatural strength.
David was anointed for kingship.
Prophets were moved by the Spirit to speak God’s word.

But there is one thing the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament never included:
tongues as an outward, confirming sign.

Why?
Because the New Covenant had not yet begun, and the global mission of the gospel had not yet been unleashed.

2. John the Baptist and Jesus Were Transitional Figures

When we come to the Gospels, things are shifting.
John the Baptist is filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb.
Jesus is filled with the Spirit without measure.

But both of them still live under the Old Covenant.

The spiritual “age” had not yet changed. The cross, resurrection, and ascension hadn’t happened. Jesus hadn’t yet poured out the Spirit on His people in the New Covenant way.

So even though they were Spirit-filled, the sign of tongues had not yet been given.

They are like the sunrise just before the sun breaks the horizon — light is coming, but the day hasn’t fully begun.

3. Pentecost: The Game-Changing Moment

Everything changes in Acts 2.

Jesus told His disciples:

“The Holy Spirit has been with you… but He will be in you.”
(John 14:17)

That is the heart of the New Covenant:
the Spirit moving from “with” to “in,” and not just for a few — but for all believers.

Pentecost was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
(Joel 2:28)

Not just kings.
Not just prophets.
Not just priests.
Not just craftsmen.
Not just leaders.
All people.

And with that new outpouring came a new sign:
speaking in tongues.

This wasn’t random. It wasn’t bizarre. It was intentional.

4. Tongues Announced That the Gospel Was Going Global

On the Day of Pentecost, Jews from all over the world heard God’s wonders in their own languages:

  • Parthians
  • Medes
  • Elamites
  • Egyptians
  • Asians
  • Romans

Tongues was God’s megaphone declaring:

“My Spirit is for every nation, every language, every people. The gospel is now global.”

In the Old Testament, God’s work was centered on Israel.
In the New Testament, the gospel explodes outward to the nations.
Tongues became the outward sign of that new movement.

5. Acts Shows Tongues as a Confirming Sign of Inclusion

Every time a new group receives the Spirit in Acts, God uses something visible to confirm it:

  • Acts 2 — Jews in Jerusalem: tongues
  • Acts 10 — Gentiles in Cornelius’ house: tongues
  • Acts 19 — Disciples of John in Ephesus: tongues

It’s as if God is saying at every expansion of the gospel:

“Yes, they’re in too.”

Tongues became a divine confirmation that the New Covenant had fully arrived and the global family of God was being formed.

6. So What Changed?

Let’s keep it simple:

Old Testament:

The Spirit empowered a few people, temporarily, for specific tasks.
No universal outpouring.
No tongues.

New Testament (after Pentecost):

The Spirit is poured out on all believers, permanently.
Tongues appear as a sign of this new worldwide outpouring.

Tongues didn’t appear in the Old Testament because the age of the Spirit had not yet begun.
They appear in the Book of Acts because the global mission of God had finally arrived.

7. Final Thought: This Is About God’s Heart for the Nations

Tongues was never meant to be a curiosity.
It was a sign of inclusion — a declaration that God was reaching for the world.

The same Spirit who hovered over creation…
who empowered prophets and kings…
now fills ordinary believers, sons and daughters, young and old, in every nation.

The Church is global.
The Spirit is for all.
And tongues was the first signal flare announcing that the new age had begun.

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No Greater Joy Than Seeing Our Children Walk in Truth

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Mark Cole

There are some verses in Scripture that hit differently as the years go by. John’s words in 3 John 1:4 are one of them:

“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.”

Every parent, grandparent, pastor, and spiritual mentor feels the weight of that. As we get older, our priorities sharpen. The “wins” of life shift. What once felt big doesn’t feel nearly as important as watching the next generation hold onto Jesus with both hands.

The Heart of a Spiritual Father

When John wrote these words, he wasn’t talking about biological children—though the principle certainly applies there. He was speaking as a spiritual father. People he had led, discipled, nurtured, and prayed over were still walking faithfully with Jesus.

It’s the same joy every parent, grandparent, and spiritual leader knows when we see the kids we love choosing truth over lies, wisdom over foolishness, and Jesus over the world’s shallow promises.

