In a world often shrouded in spiritual darkness, my heart burns with a singular mission: to ILLUMINATE that darkness and the shadowy places of religion with The Truth. I long to be a vessel God uses to speak into the hearts and minds of those who hunger for more than superficial religion—those who yearn for a full, life-changing understanding of the gospel.
Every book title, every blog post, is prayerfully chosen to guide readers toward the profound wisdom found in Scripture. Through these works, my hope is to enlighten and empower you on your spiritual journey—to help you find clarity, courage, and hope through the teachings of faith.
I am a Lamplighter. And if you’ve found your way here, I pray this light makes an impact in you today so that you can shine the light in someone else's life
Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV — Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Discouragement is a church (corporately and individually) killer. Discouragement will cause us to veer from that which is true.
When God causes us to be unwavering, Discouragement pushes us out of perfect alignment.
Discouragement will cause us to avoid the very body of believers that we so desperately need. Discouragement will weave the lie that being alone and cut off is better that being united with fellow believers of like precious faith.
The remedy is that we “Hold Fast” but not to just anything. We must hold fast to the truth!
We must hold fast to the confession of our faith and hope!
We must hold fast to Christ!
Knowing that because He is faithful, we can be too!
We must stir one another, provoke one another, encourage one another to godly love and good works.
We must gather each other close in to the bonds of peace and remind one another that we are pilgrims and are headed to a greater place, the Kingdom of God!
You may know someone who is discouraged, share this with them and encourage them to HOLD FAST to their faith in the Faithful God!
When viewed under a microscope, tears form unique, crystalline patterns that look like aerial landscapes, with the specific shape depending on the type of tear.
One day I was doing some research on tears, specifically, I was preparing a sermon for my church (likely a long the lines of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears), I came across an image which had four separate images of tears and under each had the “why” that caused those tears.
One was sadness, one was happiness, one was pain, and one was caused by cutting an onion.
I then began to look for scriptures which spoke about tears in scripture, outside of the woman mentioned above, and came across Psalm 56:8 “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”
I was immediately overwhelmed by this reality. David made a statement to God, which alluded to an understanding that God collects our tears!
Tears speak more about what our hearts feel than any words could ever express.
I remember and still have many times in my Christian walk, even in regular life, that all I could do was cry. I had no words. They failed me. I couldn’t make sense of the thoughts that I was thinking nor of the emotions I was feeling. All I could do was weep. The anguish of my soul manifested itself through the tears which flowed down my face.
Often afterward I would have a new perspective of what was going on and felt better.
Tears are a language that God understands! He sees our tears, what causes our tears, and how long we will have to cry those tears before joy comes! All the while, He is moved by what troubles us and already has the solution.
One of my favorite verses which I learned during my time at OBI (my Bible seminary days) is, Psalm 34:6 “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
We can insert our names. We do cry, we groan in anguish, despair bellows from the deepest parts of our being and yet God hears and responds!
What a comfort it is to know that God understands our tears.
A greater comfort is found in Revelation 21:4. Its a promise that our tears will not last forever – “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4).
One day those bottles will be poured out. Erased. Never more remembered! We will look on our savior’s face and perfect peace, love, and joy will flood over us, washing away every remembrance of the tears shed and the reasons they existed in the first place!
Today, direct your cries unto God, He will hear them, be present, and responds to them for our benefit.
Every week I have the privilege of standing before our students in chapel, sharing truths that I pray will shape their lives. And in those moments, I’m reminded of something I see not only in children, but in people of every age, background, and personality: beneath the surface, most are carrying something heavy.
They’re broken.
Broken by the world. Broken by relationships. Broken by disappointments. Broken by words spoken. Broken by their own decisions, and broken by the decisions of others.
And when life breaks us, our perspective shifts. It becomes distorted. It begins to have missing pieces. We start looking at ourselves and the world through a broken mirror.
We often turn to people to fix us. And while they may help for a season, the pressures of the past, the weight of the present, and the uncertainty of the future eventually reveal the cracks again—often deeper than before.
Some will even deem us irreparable, discarding us and adding to the pain.
Others of us try to fix ourselves. We put on fake smiles, dress up our personalities, and pretend everything is fine. But just like handling broken glass, the more we try to piece it together ourselves, the more we cut our own hands. The pain only reminds us of how shattered we really are.
