Psalm 27 is a favorite Psalm for many. It begins with euphoric praise and is filled with beloved verses. Like many of David’s Psalms it’s a flow between overflowing worship and desperation in prayer. In other words, the Psalms are very much a picture of all of our lives. The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives three divisions for this Psalm.

• A Confidence that Dispels Fear (vss. 1-3).
• Communion that Brings Security (vss. 4-6).
• Earnest Prayer in Faith (vss. 7-14).

   I love these section divisions because they speak to deep needs in our hearts. We need a confidence that dispels fear and a communion that brings security. With this particular progression David is building his faith to enter into a time of prayer. A lot of the Psalms articulate David’s desperation in prayer through various circumstances: wars, family conflict, betrayal, being surrounded by enemies, or tragically being hunted by Saul. We might not be able to relate to all of these, but certainly we can relate to some of these desperate situations. This is what makes the Psalms so relatable and a wonderful place to pour out our hearts to God.
   David begins from a place of literally explosive expressions of Who God is! (Psalm 27:1-3)
   Worship like this can only come from a place of deep communion and the experience of relational presence. We find this exact expression in the next verses. (Psalm 27:4-6 TPT)
   Sometimes we wrongly think that people that are this spiritual or have this kind of revelation of God will never have any struggles or challenges. But we know that is completely false and that it is this kind of devotion that prepares us for even the darkest trial. With his devotional life as a backdrop – David pours out His heart for His current challenge.
    David meets God, not in denial of His pain or in pretense of his difficult circumstances; but he has confidence and security of Presence to aid Him in his time of trouble. (Psalm 27:7-13 TPT)
   One of the things I have loved most in my study of the Psalms is the authenticity that is resident there. There is no faking spirituality or pretense of not having any trouble. What there is within these Precious Writings, is the reality of a God Who meets us where we are at and is with us in our greatest trials, darkest nights, and most challenging seasons. Herein lies our encouragement: God is with us in this same way!!! No matter what we are facing, no matter how alone we feel or how impossible it all seems. God is there and He is working out another victory on our behalf. If we can build our lives on confidence in Him and find our security in communion with Him – we will be able to boldly declare with David: Psalm 27:13-14 AMP
   Here is our necessary posture in the midst of whatever we are facing: Wait…Hope for…Expect the Lord! Waiting in the Hebrew involves allowing our hearts to be entwined with His. Our fears will fade as we gain His perspective and are strengthened in knowing His heart.
   Hope is like an anchor that holds us in place until our answer comes. It is a buoyancy in our heart that keeps us afloat in stormy seasons.
   And finally, we are to Expect the Lord! WOW!! Many times, in a world filled with information, much of which is negative in tenor, it can cause us to become conditioned for an evil or bad outcome. Negativity and worse-case-scenarios abound. But as we take time to remember how magnificent God is, and through times of communion in His Word and with His Holy Spirit, our outlook will be Biblical rather than social media induced. God is for us and He is working a good outcome in our lives!!!  (Romans 8:1, 35, 37-39 TPT)
   Out of the wonder of Who He is, and our relationship with Him, let’s Expect the Lord today! Instead of only seeing how bad things are or anticipating a negative outcome, let’s turn our hearts toward Him and revel in how good our God is! We are praying for increased confidence and expectation of the goodness of God in all of our lives! (Psalm 27:14 TPT)

   These are very strategic times. This is why it is imperative that we live our lives awake and with intentionality and awareness. In the ancient history of Israel, there was an entire family that was known for having understanding of the days in which they lived: (1 Chronicles12:32 NKJV, NLT)
   The concept of “understanding” in this Scripture carries the meaning that these men had “discernment, were able to distinguish, and practice mental separation.” Not only did they understand the times but they possessed the wisdom to share direction with those around them. It’s super interesting that the name Issachar means “he will bring a reward” or “benefit.” I want to surmise that there is great reward and benefit from discerning and being able to distinguish the right way in our times. We desperately need this functioning in us and through us today. 
    One way to develop this understanding is through a closer listening relationship with God. I could have used the word “prayer” there, but I want to begin to shift our understanding that prayer is more than just bringing our needs list. It’s relational…it’s listening. As we learn to communicate with God through prayer, that’s both talking and listening, we will begin to receive expansion. (Jeremiah 33:3)
   God longs to reveal things to us. Sadly, most of us just want some kind of outward sign. God’s way of revealing comes through our relationship with Him and through prayer. What a privilege that this is actually available to us!! God wants to give us information that will help us navigate the days in which we live! This is also one of the things that Jesus taught us about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. (John 16:15 AMP)
    The Father wants to get information to us! He has made provision to do this through His Holy Spirit, especially through times of prayer! The enemy is too often successful in diminishing the power and privilege of prayer in our lives and we underutilize this dynamic means of not only relating with and to God, but to accessing information for the success our daily lives and that of our families! It is a weighty reality that the one thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them was, “Lord, teach us to pray!” (Luke 11:1). Jesus’ life was an expression of how He prayed. This should profoundly impact our understanding of and desire to pray!
     There is a great need for us to be functioning out of God’s vision and provision for our days. The best part of this is that He longs to partner with us in this and has already opened the way to work with us to bring it to pass! (Romans 8:26-27 NLT)
   Paul, the human author of Romans, expresses that he doesn’t always know how to pray!! This tells us that we all need help! Prayer is an undertaking that the Holy Spirit is happy and commissioned to help us in! We can have inward, heavenly assistance that will assure that we are praying in line with God’s will and His purposes. This will expand our vision and understanding beyond the immediate into walking out our full destiny in God! These verses in the Passion Translation bring out the wonder of this privileged exercise of prayer. (Romans 8:26-28 TPT)
   Volumes have been written on the subject of prayer. The encouragement for today is do it…pray…talk to God…listen to God…receive from Him! As we exercise this privilege we will watch not only our spiritual lives blossom; but God’s vision within us will expand. Truly the Holy Spirit will show us things to come and expand our hearts to receive all that God has for us! Progress happens when we pray in the Spirit! (Jude 1:20 TPT, AMP)
   God desires to build something in us and through us. Let’s partner with Him in prayer and watch this process Expand our Vision! (Ephesians 6:18 Weymouth)

   It seems like there is so much anxiety in the world. There are reports of how much this has risen among young people and it’s astronomical. How can we have peace when it seems like everything in the world is causing anxiety? Let’s remind ourselves of these precious words of Jesus: John 14:27
   Looking at this powerful verse in a couple of different translations really solidifies the message He was trying to get to us. (John 14:27 TPT, AMP)
   Jesus has given us the gift of peace!!! That means it is available to us right now and it is available 24/7!! When you hear unsettling news – His peace is available! When you are unsure of your future - His peace is available! In the middle of the night when your thoughts are racing – His peace is available! When you don’t know what to do – His peace is available!
    Peace in the Biblical sense is not something we only possess in the absence of difficulties. Peace is for the difficulties! Peace is for the storm!! There is an interesting application of this in a Gospel story. (Mark 4:35-40)
   Jesus used spoke peace to combat the storm! The Words of Jesus caused peace to affect the storm! Speaking peace brought stillness and quiet where there was chaos and impending destruction!! 
   Remember in our first text, Jesus told His disciples to “Let not your hearts be troubled!” Don’t allow fear and anxious thoughts to rule your hearts. Paul talked about this too. (Colossians 3:15-16)
   Let peace and let the Word…a real key to having the peace of God rule in your heart is “letting” the Word have an important place in your heart. How often we fill our hearts with thoughts of the news and world events and then we wonder why we have anxiety. Let peace!!! Make room for peace in your heart and mind by having a good inflow of the Word of God!
   These verses are so beautiful and instructional out of the Passion Translation! The Amplified translation uses the example of an umpire in regards to peace! (Colossians 3:15-17 TPT, AMP)
   What is ruling in our hearts? We must allow peace to be that umpire. We don’t want to have fear ruling us – that involves torment (1 John 4:18). Many of us can speak to that truth as we have experienced it ourselves!! We want to move out of that tormenting storm into the peace of God by speaking peace, even to our own hearts and minds.
   The word peace in its Biblical meaning carries the idea of wholeness. The Jews use the word for peace, shalom, as a greeting. In other words, they are giving a greeting of wholeness. “May everything be well with you!” Some have interpreted this as “nothing missing, nothing broken” and that would be within the Biblical meaning.
   With great desire, we want to live in God’s Expanded Vision for our lives! It will be much more plausible to hear His voice, His direction, and His vision for our lives as we are “letting” ourselves remain in peace!! (Philippians 4:6-7 AMP, TPT)
   Sometimes it seems as if our world and even our lives are more filled with fear and anxiety than they have ever been. Let’s turn our hearts to God and release the weight of our cares into His capable hands! 