There’s something deeply holy about watching the next generation walk in faith—not perfectly, but sincerely.

Why This Brings “No Greater Joy”

Because truth is not just an idea.
Truth is a Person.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
So when John says his joy is full, he means:

  • My children are choosing Jesus.
  • They’re holding onto the right foundation.
  • They’re building their lives on what lasts.

We know that feeling. Nothing compares. Not career success. Not financial milestones. Not personal achievements. Joy becomes something generational.

Our Calling: To Point Them to the Truth

For parents, grandparents, pastors, worship leaders, and mentors, our job is simple but profound:

Keep pointing the next generation toward Jesus—truth, life, hope.

How?

1. Live the truth consistently.

Kids imitate what they observe. They need to see real faith—not perfection, but sincerity.

2. Speak truth with love.

Truth without love hardens hearts.
Love without truth weakens them.
The next generation needs both.

3. Pray truth over them daily.

Often the greatest battles are fought on our knees, not in conversations.

4. Celebrate steps toward God.

When you see a child, student, or young leader choosing to follow God—affirm it. It sinks deep.

5. Stay engaged in their journey.

Even when they pull away.
Even when they doubt.
Even when they wander.
Truth has a way of calling them home.

The Joy of a Long View

At 70, I can say with conviction: the older you get, the more precious this verse becomes. You start to see the seeds you planted years ago sprouting in your children, grandchildren, and spiritual sons and daughters.

You see them loving God.
Loving people.
Serving the church.
Passing on their faith.

Suddenly, you realize that fruitfulness is not measured by your own accomplishments but by the lives you’ve influenced.

And yes—there is no greater joy.

A Final Encouragement

If your children or spiritual children are walking with God, give thanks with a full heart today. You’re watching Scripture come to life.

If they’re not walking with God right now, don’t lose heart. John’s joy was rooted in a long view—not a moment. Keep praying, loving, and sowing seeds. God is still writing their story.

Truth has a way of winning in the end.

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Not by Force, Not by Strength — But by His Spirit

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Mark Cole

There’s a moment in Scripture when God speaks directly into the exhaustion and discouragement of His people. Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, was staring at a mountain of impossibility: a half-built Temple, limited resources, political pressure, and a tired people. Into that moment God said:

“It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. — Zechariah 4:6

It was God’s way of saying, “You’re looking at what you can do. Start looking at what I can do.”

This is a message we all need—leaders, musicians, pastors, parents, students, followers of Jesus at any stage of life. The work God calls us to do is always bigger than our natural energy, skill, or strength. And that’s intentional. If we could accomplish it on our own, we’d rely on ourselves instead of Him.

Here are the truths wrapped inside this powerful verse:

1. Human strength has limits. God’s Spirit does not.

Force, willpower, talent, connections—these are good, but none can change a human heart, lift a spiritual burden, or open a divine door. Zerubbabel could gather tools, workers, and political support, but only God could breathe life into the work.

Every believer eventually discovers this:
What we can do will never replace what only God can do.

2. God’s assignments are always God-sized.

Rebuilding the Temple was too big for Zerubbabel. Leading people is too big for us. Raising kids, preaching the gospel, discipling new believers, building a worship ministry, living a Christlike life—these all stretch us beyond our natural limits.

God does this intentionally so that our dependence shifts upward, not inward.

If the calling feels overwhelming, it’s probably from God.

3. The Spirit works in ways force never can.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t bulldoze His way through people or circumstances. He moves with power, but also with wisdom, timing, conviction, comfort, and precision.

Force can push people away.
Strength can run out.
But the Spirit brings supernatural results.

He softens hearts.
He reveals Christ.
He heals old wounds.
He gives courage.
He whispers direction.

You and I can’t manufacture that—but we can welcome it.

4. God’s Spirit turns mountains into level ground.

A few verses later, God says to Zerubbabel:

“Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in your way.” (v. 7)

Notice God didn’t remove the calling; He removed the obstacle.

