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Christ Centered in a Selfie-Centered World“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30In 1746, Jonathan Edwards wrote Religious Affections to help the Church distinguish between genuine spiritual life and its counterfeits. He was not writing primarily to atheists or skeptics. He was addressing churchgoers—people who participated in revival, spoke openly about God and claimed powerful spiritual experiences.Edwards recognized a dangerous distinction: The false Christian delights chiefly in his own experiences, while the true Christian delights in the Lord.That warning reads as though it were written for 2026.We are living in a time when many people have made themselves the heroes of their spiritual stories. Instead of examining their feelings by the Word of God, they examine the Word of God by their feelings. Scripture is accepted when it affirms them, reinterpreted when it confronts them and ignored when it requires something from them.The Bible warns us why this is so dangerous:“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” — Jeremiah 17:9Our feelings may be sincere and still be wrong. Our experiences may be powerful and still be misleading. Even spiritual language can disguise pride, self-promotion and disobedience. Both 2 Peter 2 and Jude warn that counterfeit faith can exist among God’s people, using the language of truth while quietly turning attention away from Christ.True Christians talk much about God; false believers are great talkers about themselves.Delighting in God, Not OurselvesTrue spiritual affection begins with the beauty and worthiness of God. The Christian’s joy is anchored in who God is—not merely in how God makes us feel.“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.” — Psalm 115:1John the Baptist expressed the heart of genuine faith when he said:“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30The true believer speaks much of Christ, delights in Christ and gives glory to Christ. He does not need to be seen, applauded or recognized. He is content to stand behind the cross so that others may see Jesus.That is the foundation of genuine faith: not delight in ourselves, but delight in God.When Experience Becomes an IdolReligious experiences are not necessarily evidence of spiritual maturity. Emotion can accompany a genuine work of God, but emotion alone proves nothing.Edwards warned that counterfeit faith can resemble a castle built in the air—impressive in appearance, soaring with emotion, yet lacking a solid foundation. It may be built on imagination, self-love, pride, excitement, and the desire to feel spiritually important.We see this danger throughout the Church today:- “My truth” replaces God’s truth. - Testimonies become autobiographies. - Personal platforms overshadow the pulpit. - Emotional intensity is mistaken for holiness. - Visibility is mistaken for spiritual authority. - Self-expression replaces self-denial.There is nothing wrong with telling what God has done in our lives. Scripture repeatedly calls us to testify of His goodness. But the purpose of a testimony is to glorify the One who saved us—not to glorify the person telling it.When my experience, my feelings, my calling, my platform and my story become the center, Christ is pushed toward the margins.Who Receives the Glory?Here is a sobering test: When we tell our spiritual story, who receives the glory?The genuine work of the Holy Spirit does not leave us impressed with ourselves. It humbles us before God, makes Christ increasingly precious, draws us into Scripture and produces a growing desire to obey Him.True faith says:Look at Christ. Look at His grace. Look at His mercy. Look at what He has done. Look at the cross. Self-centered faith says:Look at my experience. Look at my insight. Look at my influence. Look at my suffering. Look at me. The true work of the Spirit does not make us obsessed with our own story. It makes us devoted to His.The Question We Must AskThe answer is not to reject emotion, but to refuse to be ruled by it. We do not silence our experiences; we submit them to the will of God. We do not deny our feelings; we examine them beneath the light of Scripture.The most important questions are not:Have I experienced something powerful? Have I felt close to God? Have I received attention for my testimony? Have I seen dreams or visions?The question is:Has Christ become precious to me?When Christ is precious, self begins to fade.When Christ is central, pride begins to die.When Christ is exalted, the heart becomes anchored.And when Christ is the hero, our story finally points people toward the truth.Let us prayerDear Heavenly Father, search my heart and reveal every place where pride, emotion or self-interest has taken the place that belongs to You. Forgive me when I have spoken more about myself than about Your Son. Teach me to examine my feelings by Your Word and to seek Your glory above my own. May Christ increase in my life, and may I willingly decrease. Let everything I say, everything I do and every testimony I share point others toward Jesus. Not unto me, Lord, but unto Your name be the glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Christ Centered in a Selfie-Centered World