   LOVE…a word with so much expression and so many applications! As Christians, we must look to God as the source and framework for our understanding of love. (1 John 4:16 TPT)
   Even though the Scriptures are clear on this; love is sometimes a difficult concept to grasp and one that many have difficulty believing for themselves. One way that we can more deeply comprehend the reality of God’s love for us is to look at in its connection with giving. (John 3:16-17 The Message & The Passion)
   This is a powerful depiction of God’s expression of love. Because He loved – He was moved to remedy the gap between humanity and Himself. He couldn’t stand the distance so He made an enormous sacrifice through His Son Jesus! The ache He had for restoration expressed itself in giving…no matter the cost. You see, where as love is just a frivolity to many people, God means what He says and He demonstrates that love to us! Notice some of this phraseology: “He came to help...” He came to “be its Savior and rescue it!” Even these words make one sense a depth of safety, security, and belonging that is foreign to most and rarely connected to what many call love. Love provides that kind of atmosphere; love looks like something… (Romans 5:8-11 TPT & AMP)
   This is the Giving Love of God. His love expressed itself through giving so that we could know it and experience it in reality! Love is powerful beyond comprehension but that does not mean it is unknowable! We can know and experience that love and continue to experience it in greater and greater dimensions and expressions! (2 Peter 1:3-4 TPT)
   As we endeavor to be in step with God in this season, I believe it is imperative to receive an Expanded Vision of His love for us. One way we can do this is through gratitude…not only being thankful but connecting that thankfulness to the realization that it is because of His love that we have things to be grateful for! (James 1:16-18 The Message)
   As we begin to see everything good in our lives as a love gift from Him, it begins to transform us. We know we are cared for! We know we are loved! This understanding consciously connects us to something and Someone greater than ourselves! It’s a whole other depth to our gratitude – not only are we thankful but in our thankfulness, we are ever more cognizant that Love did this for us!
    This is one of the most important, and often neglected aspects of our growing in God. It all begins with knowing He is love and we are loved by Him!! (1 John 4:10)
   In a world that is often upside down and filled with so many things that are outside of God’s love, let’s be that witness, that testimony, that God is love and He has shown that love in Jesus Christ! (1 John 4:16-19 TPT)
   If we are honest, our world and sometimes our lives are more filled with fear and anxiety than they have ever been. That tells us that we need a greater revelation and a greater expression of God’s love in the earth. Let’s Expand our Vision of His love for us and let that expansion be an outpouring of love in the earth! Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD! (John 15:12-13 TPT)

   HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are so thrilled to be experiencing an opportunity for new beginnings. Many look at the New Year as an opportunity to start fresh, to begin again. Our theme for 2026 is Expanded Vision!! I’m super excited about this prophetic focus and all that it means for us and the Kingdom of God!! Here is the insight that the Holy Spirit has granted me for this year!
   “There has been a diminishing of hopes, dreams, and expectations in the body of Christ.  Dullness has crept in unawares and cataracts of disappointments have obscured our vision. The devourer has worked to blur our vision or our outlook in order to delay our future. There is warfare over our sight! Delay is not denial and there is an end to the waiting. It is a season to lift up our eyes to the hills from whence comes our help. God is unchanging in all of His ways and His gifts and callings are without repentance.
    We have been functioning on a low level of existence – He is calling us deeper and higher. We mustn’t surrender to the numbness of a culture of passivity. He is calling us to truly experience the reality of His existence and His Person. His great desire for us is to know Him more than any level of yearning that we have ever experienced. Deep is calling to deep. However, this call, this drawing can become dull as we yield more and more to the noise of the world, the urgency of the immediate.
    In this day, there is a deep resonant calling to draw near, to hear, and to know. In this knowing there will be a rapid expansion in our vision. As we see Him truly – we will see ourselves and our destiny in light of His greatness. It is time to receive expansion first inwardly and then through and in our vision. There is an urgency to this! We must see differently so that we can see differently! Through the power of His Word and the surgical precision of His Spirit – we will see rightly again!
    The greater works and greater miracles are at our disposal. Seeing ‘small’ has limited the expression of God in the earth. This is the time to ‘see’ what is His will for us to ‘see!’ His vision – His calling – His ability – His fulfillment.
    There is a roadmap for greater things being accomplished this year. Vision must be clearly delineated and expanded within the Body to be explosively lived out through our lives. We are living in an appointed time. It is appointed for God to bring forth long dormant dreams and visions. We must shake off weariness, dullness, and despondent living to once again walk in the fresh fire of devotion to God and His ways. So many great things are just ahead. We must not slacken our pace or abdicate our destiny! Now is the time!” (Romans 13:11 TPT)
    At the beginning of this New Year, I want to remind us of what the Lord says about His heart for us and the plans that He has for us! (Jeremiah 29:11 The Message Bible)
   The Passion Translation is particularly encouraging! (Jeremiah 29:11-12 TPT)
   Jeremiah continues his narrative of God’s thoughts for us with a significant aspect regarding the development of God’s destiny for us! It is important that we view God’s vision for our lives beyond New Year’s resolution hype. God is the Master Planner! He is diligently working out His plans for our lives. Notice verse 12 in the above text: “When you call on Me…” As we partner with Him in prayer, we will not only be strengthened but we will bring ourselves into agreement with His desires and what He wants to do in and through us! The Apostle Paul develops these thoughts further in his powerful Epistle to the Roman Church. (Romans 8:26-28 The Message Bible)
   There is another dynamic posture that is essential for us to take at the onset of this new season. (Philippians 3:13-14 AMP, TPT, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest)
   This is an incredibly important concept. In most cases we have regulated this to not remembering our sin or how bad we were in the past. I believe this “forgetting” goes beyond that. If we are going to be able to allow God to expand our vision and stretch towards greater things, we must give up what is past. This means not only our sin, our failures, or our shortcomings, but also our regrets, our disappointments, our discouragements, the way things went wrong, possibly even the way things went right. We need to give God a blank slate to work with in this new season. We mustn’t base our expectations on what is even possible or things we have experienced in the past! God wants to do exceedingly beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations. (Ephesians 3:20 TPT)
Let’s allow a cleansing of our hearts and minds from all discouragement, despondency, and offense. Let’s give God an opening to move in our lives in a fresh way. In our forgetting, may our hearts come alive and be revived with hope and Expanded Vision for all the Lord wants to bring forth in this new season! (Philippians 3:13b ESV)
    Happy New Year, multiplied blessings, and much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD!   

   Holidays are a bastion for traditions and returning to places of fond memories. As we move into the Christmas season it is important for us to be aware that for some it may not be “the most wonderful time of the year.” Some of our friends and family may be experiencing loss, change, or unexpected happenings that bring an element of grief and sadness that could dampen their holiday spirit. If we rightly remember that the first Christmas everything was not hallmark, holly, and tinsel. Jesus came into the world in a very human way. (Luke 2:1-5 TPT)
    The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 65 miles. It is almost unimaginable to think of traveling that far, either by foot or donkey, at full pregnancy. In addition to the obvious physical discomfort, at this particular point in history as well, the people of Judea were under extreme political oppression. They had no choice but to travel, even under these difficult circumstances. None of us can imagine riding a donkey at this stage of pregnancy. I’m certain Mary, as a very young mother, had a longing to be among family for the birth of her first-born Son. However, it was not to be this way.
    Oftentimes the most difficult seasons to traverse are the unexpected ones. We had planned for things to be a certain way and it just turned out differently. We can experience periods of grief for these losses and unforeseen changes. It is important to be gentle with ourselves and others who are moving through times like these. We can experience sorrow where there should have been celebration. For Mary and Joseph, there was some of this present as well. They had been chosen to carry the Promise of God, and yet times were hard; there was much brutality surrounding them and now they had to relocate as Mary approached full-term.
     Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey was just the beginning of their challenges. (Luke 2:6-7 TPT)
   They had survived the treacherous journey only to face more challenges upon their arrival.  There was no place for them. Giving birth to the Son of God didn’t guarantee ease. It didn’t promise the absence of pain and rejection. There was no room for them.
    We love to return to the comfortable and familiar, especially during the holidays. Change, either planned or not, can disrupt this. But what happens next is a great revelation for all of us! (Luke 2:8-9 TPT)
    Many scholars believe that these were no ordinary shepherds. They were the shepherds who meticulously cared for the new-born lambs who were to be protected from injury and defilement to remain unblemished for the sacrifices. These shepherds had served a sacrificial system that could not produce a permanent righteousness yet they anticipated the One Who would. They were serving a type of what was to come. They had long looked for and waited anticipatively for the Messiah. (Micah 5:2 NKJV)
    They had waited for millennia, faithfully fulfilling their duties. It is interesting to notice the timing of God’s announcement. They were shepherding in the night…working through the night. This is something we see throughout time, God often visits us when it seems darkest and provides a rescue! (Acts 16:25-26 The Message)
    This is just one of many examples of a midnight breakthrough! It can be a difficult thing to continue devotedly when things are dark and hard. Singing praise in the prison must have felt paradoxical…yet as they praised rescue came. 
    God shows up in the darkness; He shows up in the dirt of our day! Emmanuel, God with us, didn’t come to a pristine birthing room. He came, not even in the ordinary way of that day, but in a way that was a sign to those shepherds! (Luke 2:12 TPT)
     This was the One they had waited for! They understood the symbolism and the Answer to the Promise! This announcement broke open the heavens! (Luke 2:13-14 TPT)
   God lit up the darkness of that Bethlehem night! He will also light up the darkness of our weary souls. He comes close to the broken-hearted and this is why He came, especially in the way that He did! It’s easy for us to lose sight of how difficult it was for Mary and Joseph to bring Jesus into the world, their world. Not only the stigma and shame they would have faced, but also the discouragement they must have encountered in how and where Jesus was born.  And yet, the Promise was fulfilled. God had come to live with men, right in the dust of our lives. (Psalm 34:18-20a TPT; Isaiah 9:2 TPT)
   This Christmas, let’s remember that first Christmas and the nearness of God!! May His love and nearness bring you so much joy and peace this season. Merry Christmas and much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD!  

