“The Balm That Still Heals”

The Bible records that in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, a rare and precious substance used to heal and soothe. Some believe it was derived from a tree or shrub, highly valued as a major commodity in the ancient world. It was known as the Balm of Gilead. Over time, the name became symbolic for the power to soothe wounds and restore what was broken.

In Jeremiah 8:22, the prophet cries out, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” His question wasn’t just about physical sickness—it was about the deep spiritual and emotional wounds that no earthly remedy could cure.

Beloved, today we know that the true Balm of Gilead is Jesus Christ. He binds up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1), restores the wounded soul, and heals the deepest pain—whether from sin, loss, betrayal, or despair. His blood is the eternal salve that not only soothes but saves. The ancient balm could treat a surface wound; Christ’s balm transforms the heart.

So, if you are hurting, don’t hide the wound. Bring it to the Great Physician. Let His healing flow over you—not just to take away the sting, but to restore the joy, peace, and strength the enemy tried to steal.

Pray With Me:
Father God, thank You for being my Balm in Gilead. When my heart is weary and my soul is wounded, You are my healer. Cover me in Your grace and restore my peace. Remind me that no wound is too deep for Your love to reach. Today, I choose to place my brokenness in Your hands. In Jesus’ name I pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#JesusIsTheBalmThatHeals

“They Can’t Stop What God Has Started!”

Some people might not like you. They might talk about you, doubt you, or even try to block you—but they can’t stop you. Why? Because God’s favor always outweighs any and all opposition. When His hand is on your life, no earthly or spiritual enemy, no critic, and no circumstance can derail His plan.

Philippians 1:6 confirms, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Additionally, Scripture reminds us in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Notice—it doesn’t say no one will try. It says their attempts won’t prevail. And in Isaiah 54:17, the prophet declares, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall be condemn.” Once again, Scripture doesn’t say the weapon will not form or the tongue will not rise—it says they will not prosper.

Joseph’s brothers tried to silence him, but God used their betrayal to elevate him. Daniel’s enemies plotted against him, but God shut the mouths of lions. Opposition isn’t proof you’re off track—it’s proof you’re dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.

So Beloved, walk in confidence today. God’s favor is the shield around you, the strength within you, and the banner over you. Some people (aka haters) might not like you—but they can’t stop you. God has already declared the victory over your life even before the beginning of time.

Pray With Me:
Father God, thank You for Your favor that covers me like a shield. Help me to stand strong in the face of opposition, knowing that You are my defender. I refuse to fear what man can do, because I trust in what You have already spoken over my life. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#CantStopWontStop

“Wisdom vs. Knowledge”

My Beloved beautiful wife recently said , “Knowing things without growth is just information. But applying what you know, allowing it to transform you and those around you—that’s wisdom.”

Knowledge fills the mind, but wisdom shapes the heart. You can memorize Scripture, attend church, read books, and gather endless facts, but if none of it changes how you live, then it remains just information. James 1:22 reminds us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Transformation only happens when truth moves from your head into your heart and ultimately into your habits.

Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live, declared in Proverbs 4:7: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Why? Because wisdom applied becomes a light not only for your path but also for the people walking beside you. Information adds to you. Wisdom multiplies through you.

So Beloved, don’t settle for being informed—be transformed. Don’t just gather knowledge—walk it out. Because when you apply what God has given you, your life becomes the living testimony of His awesome and irrefutable wisdom.

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for the gift of knowledge, but help me not to stop there. Teach me to apply what I’ve learned, to live out Your Word, and to let wisdom transform me from the inside out. May my life reflect Your truth in action. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#WisdomVsKnowledge

“Keep Stepping!”

My beloved mother recently said, “There will be many disappointments in life—keep stepping on them until you reach your destination.”

What wisdom—and yes, she is spot on! Disappointments are inevitable and unavoidable, but they don’t have to be final. Every letdown can become a stepping stone if you refuse to stop moving.

