"Faith in the Wilderness"

 

As I read about Jesus fasting for 40 days and nights, I’m struck with awe. He deliberately went into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, not to avoid the enemy, but to confront him and put him in his place.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

— Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)

This makes me reflect:

God will never permit what He knows we cannot overcome.

If He allows it, it means He has already equipped us with the strength to defeat it.

Yet often, it’s not the temptation that defeats us—it’s our own greed, lack of faith, and spiritual negligence. These lead us astray and create distance between us and God.

There are times when life feels like a storm—heavy, dark, uncertain.

We pray, but there seems to be no answer.

We ask, “Where is God in all this?”

But Jesus reminds us:

“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

— Matthew 8:26 (NKJV)

Faith is a key to commanding the supernatural.

The Bible says:

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

— Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

That means we don’t need great faith to see great things—we just need genuine faith, even if it’s small.

But here’s the question:

How do we exercise faith when everything around us says otherwise?

The answer is: We already do.

We sleep at night fully expecting to wake up—and we do.

That’s faith in action.

We just need to redirect that same faith toward God and what we’re believing Him for.

God is not looking for perfect faith.

He’s looking for faith, the 1% of the 1% is enough for Him to work with.

So today, stir up your faith. Even in the wilderness. Even in the storm.

He is near. He sees. He responds.

Stay revived!

What Happens When the Great One Sleeps in Our Boat?

I listened to the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat while His disciples battled a storm in Matthew 8:23-27. I can relate to the disciples, running around in a frenzy, trying to solve the crisis of the storm but only calling out to Jesus as a last resort—once all other options were exhausted. Often, because we fail to call on Him, He simply takes a nap.

When I read the Bible verse, I kept thinking about how Jesus got into the boat with His disciples. How could He go to sleep while all the disciples were awake? The Bible doesn't tell us if He was weary or tired, but it does say:

"Then he got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. A huge storm developed on the lake, with waves crashing into the boat—and Jesus was sound asleep. The disciples went and woke him up, saying, 'Master, save us! We're going down!'"

As a child, whenever my mom would get upset with a neighbor, friend, or colleague, she would say, "I’ll never allow this person into my boat in my next life." My siblings and I would laugh at this. 

The boat doesn't just symbolize a physical entity for transportation; it represents her life. To her, allowing certain people into her boat had brought crises along with them.

With our actions, we often tell Him, "I don't need you to reach my business goals or fix my marital crisis. I’m handling my career expectations just fine. I can run my life perfectly without your help." But then, when a storm arises, we, who have let the Master sleep, start searching for ways to wake Him up.

You might have tried every alternative, but have you called on the sleeping Jesus? He may be sound asleep because we've left Him out for so long. He’s found a comfortable spot, just waiting for us to beckon Him.

In those moments you spend praying and interceding, you are waking up the sleeping Jesus.

Is Jesus asleep in your boat? It's time to wake Him up. No matter how sour the situation has gone, have you tried waking the sleeping Jesus?

Stay Revived!

What It Means to Say "I Am Seeing This Person"? Are you seeing Him?

While listening to my local church pastor during the altar call, I heard the phrase "Jesus wants to see you." In that moment, the Holy Spirit infused those words with life, expanding and resonating deeply in my heart.

As young people, when discussing love interests or friendships, we often say, "I'm seeing this person." When you hear this phrase, what comes to mind? For many, it could mean spending time with someone, getting to know them, hanging out, or even meeting for work or a specific purpose (e.g., "I'm seeing a client"). Others may think of developing a deeper understanding or connection, whether platonic or romantic.

The deeper reality behind these meanings emphasizes that Jesus doesn't just want to see us in a literal sense; He wants to know us intimately and personally.

When we reflect on the statement "Jesus wants to see you," we must ask ourselves: Can He truly see us? There are moments when we might believe His eyes are fixed on us, while our hearts wander elsewhere, perhaps even to another love.

In a relationship, spending quality time together is important to maintain a genuine connection. When was the last time you hung out with Him? When did you last share your life moments, enjoying each other's company? In response, He says, "I stand at the door of your heart; if you hear Me, open the door so I can come in and be with you."

(Revelation 3:20)

The Message (MSG) Bible translation reads: "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you."

In this relationship, He chooses you and prioritizes you above all else. But does Jesus see you? Or have you, perhaps, stepped away from His heart?

Stay Revived!

When Was the Last Time You Traded with the Great One?

While reading a book on dreams, I came to a profound realization: walking with God is not just a discipline—it is a divine invitation. God continually calls us into deeper purpose.

I remember specific moments when I set aside days each week to wait on the Lord. In those quiet places of prayer, His gentle instructions would come:
"Why don't you extend your fasting period?"
"You could try praying a bit longer."
"You don't really need to respond to that message, you know."

And the directions continued, guiding me through the daily rhythms of life.

One of the earliest times I recognized the Holy Spirit's promptings was during a simple transaction. I needed to transfer money to a neighbor and, as usual, intended to use her old account details. But the Holy Spirit nudged me:
"Why not ask for her current account number instead?"

I dismissed the thought and proceeded as planned. Shortly after the transfer, my neighbor informed me that the account was experiencing network issues. I had to wait longer for confirmation—something that could’ve been avoided had I simply listened.

God constantly places choices before us. He says, “I have set before you life and death—choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
He invites, “Come to me, all who labor...” (Matthew 11:28)
And He assures, “Seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

God longs for us to come—not out of fear, but from a heart that desires to reflect His divine reality in our human experience. He calls us to something greater: a life that transcends mere survival, a life rooted in love, purpose, and partnership with Him.

To every generation, in every season, God extends an open offer:
“Let’s do life together. I know the trade inside out. Yes, there will be losses—but if you walk with Me, the profit will far outweigh the pain.”

He gives us options. He provides counsel. And He still speaks today.

God is asking:
"Will you do business with Me?"
"Will you trade with the Most High?"

Unlike evil spirits that oppress and dominate, Jesus invites. He respects your will and desires your love—not forced obedience.

Too often, we wait for a nightmare, a crisis, a prophecy, or a painful experience before we run to the Great One. But that is not His desire. As the Psalmist beautifully declares in Psalm 23:1–3 (MSG):

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to Your word,
You let me catch my breath
And send me in the right direction.

God wants to hold our hand and lead us in the right path. Truly, He desires to be our Shepherd—not just in crisis, but in every step of our daily walk.

Stay revived. Stay aligned. Say yes to His invitation.