   This month we are continuing to expand on our theme for this year of UNWAVERING. This is such an important posture for all of us in a world that is rapidly and constantly changing. Stability and certainty can be ours, even when everything around us in shifting. (1 Corinthians 15:58 BBE)
   Winter is not my favorite season. With its shorter daylight hours and very cold temperatures, it makes me long for the return of spring and new life. This is not unlike seasons when we feel stagnate or stuck; when it feels as if everything around us is on hold (frozen) and change is long off. I was reading some familiar passages when I ran across an interesting concept from the Passion Translation that gave me a new perspective. (Proverbs 4:23 TPT)
    This particular verse had a footnote on the word “wellspring.” It reads: “Although most translations have ‘the issues of life,’ the Hebrew word yasa is actually ‘seasons,’ especially springtime. Out of your heart flow the seasons of life. It is our hearts, not our ages or circumstances, that shape the seasons of our lives. If our hearts are tender to God, we can live in perpetual springtime.” ^{(Simmons, Brian, “The Passion Translation New Testament (2020 Edition): With Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs,” p. 1789. Kindle Edition).}
    For someone who perpetually dreads winter, this lit a spark in my heart and revelation literally exploded. We know that we don’t have to live in subjection to our circumstances and we can live above them, however, this correlation with winter and springtime put a fresh twist on it for me! Although we may be living through a winter season, we can still exist in perpetual springtime! How can we practically do that when things seem so dark, unchanging, and very stuck? The rest of that passage in Proverbs gives us some great ways to help us do just that! (Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT)
    This is a key for producing springtime in winter! We must fill our hearts with the Word of God! It has been said “feed your faith and starve your fears!” Everything on the external is trying to get us to believe things that are contrary to the promises of God. The cold winds of “impossible” blow against our faith and we feel frozen in our present. In contrast, God’s Word will melt the coldness in our hearts and begin to bring forth new life as we let His Words infiltrate the soil of our belief system, becoming not only the source but the fuel for the production of those promises! As fear is snuffed out by the power of God’s promises, our perspective will begin to align with His and we can have joy and gratitude, even in the most contrary circumstances.
     This is critical in a dark season. We often think that we cannot have these 2 things in such a cold place. Wrong thinking about joy makes us think it is dependent on our circumstances; but we have joy in spite of our circumstances because we have His Word! (Jeremiah 15:16)
    Our outlook absolutely and unconditionally will be impacted by our Word intake! This brings us to the second aspect that will aid us in our winter waiting season and that is gratitude. Even science is beginning to take note of the benefits of being grateful! We ALWAYS have something to be grateful for. A good practice is to recount at least 5 things, (we have way more if we have breath), to be grateful for and recount them daily! God is impacting and infiltrating our lives in many, many ways each day through beauty and provision. Let’s turn our attention and hearts to giving Him thanks for the much He provides!!
    Proverbs 4 continues with a few more directives that we will find helpful in producing springtime in our winter season. (Proverbs 4:25-27 TPT)
    Where or what we focus on is absolutely critical to our well-being in our winter seasons. We can murmur and complain (Not a good idea! That added 40 years to the Israelites 11-day journey through the wilderness!) or we keep our focus on where the Lord is taking us. I’ve always said when you’re going through hell, don’t stop. God wants to take us through challenging seasons – not have us set up camp there! (Psalm 23:4 The Message Bible)
   We are called to go through!! This verse out of the Passion Translation is absolutely powerful! (Proverbs 4:24 TPT)
   This particular translation reveals that fear is a real enemy especially in the winter season. Will it always be this way? Will spring ever come? Will we see the promises? We must lean on the nearness of the Lord! We can do this specifically through His promises! Leaning on His promises will strengthen us and reinforce our focus on the right things! Some of which are: God and His faithfulness to us and His Word and His Presence with us in the midst of our difficulty!  Here are some specific promises that are particularly reassuring in our winter season! (Psalm 20:4; 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 103:6 The Message Bible)
   Let’s ignore the distractions! That is anything that takes your focus and your worship off of God! The Father is calling us to draw near and have our hearts warmed by the springtime He is producing in our souls!! (Proverbs 4:23 The Message)

    Our theme for this year is UNWAVERING. Our theme Scripture is 1 Corinthians 15:58. Every time I read this particular verse out of the Passion Translation my heart is stirred.
    Paul is writing this letter to a young church immersed in a pagan culture, a church trying to find its way in a world that functions vastly different from the ideals they are learning about Christianity. The Corinthian church received the longest letters due to these challenges. Many scholars think that at one time there were actually 2 more letters that Paul had written to the Corinthian church.
    Their world, like ours, was diametrically opposed to Christianity. The “force” behind this world’s system is still in operation today. (1 John 5:19 NKJV, TPT)
    The world system has not changed. More importantly, God’s Word has not changed. The first part of this verse in First John tells us why we can live our lives with unshakeable confidence even in the midst of a world that is under the sway of the wicked one. We are of God!!! I love how the Message Bible puts it! (1 John 5:19 The Message Bible)
    This is such an incredible promise and reality! Gods got us! We belong to Him! We are His children and He is a good Father to us. He will completely and continuously take care of us! This reminded me of another verse that compliments this thought. (Hebrews 13:5b-6 AMP)
     The Greek in verse five is emphatic: He will not, He will not, He will not! The reason for our unshakeable confidence is due to the One Who is our Helper, the One Who is with us! This same promise of Presence was given by God to Joshua when he was assuming leadership after the death of Moses. This would be a massive undertaking for Joshua with monumental challenges, let alone filling the shoes of a human as heroic as Moses. But God’s Words to him, His unfailing promises held Joshua and infused him with confidence. (Joshua 1:5-9 AMP)
    New seasons can be challenging. The unknown in our lives is always hard. But Joshua had God’s Presence and he leaned into His promises to fulfill the mission and live His life with unshakeable confidence. 
     Our strength and our confidence come from Who is with us! We can be free from fear and walk out each day with tremendous confidence in the goodness of God and His faithfulness to us and His Word. There are two objectives we must purpose to keep before us. (2 Timothy 1:7 GNT; 1 John 4:18 The Message Bible; Matthew 6:30-34 The Message Bible)
   Fear takes us out of the present into the frenzy of what “could be.” The enemy is trying to form your vision and fix your attention on a “fear version” of your life. God’s Word has laid out wonderful promises, wonderful plans for us! Let’s be present; giving our entire attention to what God is doing and saying right now! If we make this transition from fear to love by leaning into His Presence with us, we can walk and live our lives in unshakeable confidence! (Hebrews 10:35-36 AMP)
God is calling us remember who we are and Whose we are! Living in the fire of His love!! Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD!

    I was recently doing my devotional, reading from the Amplified Translation, and ran across an interesting phrase which sparked a revelational thought. (Proverbs 10:20, 31 AMP)
    Although the context of these verses is talking about our words, what about the concept that we can either be in harmony or out of harmony with God? I have sensed the urgency in this season for us to be intentional about our walk with God and our sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, this thought of being in harmony with God took that impression to another level. The first thought in this regard to harmony was in its musical application. But looking at the dictionary definition was very enlightening! When used as a noun, harmony carries the idea of compatibility in opinion and action; agreement of opinions; or a harmonious state of things in general and of their properties (as of colors and sounds); congruity of parts with one another and with the whole. I wish I could type in a mind-blown emoji right here!
    I began to think of the ramifications of living a life in harmony with God and His purposes. Now we all agree with this mentally, but I mean really, consciously, and intentionally living in agreement and a harmonious state with our Creator! Through salvation, Jesus removed the barrier and made us “right with God” relationally. This is a legal transaction that has been accomplished by the work of Jesus on the cross and through His blood. (Ephesians 2:14-21 AMP)
    Jesus has brought us back into harmony with God! It’s a fact and it is finished! However, the other facet to this is in how we choose to live it out. We are righteous, but are we living righteously? I’m not talking about legalism or performance. But are we relationally in harmony with God through the expression of our lives? (Philippians 2:1-2 AMP)
    We have mostly relegated verses like this with how we live out our lives with one another and that is the intention of Scripture. However, we cannot live harmonious lives with each other if we are out of harmony with God. How can we love if it’s not His love flowing through us? How can we live in peace, if we are not at peace with God? This harmony issue is a big deal!
     Again, this is not a pitch for a legalistic existence but a real assessing as to whether our thoughts, our words, and our lives are in harmony with God. This is a life lived in consciousness of His presence and the reality of our choices, every one, to either be in or out of harmony with Him. This is a walk, daily decisions, and a life-style. The Passion Translation makes this point even more clearly from these verses in Philippians. (Philippians 2:1-2 TPT)
   Walk in friendship and harmony with the Holy Spirit and you will live out your harmonious purpose! I believe this is an individual harmony that will ultimately express itself in a corporate reality. It’s not just about “getting along”! It’s about walking in the beauty of harmony with God first, then overflowing with love and harmony with one another. Oftentimes we try so hard to get the earthly right we miss the source of the harmony, the source of the love, and the source of the life we want to see lived out. (2 Corinthians 6:15-16 TPT)
    We are super good at turning verses like these into a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”, places to go and not go, people to shun and people we embrace. Like the people of Jesus’ day, us religious folks have missed the entire point. Paul even used “Christ” and “Satan” so we would see the huge gap between the ways of Jesus and the ways of satan. It’s the gray areas that often get us out of harmony with God. Does what we are thinking, how we are responding, and how we are loving look like Jesus?
     In the end, harmony looks like family resemblance. Do our lives carry His traits? Do our actions drip with His love? Do our words comfort and draw others close, like His do? (Colossians 3:14-15 AMP)
    God is calling us to a life lived in harmony with Him! Oh the wonders of what that will produce!! (Romans 14:19 AMP)

   We are just past the mid-way mark of the summer months. Sometimes with the vacations, summer festivals and fairs, breaks from the school term, and various “out of the ordinary routine” summer activities it is easy to slide spiritually. Not that our spirituality is tied to routine; but we may find this shift in our routine causing our attention to be diverted in other directions. This of course can happen in any season. We can easily lose “spiritual steam” in seasons of difficulty or pressure as well. (Galatians 6:9 TPT)
   Weariness, or a low spiritual temperature can cause us to experience a dullness or a diminishing in our appetite for spiritual things causing our fervor to flicker down. (Luke 21:34-36 TPT)
   Often times we have focused on the “coming day,” while not paying attention to our spiritual temperature or the condition of our hearts. Guarding our hearts is a frequent theme throughout Scripture. Our outer lives are a product of our inner lives. We must care for our hearts in every season of our lives and continue to keep our hearts aflame for God!
     If we find ourselves in need of a Summer Reset, there are some simple remedies to increase our spiritual temperature. The first is realization and acknowledgement of our state. We can never receive aid without realize our flame has burned low. (Psalm 119:25 TPT)
    This may seem like extreme language but those who have been in this state of discouragement fully understand that this didn’t happen all at once. We find ourselves in the dust and disheartened after a fading of the fire in our hearts. David, in this Psalm, writes about the glorious Word of God and a longing for the reviving it would bring. A great way to revive our hearts is to make a daily practice of reading through this entire Psalm (119) for a period of time. Fires need fuel and the Word of God is just that to our inner man.
     Another remedy for our coldness is to recognize and be purposefully conscious of the nearness of God to us. (1 John 4:4 TPT)
   One of the greatest truths of our salvation is that God now inhabits His children. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
   The wonderful benefits of this marvelous truth were expounded on by Jesus in John 15 when He taught about the vine and the branches. (John 15:4-5 TPT)
   We are not only connected to God, but in reality, we are one with Him. His resources are available to us! We can draw on His strength, His stability, His encouragement! One of the biggest mistakes we make is thinking we have to do this on our own! He is in us! He is with us! He is for us! (Romans 8:31-39 TPT)
    I’ve added this extended passage because this may be our greatest need: grasping afresh the love that God has for us. It is the greatest force in existence. It purchased our salvation. It paid for us in full, not just for our past but also for our future. Knowing this love will empower us to live differently! Knowing this love will strengthen us with joy every day! His love will never relax Its grip on us! (Hebrews 13:5b AMP)
I’m praying for a supernatural lifting of our hearts and that our spiritual fire would burn hotter as the power of the Holy Spirit resets our flame! Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD! (Leviticus 6:13 NLT)