Joseph understood this. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison, his life was filled with disappointment. Yet he kept stepping, and in Genesis 50:20 he declared, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” What others meant for harm became the very platform God used to lift him up.

Paul echoed this same truth in Philippians 3:13–14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” I get it, disappointments can sometimes weigh you down, but determination in Christ will always propel or push you forward.

So Beloved, when life knocks you down, don’t camp in the valley—keep stepping. What looks like a stumbling block today may be the very stone God uses to elevate you tomorrow.

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for reminding me that disappointment is not the end. Help me to keep stepping in faith, turning obstacles into stepping stones, and pressing toward the destiny You’ve set before me. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#KeepStepping/Swimming

#KeepPraying

“Man gives awards, God gives reward.” — Denzel Washington

The world applauds what it sees on the outside—trophies, titles, applause. But God sees what no one else does—the heart, the sacrifice, the faithfulness in the secret place. Man gives awards for performance. God gives reward for obedience.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:4, “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.” Heaven’s recognition doesn’t come from spotlights but from surrender. It’s not about impressing the crowd; it’s about pleasing the Lord.

The Bible also reminds us that eternal rewards await those who remain faithful. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” And in 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul declares, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” These are not earthly trophies that fade, but everlasting crowns that shine with eternal glory.

So Beloved, live not for applause but for approval—the kind that comes from above. Don’t chase man’s awards, which perish. Chase God’s reward, which lasts forever.

Pray with me:
Father God, help me to fix my eyes on the eternal crowns You promise and not the temporary awards of man. Teach me to persevere, to live faithfully, and to seek Your approval above all else. May my life shine with obedience so that one day I may cast my crown at Your feet. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#JesusIsTheReward

“Every word points to Jesus!”

From beginning to end, God’s Word is one unified story of redemption. Beginning in Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth and called a people to Himself. In Exodus through Deuteronomy, He delivered His people, gave them His law, and taught them how to walk in holiness. In Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, we see His people struggle, fall, and rise again under His mercy. Through Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, God raises leaders, warns against sin, and reminds His people of His covenant promises. In Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, He restores His people and proves He is faithful even in exile.

Through Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, He teaches wisdom, worship, and the depths of human longing. The prophets—from Isaiah to Malachi—remind us that judgment is real, but so is hope, and they point to the coming Messiah.

In the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—Jesus Christ arrives as the fulfillment of every promise. He is the Word made flesh, the Savior of the world. In Acts, His Spirit empowers the church to spread the gospel to the nations.

Through the letters of Paul and the apostles, we are taught how to live, love, and persevere as God’s people until the end. And in Revelation, we see the final victory: Christ reigns, evil is defeated, and God makes all things new.

Every book, every chapter, every verse points to one great truth: God is faithful, His plan is perfect, and His story always leads to Jesus.

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for giving us the gift of Your Word—66 books, one story, one Savior. Help us to live with the wisdom of Proverbs, the courage of Joshua, the faith of Abraham, and the hope of Revelation. May we see that from Genesis to Revelation, Your love never fails. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#EveryWordPointsToJesus

“The More You Grow in God, The More You Grow in Grace”

My beloved late embryonic twin brother Noel Pinnock once said, “The more you grow in God, the more you grow in grace.” At the time, it sounded like a beautiful truth—and over the years, I’ve seen just how profound it really is.

Growth in God isn’t just about learning more Scripture or spending more time in prayer—though those are vital. It’s about becoming more like Him. And the more you become like Him, the more His grace begins to flow through you—not just to you, but from you to others.

Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This growth isn’t about perfection—it’s about progression. Each season you walk with Him, your patience deepens, your compassion widens, and your forgiveness becomes freer.

Grace doesn’t excuse sin—it empowers transformation. It’s the divine strength that lets you keep loving when others stop, keep forgiving when it’s hard, and keep believing when the odds are against you.