Walking with Jesus: When 3:16 Became Personal “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 Today, we will lay my little sister Joyce to rest.Yesterday, her children reminded me that Joyce drew her final breath at 3:16. And today, as our family gathers to mourn, those numbers lead my heart to the most familiar—and perhaps the most precious—promise in all of Scripture: John 3:16.I will not pretend to understand the timing of every moment or the mystery of God’s ways. But I know the truth contained in that verse. God loved us enough to give His Son so that death would not have the final word.Cancer may have taken Joyce’s strength. It may have weakened her body and finally stopped her breathing—but it could not separate her from the love of God. It could not erase the joy she brought into our lives, extinguish the light she shared, or destroy the memories now carried by everyone who loved her.Most importantly, cancer could not overcome the promise of eternal life.John 3:16 does not tell us that believers will never face death. It tells us that death is not the end. Because Jesus died and rose again, the grave is no longer our final destination. For those who believe in Him, the last breath taken here becomes the first breath of eternity.Today, 3:16 is more than a time on a clock for our family. It points us toward the love of God—a love strong enough to enter our suffering, deep enough to carry us through grief, and everlasting enough to reunite all who belong to Christ.Today, there will be tears. There should be. Grief is the price we pay for having loved someone deeply. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We grieve while holding tightly to the promise that Joyce’s story did not end at 3:16.Her last breath was not the end of her life. It was the end of cancer, the end of pain, and the end of suffering.For God so loved Joyce.For God so loved me.For God so loved you.He gave His Son so that death would never have the final word.Let us prayDear Heavenly Father, today, as we lay Joyce to rest, our hearts are heavy with sorrow. We thank You for her life, her laughter, her love, and every memory she left with us.When grief overwhelms us, lead us back to the promise of John 3:16. Remind us that You loved us enough to give Your only Son so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.Thank You that cancer no longer has any claim upon Joyce. Thank You that her pain and suffering are over. Comfort her children, our father, her siblings, and every family member and friend who mourns today.Give us strength for this difficult day. Hold us together when words fail and tears come. Help us trust what we cannot yet see and rest in the assurance that death has been defeated through Jesus Christ.Until the day when faith becomes sight and we are reunited in Your presence, keep us close to You and close to one another.In the precious name of Jesus,Amen. Walking with JesusToday, we mourn—but not without hope. At 3:16, Joyce left the suffering of this world behind. And through the promise of John 3:16, we are reminded that because of Jesus, death is not goodbye forever.It is only goodbye for now.

When 3:16 Became Personal

Walking with Jesus - Strong Enough for the Next Step“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9Joshua stood at the edge of the Promised Land carrying responsibilities that must have felt far too heavy for one man. Moses was gone. The wilderness was behind him, but uncertainty, opposition, and difficult battles waited ahead.God did not hand Joshua a map showing how every problem would be solved. He gave him something better—the promise of His presence. “Be strong and courageous” was not a command for Joshua to pretend he was fearless. Biblical courage is not the absence of fear, grief, or uncertainty. It is choosing to obey God while those feelings are still present.There are seasons when life changes faster than our hearts can adjust. We lose people we love. Those we have always depended upon suddenly need us. Responsibilities grow while our strength seems to disappear. We may know that God is faithful, yet still wonder whether we are strong enough for what tomorrow may bring.The honest answer is that sometimes we are not strong enough, not in ourselves. But God never commanded us to manufacture our own strength. The courage He requires is supplied by the presence He promises.The Lord told Joshua, “I will be with you wherever you go.” That meant into the unknown, across the Jordan, around the walls of Jericho, and through every battle that followed. God did not promise an easy road, but He promised Joshua would never walk it alone.That promise remains true for us today. God is with us in the hospital room, at the graveside, through the quiet hours of the night, and when we must take another step even though our hearts are weary. His presence does not always remove the difficulty, but it assures us that the difficulty will never have the final word.Perhaps courage today does not look like conquering a city. Perhaps it simply means getting out of bed, praying once more, caring for someone you love, or trusting God with a future you cannot control. Do not despise that next faithful step. When it is taken with God, it is an act of courage.We do not need strength for the entire journey today. We need only enough faith to take the next step—and the God who goes before us will provide it.Pray with me, if you will.Dear Heavenly Father, some days I do not feel strong or courageous. The road before me is uncertain, and my heart is weary from the burdens I carry. Forgive me when fear speaks louder than Your promises.Remind me that I am never walking alone. Give me strength for today, courage for the next step, and faith to trust You with everything I cannot see or control. When I am afraid, steady me. When I am discouraged, lift my eyes toward You.Lead me wherever You would have me go, and help me walk forward knowing that Your presence is enough.In Jesus’ name, amen. Walking with JesusCourage does not mean knowing what tomorrow holds. It means trusting the One who is already there.