   As temperatures heat up across the nation – let’s challenge ourselves to turn up our inner temperature for the things of God. (Luke 24:30-32)
   This day had started out with profound sadness and loss of hope. There were rumors that Jesus had resurrected but it was all so confusing. They walked along the road, heads down and hopes crushed. What was next? What would happen now? What were they supposed to do? They were joined on their journey by a Stranger Who seemed to know nothing about the recent events. Yet, when He spoke to them something began to happen to their hearts. They were so deeply affected by the conversation that they begged the Man to join them for a meal so that they could continue on in their discussion.
   We know from reading this chapter in Luke’s Gospel that this Man wasn’t a Stranger at all; it was Jesus. The powerful discovery was that as they spent time with Jesus, desire was birthed in their hearts! Where there had only been despondency and apathy – desire was birthed. Where dullness was clouding their thoughts and purposes – the fire of God’s love and revelation burned within their hearts. (Luke 24:32 TPT)
   A footnote in The Passion Translation on this verse tells us that the Latin and Aramaic words for dull and burning are almost identical. How often do we allow familiarity with Lord, His Word and His wonderful Presence grow dull, where once burning passion had been evident?! How frequently does our devotion become duty and our flame burn low?
    These disciples had experienced some of the greatest experiences with Jesus one could ever hope for. They had heard messages from God spill from His lips and yet, through the crushing, they had lost hope and lost their fire.
    How did Jesus turn the despondency of His disciples into determination and devotion?  He did it by releasing the fire of God through His Word!  He needed to shake His followers out of their sorrow and shallowness of heart and revive the mission of the Gospel! The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed: (Jeremiah 20:9 TPT)
   The prophet had come to a place of discouragement and despair – a place where He was giving up on the calling and purposes of His ministry.  God did not leave Him in this place but ignited His heart with a burning that could not be contained!
    I’m reminded of an imperative instruction from the book of Leviticus. (Leviticus 6:13 NLT)
    This was the altar of sacrifice. This was a messy place of offering and ablution. A wonderful entry point moving toward access to the Presence of God. But religious practice, if we are not careful, can bring dullness, a duty that prescribes practice without devotion.
    God warned – REMEMBER – Don’t let the fire go out!  I want us to be stirred, as the modern-day altars of the Presence of God, to NEVER let the fire go out!  To stir the embers of past devotion and latent desire for a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit to enflame our passion for Him again! (Romans 12:1-2 TPT)
    Acceptable sacrifices in the Old Testament worship system were always accompanied by fire! We need the fire of His Presence more than ever!! We are living sacrifices, mobile altars of the Presence of God! Empowered to live out His purposes in this life! Inwardly ignited to pursue His calling and fulfill His good plans, not only for ourselves but for all those who are connected to our lives! (Luke 12:49 TPT)
    These are the words of Jesus! This is the expression of His desire! He longed for us to experience the Presence and power of God! John the Baptist preached about the coming of Jesus and that it would include a baptism that would be transformational. (Luke 3:16-17 TPT)
     The footnote on this passage is particularly insightful: “The Aramaic text reads ‘He will baptize you into the Spirit of the Holy One and in light.’ A baptism of light or fire would cleanse and change a life, giving new power to live for God and deal with every issue that hinders love and passion from burning in our hearts. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that all believers need today.” _{^{(Simmons, Brian, “The Passion Translation New Testament: With Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs,” p. 314. Kindle Edition.)}}
     We need this fire, not just in promise or in a from of hype, but a true burning that ignites our hearts when the Scriptures are read, when we experience His very real Presence. A fire that removes every hindrance of love. Fire is a part of the essence of God – our proximity to Him will release a burning in our hearts and lives! (Hebrews 12:29)
    There was a generation of preachers who talked about being set on fire so that the people would come and watch them burn! Oh, how we need this burning again! Not only in the pulpits but in every heart showing forth the reality of the resident Fire! (Luke 12:49 NLT)
    Ask Him for His fire today! Let’s allow the burning to cleanse us and flow through us in fresh ways!!

As believer’s we are granted a tremendous privilege of the Indwelling Presence of God! When we are born again, we are not only granted forgiveness and assurance of Heaven, but we are given a new nature and inhabited by the Spirit of God. These are truths and actualities that are so expansive and marvelous, even Paul struggled for words to express the wonders. (2 Corinthians 6:19-20 TPT)
   The Corinthians, who lived in a largely pagan culture, understood that temple language meant that was the dwelling place of a god. The Jews shared this understanding as the temple was the centerpiece of their worship practice but the difference was that God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, literally dwelt in His manifest glory in the Holy of Holies.
    The fact that this God now lives inside of believers would be enough for much praise. But there is so much more! Jesus taught us that God was not just coming to live in us but to be an active participant in our lives!! (Romans 8:14-17 TPT)
   WOW!  WOW!  WOW! God inside is changing our orphaned hearts and adapting us to a new identity in Him that is so loved, so chosen, so accepted, and so abundantly provided for! How He longs for us to live in the reality of these words! They are far more than just words from an ancient letter!! These are the revelation of the lavish provision of a Father Who not only has saved us, but wants to be actively involved in our day to day lives!
     In one of His longest recorded messages (John 13-16), Jesus shares a myriad of revelational truths about the Greater One Who lives inside of us! I encourage you to look into these verses and discover the rich and abundant provision available to us through the Gift of the Holy Spirit!
    I love the relational aspect that is released to us through The Passion Translation. It is relaying to us that God hides revelation in the place of His Presence! How powerful!! This means that as we draw closer and closer to Him through His Word and prayer and just general communion, we can receive understanding. In reality His wisdom and will, will be opened to us in ways we could not have humanly imagined as we fellowship with Him!
     This is something that all who walk with Jesus deeply desire! We long to be in step with His purposes and move at His direction. We can begin to sharpen our senses to His ways and purposes through investing time in His written Word. I would like to equate this to being rooted in God. In days like we are living in – we must go deeper. We do not want the kind of roots which can easily be moved or washed out by unforeseen circumstances and challenges. We want deep, deep roots – like the roots of a large tree.
      Paul prays this conceptual reality for the church out in two places in his letters. (Ephesians 3:16-20 TPT)
     The Passion Translation brings further illumination to these familiar verses and the powerful provisions that are available to all of us!! Everyone wants to live in the powerful dynamic of verse 20 – the exceedingly-abundantly-above all that we can imagine place. This reality is available but it flows out of that relational rooting of understanding and experiencing His love. He longs to unveil the secrets of His will and ways, His purposes and plans, and His beautiful expression of life that He longs to release through us! This amazing reality finds its genesis in how we are planted in Him.
    Yes, we are united with Christ through salvation – however, that union goes beyond our entrance to Heaven. His life has been united with ours. This changes everything and it changes everything right now!!!! (1 Corinthians 6:17)
    We are joined to Him – again – not merely as an assurance of entrance to Heaven but as an opportunity for a life that is abundant and filled with His goodness! How do we discover this?? Through that union with Him – through that relational reality where He shares His heart and His words with us! He longs to impart to us everything we need to fulfill His highest and best for us in this life! (2 Peter 1:4-8 TPT)
      There is so much in these verses that I pray we would take the time to pursue all that our Father has provided for us!!!! In reality, we have escaped the trappings of this world and have been offered a life that exceeds anything we could humanly imagine or manufacture on our own. Let’s know and acknowledge the precious things that God has planted within us and in turn be planted deeply in Him!! God longs to produce a life in partnership with us that will resound to His glory for all eternity!
     Paul shares another prayer for this rooting to be effectual in the church in Colosse.
(Colossians 2:6-7 TPT)
    Paul is praying for the church to progress in what was granted to us initially through salvation! He prays that we would be deeply rooted into His life! This gives us everything we need to express the fullness of our purposes, now in this lifetime!! What God has promised to us will exceed anything we could ever have imagined! There is so much peace and joy in this way of living, out of our union with Him! Our prayer is that we would hunger for this and seek Him until it becomes our reality! (1 John 4:4 TPT)
There is SO MUCH MORE! Let’s cooperate with Him in going deeper, being rooted in Him and realizing a life that is the fulfillment of Ephesians 3!!
Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD!

WILD’s theme for 2025 is UNWAVERING!! In a world that is spinning so fast – unwavering is not our default or automatic stance. Being unwavering or immovable is something which we can develop as an inward attitude in order for us to obtain this place of peace and assurance. This is possible despite what is occurring in our outward circumstances! We can remain unwavering! (Proverbs 25:2 TPT)
   This Scripture is more familiar to us in a traditional translation. (Proverbs 25:2-32 NKJV)
   I love the relational aspect that is released to us through The Passion Translation. It is relaying to us that God hides revelation in the place of His Presence! How powerful!! This means that as we draw closer and closer to Him through His Word and prayer and just general communion, we can receive understanding. In reality His wisdom and will, will be opened to us in ways we could not have humanly imagined as we fellowship with Him!
     This is something that all who walk with Jesus deeply desire! We long to be in step with His purposes and move at His direction. We can begin to sharpen our senses to His ways and purposes through investing time in His written Word. I would like to equate this to being rooted in God. In days like we are living in – we must go deeper. We do not want the kind of roots which can easily be moved or washed out by unforeseen circumstances and challenges. We want deep, deep roots – like the roots of a large tree.
      Paul prays this conceptual reality for the church out in two places in his letters. (Ephesians 3:16-20 TPT)
     The Passion Translation brings further illumination to these familiar verses and the powerful provisions that are available to all of us!! Everyone wants to live in the powerful dynamic of verse 20 – the exceedingly-abundantly-above all that we can imagine place. This reality it available but it flows out of that relational rooting of understanding and experiencing His love. He longs to unveil the secrets of His will and ways, His purposes and plans, and His beautiful expression of life that He longs to release through us! This amazing reality finds its genesis in how we are planted in Him.
    Yes, we are united with Christ through salvation – however, that union goes beyond our entrance to Heaven. His life has been united with ours. This changes everything and it changes everything right now!!!! (1 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV)
    We are joined to Him – again – not merely as an assurance of entrance to Heaven but as an opportunity for a life that is abundant and filled with His goodness! How do we discover this?? Through that union with Him – through that relational reality where He shares His heart and His words with us! He longs to impart to us everything we need to fulfill His highest and best for us in this life! (2 Peter 1:4-8 TPT)
      There is so much in these verses that I pray we would take the time to pursue all that our Father has provided for us!!!! In reality, we have escaped the trappings of this world and have been offered life that exceeds anything we could humanly imagine or manufacture on our own. Let’s know and acknowledge the precious things that God has planted within us and in turn be planted deeply in Him!! God longs to produce a life in partnership with us that will resound to His glory for all eternity!
     Paul shares another prayer for this rooting to be effectual in the church in Colosse.
(Colossians 2:6-7 TPT)
    Paul is praying for the church to progress in what was granted to us initially through salvation! He prays that we would be deeply rooted into His life! This gives us everything we need to express the fullness of our purposes, now in this lifetime!! What God has promised to us will exceed anything we could ever have imagined! There is so much peace and joy in this way of living, out of our union with Him! Our prayer is that we would hunger for this and seek Him until it becomes our reality! (Isaiah 37:31-32 TPT)
There is SO MUCH MORE! Let’s cooperate with Him in going deeper, being rooted in Him and realizing a life that is the fulfillment of Ephesians 3!!