We all face “mountains”—financial pressure, ministry challenges, family burdens, discouragement, health issues. We stare at them thinking, “How am I supposed to get through this?”

God answers:
“You won’t get through this by force or strength—
you’ll get through it because My Spirit is with you.”

5. Our role is obedience. God’s role is empowerment.

Zerubbabel still had to build.
He still had to show up, organize workers, lift stones, and stay faithful.

But the power behind his work shifted from human effort to divine partnership.

That’s the Christian life.

We show up.
We obey.
We pray.
We surrender.
We trust.

And God supplies the power.

Paul put it like this:

“I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10)

6. This verse is an invitation to a lighter burden.

Some of us get tired not because we’re doing too much, but because we’re doing it in our own strength.

When we let the Spirit carry the weight, something shifts:

  • Peace replaces pressure
  • Joy replaces heaviness
  • Confidence replaces fear
  • Rest replaces striving

Jesus meant it when He said,
“My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

That’s not poetry—that’s the result of Spirit-empowered living.

7. The Spirit empowers us to finish.

God told Zerubbabel:

“You laid the foundation… and you will finish it.” (v. 9)

What God starts, He finishes.
What God anoints, He completes.
What God strengthens, He sustains.

He didn’t call you to burn out—He called you to build.
He didn’t call you to strive—He called you to be filled.

And the same Spirit who helped Zerubbabel finish his work
will help you finish yours.

A Final Word

Where do you feel tired?
Where do you feel pressure?
Where do you see a mountain in front of you?

Pause.
Lift your eyes.
Invite the Holy Spirit.

He is the difference-maker.
He is the strength you lack.
He is the wisdom you need.
He is the power behind your calling.

Not by force.
Not by strength.
But by His Spirit.

Let that truth lift and steady your heart today.

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The Quiet Power of an Early Morning: How a Simple Rhythm Can Transform Your Life

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Mark Cole

There’s a growing conversation today about the benefits of waking up early and taking a few quiet minutes for meditation. Some claim it increases longevity, deepens mental health, strengthens focus, and improves overall quality of life.

The science is encouraging — but as believers, we’ve actually known this truth for thousands of years.

Scripture has always highlighted the power of seeking God early, not because the hour is magical, but because the heart posture of beginning the day with God sets the tone for everything else.

Let’s look at why this rhythm is so powerful — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

1. Early Morning Isn’t About the Clock — It’s About Intention

You don’t become healthier simply by waking up at 5 AM.
But you do benefit from starting the day with purpose.

Research shows that people with consistent daily rhythms—going to bed and waking up at the same time—have lower stress, healthier hearts, and clearer minds. God wired our bodies this way.

Scripture echoes this sense of order and rhythm:

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.”
— Psalm 5:3

David wasn’t praising a time of day.
He was celebrating the power of starting with God.

2. Quiet Morning Meditation Changes Your Brain and Your Spirit

Just 10–15 minutes of quiet reflection, prayer, breathing, or Scripture meditation has measurable benefits:

  • lowers stress hormones
  • improves emotional resilience
  • sharpens focus
  • calms anxiety
  • increases gratitude

Spiritually, this is even more significant.
When you begin your day listening to God, you align your heart before the day’s noise begins.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10

Stillness is not an emptying of the mind — it’s an anchoring of the mind in God.

3. Early Morning Creates Sacred Space

For many people, early mornings feel holy—not because God is more present, but because everything else is quieter.

  • Fewer distractions.
  • Fewer demands.
  • A rested mind.
  • A soft heart.

Even Jesus practiced this rhythm:

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”
— Mark 1:35

If Jesus needed quiet space to hear the Father… so do we.

4. A Morning Rhythm Shapes the Entire Day

Starting your day with God is like tuning an instrument before the concert — everything that follows is more aligned.

People who begin with quiet time often:

  • make wiser decisions
  • react with more patience
  • maintain healthier priorities
  • feel less rushed and overwhelmed
  • carry a sense of peace into their relationships

Proverbs puts it perfectly:

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:6

Starting your day by acknowledging God invites His guidance into every other moment.

5. It’s Not About Rising Early — It’s About Rising Right

The value isn’t in waking up at a certain hour.
The value is in waking up with purpose.