Walking with Jesus - Strong Enough for the Next Step

Walking with Jesus - When I Have Nothing Left“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” -—Galatians 2:20For the past three weeks, my heart has ached with emptiness, as if I were a vessel poured out, with nothing left to offer.I have grieved the loss of my dear sister Joyce, her absence leaving an echo in every quiet moment. I have watched my father struggle with the debilitating effects of a stroke, his once-strong hands now trembling with uncertainty. All around me, people God loves—and whom I love, are carrying burdens so heavy they have pressed me repeatedly to my knees in prayer, seeking solace and answers only God can give.I have spent hours caring for loved ones, whispering prayers in hospital corridors, and wandering through the woods where the sunlight filters gently through the trees. Sometimes I cry out aloud to God, pouring out my confusion and grief; other times, I listen for the still, small voice of comfort. And on the hardest days, I simply focus on placing one foot in front of the other, trusting that Christ walks beside me, even when the path is unclear.There have been moments when I felt numb, my soul wrapped in a silent fog. Words would not come, strength would not rise, and the world around me seemed to blur with uncertainty and sorrow. Yet through it all, Christ continued to live and work within me, His presence quietly sustaining me when I could not sustain myself.That is the truth of Galatians 2:20. The Christian life is not sustained by our strength, emotions, or ability to hold everything together. It is Christ living in us.When I could not find the words, Christ interceded. When I felt empty, Christ remained sufficient. When grief clouded my vision, Christ kept directing my steps. When I laid hands on hurting people and prayed, it was not because I possessed some great strength of my own. It was because the living Christ was still working through a weary and grieving servant.My absence online was not an absence from ministry. If anything, these past three weeks have revealed that true ministry often happens in the margins of life—not confined to a pulpit, a devotional, or a computer screen. Sometimes, ministry takes place in the gentle squeeze of a trembling hand beside a hospital bed, in the silent strength of a quiet embrace, during a walk under the sheltering arms of ancient trees, or simply while sitting in shared silence with someone whose heart is breaking.There are seasons when faith feels triumphant, and there are seasons when faith whispers, “Jesus, carry me.”Both are faith.I am still grieving, my heart heavy with love and longing. I am still concerned for my father, praying for his healing and peace. I continue to carry many precious people before the throne of grace, lifting their names and needs to the One who hears every cry. But through every step and every tear, I am not walking alone. I do not have to live this life in my own strength, for Christ walks with me, bearing my burdens and renewing my hope.The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me.Therefore, even when I feel as though I have nothing left, Christ still lives in me—and Christ is more than enough. Walking It OutIf you feel empty today, stop trying to manufacture strength. Place your burdens before Christ and pray this simple prayer:“Jesus, I have nothing left—but You live in me. Be my strength for this day.”S