  WILD’s theme for 2025 is UNWAVERING!! I feel like this is a vital inward posture for us to take in a world that is ever changing and where instability is a cause for so much anxiety. We can only depend on God and His Word!! Building a foundation of God’s Word in our lives will cause us to become and remain unwavering! 
   During a time of prayer recently I ran across a Scripture that deeply moved my heart. (2 Samuel 7:28)
  This is actually a verse out of a prayer of David. Nathan the prophet had just promised David the continuation of his royal lineage; also, that his son would build the house for God that David had so desired to build. In addition, it was promised his throne would be established forever which is a foreshadowing of the Messianic rule. David’s response was prayer. (2 Samuel 7:18)
    I love this picture of David sitting before the Lord! What an awesome illustration of intimacy and comradery, of devotion and friendship. David begins to pour out His heart in thanksgiving and deep appreciation for all the Lord had promised. This is our proper response when the Lord releases promises to us! Verse 28 gives us a powerful three-fold cord that will hold us, unwavering, as we wait for the fulfillment of the promise.
    #1 – “O Lord, You are God!”
   Our hearts soar with the revelation of Who has promised this to us! God, the same God Who is the creator of Heaven and Earth! The same God that, over and over again, has done the miraculous and displayed His power in undeniable ways, has given us His Word as a sure promise! (Psalm 145:3 AMP) (Jeremiah 32:17)
   The Passion Translation brings further illumination to this verse. If God, by His power, created all that is, literally….nothing is impossible with Him!
   #2 – “Your words are true!”
    David had unwavering confidence in God and His Word. Not only did he acknowledge the power of His God, but He had a sure guarantee that what He spoke was absolutely true and unchangeable! This knowledge and stalwart stance will strengthen us in the waiting and give us the assurance we need! We will see the fulfillment of what He has promised! (2 Peter 1:19-21 The Message Bible) (Isaiah 55:11 The Message Bible)
   We are not basing our belief on human contrivance or human strength! God Himself has made these Promises to us!
#3 – “You have promised this goodness to Your servant!”
   This brings us back, full circle, to Who has promised this to us…God!! In addition, what He has promised is GOOD! The word translated “goodness” is the same word in Hebrew rendered “good” throughout the Old Testament. In Scripture it is often translated: “beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease,  fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry,  most, pleasant,  pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured])” _{^{(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.).}}  This expands our minds and understanding of God’ attitude towards us and His willingness to bless us and do us good! (Deuteronomy 8:11-16)
   These verses are part of an exhortation given by Moses towards the end of his life. He wanted the children of Israel to remember that it was GOD who had delivered them again and again. AND even though they had experienced hardship God’s purpose was TO DO THEM GOOD in the end! It is good for us to keep this at the forefront of our mind, especially in the waiting, especially when it’s hard, especially when the promise seems far off. GOD has promised! HIS WORDS are true! And He will DO US GOOD in the end!!
   What God has promised to us will exceed anything we could ever imagine! (1 Chronicles 17:26 AMP) (Ephesians 3:20 TPT) (Galatians 6:9-10 AMP)
    As we are assuming our unwavering stance on the Word it is important not to become lax in doing good! God has incredible things for us this year! Let’s keep in mind our powerful God, Who is the One Who has given us these wonderful promises and He will bring them to pass! (1 Thessalonians 5:24) (Psalm 20:4)
   There is SO MUCH MORE! Let’s sit before Him and be strengthened in His Promises!! Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD! 

   I was listening to the radio a couple of weeks ago and found out that the second Friday in January is National Quitters Day! What!!!!!? Apparently, research has shown that around half of the population abandons their New Year’s resolutions by that time.
   Whether or not that is accurate, as believer’s I feel like we want to do better than the national average! WILD’s theme for 2025 is UNWAVERING!! I feel like this is a vital inward posture for us to take in a world that is ever changing and where instability is a cause for so much anxiety. We can only depend on God and His Word to keep us! One of my favorite Psalms in this regard is Psalm 121. I’ve stood on this Psalm and it has kept my heart and faith steady in several unnerving situations. (Psalm 121 TPT)
   I especially like verses 7-8 out of the NKJV!
   Our soul’s need preserving. We need the inner strength and stability only God can provide. The word translated both “keep” and “preserve” in more traditional translations is the Hebrew word shamar. It means to “to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.” _{^{(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary).}} This word appears 7 times in this short Psalm and gives us resounding assurance that God, Who is our Keeper, will keep us; He will guide and protect us; He will guard and watch over us and He will do that forever!!
   How can we end 2025 in the place we initially set our intentions for at the beginning of 2025? How can we keep our goals intact and accomplish the change we desire? There are a couple of great concepts that will help us to do just that.
#1 – Be Intentional!
   This is a word that has been resounding in my heart and mind for the past several years. I sense the Lord desiring to work with us in greater and more impactful measures. For that to happen we must be intentional! We live in a world where the bombardment of distractions is ever increasing. For us to walk out God’s purposes and plans for our lives we must be intentional! (Ephesians 5:15-16AMP, TPT)
    If we know anything, it is that change is not automatic. We must set our hearts and minds to the task! We must purposefully use our time and resources to the intended end if we desire to see the fulfillment! This is not a decision we make once; we must consistently reset our hearts and mind in the direction of our goals. This will probably be a required daily reset, especially at first. (Colossians 3:2 AMP)
   In context, this verse is of course regarding spiritual things. However, this principle will help us to be successful in reaching our goals. There is truth revealed here that our minds need to be taken charge of and constantly turned in the intended direction! This is a similar principle to the one Paul was instructing the disciples with at the church in Rome to help them leave their old pagan ways and walk in God’s ways! (Romans 12:2 TPT)
   Every year we set goals or resolutions because we want some things to be different in our lives. If we are going to experience that change in reality, we must set our minds in that direction and be intentional about walking it out!
    #2 – Write the Vision! (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NKJV)
   This is a verse that we often see at the beginning of the year. This year, I was astounded to notice this verse in a new way. It is God Who is saying: Write the vision! It is not a motivational speaker or a pastor on a Sunday morning! God is telling us: “the vision needs to be written down!” The vision must be written down so that we can run, so that we can accomplish and preform that vision! The writing comes first!
     It’s time for us to run with the visions God has put in our hearts! But we must first take that vision or dream and write it down so that we can plainly see the way in which we are to run! (Jeremiah 12:5 NKJV)
   I love this verse. “If you can’t keep up with the guys on foot, how are you going to run faster and keep up with the horses at a higher level?” I believe God is calling us to ascend in this new season! He wants us to accomplish more and live more accurately than we ever have! In order to do that we need a roadmap, a vision to plot our course! (1 Corinthians 15:57-58 AMP)
There is SO MUCH MORE! We must not settle but pursue God’s best and highest!! Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD! (Psalm 20:4 HCSB)

   Happy New Year to all our friends and family!!! We are entering 2025 with renewed hope! God has been so faithful to us!! Thank you for being a demonstration of His love and His hands extended. Your encouragement, love, and prayers have literally carried us, sustained us, and positioned us to step into greater things in 2025!!
     I believe this year holds tremendous opportunity in the midst of all that is happening. God is working all things together for our good! (Proverbs 19:21 AMP)
   The word “stand” in this verse is translated other places as “arise.” This is a year when God’s plans will arise in our lives and over our families! For this to happen we must confidently stand in the purposes and plans of God for our lives and become unwavering in our confidence in Him!
     UNWAVERING!! – is our theme for this year!
   “The church has been in a season of contending. Many individuals have found themselves in a place of contending for their families, their ministries, their own hearts, and their destiny. 2025 will be a year of shifts. This is not a time to relax or withdraw due to weariness. We must not live distracted lives, numbed by the bombardment of constant input of information and scrolling. There is much more to be apprehended; and the enemy is mounting a new offensive. He will not relent in his designs on the next generation or his attempts to overthrow God’s plans. (Daniel 7:25)
   The enemy seeks to change the good plans that God has for His people. He subtly works to move God’s people away from His will and best plans. It is a time to sharpen our discernment and attentively and intentionally pursue God and His will. This must be implemented individually and corporately, for families and churches. There is SO MUCH MORE! We must not settle for good when God’s best and highest is at stake.
    We must remain unwavering in our reliance on God and His resources. We must shake off disappointment and dullness. Releasing disappointment will free us to have peace and receive grace to move forward. Our hope can then be revived for the plan God has for us! It’s always for His best – its’ always for our good – and it’s always His mercy!
     We must settle some things in our own hearts and refuse to be moved off of God’s plans and purposes. This a daily choice, a settled mindset to be unwavering! Unwavering in our faith – unwavering in our joy – unwavering in our stance on the Word – unwavering in our love for people - and unwavering in our pursuit of God.
     The church is at a historical crossroads – the harvest and dramatic change that is so needed in our societies will not be obtained through passivity. We must be unwavering in our commitment to walk in the purpose and position of victory that Jesus has obtained for us. This goes beyond self-motivation; but it resonates deep within our very being, the holy of holies of our souls, the dwelling place of God. There is no shadow of turning with Him and as we lean into Who is in us, we can become and remain unwavering.”
    One of the best Scriptures that illustrate this inward posture is a passage out of 1 Corinthians 15. Paul instructs these believers to live out of their spirit rather than out of their flesh and responsive to their outward circumstances. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
   Check out other translations to release even more revelation on this heart posture as we live out our lives in a fallen world.
   The key to living out our lives successfully and remaining in the purposes of God is to remain unwavering! When unexpected things come our way – we remain steadfast and immoveable on what God’s Word says! When it seems like our hope is fading, we must allow what God says about us and our lives to reenergize our faith and be strengthened to be unwavering in our confidence in Him!
    It is our heart to be a part of strengthening you toward this unwavering heart posture in this new year! Please take advantage of our many free resources on our App and at our website.
   May your New Year be filled with expectation as your heart is filled with confidence in His unfailing love for you! Our faith and hope remain unwavering in the goodness He has in store for all of us this year!! Much love from all of us at WILD! (Psalm 33:22)