Whether it’s 5:30, 6:30, or 7:00, what matters most is:

  • consistency
  • quiet
  • Scripture
  • reflection
  • prayer

These habits feed your soul, settle your mind, and even strengthen your body.

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”
— Isaiah 40:31

Renewal comes from waiting on God, not forcing an unhealthy schedule.

A Simple Morning Routine to Try

Here’s a practical way to live this out:

  1. Wake up at a consistent time that gives you 7–8 hours of sleep.
  2. Sit in quiet for 1–2 minutes. Breathe. Slow down.
  3. Read a short Scripture passage (Psalms, Gospels, Proverbs are great).
  4. Reflect on one word or phrase that stands out.
  5. Pray simply:
    • “Lord, speak to me.”
    • “Guide my steps today.”
  6. Avoid your phone for the first 10 minutes.
  7. Carry one truth with you as the anchor for your day.

Small routine. Big impact.

Final Thought: Give God Your First Moments

Starting the day with God isn’t a performance.
It’s an invitation — into His peace, His presence, His wisdom, and His strength.

It calms your mind.
It strengthens your body.
It centers your heart.
It aligns your whole day.

And most importantly…it brings you into deeper fellowship with the One who loves you most.

“Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”
— Psalm 90:14

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When Praise Sounds Like Joy and Weeping: Learning from Ezra 3

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Mark Cole

Some moments in Scripture are so human, so raw, so emotionally honest that they pull us right into the story. Ezra 3 is one of those scenes.

After decades of exile, the Israelites finally return to Jerusalem. The city is in ruins. The Temple—once the center of their worship, identity, and national life—is gone. But then, after months of hard work, something miraculous happens: the foundation of the new Temple is laid.

And that moment explodes with sound.

“And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed.”

Right there, you see continuity: the worship practices of David’s day still mattered. Instruments mattered. Praise mattered. Joy mattered. God’s people didn’t wait for a finished building to worship—they worshiped at the very first sign of God’s restoring work.

They sang:

“He is so good!
His faithful love for Israel endures forever!”

And then something beautiful—and uncomfortable—happened.

Two sounds rose up at the same time: the sound of joy and the sound of weeping.

Scripture says:

“Many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud… The others were shouting for joy… The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.”

What a picture of worship. What a picture of the church. What a picture of life.

Let’s draw out a few lessons we can take with us today.

1. God’s goodness deserves praise—even when the work is just beginning.

The Temple wasn’t finished. It was barely started.

But they praised anyway.

Too often we wait for the finished product: the answered prayer, the breakthrough, the restoration. But worship is not the celebration of completion—it’s the celebration of God at work.

If you see even the foundation being laid in your life—spiritually, relationally, emotionally—praise Him.

2. Honest worship makes room for every emotion.

Some shouted for joy.
Some wept loudly.
God welcomed both.

The older generation remembered the glory of Solomon’s Temple. They knew what had been lost. Their tears were not unbelief—they were memory, grief, and longing.

The younger people saw hope, a new beginning, a future they had never known.

Both responses were right. Both were worship.

In church, in our families, and in our walk with God, we need to make room for:

  • People who are rejoicing
  • People who are grieving
  • People who feel both simultaneously

Healthy worship doesn’t silence emotion; it lifts emotion to God.

3. God often builds the new in the presence of the old.

It’s tempting to compare what God is doing now with what He did before.

“This isn’t as good as the old days…”
or
“This is going to be better than anything we’ve seen…”

Comparison steals perspective.

God wasn’t trying to rebuild Solomon’s Temple.
He was doing something different in a different generation.

When God starts something new in your life, don’t judge it by past seasons. Celebrate the present work of God without the pressure of recreating the past.

4. The sound of revival is messy—and God loves it.

The Bible says the noise was so loud that people far away could hear it. And what did they hear?

A mixed sound.

We want revival to look clean… organized… predictable… smooth.

But real renewal often looks like this moment:

  • Joy and sorrow together
  • Past and future colliding
  • Gratitude and grief in the same breath
  • People at different stages of healing worshiping side by side

The noise isn’t a problem—it’s the proof that God is moving.