Hopeless. Helpless. Convinced we are beyond repair.
But there is another way. A better way.
Isaiah tells us that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, to bind up wounds, to give beauty for ashes, joy for sorrow, and freedom to the captive. And in the New Testament, Christ Himself confirms this is why He came.
The true culprit behind all our brokenness is sin. And Jesus came to deal with it once and for all. He conquered sin, and in conquering it, He made a way for us to be better than new.
His blood takes the broken pieces of our lives—the ashes, scars, and wounds—and transforms them. He doesn’t just patch us up; He exchanges our brokenness for wholeness, our despair for hope, our sorrow for joy.
Not only does He restore the mirror we’ve been looking through, He enlarges it. Suddenly, we see a life we never dreamed possible. A life filled with grace, freedom, and purpose.
That’s the gospel: Jesus doesn’t just repair the broken—He makes us new.
If you’ve been staring at life through a broken mirror, know this: you are not irreparable. In Christ, your brokenness becomes the very place where His glory shines brightest.
If you would like to know how this is possible, message me or find someone who is a Christian that can guide you to that place of healing, redeeming, and saving.
Forgiveness doesn’t equate to trust; but Forgiveness is still required.
Let’s see why this is more of a benefit to us than anyone else.
Forgiveness is never an easy topic; nor is it an easy task.
Before I go any further I want us to know that forgiveness and trust are not synonymous. We can forgive someone, but not place ourselves in a position to be hurt by them again. The two are not equal. Imagine being bitten by a wild dog and you respond, “Oh, I forgive you Mr. Wild dog.” but then you try to pet it again. The result will be the same, because that wild dogs nature has not changed…it is still wild and it will bite you again. To intentionally put yourself into the presence of someone who has hurt you, the result will be the same, they will hurt you again.
Continuing on, I have found myself many times in the place of needing to forgive someone but it is like pulling the proverbial “eye-teeth” for me to do it.
Why? Why is it so difficult? Why can’t we as humans just do it and move on? Well, I never really understood how to answer that for anyone or myself.
I acknowledge what God says about it in Matthew 6:14-15 where Jesus says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses (sins against you), your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (sins against God and man).” And, I fully believe this.
I suppose that was the reason why I always did, but it was always begrudgingly. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I was shown some Truth. Forgiveness is not about the offender; it is about something that coexists with God’s forgiveness of us.
I am a school Administrator for our church’s Christian school. I hold daily staff devotion and prayer time 15 minutes before students begin to arrive. In our devotional book this year, authored by Max Lucado, the topic was on forgiveness. This is what he wrote.
“How much justice is enough? Picture your enemy for a moment. Picture him tied to the whipping post. The strong-armed man with the whip turns to you and asks, “how many lashes?” And you give him a number. The whip cracks and the blood flows. And the punishment is inflicted. Your foe slumps to the ground and you walk away.
Are you happy now? Do you feel better? Are you at peace?
Perhaps for a while, but soon another memory will surface, and another lash will be needed, and…when does it all stop? It stops when you take seriously the words of Jesus. In Matthew 6:14-15.
“Treat me as I treat my neighbor.” Are you aware that this is what you are saying to your father? “Give me what I give them. Grant me the same piece I grant others. Let me enjoy the same tolerance I offer.”
God will treat you the way you treat others. Would you like some peace? Then quit giving your neighbor such a hassle. You want to enjoy God’s generosity? Then let others enjoy yours. Would you like to have the assurance that God Forgives you? I think you know what you need to do.”
You might be thinking, “So How does forgiveness benefit me? What is that greater thing?”
Well, as already stated, forgiveness opens up the door for God to forgive us. That is exciting enough, honestly! Yet, you can forgive, like I did, but begrudgingly.
So the other part of forgiveness is this; the act of forgiveness releases a person (you the forgiver) from the emotional and psychological burdens of anger, resentment, and bitterness.
There it is. Forgiveness, specifically God’s way, brings about freedom! Freedom to move on and Freedom from bearing the guilt of your own sin. This opens the door for you to be forgiven too!