   One of the most beautiful things about this season is the lights!! Trees, garlands, houses, whole neighbor hoods – lit up with Christmas splendor! It is a fitting way to celebrate this wonderful time of the year remembering that the Light has come! (Isaiah 9:2 AMP)
  That first Christmas evening was also lit up with brilliance to announce the coming of the Light! (Luke 2:8-14 TPT)
   Can you imagine the splendor of Heaven set against the darkness of night! What a message shone there without words. Light had come! Into the darkness of the world, their world, light had come. Into the darkness of waiting for the Promise, Light had come!
   This bringing of light into the world by the Messiah was part of the prophecy given to John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah: Luke 1:76-79 NKJV
   The very coming of the Promised Messiah was to do something for those who were in darkness – to give them hope and to guide them out of distress into peace! Whenever the Bible talks about peace it is not only talking about the absence of trouble or anguish, it is intimating wholeness. The Light has come to set everything right!  
   The seasonal displays of light are great reminders of how urgently we need the light! We are in the time of the year when it seems like the dark hours are much longer than the light hours. How much more is this evidenced spiritually. We are in desperate need of the Light to penetrate the darkness of this world.
    In Zechariah’s prophecy he was actually referencing Isaiah 59. This prophecy describes a world that had lost its way, wandering into deep darkness. (Isaiah 59:7-9 NKJV)
   The Light is the only answer for the darkness. We cannot save ourselves; we cannot remedy our own darkness and the blindness of our souls. We desperately need the reminder – that Light has come to our darkness!! (Ephesians 5:8-14 NKJV)
   We were “once darkness” – steeped in it and unable to find our way. But Light has come! The affirmation to “walk as children of light” is an important reminder of our place in the world. Truly we live in challenging times, when it seems as though the darkness is growing. However, we are lights of the Light Who has come into the world. Let’s walk as children of light! Use of the word “walk” intimates that this is something we do throughout our normal, everyday lives. What a great time of year to witness to and for that light throughout every single day! The only way light will be seen in our world is through us! We must take this mandate seriously. (Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV)
   Light is for the world! Light is to be seen! As we come together with friends and family at holiday gatherings of all variations, let’s be intentional and practice this in full force! May we all have the child-like wonder of this season! May our eyes sparkle with the light that cannot be dimmed! May our hearts sing with His love and our lips tell the message that the Light has come! Keep burning and shining for Him! Much love and Merry Christmas from Mavis and all of us at WILD! (Luke 1:79 TPT)

Isaiah 26:3-4 - This wonderfully familiar verse uses this word yetser. This word is used 9 times throughout the Old Testament. In this particular verse it is translated mind. Yetser in the Hebrew however means conception or purpose. The root of this word gives the idea of “squeezing into shape; to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution).” _{^{(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary).}}
     The concept of this word is thoroughly established throughout Scripture. Proverbs 23:7, Proverbs 4:23
   The Passion Translation of this verse is particularly insightful: “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”  – Proverbs 4:23 TPT
   We pay attention to a lot of things and in our world today we have more contending for our attention, time, and thought processes than any other generation. It is so critical to realize that this vying for our attention is neither accidental or incidental!!! What we think about effects everything about us and actually what we become. It effects our quality of life and well…everything!
    Going back to the word yetser, this word gives us the idea that what we focus on is framing up or forming our lives! I love the Passion Translation of this verse: “Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 TPT
   The word “imaginations” in this verse is the word yetser! By translating yetser into imagination it gives us an enormous amount of revelation. As adults we have often left “imagination” years ago as a type of childish exercise. Nothing, possibly, has robbed us more. Imagination is tied to our creativity and potentially produces great things in our life. This is where we find another use of this word insightful. David’s great desire was to build a dwelling place for God on the earth, but that was to be the privilege of his son, Solomon. So he spent much of his latter life preparing for this great undertaking and here we find a prayer where you can sense his intense yearning for this desire to be fulfilled. 1 Chronicles 29:16-19 NKJV
  David knew the power of imagination to direct God’s people in their affairs. He had experienced first-hand how one’s heart could be seduced away from the purposes of God and imagination could be used in a sinful way. This is the war of all wars in our culture. For what we focus on and consume ourselves with we will become. Colossians 3:18 NKJV
    This verse shows the positive result of focusing on God’s Word – it brings transformation!  One of the greatest things we can do in a world gone crazy is give our imaginations and our focus to God’s Word! If we focus on the turmoil, strife, and hatred that is being emanated through much of the information being broadcast – that is what we will be filled with. I must say, honestly, this is not going to produce any kind of godly effects in the world. James 1:20-21 AMP
   In Isaiah 26:3, this kind of imagination will produce perfect peace. In the Hebrew that is literally: Shalom – Shalom! A peace that brings wholeness and salvation. Our imagination, focused on the Lord and His Word, will produce this in our lives.
     Paul in his final words to the Thessalonian church in his first epistle to them gives a list of bullet points that are so important to the believer. These are not just light suggestions, these are the commands that will lead us through the seasons of this life and the uncertainties of this world!  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NKJV
  Being thankful is God’s will!!! He knows if we maintain a grateful heart, it will hold us steady.  Gratitude keeps us focused on what God is doing rather than what the enemy is doing. Gratitude keeps us from quenching the Spirit and keeps us in the presence of God. Being thankful reminds us Who is our source and Who will keep us, no matter what. Gratitude will strengthen our trust in the Lord and in His provision. Being thankful is a powerful, powerful expression of our faith!!! This is something we cannot do without and truthfully must increase in our practice in these days.
     Look at how the Passion Translation expresses these verses in Isaiah: “Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you. Yes, trust in the Lord Yahweh forever and ever! For Yah, the Lord God, is your Rock of Ages!” – Isaiah 26:3-4 TPT
   God wants to surround us with His Shalom – His perfect peace. We open the door to this as we allow our imaginations (yetser) to be consumed with Him. Let’s be confidently encouraged and overflow with thanksgiving in this mighty reality. We are not at the mercy of the enemy and the spirit of this age. We can keep our hearts burning through awareness of His Presence and by vocalizing our gratitude for all He is and all He has done!! Keep burning and be consumed with Him! Psalm 112:7-8a NKJV

  Tumultuous times – an interesting phrase and one I think describes the temperament of our society. The word tumultuous means “disruptive, troubled, or disorderly.” One thing we hear often is “I just want things to get back to normal.” What is it that we are longing for or looking for? What changes could make a difference in the way things are or seem to be so out of control? The truth is these are stressful days and there are many things we just cannot change. We pray and seek the Lord for His intervention and for His Kingdom to come and we should continue praying fervently. Yet we must grapple with the reality of what exactly are we responsible for…what is our realm of influence…how can we make the “atmosphere” where we live better?
   One of the most difficult and unnerving aspects of our current societal condition is the level of absolute viral hatred that seems to be laced across all platforms: television media, podcasts, social media, news forums, and sadly even in some of our pulpits and pews.
   Again, we may not have a place or power of influence where we can affect change in some of these areas – but there is something we can immediately enforce.
(1 Peter 4:7-8 TPT)
   Peter’s insightful instructions let us know that in the difficult days we must be given to prayer – this is key! We need God’s intervention! Yet he adds – ABOVE ALL – in other words, this is the top priority, have intense love for one another! Let your love be evident – let your love be seen! We must do all we can to pray and agree with God’s purposes in the earth, however, this is not the only action that must be taken. The way we counter the hostility in our day is to create an atmosphere of love. (Colossians 3:14 NKJV)
   There it is again – ABOVE ALL – put on love. In other words, we ought to be wearing it. It ought to be evidenced everywhere we are. If we put on something it is in as close proximity as it can get. Love should surround us and consequently be evident to everyone who comes in contact with us. (Ephesians 3:17-19 TPT)
   The love of Christ is what grounds us and stabilizes us. When I think of tumultuous – I equate it with a stormy sea. Life can feel that way at times, but God’s love will anchor us in the reality of security and safety in Him. Remember that Jesus spoke to the storm and calmed the winds and waves. He’s still speaking today and His love is a stabilizing force in our lives. This is what the world is in desperate need of – people know how to hate and be divisive. It’s easy to argue and be contentious…but in the face of love – the enemy has no answer.
    Love is the antidote to the fear that seems to be occurring at suffocating levels!
(1 John 4:18-19 The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest)
   If we are putting on love, if we are allowing love to anchor us – fear will be thrown out!! This is an absolute reality of living in love! As we experience this for ourselves, being absolutely solid in the love of God and constantly loving, it will also help us to carry this atmosphere of peace. We can literally create no-fear zones in our lives when we capitalize on loving God and loving each other!
   Going back to the verse from Colossians, let’s notice the context for additional directives. (Colossians 3:14-15 TPT)
   As we put on love and begin to create an atmosphere of love, peace can rule in our hearts. Just like when Jesus came on the scene and spoke to the storm – everything became calm. As we lean into love and allow this to be our core reality, peace will accompany this. Look at verse 15 in the Amplified Translation.
   Peace can settle our hearts when we feel overwhelmed by decisions that need to be made or questions we have about different things. Notice this verse calls it a “peaceful state.” That brings us back to the atmosphere. The powerful thing about responding to the Word is that even when we feel like we can’t change a lot of things…there are powerful principles, that if we put them into practice, will radically change our lives!
   As we are “letting” peace and love become predominate in our lives, through the way we think and respond, we will begin to experience an oasis of peace from this stormy world. How attractive will that be to those who are weary from the fight and fury of all that is battering our lives today?
   And the final phrase, “And always be thankful.” Gratitude is a practice with magnanimous benefits. Even science is beginning to access and proclaim the profit of exercising gratefulness. Awareness of God’s presence and work in our lives as well as expressing thanks to Him is a powerful expression of our faith. Notice this isn’t a suggestion: Always be thankful! Remain in a state of thankfulness! God always gives us instructions for our good and for our gain. This will help us tremendously in creating an atmosphere of love!  
  Keeping our hearts burning through awareness of His love and His goodness in our lives!! Keep burning for Him!        Much love from Mavis and all of us at WILD!