Walking with Jesus - When I Have Nothing Left

Ray's Reflection - Ministry in the SilenceIt has been 21 days since I shared my last devotional.I have grieved the loss of my dear sister Joyce, watched my father struggle with the debilitating effects of a stroke, and tried to be present for my family and for those God has placed in my path.My prayer list has grown long, so many people God loves and whom I love are carrying burdens that have brought me repeatedly to my knees in prayer.I have been busy. I have been praying. I have been walking in the woods, sometimes talking to God, sometimes listening, and sometimes simply placing one foot in front of the other.Truthfully, there have been days when I have felt numb.But an absence online does not mean an absence from ministry.Ministry does not always happen behind a pulpit or through a daily devotional. Sometimes it happens beside a hospital bed, in a quiet conversation, through a trembling embrace, or when we lay hands on someone and pray because we have no answers of our own.Even in my grief, I have seen God doing great things. I have watched Him bring comfort, restore hope, and meet people in places where human words could never reach. I may have been quiet online, but God has not been silent, and He has not stopped working.These past three weeks have reminded me that we do not merely write about walking with Jesus. Sometimes we must close the computer, step into the woods, enter the hospital room, sit with the brokenhearted, and live the walk we have been writing about.I am still grieving. I am still praying. I am still walking.And by the grace of God, I am still serving.“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18See less

Ray's Reflection - Ministry in the Silence

Walking with Jesus - When I Am Not Enough “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9 This morning, my plate is full, my strength is drained, and yesterday’s failures still whisper my name.I am not enough. The ache of inadequacy lingers as I wake, a heaviness that haunts my mind and heart. It whispers reminders of my shortcomings, amplifying every place I have come up short. This feeling is not just a passing thought—it can wrap itself around my day, making it hard to breathe or hope.Those words can sound like defeat, but perhaps they are the beginning of surrender. If you, like me, feel haunted by the ache of never measuring up, know that you are not alone. The truth is, I was never meant to be enough on my own. We were created to live in daily dependence upon Jesus Christ—He welcomes us, not despite our weakness, but because of it.Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove the thorn that tormented him. He wanted relief. He wanted the burden lifted. Instead, God gave him something greater than escape: “My grace is sufficient for you.”God did not tell Paul that the thorn was insignificant. He did not pretend the pain was easy. He promised that His grace would be greater than Paul’s weakness.We live in a world that celebrates strength, success, and self-sufficiency. We are taught to hide our wounds, cover our failures, and keep moving as though nothing hurts. But God does some of His deepest work in the places we try hardest to conceal.Our weakness is not a barrier to His power. It is often the very place where His power becomes most visible.That does not mean we celebrate sin, excuse failure, or quietly accept defeat. It means we stop pretending that we can repair ourselves. We bring our broken places to Christ and allow His grace to meet us there. Like a cracked vessel repaired with gold, the evidence of brokenness may remain, but it no longer tells only a story of failure. It becomes a testimony of restoration. The cracks show where grace entered.Perhaps your plate is full today. Maybe you woke up haunted by memories of past failures, feeling the weight of your own limitations pressing in. Your body is tired, your heart is heavy, and shame or regret keeps reminding you of every place you came up short. If you feel like you are not enough, you are seen.You may not have enough strength for everything before you.But Jesus does.You may not have enough wisdom, patience, courage, or faith for the entire road ahead.But His grace is sufficient for the next step.The Lord is not asking you to prove that you are strong enough. He is asking you to trust that He is. When your strength runs out, Christ has not abandoned you. You have simply reached the place where you can no longer confuse His strength with your own.So today, I will stop trying to convince myself that I am enough.I am weak, but He is strong. I am weary, but He is faithful. I have failed, but His grace has not.And when I have nothing left to offer but surrender, the power of Christ will rest upon me. Let us Pray Dear Heavenly Father, my plate is full, my strength is drained, and my failures continue to haunt me. I confess that I am not enough, but I praise You that I was never meant to face this life without You.Teach me to stop hiding my weakness and bring it honestly before Your throne. Silence the voice of condemnation and remind me that Your grace is sufficient. Where I am weak, show Yourself strong. Where I am weary, carry me. Where I have failed, forgive me, restore me, and help me take the next faithful step.Let the power of Christ rest upon me today. May my broken places become a testimony—not of what I could accomplish, but of what Your grace has done.In Jesus’ name, amen. Walking with Jesus TodayYou do not have to be enough for everything ahead of you. You only need to stay close to the One who is.His grace is sufficient—even here, even now, even for you. If today you feel haunted by the words 'I am not enough,' let this be your invitation: come honestly before God, just as you are. Your story is not over. In your surrender, His strength becomes your hope. You may not feel enough, but you are never alone. Let His grace meet you in the haunting places and turn them into holy ground.