Release yourself from the unnecessary burden, and you never know, it might just bring a radical change in the offender.
Recently, I was informed of some major debate going on about “plagiarism among preachers.” Now I am not one to get into what, I believe, are frivolous debates and arguments. In fact, scripture gives us insight which align with my opinion on this;2 Timothy 2:23-26, which states that foolish and ignorant arguments “produce quarrels”. Other verses, like Titus 3:9, label such disputes as “unprofitable and worthless,” while Romans 14:1 encourages believers to avoid “quarreling over disputable matters” that could harm the unity of the church.
Yet, I do feel that it is necessary to offer another perspective. I am all for giving credit to who credit is due for intellectual property. However, when it comes to the word of God and the interpretations of it, I believe that “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), therefore the question we must ask is, “Can the gospel or the preaching of it be plagiarized?”
Here is my perspective and you are free to have yours as well.
Monopolization of the gospel cheapens it. When anyone makes the claim, “What I have to say concerning the gospel are mine and no one else’s,” they elevate their voice, their words to the level of divine revelation.
When anyone rebukes another for speaking the same truth, even in the exact same phrasing, the rebuking voices elevate human words to that of divine revelation.
However, the scripture tells us that “There is nothing new under the sun.” The gospel is not some private invention nor is the interpretation of it something sacred or proprietary.
The gospel was written, all of it, by the breath of God, not the brilliance of man. Scripture tells us that the Holy Ghost inspired one unified testimony of scripture through several holy men for all people to share, proclaim, and live by.
Man’s thoughts, no matter how eloquent, are not some new revelation. They are echoes, reflections, and reminders of the same already divinely declared truth.
The gospel is not copyrighted, but it is entrusted to men who will faithfully present it.
While I use commentaries, quotes, stories, and poems; I also use other preachers’ statements in my sermons. The reason behind all of this is because the way they stated something is what I might have been thinking but couldn’t word it accurately. While I do try to credit these individuals, there are times, in the midst of preaching that time dictates that I move a little more quickly and therefore the credit might be missing. Yet, I believe this is just a matter of good habit but not a matter of any great moral/eternal consequence.
The real danger that should be discussed is the preaching of the gospel without the anointing. 1 Corinthians 2:4 is Paul explaining that his message was with the demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
So, now is the part where you must do some examination. Where do you stand?
Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
In 1968, Frank Sinatra recorded “My Way”—a song that became an anthem of self-determination. Ironically, its closest chart rival was “Amazing Grace,” a hymn of surrender. One celebrates autonomy; the other, redemption. One leads to ruin; the other, to life.
Culture urges us to “follow your heart,” but Scripture warns that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah. 17:9). The world cheers “I did it my way,” but Jesus calls us to follow Him, saying, “I am the Way” (John 14:6).
The Danger of Doing It Our Way
Solomon observed that man’s way often feels right—but ends in death. Scripture reveals five traits of man’s path:
– Deceptive – Promises much, delivers little (Jeremiah. 17:9).
– Difficult – “The way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15).
– Destructive – Pride blinds us to stumbling blocks (Prov. 16:18).
– Deadly – It leads to spiritual death (Prov. 14:12).
Biblical examples abound: Adam and Eve, Cain, Lot’s wife, Ananias and Sapphira—all chose their way and met ruin.
The Invitation to God’s Way
Thankfully, Proverbs offers a better path:
– Trust – “Lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5–6).
– Favor – “The Lord knows the way of the righteous” (Ps. 1:6).
– Light – “Thy word is a lamp…” (Psalm. 119:105).God’s way is marked by surrender, Scripture, and Spirit-led direction. It’s not always easy, but it’s always life-giving.
A Living Parable
Chuck Colson, Nixon’s “hatchet man,” did things his way—until prison humbled him. There, he met Christ. His greatest failure became the launchpad for Prison Fellowship, transforming lives behind bars. He said, “My great humiliation…was the beginning of God’s greatest use of my life.”
Choose Your Path
Every day presents a fork in the road.
Ask yourself:
– Does this path begin with Christ?
– Is it marked by righteousness?
– Does it glorify God or gratify self?
For the sinner: Repent and follow Christ—the Way to life.
For the believer: Examine your steps and return to God’s path.