   A very interesting and insightful litmus test for our spiritual well-being in our lives is how or what we love…this may seem like a cliché thought or over-simplification but it truly is not. Jesus said that the pressure of the last days would be so great that the love of many would grow cold! (Matthew 24:12 AMP)
   What we often miss in this passage is that what is happening around us affects what is going on within us! Love is a product of our inner man. It flows from God to us and should flow out from us to the world. Jesus said this concept of love, loving God and others, was the very most important thing! (Matthew 22:35-40 TPT)
    Even though Jesus said you could summarize all of the Word and its purpose in these 2 commandments, I feel like most of us just glaze over when we start to talk about love. We know that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and that we are supposed to love God and others (Matthew 22). However, I’m not sure we realize the pressure and pointed purpose of the enemy to dull our hearts and minimize our expression of this very identification of our Christianity. (John 13:35 TPT)
   Even though this is super important to God and to us, and it seems like such a simple word – yet somehow in the actual expression of love, much is lacking. Just try to share an opposing view on a social media platform…you get the idea. Our culture has become so polarized, even within Christianity, that we can not even share space for differing opinions.  Yet…we know how important love is.
     Space will not allow us to fully unpack this but my concern is that if we know there is the possibility of our love growing cold and that the enemy is targeting this very identifying factor of the Body of Christ, how can we not be more intentional about this premier fruit flourishing on the trees of our lives?
      If we take a look at Paul’s letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, I believe we can glean some vital insights. Paul was near the completion of his race, so we know he was expressing his deepest concerns and most needed wisdom to Timothy. He begins to share with him what it would be like in the end-times. (2 Timothy 3:1-4 TPT)
    The first thing we notice is that Paul outlines the fact that the world we live in will become extremely fierce. And the first thing that this will affect is love…people will become lovers of themselves. Because of the intensity of the days – they will slip into self-preservation and love themselves more than anything else.
     When we become our “reason”, everything is turned upside down, which is clear in the following verses. When we live like this our gratitude becomes non-existence because we are always wanting more to fill up the abyss of ourselves that we can’t fill. That will cause us to become enslaved to fulfilling our own desires. One can see that this is a slippery slope, ever sliding deeper into degradation – the further we move away from the life-line of love.
     And lastly, we begin to love what is around us more than the One Who gave us all of this. (2 Timothy 3:4b AMP) (2 Timothy 3:4b The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest)
  This is the most convicting phrase of the text, and possibly gives us the reason the people that Paul was talking about had gotten into such a poor spiritual condition. They had shifted their love way from God and began to love pleasures more. From the Greek we could translate that phrase “they became friends with lust.”
     Often, we relegate lust only to sexual arenas, however, lust can find its way into almost every avenue of our lives…Are we craving God or are we friends with our cravings?
    It is vital that we are aware that the difficulty of our days can deeply affect our expression of love, both to God and others. Let’s make an intentional effort to let this primary fruit of the spirit be the most outstanding characteristic about us. The only debt we can never fully pay is our debt of love. (Romans 13:8 TPT)
   We have the tendency to make our lives about a lot of other things rather than what Jesus said was the most important…that we love! I want to encourage all of us to begin to seek out ways to very practically express love in our every day lives, as we do this, we are fulfilling God’s greatest commandment and we will be a living testimony to Him in the earth.
   Peter expressed it this way:  1 Peter 4:7-8 AMP
     Keeping ourselves focused on loving God and loving others with intensity is a key to thriving in difficult days! Keep burning for Him! Much love from all of us at WILD!

   Jesus is absolutely authentic and truthful. There is a verse in John that resonates with many of us in the world today…corporately and personally… “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33 NKJV & TPT)
   No one has to believe for this or ask for this. This is part of our human experience. But Jesus doesn’t leave us there. That phrase is sandwiched between the most beautiful declarations:
1) I’ve spoken things to you so that you can have peace…even now.
2) I want you to have joy, hope, and expectation because I’ve already defeated  
                    the system.
   Jesus breaks up the Storm! (Job 26:12 NKJV)
   While Jesus was on the earth, He demonstrated His power over nature, even over storms. One time He even let Peter experience this dominion over the natural elements by allowing him to walk on water with him! (Matthew 14:25-29 TPT)
   There are so many powerful things to notice here! When you are in the storm (when all hell breaks loose, when it seems like everything is falling apart and everything is working against you)…Jesus is there. He comes to us in the storm! We are not alone. We are not left to our own devises to figure it out! We have help in the storm!
   And we all know this next part…when Peter got his eyes off Jesus and on the storm he sunk. We have sunk…we have done this…we have given into fear in the moment…we have relied on ourselves and let the storm seem bigger than our Jesus. But look at how Jesus handles us in our failure in the storm. (Matthew 14:30-32 TPT)
  IMMEDIATELY…Jesus is with us and for us, to rescue us in the storm. IMMEDIATELY…Jesus lifted him up. Jesus wants to do that for all of us today! Storms have a way of attempting to diminish us, sap our strength, and steal our hope. Jesus is with us and He immediately works to lift us up. In the midst of the winds and the waves, look for Him today through various beautiful ways He works to bring us hope and lift our hearts!  
   Here is a very powerful insight! Peter walked on the water again!! “They both stepped into the boat…” WHAT!! Even after Peter let doubt win, it was only a momentary set back. IMMEDIATLEY Jesus reached out and lifted him up and they both walked back to the boat! Jesus comes to us in the storm and does supernatural things to restore us and get us walking on water again! I don’t know what that means for you but God does and He knows just how to do it!
   The second powerful insight in these verses comes when we see that stepping together with Jesus causes the winds to cease. “The very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased!” When we are in the storm, our most important priority must be to stay in step with Jesus. We must not allow the enemy or condemnation to isolate us. We must not allow the presence of the storm to be an indicator of the absence of God or His love. (Romans 8:31-39 TPT)
   This love will carry us in the storm, through the storm, and will heal the residue of the storm! Another key is that we must remember the promises of God, the Words of God – not when it’s over but in the midst of the storm! This is one of the ways He breaks up the storm; the power comes through His Word! (Jeremiah 23:27 NKJV) (Psalm 89:33-34 NKJV)
   Just as Jesus silenced the winds and the waves while He was here on earth, He will break the storms in our lives, our families, and in this nation! He is with us and He is for us. A verse I pray often shares this sentiment. (Isaiah 54:17 TPT)
    We have His promise! The enemy is raging because he knows his time is short and he is using this world system to wreak havoc (Revelation 12:11-12; 1 John 5:19). Let’s stay in step with Jesus despite the swirling distractions that are abundantly around us! He will break the storm!!         Much love from all of us at WILD!

   There are several stories in the Gospels that include Peter, probably because he’s one of the most relatable among the disciples. We see ourselves in his impetuousness, his proneness to answer out of turn, his over confidence in his own ability, and despite all this, his radical love for Jesus. One of the most awesome things about the Bible is that it never sugar coats the stories of its characters. This is one of Its features that gives credence to its veracity. The Bible tells the truth, even about how flawed we all are…and yet He loves us.
    Peter was so sure that He could do anything to stand up and fight for Jesus. He even took up arms in the garden. (John 18:7-11)
   How have we responded wrongly in a given situation? Yet, Luke’s Gospel tells us that Jesus healed the servant’s ear. (Luke 22:51)
   Just like Peter, we don’t always get it right, sometimes even with the right heart we respond wrongly. But the powerful thing is Jesus sees us through the eyes of love and God’s perspective in what He is making us to be. This is the truly magnanimous lesson taught through Peter’s life. Ordinary guy…super rough around the edges…prone to mistakes. Yet, Jesus called him. Jesus mentored him and most importantly, Jesus didn’t let Peter’s mistakes define him or determine his destiny! He even warned Peter (and the rest of disciples) of some tough things that were ahead. Jesus repeatedly taught about his death (and resurrection) before it occurred. (John 2:19-22; Mark 8:31-33)
   This time Peter had really done it! Jesus even referred to his words and actions as satanic…yikes. We see his greatest failure just ahead as He denies Jesus, just as He said he would. (Matthew 26:73-75)
   We like to think we would have done better than Peter, but it’s doubtful. We must consider the tremendous pressure that was upon the disciples in this season with an ungodly governmental system, possible death looming for all of them, uncertainty about the future; all that they had trusted in was now in question, even their strong Leader was now a prisoner. No one knew what to do or what was next.  Always remember, failure isn’t final, and this is not the end of Peter’s story.  Peter is restored by Jesus and this starts when Heaven asks for him by name after He has risen from the dead. (Mark 16:1-7)
   Even though in the eyes of those on earth Peter was a failure; Heaven knew his name and called for him. It’s time we begin to walk in Heaven’s perspective. The enemy would like us to focus on our weaknesses and mistakes but God is calling us by name to walk in our destinies and live out the purposes that have been planned before the foundation of the world.
     After this we see Jesus coming to the shores of the Sea of Tiberias. Peter had returned to the familiarity of fishing, disillusioned by the “loss” of Jesus. It’s so amazing that Jesus comes there and meets Peter in the lows of his disappointment. He lovingly restores him.
     Peter’s story ascends from here. Jesus has a way of turning things around! We see Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost, where just a short while earlier he had run in fear from a servant girl, cursing and resorting to his old ways. But when Peter was finished with his plans, Jesus wasn’t finished with Peter. Heaven’s plan was still in operation, calling for Peter to be restored.
     Peter becomes a leader in the early church and walking so powerfully in the ways and Presence of God that even his shadow brought healing…imagine! (Acts 5:12-16)
   All of the disciples (except John) in the above text had left Jesus in His hour of need. But here we see them functioning powerfully in miracles by the Spirit of the Lord! Heaven sees God’s design for your life! “And Peter!” I believe the Lord is calling all of us…put your name in there: “And ______!” His greatest desire is to see the manifestation of Heaven through His beloved ones! Restoration is at work in the earth, bringing forth God’s best in these last days! Let’s allow our hearts to burn for Him!! (Romans 8:28)