So Beloved, lean into God. Let His Word stretch you. Let His Spirit refine you. The deeper your roots go into Him, the more your life will overflow with grace—and that grace will be your testimony.

Pray With Me:

Father, help me to grow in You daily. Stretch my faith, expand my compassion, and deepen my understanding of Your grace. Let my life be evidence of Your transforming power. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG 

#NAP

#GrowInGrace

“God’s grace is more than enough!”

The Apostle Paul penned these words after pleading with God to remove his “thorn in the flesh.” Instead of taking the struggle away, God reminded him—and us—of this timeless truth in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s weakness became the very platform for God’s strength. In sharing his testimony, he wasn’t merely admitting frailty—he was declaring that his weakness was the stage where God’s power shine the brightest. Grace doesn’t simply excuse our limitations; it transforms them into opportunities for God to reveal His power in undeniable, unexplainable, and irrefutable ways.

This truth didn’t begin with Paul. Centuries earlier, Isaiah 30:29 proclaimed, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” What Paul revealed in the New Testament had already been foreshadowed in the Old: God delights in filling empty vessels, restoring the broken, and empowering the fainthearted.

So Beloved, when you feel inadequate, remember—it’s not your strength God is looking for, but your surrender. That’s why Paul could boldly proclaim in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” His personal and intimate testimony proves that grace doesn’t just cover your weakness; it transforms it into a stage where God’s power is magnified in your life!

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is perfected in my weakness. Help me to trust that where I fall short, You stand strong. Let my life be a testimony that in Christ, I am sustained, renewed, and victorious. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#HisGraceIsMoreThanEnough

“You Can’t Help Someone Who Won’t Help Themselves”

Let’s be honest, some people aren’t looking for healing—they’re looking for validation to stay broken. You can pour in wisdom, love, and truth, but if they’re committed to the story that suits their dysfunction, nothing will change.

A victim mindset will never lead to victory. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” If someone believes they are always the victim, they will live like one, even when freedom is within reach. Choosing not to get better is choosing to stay bitter—and bitterness doesn’t just poison the heart, it seeps into relationships, opportunities, and blessings. Hebrews 12:15 warns us, “See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Even Jesus didn’t heal those who refused. In John 5:6, He asked the lame man, “Do you want to get well?” God will not override a heart determined to cling to pain, because His love invites—it does not force.

So Beloved, remember 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Love people, pray for them, and point them toward truth—but don’t chain yourself to their prison cell. You’re called to walk in freedom.

Pray With Me:
Father God, thank You for teaching me to love without losing myself. Give me wisdom to help without enabling, to speak truth without fear, and to walk away when You say it’s time. Heal those bound by bitterness and set them free by Your power. In Jesus’ name we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#DoYouWantToBeHealed

“To every creation, there is an imitation. To every reality, there is a fantasy.”

From the very beginning, God spoke life into existence, and immediately the enemy sought to counterfeit it. In Genesis, God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect garden—but the serpent offered a false version of wisdom. That’s the pattern: God creates truth, the enemy manufactures a lie that looks close enough to fool the unfocused.

Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Not everything that glitters is gold, and not every opportunity is God’s will. Some “doors” are painted to look open but lead to chains, while others require faith to walk through because they look too small for the miracle behind them.

The world will offer imitations of joy, peace, love, and purpose—but they are always shallow, temporary, and costly to your soul. God’s version is eternal, deeply rooted, and backed by His promise. That’s why discernment is key. The closer you stay to the Creator, the easier it is to spot the counterfeit.

So Beloved, don’t settle for fantasy when you’ve been promised reality. Don’t trade God’s best for the enemy’s almost. What God creates, no imitation can compete with.

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for being the true Creator of every good thing in my life. Give me eyes to see the difference between what is from You and what is a distraction. Help me walk in truth, reject the counterfeit, and embrace the life You intended for me. In Jesus’ name, we pray, believe, receive, and praise. Amen.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#GlitterIsntAlwaysGold