For the church: Teach truth, model obedience, and expose deceptive roads.Let’s stop singing “My Way” and start walking His Way.
Jesus taught that true worship isn’t about places or rituals—it’s about spirit and truth. To worship in spirit means engaging with spiritual realities, not outward forms. To worship in truth means aligning with God’s Word and coming to Him authentically, not performatively.
Why We Worship
Worship is our response to God’s worth. It’s not about style or preference—it’s about revelation. As Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, our Lord and God…” We were created to worship (Isaiah 43:21) and commanded to worship (Psalm 29:2). Worship realigns our hearts, dethrones self, and enthrones Christ. It’s also warfare—silencing the enemy and shifting atmospheres (Psalm 8:2).
How We Worship
Biblical worship is both internal and external. It springs from the heart and expresses itself physically:
Bowing – Psalm 95:6
Lifting hands – Psalm 134:2
Singing – Psalm 100:2
Clapping – Psalm 47:1
Dancing – 2 Samuel 6:14
Silence – Habakkuk 2:20
Worship erupts from a recognition of who God is and what He’s done.
Worship tills the soil of the heart, breaks chains, and invites divine intervention. It’s not passive—it’s a weapon.
A Picture of True Worship
The woman with the alabaster box (Luke 7:36–50) embodied worship in spirit and truth. Her offering was costly, intimate, and unashamed. She didn’t care who understood—only that Jesus knew she was worshipping.
What if our worship became the battleground where heaven touched earth? What if we laid down our preferences and lifted up pure praise? Worship isn’t just a song—it’s a surrendered life. Let’s become a people who worship with our whole being, creating space for God to move in ways we never imagined.
(Philippians 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Anxiety cannot change the state or condition of anything, other than damage the person who will allow it to rule them.
Christ tells us in (Matthew 6:27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Or in another version, “Add an hour to your time?”
Worry is a weight with no reward. A false prophet which predicts doom without the power to deliver that doom.
Paul, under the unction of the Holy Ghost, issues a divine imperative…Be careful for nothing! Be careful in the original Greek word merimnáō (to be anxious) is spoken in an imperative mood. Paul was not offering advice, but a command.
Understand, this is not a mentality which says, “Let what will happen, happen.” Scripture does affirm that God’s sovereign will unfolds regardless of human anxiety or human/demonic interference. We see this in Romans 8:28, Eccles. 3:1, and Isaiah 55:8-9.
This doesn’t suggest passive resignation, but active trust and surrender! This is not a call to disengage but to engage in the right things.
Paul gives the command to not be anxious and then proceeds to tell us the preemptive measure, remedial measure, and a sustaining measure.
Paul tells them to PRAY!
Prayer is the weapon in our arsenal which can be used in all phases of our lives.
1. Preemptive prayer is the realization that spiritual needs are going to come and I need to be prepared before the crisis comes.
2. Remedial prayer is the understanding that even during the crisis there is a source that I can connect to and despite what is going on in the moment, I can be strengthened.
3. Sustaining prayer is less about explosive moments and more about divine momentum. It’s the “waiting on the Lord to be renewed” and recognizing that His grace is sufficient until that renewal comes!
This communion with God keeps the heart and mind aligned with God and keeps us in His presence. It is the fortification against spiritual drifting. It is fuel for spiritual vitality, energizing worship, study, and service.
Two strategic responses to anxiety that align the heart with heaven’s rhythm.
I. Praying in the Spirit: Strength in Weakness
• Romans 8:26–27 teaches that when we’re overwhelmed, the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Anxiety often leaves us speechless—but the Spirit speaks for us. In those moments when anxiety has blocked my words from forming, the Holy Ghost intervenes and intercedes on my behalf. Making known to God the Father, the depths of my hearts anxiousness.
• This kind of prayer bypasses mental clutter and connects us directly to God’s heart. It’s not mystical escapism—it’s spiritual clarity.
• In moments of anxiety, praying in the Spirit builds inner resilience, fortifies faith, and reminds us we’re not alone.
Oh, what a comfort to know that God has sent THE COMFORTER!
In those moments when anxiety comes and knocks on our hearts door, prayer can intercept it, fight with it, and overcome it!