   As believers in Jesus we are offered tremendous provision! Christianity stands alone in these provisions and an available personal relationship with our Creator. (2 Peter 1:3-4 TPT)
THE PROVISION    
    Whoa!!! Talk about loaded verses. It would be good to return to times of mediation in the Word to adequately mine the richness of the Scriptures. How much has God given us!!! Our first understanding must come from the fact that before we can function in something – something or Someone must be put imparted to us! I love the wording of these powerful passages regarding this extravagant gift. “Everything we could ever need has already been deposited in us by His divine power!” WOW!
     The word translated “power” is the Greek word dunamis. We generally take to mean miraculous power. Literally it means “force” and can be translated “ability.” He has freely and lavishly deposited within us this powerful force through knowing Him. Beyond anything else, knowing Him is the richest most wonderful gift.
     However, let’s not stop there but receive what that relationship provides for us…a partnership with His divine nature!! It just gets better and better. Not only has He deposited divine ability within us but He wants us to participate in His very nature. This translates into the practical side of one’s relationship with God. Being a Christian looks like something…it is something that should be evidenced in our day to day lives!! That’s why Jesus said: (John 14:15 AMP)
    Our love should look like something…there should be a difference in the lives of those in relationship with God who are partakers of the divine nature, having His force or ability working through them. There are many ways we could go with this but let’s just continue on in the context of Peter’s Second Epistle.
THE PARTICIPATION  
     I don’t know about you but I am anxious to participate in and with that Divine nature!!!(John 8:48-59 TPT)    
     These verses are more than an equation. They are a blueprint for a lifestyle that will produce Christlikeness in each of us and we will also be active participants in the fruitful life God has planned for us! I WANT THAT!!! And if I do – the first thing that I must do is to be devoted to this! We are devoted to many things but only we know where our heart’s devotion is directed.
     Out of this devotion we will supplement what we believe with actual goodness. Now that is a broad stroke but it’s living in a way that is opposite of the evil that is in this world system, abhorring anything that is against the principles and actual display of the love of God. (Romans 12:9-10 TPT)
  Once we are devoted to love and goodness we must press on into understanding. I believe one of the greatest needs of our hour is to snap out of our cultural stupor and be alert and discerning! This will then translate practically to our function of self-control with a desire to suppress the works of the flesh and express the life of the Spirit! (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8a TPT)
     This drunkenness is not with regards to alcoholic beverages as much as it is with alertness and unimpaired awareness to the Lord’s ways and His leading! Functioning in this type of a lifestyle will then produce a patient endurance, a will to hold up under the adversity of our day and remain steadfast and immovable! (1 Corinthians 15:58)
     Out of this solid, sustaining faith will grow godliness…we will continue to look more and more like Jesus and His life lived out. In real time that will translate to an expression of mercy and unending love towards those around us. Our relationships and the way we treat each other will express Jesus to the world. We will be the most merciful, forgiving, longsuffering, ever-loving people…evoking curiosity towards Christ! (1 John 2:5-6 TPT)
    This is the ultimate goal! To walk in His footsteps, to walk as He walked, love as He loved, give as He gave, and live a life that is pleasing and fruitful for the glory of the Father!
     As lovers of Jesus, let’s be encouraged by these powerful verses written by our brother, Peter. He was such an example of a life transformed by the power of God working in Him! This is available to us! Let’s be wildly devoted to a life lived for the glory of the Father!! Much love from all of us at WILD!

  Where it seems as if there is no reprieve from the pressure or stress of our day – there is Jesus! Jesus is God’s answer to a world gone wrong. As the world crowds in and there is so much noise…Jesus. Everyone is looking for a reprieve from the stress and pressure of the current day when we should be looking to Jesus. He is the stability of our times! (Isaiah 33:6) (John 8:58 The Message Bible)
  It is time, again, to fix our gaze on the eternal and matchless Son of God, to feel our hearts burn with passion and devotion for our God and King. When Jesus walked the earth during His earthly lifetime, He released tremendous revelation about Who God, The Father is, Who God, the Holy Spirit is, and Who He is.
    One of Jesus’ greatest points of contention or opposition was the religious contingent of His day. They challenged Him on every front; assaulted His character and tried to destroy His ministry and finally His Person. If we are truthful, religion is our ultimate enemy as well. It keeps us from knowing God truly and hinders us in living our Christian life and witness in a multitude of ways. Let’s look into a particular day when Jesus was being confronted by these religious leaders. (John 8:48-59 TPT)
  It was absolutely horrific how the religious leaders of Jesus’ day treated Him! They claimed to know God, and yet, the way they treated His Son was appalling. They expressed no love – no honor – but resorted to name calling and demeaning speech. Jesus responded to this ill-treatment by releasing the revelation of “I AM!!” This really made them mad! Their anger was a symptom of a much deeper issue – religion had replaced revelation knowledge of God. And their minds were desperately darkened. (Romans 1:21-22 TPT)
   They became blinded due to an errant posture of their hearts towards God. This is a serious place to find one’s self in – especially as there is a confession of knowing God and yet, they didn’t really know or recognize Him at all. In our text from John’s Gospel Jesus was equating Himself with I Am, this was a reference back to God’s revelation to Moses. (Exodus 3:13-14 NKJV)
  All of the religious leaders should have been quaking with the fear of the Lord, knowing that the “Burning Bush” was right in front of them in the form of their Messiah! However, religion can dull your hearing and darken your mind. Jesus, throughout His time here on earth, taught us 7 different I Am statements. These precious revelatory gems are burgeoning with Truth that will strengthen, sustain, and keep us today! (John 6:35 TPT)
   Jesus is the Sustainer of our lives!!! (John 8:12 NKJV)
   Jesus is the Light in the darkness, in our darkness! (John 10:7-9 NKJV)
   Jesus is our Entry Point for salvation and our safety. (John 10:11 NKJV)
   Jesus is our Shepherd! (John 11:25 NKJV)
   Jesus is our Resurrection, our Life, and our Revival! (John 14:6; 15:1 NKJV)
   Be encouraged by these eternal and unchanging Truths! Jesus’ activities are eternal and these things that He said that He is – He has always been and will always be!!!!! It is time for us again to discover the treasure that knowing Jesus in reality provides. He doesn’t want us on the outside looking in but invites us into a life overflowing with His joy and the pleasure of His provision! Much love from all of us at WILD! 

   What do we do when we don’t know what to do? Which way do we go when we’re not sure of the path? In times like this, we can be so thankful that it is not just up to our natural faculties to figure out a solution! God is with us and His desire is to walk closely with us…from our end, this can only be done by faith. Faith is more than an ethereal concept and far more than mere religious jargon! This verse from 2 Corinthians is one we often quote but walking in it is another matter. (2 Corinthians 5:7 explore different translations)
   Living from our faith, ordering our lives by our faith not by what we see around us, is another level. Yet, this is how many throughout the Scriptures conducted their lives. Abraham was known as the father of faith. Let’s lean into a story from Abraham’s early days and discover some new mindsets that will aid us in not being limited by our natural senses. We can be empowered to walk in this exciting adventure God calls faith! (Gen. 12:1-3)
   An absolutely vital point is that all of Abraham’s journey of faith, his legacy as the father of faith, and his indelible mark upon both Judaism and Christianity began on a particular day…God spoke to Abram. This wasn’t just a matter of hearing a voice…this flowed out of relationship. God was calling Abram out of a pagan society not only as a geographical change but as a relational change. God knew that Abram would extend his legacy of faith to the next generation. We find this out several chapters later when God again visits Abraham. (Gen. 18:17-19)
   God spoke these precious words, I have known him! Now we know that God “knows” everything but this particular phrase denotes a deeper knowing…an intimacy. No wonder God calls Abraham his friend. (Isaiah 41:8-10)
   What wonderful Scriptures!!! God had called a nation, birthed out of one man’s family…one man who had known God! This was one of the reasons God had chosen Abram, because He knew that Abraham would pass on his faith to his children. God knew that Abraham would teach his children the ways of God. This is what God was after, not just one friend but a nation and then a world who could know God as a friend! In Jesus’ most expansive recorded sermon He pours out his longing and desire for these friends of God. (John 15:11-17 TPT)
   At the end of His life, Jesus wanted His purpose understood. He had come to abolish the old thinking of servanthood and to bring out what God had always wanted. It is showcased in Genesis as God walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve and this purpose was brought forward as God called a man to go to an unknown destination. This journey of friends began with God encountering Abram and calling him out of where he was to where he truly belonged. This is walking by faith. Hearing the voice of the Lord, through His Word and through His Spirit, not just for emergency direction, but as a way of life. (Rom. 10:17 TPT)
   God isn’t looking for robots, Jesus didn’t die to give us a new belief system. Jesus came as a human to walk among us, live among us, love among us, and show us the relational faith that God had always wanted. Jesus demonstrated this at the “crisis” of the death of his friend, Lazarus. (Luke 12:49-51 TPT)
   Jesus’ practice was communion with the Father. Jesus walked by faith, in this world, not only in emergencies, not only for miracles, but for life. Out of this flowed the power of life over death, the power to restore what satan had stolen, the power to reverse impossible situations. This is the power of walking by faith and it begins by hearing God, as His friend. May our desire for friendship with God match His desire for us which He displayed through His sinless life, death, and resurrection! Let’s walk in this relational faith to fulfill His purposes in the earth!! (Isaiah 41:10 TPT)
      Much love from all of us at WILD!