5. When God restores, the story is bigger than one generation.

The young rejoiced.
The old remembered.
Both were needed.

God’s work is multi-generational.

The older leaders brought depth, memory, and perspective.
The younger worshipers brought energy, hope, and expectancy.

The sound that day was powerful because both generations lifted their voices.

A church—or a family—that welcomes all ages becomes a place where God builds lasting things.

Final Thought: Worship the God Who Is Still Restoring

Ezra 3 reminds us that worship is not about the perfection of the moment—it’s about the presence of God in the moment.

You may be in a season where:

  • Something new is just beginning
  • Something old has been lost
  • You feel joy and grief at the same time
  • You’re celebrating foundations, not finished works

Bring it all to God.

Praise Him with cymbals.
Shout for joy.
Weep if you must.
Let the sound rise.

Because even when life feels mixed, one truth remains unshaken:

“He is so good!
His faithful love endures forever.”

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Living in Love: The Secret to a Growing, Confident Faith

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Mark Cole

1 John 4:16–17

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.”

Some verses are so simple that we risk passing right over them. But simplicity is often Scripture’s greatest power. John isn’t trying to impress us with theological complexity—he’s showing us the center of the Christian life in one tight paragraph: God loves us. We trust that love. And the more we live in it, the more it transforms us.

Let’s slow down and let these words sink in.

1. “We know how much God loves us…” — This is our foundation

John doesn’t say, We guess… we hope… maybe God loves us. He says we know.

How do we know?

  • We know because Jesus came.
  • We know because the cross is not a theory but a historical event.
  • We know because the Spirit continues to whisper God’s love into the deepest parts of our hearts.

Every day you and I live out of something—fear, ambition, insecurity, comparison. John says: Live out of the knowledge that God loves you. It is the most stabilizing truth you will ever build your life on.

2. “…and we have put our trust in His love.” — Love isn’t just believed, it’s relied on

There’s a difference between knowing a truth and leaning your weight on it.

John invites us to trust God’s love—to let it carry our guilt, calm our anxiety, heal our wounds, and reorient our motives. Trusting His love means:

  • I don’t need to impress God—He already accepts me in Christ.
  • I don’t need to fear the future—His love goes ahead of me.
  • I don’t need to perform for people—His love defines me.

Spiritual maturity is not about accumulating more information; it’s about learning to rest in the love we already know.

3. “God is love…” — Love isn’t a trait of God, it’s His nature

John does not say God has love or God shows love.
He says God is love.

Everything God does flows out of who He is:

  • His commands are loving.
  • His correction is loving.
  • His timing is loving.
  • His plans are loving.
  • His discipline is loving.

If you could see your life from God’s perspective, you wouldn’t change a single thing He has allowed or shaped—because it’s all soaked in perfect love.

4. “All who live in love live in God…” — Love is the evidence of His presence

John teaches something profound and practical: if you want to measure your spiritual maturity, measure your love.

Not your platform.
Not your Bible knowledge.
Not your achievements.
Not your years in the faith.

Love is the proof that God lives in us and we live in Him.

And that love shows up in real-world places:

  • How we treat people who can’t offer us anything back
  • How quickly we forgive
  • How gently we speak
  • How willing we are to listen
  • How patient we are with difficult people
  • How much compassion we show in unnoticed moments

To “live in love” is to let God’s character shape our relationships.

5. “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” — Love matures with time and obedience

This is good news: none of us start off perfectly loving, but all of us can grow.

John paints a picture of spiritual development:

  • As we walk with God, our reactions change.
  • As we abide in Him, our motives deepen.
  • As we spend time in His presence, we find ourselves becoming more like Him.

Love grows as we stay close.
Love matures as we keep obeying.
Love expands as we continue trusting.

Your imperfect love does not disqualify you—God is shaping it into something more like His.

A Final Word

At the end of your life, the truest thing about you will not be your accomplishments, your ministry résumé, or your influence.

It will be this: Did you learn to live in God’s love, and did His love flow through you to others?