II. Praying the Scriptures: Anchoring the Soul
• Philippians 4:6–7 itself is a prayer template: bring your requests with thanksgiving. This response of thanksgiving reframes the mind, shifting the focus off of what could be and onto who God is!
• Praying verses like Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, or 1 Peter 5:7 turns anxiety into worship. You’re not just quoting truth—you’re declaring it over your situation.
• Scripture-fed prayer replaces anxious thoughts with divine promises. It’s how we “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Two commands – DON’T BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING! And PRAY! This leads to a COMFORTING PROMISE. VERSE 7 states – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
• The word “guard” is a military term—God’s peace is not passive, it’s protective.
• It’s not the peace that comes from resolution—it’s the peace that comes from a deepened relationship.
• This promise doesn’t remove the storm, but it stills the heart in the storm.
1. Surrender of Control
• “Lord, I release what I cannot carry.”
• Anxiety thrives where control is idolized. The altar becomes the place where we lay down the illusion of control and embrace God’s sovereignty.
2. God’s Peace to cover you
This is not just about relief—it’s about receiving the promise that follows obedience. This is not a feeling but a fortress.
3. Recognition and Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving is the bridge between request and rest. It shifts the soul from panic to praise.
• Recall past victories, answered prayers, or even just the sustaining grace of today.
4. Recommitment to Trust
This is where reflection becomes transformation. The altar becomes a place of re-covenanting—not just asking for peace, but choosing to walk in it. Not in a man made manufactured peace, but in the divine peace which keeps us even in the midst of the intensity of the moment.
(1 Peter 5:7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you
Fear – is a response to a known immediate threat. The body and mind react to something specific and present.
I give you this definition, so that we know, this series is not about fears.
The reality is, fear can be appropriate and wise at times. We mustn’t confuse fear with anxiety.
Anxiety – is future oriented and often vague uneasiness or dread on what may or may not happen. The mind anticipates a threat or a loss that is not present and has not happened.
Anxiety kicks in and lingers, even becoming chronic and paralyzing. Anxiety is often a reflection of an internal struggle to trust God with the unknown or that which is out of our control.
Anxiety has dimensions to it:
1. Emotional Anxiety – This aspect touches the feelings most commonly associated with anxiety—fear, dread, restlessness, and unease.
– It often manifests as a lingering sense of worry or anticipation of something going wrong, even when no immediate threat is present.
– Emotional anxiety can make joy feel unreachable and peace seem foreign.Like David in Psalm 55:4-5, who says, “My heart is sore pained within me…fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,” emotional distress can be overwhelming.
2. Cognitive Anxiety This centers on the thoughts that race, spiral, or loop—worrying about the future, overanalyzing the past, or being trapped in “what-if” scenarios.
– It is where anxiety talks most loudly: “What if I fail?” “What if God doesn’t show up?”
– This dimension often paralyzes decision-making, clouds judgment, and corrodes trust.
3. Physical Anxiety – Anxiety isn’t just felt or thought—it courses through the body.
– Symptoms might include racing heartbeat, trembling hands, shallow breathing, upset stomach, or fatigue.
– Chronic anxiety can wear down the body over time, often creating a feedback loop: physical symptoms heighten emotional and cognitive distress.Jesus, in Gethsemane, experienced the weight of distress so heavily that His sweat became “like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44).
These affect the spiritual man. When they begin to reign in our lives, our spirit comes under attack as well.
4. Spiritual Anxiety Perhaps the most quietly crippling—when one fears God’s silence, doubts His goodness, or wrestles with the guilt of not having “enough faith.”
– This might sound like: “Where is God in this?” or “If I were truly saved, would I still feel this way?”
– Spiritual anxiety often masks itself in hypervigilance or shame, leading people to hide from God rather than run to Him.
Anxiety doesn’t have to rule! That spirit doesn’t have to have control! It doesn’t have to be the end of the story of your life but the beginning of the miraculous!
We mustn’t pretend that we don’t deal with anxiety. We mustn’t try to hide it from the one who sees all and knows all. Christ doesn’t call us to hide it or ignore it. He calls to us to:
I. Express it Before God, understanding the Lord is our anchor and as our anchor He is a great comfort in the midst of the anxiousness trying to pull us down into doubt.
– (Hebrews 6:19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
The anchor doesn’t stop the waves, but it keeps the vessel from drifting aimlessly when they do crash. We are anchored in God Himself and there can be nothing that can move us, may we just simply trust in Him.
II. Meditate on what is true – (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We need to reorient our minds and confront cognitive anxiety with that which is truth. The truth of God’s word can bring order to the chaos of anxious thoughts. Remember His Promises are “Yea and in Him Amen”.
III. He Is Touched – (Hebrews 4:14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
“Sometimes we think that because Jesus is God, He could never know temptation the way we do. In part, this is true: Jesus faced temptation much more severely than we ever have or ever will. The Sinless One knows temptation in ways we don’t, because only the one who never gives into temptation knows the full strength of temptation.” Guzik
Spurgeon wrote, “Casting is a rather energetic word. He didn’t say, “Lay all your care upon Him,” because we have to do it more energetically than that. The idea is, “throw it away from you.”
This work of casting can be so difficult that we need to use two hands to do it: the hand of prayer and the hand of faith.
Prayer tells God what the care is, and asks God to help, while faith believes that God can and will do it.
Prayer spreads the letter of trouble and grief before the Lord, and opens ail its budget, and then faith cries, ‘I believe that God cares, and cares for me; I believe that he will bring me out of my distress, and make it promote his own glory.’”
IV. HE SAYS COME – (Matthew 11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“‘Come; he drives none away; he calls them to himself. His favorite word is ‘Come.’ – ‘Come unto me.’ To Jesus himself we must come, by a personal trust – to the personal Saviour.” (Spurgeon)
Whether the anxiety that perplexes us be emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, or all the above we are encouraged, more like urged to come unto Him.
There’s a song we sing at my church, it’s a powerful picture of the reality that God is calling for you to come to Him and trust Him
Are you tired and troubled
Weighted down by a heavy load
Praying for change Searching for faith
Waiting on a miracle Are you drowning in questions
Can’t believe where the road has lead
There’s one who knows the heavy you hold
There’s a peace that can hold you
And a power greater than your own
When you feel so small Back to the wall
That’s when Jesus calls
Come to me All who are weary And heavy burdened
All who are hurting
Come to me I’ll be your shelter
My yoke is easy My load is light
And you can find rest for your soul
Rest for your soul
You were never meant to carry that weight alone
You were never meant to carry it on your own
Come to the cross Lay it at the feet of Jesus
Come to the cross Lay it at the feet of Jesus
There is one who knows the heavy you hold And he says
Come to meAll who are weary And heavy burdened All who are hurting
Come to me I’ll be your shelter
My yoke is easy My load is light
And you can find rest for your soul
Rest for your soul
Child of God, He is calling for you to surrender your anxiety, trust Him. Cast it upon Christ and find rest! What is it that is causing you to be plagued in your mind? What is it that keeps you awake at night? What is it that has griped your soul and torments peace, causing turmoil and suffering? Cast it upon the Savior! Find rest! Find freedom! Find Peace!
Psalm 31:9-10 KJV — Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
TEXT: Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV) “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
We are warned in the scriptures to avoid certain aspects concerning the heart:
1. AVOID A DOUBLE HEART – Psalm 12:2A double heart is a divided heart—one that says one thing but believes another.It reflects duplicity, where outward words don’t match inward motives. James 1:8 calls such a person “double-minded, unstable in all his ways.”
2. AVOID A HARD HEART – Proverbs 28:14 A hard heart resists conviction, correction, and compassion.It is insensitive to sin, and over time, becomes calloused to the voice of the Holy Spirit.Pharaoh is a classic example—his hardened heart led to destruction.
3. AVOID A PROUD HEART – Proverbs 21:4 Pride is the root of rebellion. It exalts self above God. A proud heart says, “I don’t need help. I’ve got this.” But Scripture reminds us: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Pride blinds us to our need for transformation. It keeps the stony heart intact.
4. AVOID AN UNBELIEVING HEART – Hebrews 3:12 An unbelieving heart is not just skeptical—it’s rebellious. It refuses to trust God’s promises and turns away from His presence. Like Israel in the wilderness, unbelief kept them from entering the Promised Land.
5. AVOID A COLD HEART – Matthew 24:12 A cold heart is the result of unchecked sin and spiritual apathy. It loses its zeal, its compassion, its fire for God.In the last days, Jesus warned that love would grow cold—not just in the world, but among believers.
6. AVOID AN UNCLEAN HEART – Psalm 51:10 This was David’s cry after his sin with Bathsheba and it shows the depth of true repentance.
An unclean heart is not just stained—it’s spiritually diseased. Like a deadly cancer which spreads throughout the body rapidly.
Only God can create a clean heart—it’s not a renovation, it’s a re-creation.
This is the very promise of Ezekiel 36:26: a new heart, a new spirit, a new beginning.
“Before God can change your life, He must first capture your heart.”
We live in a world that fights for control—control of our time, our attention, our identity.
Our hearts often being captured by its allure. God stands apart. He doesn’t want to compete for: your heart. He doesn’t want to be one of many influences.
So I’m not just talking about emotions or feelings. We’re talking about the declaration of your allegiance, your trust, and your surrender unto to one and one alone.
There are 4 things you need to know.
I. GOD WANTS TRUTH AT THE CORE – (Psalms 51:6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
• God desires authenticity. Not performance. Not pretense.
• He wants your devotion rooted in truth—truth that governs the inside and not just the outside. I have said it before, be honest with God, as He already knows what is going on.
II. GOD MENDS THAT WHICH IS MALIABLE – (Isaiah 64:8) But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
• The Potter can only shape what yields to His touch.
• In a recent conversation I stated that the process that the clay goes through is not an easy one, but it yields. It doesn’t know the outcome, but it does not resist. In order for God to have control of our hearts, we must be maliable in His hand, trusting His process.
III. GOD RESISTS PRIDE, BUT POURS GRACE ON HUMILITY. (James 4:6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
• HUMILITY IS THE SOIL WHERE A NEW HEART CAN BEGIN.
• A proud heart builds walls. A humble heart builds altars. One repels grace, the other attracts it.
IV. GOD ALONE CAN CREATE A NEW HEART.
• THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN HE TAKES CONTROL OF THE HEART WE CURRENTLY POSSESS.
This is not about behavior modification—it’s about heart transformation. God doesn’t patch holes. He gives you a new heart altogether.
Ezekial is writing under the unction of the Holy Ghost to write concerning a new covenant that would come. A covenant that we can and many have become partakers of.
Adam Clarke writes His perspective on our text, “A new heart also will I give you – I will change the whole of your infected nature; and give you new appetites, new passions; or, at least, the old ones purified and refined. The heart is generally understood to mean all the affections and passions.”
And a new spirit will I put within you – I will renew your minds, also enlighten your understanding, correct your judgment, and refine your will, so that you shall have a new spirit to actuate your new heart.
I will take away the stony heart – That heart that is hard, impenetrable, and cold; the affections and passions that are unyielding, frozen to good, unaffected by heavenly things; that are slow to credit the words of God. I will entirely remove this heart: it is the opposite to that which I have promised you; and you cannot have the new heart and the old heart at the same time.• And I will give you a heart of flesh
One that can feel, and that can enjoy; that can feel love to God and to all men, and be a proper habitation for the living God.
Spurgeon, the prince of preachers wrote, “A “heart of flesh” is known by its tenderness concerning sin. The heart of flesh is tender to God’s will. Unlike a strong heart that refuses to bow before God’s dictates, when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven and bows like a willow in every breeze of God’s Spirit. The natural will is cold, hard iron, which refuses to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is quickly molded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection toward Him. The hard heart Is selfish and coldly demands, “Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?” But the heart of flesh says, “Lord, You know that I love You; help me to love You more!”
Jeremiah 17:9–10: “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
You may tell yourself, “This isn’t applicable. My heart is surrendered.” The reality, we are all susceptible to “doing that which is right in our own eyes.” We are susceptible to walking in our own way, while believing our heart is surrendered to the LORD.
If you’ve sensed even a trace of stoniness in your heart—bring it to God. He alone can remove what’s unyielding and replace it with what’s living. Let today be the day the heart transplant begin.
THE LAMPLIGHTERS PROJECT 