John makes it simple:

  1. God loves you.
  2. Trust that love.
  3. Live in it every day.
  4. Let it change how you love others.
  5. Let your love grow strong, deep, and beautiful as you abide in Him.

This is the Christian life in its purest form.

Let’s walk in God’s love today and become more like Him.

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When God Stirs The Heart

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Mark Cole

One of the most beautiful phrases in the book of Ezra is this: “He stirred the heart of Cyrus…” (Ezra 1:1). God moved the heart of a pagan king—Cyrus—to accomplish His purpose and send His people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Then Scripture adds, “God stirred the hearts… of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes” (Ezra 1:5). Ordinary people felt an inner nudge from God—an unmistakable sense that He was initiating something. And because they responded, history shifted.

This idea—that God still stirs hearts—is not confined to the Old Testament. It is one of the ways God has always worked, and the way God continues to work today.

1. God Still Initiates Vision

When God stirs a heart, it usually begins quietly.

A thought you can’t shake.
A burden you didn’t choose.
A prompting that feels bigger than you.
A dream that lights up a passion.

In Ezra, God stirred the people to return and rebuild. Today, God stirs us to build different kinds of things: ministries, songs, businesses, churches, reconciled relationships, acts of compassion, creative projects, and steps of obedience we never would have attempted on our own.

2. God Stirs Us Through His Word

The return from exile happened because people heard God’s prophetic promises through Jeremiah. The Word awakened something inside of them.

God’s Word still ignites purpose in us today. A simple verse in your morning reading can become the catalyst for a decision, a shift in thinking, a repentance, or a new direction.

Many of the most significant things God has done in my life began with Scripture grabbing hold of me.

3. God Stirs Through Burdens and Opportunities

A God-stirred burden doesn’t feel heavy—it feels holy. It may weigh on your heart, but it carries hope with it.

Sometimes God stirs us when we see a need and realize, “I think I’m supposed to do something about this.”

That’s exactly how this blog began.

Years ago, I sensed a clear prompting from the Lord to start writing about worship leadership, musicianship, spiritual growth, and practical ministry. I had no ambition to “be a writer.” I simply felt God nudging:
“Help the next generation. Share what I’ve taught you. Encourage the church.”

I obeyed the stirring, hit “publish,” and trusted God with the impact.

Today, by God’s grace alone, this blog has been read over 5 million times by leaders and musicians in more than 180 nations. I never saw that coming. I simply followed the stirring.

That’s how God works—He does the multiplying when we do the obeying.

4. When God Stirs, He Provides the Courage

The exiles in Ezra faced real obstacles: a long journey, ruins, opposition, and a temple that needed to be rebuilt from nothing. Yet when God stirs a heart, He also strengthens it.

Obedience feels hard before you start and empowering once you move.

Many times in my life, I’ve stepped out in faith, not knowing the final outcome—but God met me the moment I moved.

5. God’s Stirring Always Serves a Bigger Story

Ezra’s generation didn’t just rebuild a temple—they prepared the way for Jesus. Their obedience fit into a story much larger than themselves.

It’s the same today.

When God stirs you, it’s never just about you.
It’s about the people He wants to reach.
The leaders He wants to raise.
The worship He wants to inspire.
The legacy He wants to build.

Your obedience becomes someone else’s blessing.

A Final Encouragement

Maybe God is stirring something in you right now—a ministry idea, a creative project, a step of faith, a reconciliation, a calling to serve, or a burden you can’t ignore.

If you sense His nudge, don’t dismiss it.
Lean in. Pray. Take the first small step.

If God is stirring your heart, it’s because He has already prepared the way.

The same God who stirred hearts in Ezra’s day is stirring hearts today.
And when He stirs a heart, the world changes.

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How to Have Confidence Before God

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Mark Cole

A Study of 1 John 3

Most believers struggle at some point with doubt, insecurity, or a sense of spiritual inadequacy. We know the gospel, we believe God loves us, yet our hearts can still accuse us. That’s why 1 John 3 is such a gift. John writes as an elderly pastor who wants his spiritual children to walk in assurance—not arrogance, but real, steady confidence before God.

This chapter shows us where true confidence comes from and how it grows in our lives. Here are the key truths John lays out for us.

1. Confidence Begins with Understanding God’s Lavish Love

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us…” (1 John 3:1)

John starts with identity. You don’t earn confidence—you receive it.

You are God’s child now, not someday when you’re more mature or more consistent. Confidence comes from knowing you belong to the Father because of His great love, not because of your performance.

If you get this wrong, everything else wobbles.
If you get this right, everything else steadies.

2. Confidence Grows as We Pursue Purity

“All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3)

Purity isn’t legalism. It’s alignment.

When you know you’re God’s child, you naturally begin to move toward holiness. A pure life doesn’t make God love you—it positions your heart to enjoy fellowship with Him.

Confidence is hard to experience when you’re living double-minded.
But when your life is open before God, your heart rests.

3. Confidence Comes From Living in Freedom, Not Bondage

“The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

John reminds us that Jesus came not only to forgive sin but also to break its power. Confidence before God is hard to feel when you believe you’re trapped, stuck, or destined to repeat old patterns.

But in Christ, you are not helpless.
You can walk in freedom.
You can grow.
You can change.

Knowing this builds courage in your heart.

4. Confidence Shows Up in a Changed Life

“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning…” (1 John 3:9)

John isn’t saying believers never sin. He’s saying believers don’t make peace with sin.

The evidence of new birth is a new direction. When God’s life is in you, the pattern of your life shifts. You begin to look like the family you belong to.

Seeing God’s work in your life—however small—strengthens your confidence before Him.

5. Confidence Is Deepened Through Love in Action

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

This is one of John’s strongest themes: love is the visible proof that Christ lives in you.

When you’re walking in love—serving, forgiving, caring, giving—your heart strengthens. Love reassures your soul that you are aligned with God’s heart.

Confidence grows every time your life reflects His love.

6. Confidence Rises When Our Hearts Are at Rest

“Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” (1 John 3:20)

Sometimes your heart condemns you.
Sometimes your feelings don’t match reality.
Sometimes past failures speak louder than God’s promises.

John gives a powerful reminder:

Your emotions are not the judge of your standing with God.
God is greater than your heart.

When your conscience is clean and your life is open before Him, you can approach God boldly—trusting His character, not your feelings.

7. Confidence Lives Where Faith and Love Meet

“This is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another…” (1 John 3:23)

John reduces the Christian life to two commands:

  1. Believe in Jesus.
  2. Love people.

When these two realities are present, the Spirit confirms that we belong to God. Confidence doesn’t come from spiritual performance; it comes from faith in Christ and a life shaped by love.

This is the simple, powerful foundation of assurance.

Final Thought: Confidence Isn’t a Feeling — It’s a Position

1 John 3 gives a clear path:

  • Remember the Father’s love.
  • Walk toward purity.
  • Live in freedom.
  • Let God reshape your desires.
  • Love in action.
  • Rest in God’s truth, not your emotions.
  • Trust Jesus and love people deeply.

Do these, and you will walk with the kind of quiet, humble, Spirit-given confidence that John describes—a confidence not based on perfection, but on identity, direction, and God’s unfailing love.

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The River of Healing

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Mark Cole

Ezekiel 47:1–12 gives us one of the most beautiful pictures of spiritual renewal in the entire Bible: a river flowing from the Temple, growing deeper and deeper, bringing life and healing everywhere it goes. It is a reminder that God’s presence is not static, not limited, and not small. His Spirit moves, expands, heals, restores, and transforms. And when we step into what He is doing, our lives begin to flourish in ways nothing else can produce.

Let’s walk through this prophetic vision and see what it means for us today.

1. The River Starts as a Trickle — God Often Begins Quietly

The water doesn’t explode from the Temple; it begins as a small trickle from the threshold.
It’s almost easy to miss.

That’s how God often works:

  • A quiet conviction
  • A whispered prayer
  • A subtle shift in the heart
  • A small step of obedience
  • A gentle prompting of the Spirit

We often look for dramatic moments, but God delights in starting with the small and hidden. Every great move of God—whether in a life, a family, a ministry, or a nation—begins with a trickle that no one should underestimate.

Don’t despise small beginnings. They are God’s specialty.

2. The River Deepens as It Flows — God’s Presence Is Meant to Grow in Us

As the angel leads Ezekiel further along the river, the water rises: ankle-deep, knee-deep, waist-deep, until it becomes “a river no one could cross.”

This is a picture of the Spirit’s increasing work in our lives:

  • Ankle-deep: We’re touched, but still mostly in control.
  • Knee-deep: Our prayer life strengthens; dependence deepens.
  • Waist-deep: We feel the current; God begins carrying us.
  • Over our heads: We surrender, trusting God to lead.

God does not want His people to stay in the shallows—He invites us to deeper surrender, deeper faith, deeper joy, deeper obedience. The question isn’t whether there’s more of God to experience. The question is how far we’re willing to go.

3. The River Flows to the Dead Sea — God Brings Life to the Lowest Places

The river moves eastward toward the Dead Sea—the lowest geographic point on earth, a body of water so salty nothing can live in it.

And that’s exactly where God sends His river.

This is the gospel message in one powerful symbol: God moves toward death, not away from it.
He moves toward:

  • The lowest places in our hearts
  • The areas we’ve given up on
  • The relationships that look beyond repair
  • The ministries that feel dry
  • The people who feel hopeless

There is no heart, no situation, no history so dead that God’s Spirit cannot revive it. When the river of God touches the Dead Sea, it becomes fresh and alive.

4. “Where the River Flows, Everything Will Live” — The Transforming Power of the Spirit

Verse 9 is the centerpiece of the passage:

“Where the river flows, everything will live.”

Not some things.
Not most things.
Everything.

Where the Spirit of the Lord flows:

  • Hope rises
  • Hearts soften
  • Lives change
  • Bondage breaks
  • Joy returns
  • Fruit grows
  • Healing happens

You don’t have to manufacture spiritual vitality. Stay connected to the river, and life will come.

5. Fishermen Stand Along the Shore — Healed People Become Lifters of Others

As the waters become fresh and alive, fishermen appear along the shores. Dead water becomes a place of mission and abundance.

When God heals you, He doesn’t just restore you for your sake—He restores you so you can help bring life to others.
Healthy rivers produce healthy fishermen.
A revived life becomes a contagious life.

This is always God’s pattern: He blesses you so you can bless others.

6. Not All Ground Becomes Fresh — Stagnant Areas Resist the Flow

One surprising detail is that swamps and marshes remain salty. They don’t experience the transformation of the river.

Why?
Because stagnant ground does not receive the flow.

This is a sober warning. You can:

  • Attend church
  • Hear sermons
  • Sing the songs
  • Be around spiritual activity

…and still resist the Spirit’s work.

Life comes not from proximity, but from participation.
The areas we hold back will remain salty ground until we open them to the river.

7. Trees Flourish with Fruit Every Month — The Spirit Produces Life in Every Season

On both sides of the river grow trees whose leaves never wither and whose fruit appears every month. Their leaves bring healing; their roots are fed by the river.

This is the life God intends for His people:

  • Fruitfulness in every season
  • Stability during storms
  • Healing influence on others
  • Deep strength that doesn’t run dry
  • Spiritual vitality that outlasts circumstances

This is Psalm 1 and Revelation 22 echoing the same truth:
Those who remain connected to God’s presence remain fruitful—even in old age, hardship, or transition.

When the source is the river of God, the fruit never stops.

Final Thoughts

Ezekiel 47 is a picture of what God wants to do in His people, His church, and His world:

  • Life where there’s been death
  • Healing where there’s been brokenness
  • Fruitfulness where there’s been barrenness
  • Renewal where there’s been discouragement
  • Depth where there’s been shallowness

God does not offer a puddle; He offers a river.
And He invites us not just to admire it—but to step in.

Go deeper.
Let the Spirit carry you.
Let the river flow into every part of your life.
Where the river flows, everything will live.

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Healing, Health, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment