Join the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge! Break free from negativity, boost positivity, and transform your life with daily support.
Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca . Learn more about the 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge to Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind. at https://revtrev.link/fast
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Announcing the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge
Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.
Anyone can do it. Every Christian should do it.
Are you tired of negativity clouding your days? Ready for a brighter, lighter life? This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first-ever Negativity Fast—a journey that’s helped over 10,000 people break free from negative patterns and experience genuine change.
The Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge is back, better than ever. Whether you’re a veteran of past fasts or just hearing about it, there’s never been a better time to focus on what matters: mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness.
How the Negativity Fast Challenge Started
Twenty years ago, an idea sparked during a church service:
“What if we dedicated 40 days to overcoming negativity?”
We started with daily devotionals delivered by email. The response was overwhelming—people experienced real transformation!
Since then, the challenge has grown into a movement, with books, courses, coaching, and more. After running a 70-Day Gratitude Challenge, it was clear: the Negativity Fast needed an upgrade.
That’s how the new challenge was born:
Be Mindful
Be Grateful
Be Kind
Why the Negativity Fast Challenge Works
Anyone can do it. Every Christian should do it.
Whether you’re Christian or not, these daily practices are universal. You can do this with your family, friends, neighbours, or coworkers. There’s even a Faith Edition and an Open Edition—so you can choose what fits your circle.
What’s Included?
Mindfulness:
Open Edition: Eight empowering statements to start your day (inspired by Mel Robbins).
Faith Edition: A morning prayer to set your focus.
Gratitude:
Daily prompts help you recognize and express thankfulness. Studies prove feeling gratitude leads to real life change.
Kindness:
A simple strategy: In the first 30 seconds of every conversation, say something you appreciate about the other person.
Faith Edition: Ask the Holy Spirit what He loves about them—and share it.
Remember everyone deserves to be seen, appreciated, and known.
Free Resources
Download your Negativity Fast Challenge Bookmark for FREE:
Choose Faith Edition or Open Edition (or use both!)
Connect with community or join group coaching if you want deeper transformation.
Final Encouragement
Anyone can be mindful. Anyone can be grateful. Anyone can be kind. Every Christian should be all three. I’ve created resources for everyone—so you can do this challenge with anyone.
I’m here to help. Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.
Listen to My Story and Find 6 essential reminders to help you stay strong, focused, and motivated during tough times. Find hope and keep going even when life gets hard.
Life isn’t always easy, but you’re not alone. In this message, we’ll cover 6 things to never forget when things get tough. Learn how to stay positive, build resilience, and find motivation when you need it most. Whether you’re facing challenges or just need a boost, these reminders will help you keep going and grow stronger every day. Subscribe for more tips on personal growth and overcoming life’s obstacles!
Listen to My Story - 6 Things I Never Want to Forget
I’m going to do something I don’t think I’ve ever done. Every time I speak I ask God for His words for His people. When I did that to prepare for this message, I felt him leading me to share my story.
I will often share my stories when I speak. I think I’ve only shared my story once…and I was a lot younger then so you get a longer version.
I don’t want to think this is all about me. This needs to be my story about being impacted by God. I want to prompt you to think about your own story with God. Our stories connect us and I so look forward to hearing more of your stories.
Before we begin:
Can I pray?
My name is Trevor Lund. I’m the second child—oldest male of four siblings. Janine is the youngest. Shawn is the younger than me, then our oldest sister Jacqueline is married to Dan and they have 3 adult kids.
Being Anonymous
Growing up, our dad was the “New pastor” in a small town, even though he was there for 16 years when I left for university.
He also taught at the High School and everybody knew Mom, so whenever I got into trouble the news got home before I did. I feel like I got into trouble regularly. I’ve never been one to avoid trouble.
But I was tired of everyone knowing my business and decided I wanted to be anonymous when I entered university. I was accepted for early admittance and got my student code. I told all my friends they needed to call me by it, so I’d get used to being anonymous. I’d introduce myself “I’m 30-42-68, my friends call me 30”.
My English teacher called my name in class one day and after I ignored her for a while I responded “I’m 30-42-68 my friends call me 30”. “Well 30…” she started. I interrupted, “You can call me 30-42-68”. “Trevor!” My wife has that same tone since I’ve gotten hearing aids.
I wanted to be anonymous and most of the first year I was anonymous.
And I didn’t hear anything positive about religion. If anyone said anything about Christianity it was negative. The most positive thing I heard was that “religion slows down society so that it can accept the inevitable change so it doesn’t happen so quickly.”
Questioning my faith
So I think it’s perfectly natural I questioned my faith.
The first question I asked was “Is God real?”
But I had seen too many miracles and had too many encounters with the living God growing up to not quickly move on from that question. I knew there is a God.
The next question was “Is the God I was taught the real God?”
I mean, I knew I might have some things wrong. I remember—it must have been when I was two or three—I learned the verse “Be sure your sin will find you out” and I understood that to mean, if I was going to do something wrong, I’d better be sure to get away with it. It may explain my grade school years.
I made a decision to study the religions of the world. I’d studied their history and theology. I read books, went to talks and lectures and talked with people who were Hindu and Muslim and Buddhist and Wiccan and Jewish and Taoist. I studied ancient Egyptian, Sumarian, Greek and Roman Pantheon and Norse and Celt folklore.
But I also decided to read the Bible as I studied other religions. I wanted to know what the Bible actually said.
I read the Bible more and had more autodidactic studies than I spent time in my coursework…and I have the marks that first year to prove it.
And I ended up deciding that if Jesus didn’t die and rise again, I would be a Taoist. But since he did, my faith was my faith, not just my parent’s faith.
After my first year
After the first year of university I thought I would go to Bible College—not to be a pastor, but to goof off and have fun. I gave a speech at an awards ceremony when I was in grade 10 and someone from the town came up and told me, “you’ll be a [expletive] good pastor like your dad one day.” To which I responded, “Don’t wish that curse on me.”
My plan was to work all summer and save up for the new HMS Missions Class they were starting up. Who wouldn’t want to got on a mission’s trip?
But I blew my knee out playing slo pitch against the nurses and I couldn’t work all summer. If you’re going to injure yourself, do it around nurses. I had excellent care before the ambulance came.
My story about my summer
So since I couldn’t work I decided I’d be a counsellor to summer camp for another year. I had spent a week each summer doing that since I was 13.
I didn’t tell the camp director I was in brace. They didn’t tell me they were giving me 12 12-year olds who were all pastor’s kids, deacon’s kids and/or convicted felons.
It was an interesting week.
The second last night service focussed on divine healing. I wasn’t seeking God for healing at this point. When I first blew out my knee I asked him for healing, but He gave me deep sense that I didn’t need to worry about next year and this summer was a gift. He was taking care of things.
So I went up for prayer not really to be healed but to show these 12 12-year olds that I believed in healing. The speaker prayed for me then stepped back and said “God has been trying to say something to you. You need to hear it.”
And then I heard the audible voice of God say “You’re a pastor”.
And I was sprawled on the floor. I felt so insignificant and so highly valued. I was in awe of God in a way I had never been in awe of God before.
Two hours later I was sitting on the front pew and the camp director came up and asked me I knew where my 12-12 year olds were. Apparently I lost them. Nothing burned down, no police had to be called. I found them fairly quickly.
Not wanting to leave my brain
I couldn’t work that summer, so I didn’t have money to do a missions trip, but I could still get a student loan to continue at University.
I think if I would have left university at that point I wouldn’t come back. And I would have missed so much. I would have had doubts that an intellectual approach to experiencing God was possible.
I had seen far too many examples where they were at odds. When I was 13 or 14 years old I questioned one travelling minister over something he said in the service. He was blaming people for their lack of faith for not being healed. I pointed out Jesus blamed the disciples lack of faith when they couldn’t do miracles. He went bright red and stuck his finger in my face across the dinner table and said, “I’ve seen the dead raised, you don’t question me boy.”
I told God then, “If I have to leave my brain at the door to see miracles, I don’t want to see miracles.”
You don’t need to leave your brain at the door to see miracles.
Returning the University not wanting to be Anonymous
I went back to university and wanted to connect. I hung out with students who were so confident in what they believed and realized I was so much more confident in what I believed. I started questioning the profs who promoted anti-Christ sentiment.
I remember one time I said in class, “I’m a Christian and what you said isn’t right.” She mocked me, “Was anyone else offended?” I turned around and two-thirds of the class put up their hands and I asked the room: “Where were you 2 minutes ago?”
My Story about Meeting Karen
I joined the Pentecostal Campus Ministries and met Karen when her and Shirley started coming. When we started dating I started coming to this church with her. She had her salvation experience here and her grandparents were coming.
Plans after university
While we were here, I found out there were seminaries that still taught people to love God. I thought you went to seminaries to be talked out of your faith. I decided to build on my undergrad and get a Masters. And since things going well with Karen I figured I could stay close to home and went to Edmonton Baptist Seminary (now Taylor).
Placement for Seminary
I knew I needed a placement when I was in seminary. And I think my mom talked to my uncle Gordon. He called me and asked me to consider joining him at his church—if things worked out.
He called me just before our wedding. If all of these improbable things happened, he would be looking for a new youth guy. I didn’t give it any thought. I think Karen and I prayed once about it. I told Karen all those things won’t likely happen. I needed a placement while I was in Seminary, but we’d work that out sometime.
My Story how I went to My first church
When we just returned from our honeymoon and I got a call from Gordon. “Do you want to come meet the elders?” “Sure”, I said. “Why?” The improbable happened and he’d like me to apply.
I was the youth guy, then youth pastor then associate Pastor, then after Gordon retired and I graduated from Seminary I was eventually asked to be the Senior pastor.
Walking oxymoron
Became a senior pastor at age 24. A walking oxymoron. I had 7 retired pastor and missionaries couples in my church that had more than double the ministry experience than I had experience at being alive.
I knew I didn’t know anything and that was what helped me.
My Story about how I prayed a lot
It made me pray… a lot. My Elders supported me to do this. Everyone knew my office hours started at 10:00. I could be there at 6:00 and pray for 4 hours before anyone came to see me.
Both our kids were born when we were there. When our kids were old enough for school I’d come in earlier, go home to help them get up and take them to school and come back and then still have more time to pray.
The church grew. People could belong before they believed. We had so many baptisms. It was so much fun. We literally had a meeting to discuss what to do with all the money we had coming in. In budgets, baptisms and butts—the key metrics every church worries about and very few talk about—we were ticking every box and running on full cylinders.
Not all rainbows and sunshine
Don’t get me wrong, there were a LOT of problems…but they were usually fun problems to have - absolutely impossible things that God had to solve, we couldn’t. Sometimes the problems were people who should have known better. Those weren’t as much fun.
Prophetic breaking
One Sunday, a daughter of the grandmothers of the congregation was visiting her mom and after the service she came to me and was surprised I spoke so good. Apparently the first time she heard me speak I wasn’t as impressive.
She could have been there the time I think I fell asleep during my own sermons —I was a young father and thought sleep was for wimps…and I might have been a little boring.
Anyway, she told me she saw a vision as I was speaking. She saw me sitting at a table writing and the pages of the I wrote flew off the table and went around the world and touched the shackles people were wearing and the chains they were burdened with broke off.
What she didn’t know was that she broke something over me.
I always enjoyed going into bookstores and libraries but I was getting more and more overwhelmed with my inability to add anything meaningful to the conversation. I was almost having panic attacks in book stores. “What could I possibly contribute?” But her prophetic words broke that off of me and I decided I needed to learn how to write. So I took classes and joined writing groups and went to writer’s workshops and writing retreats and I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote.
God pulling at my heart
And soon God was pulling at my heart.
He had told Karen and I both—before we were married—that the bulk of our ministry would be outside Canada. Since I was better with dead languages than I was learning spoken languages I figured it would be somewhere in the English speaking world.
I made connections in England, the US, Australia South Africa and New Zealand over the years. And New Zealand really pulled at my heart. I was offered a church in a university town there. I fell in love with the people of the town, but felt God say it wasn’t time and when it would be time, our only reason would be obedience.
But with my heart in two continents, my patience was stretched thin and one day I got angry when I was the only one to put the chairs away. I pulled hard to lift a rather large stack of chairs and heard a pop in my back.
My Story about Needing surgery
My back needed surgery. With our health system in Canada, I couldn’t see the surgeon for a year and a half.
The pain was so intense one day that I couldn’t take it. All I could do was stand on a stair with my right leg dangling in the air. I was there for hours. When Karen got home she took me to the hospital. They gave me a shot of morphine and said they could do nothing else unless it was an emergency. I would know it was an emergency if I lost control of my bowels. The doctor put me on medication to manage the pain.
He gave me muscle relaxants to stop the back spasms and warned me, “They'll make you sleepy.” I was on anti-inflammatory medication to bring down the swelling and was warned to stay away from ibuprofen as the anti-inflammatory meds could eat a hole through my stomach. I was put on a narcotic for pain relief. They worked great, but I was cautioned, “Just don’t become addicted.” Finally I was put on anti–epileptic medication to deaden the nerve receptors. This was my favourite warning: “These could possibly could shut down the white blood cells, so see your doctor bi-weekly for blood work and to check for the signs of an ulcer.”
My epiphany
It was during this time I had an epiphany - and no, I don’t think it was the drugs. I thought about my doctors who were treating my symptoms. Baring a miracle —unless the cause of my pain was dealt with through surgery — the treatments that were meant to manage the symptoms could do me much more harm. The epiphany was that we were doing the same thing in the church. We were treating the symptoms, not dealing with the core issues—and were likely doing more harm than good. I didn’t want to do that any more. I wanted to give people real help to deal with the core issues.
I needed to learn how to get to the root of issue and help people with practical and real help.
How things Sped up
My father-in-law installed MRI’s and got me into one right away— I think I bumped some animals that used the unused MRI at night. That meant the specialist could see me and there was a cancelation so he could do the surgery a lot sooner. I had the MRI, the meeting with the surgeon, the surgery and fully recovered before the MRI I was scheduled for was originally booked for.
That was an answer to prayer for Karen. She told God she’d agree to what God was stirring in me after being there for 10 years.
Laying everything on the altar
I felt God asked us to leave our family, friends, finances and future on the altar and leave to go to New Zealand.
So we announced our resignation and told them we’d be leaving in 6 months.
Then my Dad was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS and given about 18 months to live.
I could have told the church I was staying. They could have voted on me staying if they wanted. But I spoke with Dad and he said “You need to obey what God is telling you to do.”
My Story about Leaving with The wrong attitude
I went to New Zealand with the wrong attitude. I went demanding something from God. If I gave up so much—I knew obedience came with a blessing—I wanted open heaven.
God wanted to teach me faith.
I don’t know what open heaven means to you, but January 1, 2005 we landed in Auckland New Zealand—a city at that time of just over a million people. We arrived at 6:00 AM and everyone was at the beach.
We had a family friend come from the beach, drive us to his house down an empty 8 lane highway. I was waiting for tumble weeds to tumble on by. He set us up to sleep off the jet lag and gave us directions to join them at the beach in a couple of days. It wasn’t what I expected as open heaven.
And yet I think we did have open heaven over us.
Once we were settled, Karen and I were going to separate prayer times so one of us could be with the kids. I went in the morning to this church who prayed scripture with music and it was always amazing. Karen went in the evening with some people who connected with us in our church.
But eventually we wanted to pray together so we opened our home and invited people to come. One of us would be putting the kids down and the other would answer the door. We always had powerful and prophetic prayer times and people would leave and we’d ask each other how the other knew them. We each thought the other knew who was there and it turns out we often prayed with strangers. I think that was a bit of open heaven.
When I felt God Speak The Second Call
I started my first novel in New Zealand. I wrote advertising features for the local paper. I was out on a walk with God one day lamenting my situation and asking why he had me do it and I sensed his voice again. It stopped me in my tracks. I felt him say, “I’ve given you time to write. Why are you doing everything but?”
So I finished the first draft of my novel and after consulting with people of great faith—who I thought would tell us to stiff upper lip it for the sake of being faithful— all of them came back with the same answer. We needed to be with family. We came home to be with family after only 9 months.
Coming home
I came home and helped my dad finish his book before he died. In the process of helping him publish it, I realized there had got to be a better way to facilitate self-publishing. I started a publishing company on a credit card. Never make a major life decision when you’re grieving. Never start a business on a credit card.
Experiencing Rejection
The other thing going on when we returned was we faced rejection on what seems like every front. I was told by a pastor friend I was expecting to work with, “You have too much vision.” A potential Christian employer decided, “You’d be too evangelistic.” A former congregation member said, “What happened? You used to be someone.” Friends told us, “You talk too much about weird stuff.”
I had a book publisher call me up at tell me my novel would lead people to hell. What book publishers has time to call up an author on their slush pile? I tell you, we were getting rejection from everywhere.
I went for one interview at a local paper and the guy I’d be replacing asked me “Did I hear you on the radio last night” I told him I did some interviews for my books a little earlier, but I didn’t do anything live local yesterday. “No that was you. I heard you. That’s what you should be doing! You don’t want to work here.” That was probably the best rejection I had.
I had a pastor call me in to ask why I feel I can use Revtrev.com as my domain as I’m not paid to be a pastor. I said being paid as a pastor doesn’t make you a pastor. Pastor isn’t a title, it’s a gift Jesus gives the church. I then told him “God’s gift and his call are irrevocable and I have more people interacting with my website every day than I’ve ever spoken to in one location…and that includes yours.”
What do you do with all that?
My Story about Sucking it up
God is the potter, I’m the clay. I’m the work of His hands. What pot can tell the potter it’s not being made right?
I didn’t know I just piling it all on and mourning the death of my dad and I was oblivious to how angry I was at God.
Bill Johnson
But I heard I message from Bill Johnson who was mourning the death of his dad around the same time. They had seen so many people healed from cancer and his dad died of cancer. He was processing things on a different level than was possible for me.
He told the story of John the Baptist being in prison and sending his disciples to Jesus to ask he was the one or if they should wait for another. The spirit of the Lord was on Jesus to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and his cousin was in jail. He wanted to know if he had gotten it wrong. And Jesus told his disciples to tell John what they saw and “Blessed is he who is unoffended because of me. Bill taught me I could be offended at God.
And it took me out of a funk. Well, confession and repentance took me out of the funk.
If you live offended to God you need to confess and repent. Your peace is more important than your vindication.
My Story about the Negativity Fast
When we came home and we attended a church plant with family and friends from our first church. One day a friend came up to me to tell me she saw a vision of a wave of negativity crashing into the city and overwhelming this church. I told her to go talk to the pastor.
But during worship I thought of the word “Negativity Fast” and googled it. And I became angry that there was no Christian website encouraging people to not be negative. It was all relational gurus and Buddhists monks that cornered the market. So during the break I went up to the pastor—who was talking to my friend and gave him a plan to run a negativity fast for the church. He was more than happy to let me do it.
2006 ran my first Negativity Fast. Next year is the 20th anniversary of the first one. I have had over 10,000 people go through the material.
My greatest ministry happens outside of Canada. The internet wasn’t invented when God told me my greatest ministry would happen outside Canada.
The problem of finding success
Nobody ever tells you about being a success online. I had 10,000 people sign up for my email list and my email list provider wanted to charge me tens of thousands of dollars to send emails. I couldn’t afford that. My podcast had 5,000+ downloads every episode—this was back when nobody had a podcast—RevTrev Radio was one of the first. I was storing the episodes on Amazon AWS and its price for downloads quickly became untenable for me. I had so many people coming to my website that it was constantly crashing. I had Turkish Muslims Cyber Jihadist take over a site - Don’t think you’re doing effect ministry online unless you’ve had Turkish Muslim Cyber Jihadist take out a site—or you can lose a facebook page with 12,000 subscribers to hacker. Then I think you can say you’re doing ministry online. That’s happened to me too. BTW our church website has been hacked, but we’ve tightened up security on it.
At the time I didn’t have any books or courses or coaching to sell to offset those costs.
He was teaching me hope
Back in those day, Twitter was a conversation and miracles were happening on it. People would send me things to pray for. I’d tweet out a quick prayer. Answers would happen. I would have people ask me questions. And someone had a question that I didn’t know how to answer. I asked Karen about it and she knew the answer she said - “You need to teach her how to hope.”
So I wrote a book - Hope in Transition and realized that through everything we had gone through God was teaching me how to hope.
Doors kept closing
But doors kept on closing.
Eventually—I wanted to be useful—so we returned to this church because Karen’s grandparents were coming and I thought at least I could drive them. But Stan gave me opportunity to preach. When every door was forcibly slammed in my face. We came back and it helped our healing.
Stan opened the door then other doors were opened.
My second church
I was called by a friend and asked if I would consider coming to their church. It was started by another friend and… As I prayed about it I felt God tell me if I went, He would teach me about love.
It was during this time I feel he entrusted me with the seed of the message to help people
Live LIGHT which now means to Live…
…Loved
…Insightful
…Grateful
…Hopeful
…Trusting
To Live LOVED was what kicked it off.
It was a hurting church and hurt people hurt people. And we saw some baptisms and saw some good things happen, but our kids saw hypocrisy in the church that I’m afraid that’s become an excuse for them.
And we left after 4 years, just before that church closed its doors.
Returning to Highway
We returned to this church. We needed more healing.
Eventually I was speaking here and doing some speaking and seminars at other churches.
My Story about the menacing voice
I remember the Sunday I spoke on practicing the Sabbath. I said something extemporaneously like “If you don’t take a regular sabbath, a sabbath can take you. It happened to ancient Israel, what makes you think it won’t happen to you.”
I sat down after the message and felt a menacing voice say, “That’s the last sermon you’re ever going to preach.”
And I don’t have time for menacing voices. Jesus didn’t argue with demons, I don’t give them the time of day. That was the twelfth time I spoke in 14 weeks. My books were selling and people were promoting my books. By the grace of God, I’m not going to fall. Why should I worry?
My Story - a bit - about the Heart attack
But a week later I had a heart attack.
I didn’t go in for another week, but that’s a long story you don’t need to hear right now. Just don’t do what I did.
And as I recovered in hospital I remembered that voice and it screamed in my head.
Ongoing health
Since the heart attack, I’ve had two stents put in and surgery for two types of carcinoma. I’ve had AFIB and Cardiac Ablation surgery, I am being treated for fibromyalgia. I’ve lost a range of frequencies in my hearing, so I wear hearing aids. My arms got too short and font on phones only get so big so I have to wear readers.
But God…
But I’ve also had an atheist grab me and ask me to pray so she can have my peace. I’ve had a nurse tell me “you’re far too joyful for someone in this situation.” I’ve been able to tell people about the hope that I have in Jesus.
I’ve learned I can create safe space for people to self express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgment criticism and condemnation.
And I’ve seen miracles. Miracles when I’m the only one to have faith, miracles when friends of the one who needs prayer are the ones who have the faith. And miracles when I have absolutely no faith.
I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I’ve been through the fire and not been burned. Through the deep water and not drowned. Through the rushing water and have not been overwhelmed. He has been good to me. By the grace of God I am who I am and His grace to me was not without effect.
6 Things I Never Want to Forget
And in all of that and because of all of that was there are 6 things I never want to forget.
All of us have gone through the fire. The good news is He has brought you through. The sad news is you’re still in a world that has yet to be redeemed, surrounded by people who are at best being redeemed, and you have an enemy that comes to steal kill and destroy. So what do you do when you get that phone call that drops you to your knees?
You’re going to need to know how to ENDURE. How can you endure whatever trials come your way?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
This is based on the first tool I ever created with an acronym. I’ve had to tweak it because God has been reminding me of one more thing I never want to forget.
How to ENDURE Tool
E — Ever remember to never
E — Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy because Jesus came to give us life and have it to the full. John 10:10
Story - Living offended at God.
Women in seminar…
Deal with the lies you’re believing as truth. Get to the root, don’t just treat the symptoms. Our emotions show us what we truly believe. Let Holy Spirit replace the lies you believe with the truth He reveals. You can feel like you’ve forgiven. You can have peace at all times and in every situation.
Am I giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy?
N — Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline
N — Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline (Hebrews 12:7-11) knowing He is a Good Father and is working all things together for good. Romans 8:28
Story - saints overcome. By the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony
You’ve heard my story, I want to hear your story. You have been through the fire…it is by the word of your testimony that you overcome.
Am I treating all hardship as disciple?
D — Don’t ever ignore that the God of all hope
D — Don’t ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in Him, so I can overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Nothing is more important than your peace. Peace is the emotion that is to rule our hearts.
I’ve had too many Christians too many times tell me they are trusting God but just can’t stop worrying. Show me your peace and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Show me your joy and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Show me your hope and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Your emotions show you what you actually believe. If you don’t have peace and hope and joy, go back to the last place you had them. Where did you lose them? Confession and repentance works wonders to get them back.
Do I overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit?
U — Understand that I can worry about nothing
U — Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thankgiving (Philippians 4:6-7), knowing that giving thanks in all circumstances is His will for me. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Story - Last year I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge. I just finished the second one last week. Every day for 70-Days I decide to give thanks, feel grateful for what I decide to give thanks for and show appreciation for what I feel gratitude for. That’s giving thanks with your whole heart. We don’t learn habits in 21 days but in 3 sets of 21 or 63-70 days the neural pathways realign to form a habit. In 70 days you realign your brain so you can give thanks at all times…and that’s God’s will for you.
Do I worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving?
R — Remember to cast all my cares upon him
R — Remember to cast all my cares upon him, because he cares for me (1 Peter 5:7) and to never leave a time of prayer without exchanging my problems for His peace.
After my Gratitude Challenge last year I felt God calling me to calling me to seek him, I didn’t know what that would look like with my current reality.
It ended up doing an extended prayer and bible and fellowship with Holy Spirit time every day. And I keep track to bring all my requests to him and remember all the answers to prayer. Look… my God answers my prayers. Worry about nothing. Pray about everything with thanksgiving…
Do I exchange my problems for His peace?
E — Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness
E — Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness, along with all wisdom and understanding (Galatians 6:8) so everything is figureoutable.
I don’t know what lies ahead. But I know He’s already there. I know I can trust him to prove himself good. I know he not only prompts me to do his will He empowers me to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. I know his favour is on me and His blessings overwhelm me.
Even though in this world I will have trouble, I take heart knowing he’s overcome the world.
Do I believe He has showered me with kindness and all wisdom and understanding?
My Story Conclusion
That’s my story and that’s 6 things I never want to forget. I know I must ENDURE and encourage you to do the same.
I don’t know what impossible situations you are facing. I don’t know what lies you’re believing. I don’t know if you feel rejected or forgotten or alone, or if you’re dealing with health issues or have been diagnosed with something scary. But I want you know God is for you and since He’s for you who can be against you?
He is going to finish the good work he started in you. He rejoices over you with singing and quiets you with His love. I want you to be encouraged today. I want your courage to arise.
Blessings
Will you stand with me. It’s time for a blessing.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” —Numbers 6:24–26
Discover how gratitude can spark life transformation! Join Day 14 of our Gratitude Challenge and see positive changes unfold in your daily routine.
Welcome to Day 14 of the Gratitude Challenge! Today’s focus is on life transformation through daily gratitude practices. Discover simple steps to shift your mindset, embrace positivity, and start your journey of personal growth. Whether you’re new to gratitude journaling or looking for inspiration to improve your wellbeing, this video will help you unlock lasting change. Subscribe for more daily gratitude tips and join our supportive community!
Every day for 70 days I’m going to give thanks with my whole heart. That means I’m going to decide to give thanks, feel gratitude and show appreciation for what I feel gratitude for. And I invite you to join me.
Read Gratitude Challenge Day 14 - Life Transformation
Gratitude Challenge Day 14 – Life Transformation
Have you ever wondered if a simple gratitude challenge could truly spark life transformation? If you’ve made it to Day 14 of your gratitude journey, you’re likely already sensing changes in your heart and mindset. Today, let's focus on how practicing gratitude—intentionally and consistently—not only shifts your perspective but also aligns your life more closely with God’s will.
What is a Gratitude Challenge?
A gratitude challenge is a daily practice where you intentionally identify and express thankfulness for specific blessings. This simple act, rooted in Scripture, can lead to profound spiritual and emotional benefits.
Related keywords: thankful heart, Christian living, spiritual growth
How Gratitude Transforms Your Life
1. Deepens Your Relationship with God
When you pause each day to thank God for His goodness, you’re following the biblical call: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1
Daily gratitude cultivates intimacy with God.
It reminds you that every good gift is from Him (James 1:17).
2. Changes Your Perspective
Gratitude doesn’t ignore life’s challenges, but it does help you see God’s hand at work—even in hardship.
You become more resilient, focusing on blessings rather than setbacks.
You start to notice God’s faithfulness in daily life.
3. Strengthens Christian Community
Sharing gratitude encourages others and builds up the Body of Christ.
Share your gratitude list with friends or your small group.
Encourage one another, as we’re called to do (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Common Questions About the Gratitude Challenge
Why is gratitude so powerful in Christian living?
Gratitude redirects our focus from what we lack to what God has provided. It’s an act of obedience (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and a way to honor God’s sovereignty.
How can I keep my gratitude practice fresh?
Try these ideas:
Write a daily gratitude journal.
Pray prayers of thanksgiving before meals or bedtime.
Share one thing you’re grateful for each day with someone.
What if I have trouble feeling grateful?
Start small. Thank God for basic blessings: breath, food, shelter, relationships. The more you practice, the more you’ll notice His grace.
Quick Tips for Day 14
List three blessings from the past week.
Read Psalm 136 and reflect on God’s enduring love.
Encourage someone today with a note of gratitude.
Conclusion: Let Gratitude Transform Your Faith
Life transformation isn’t instant; it’s the result of steady steps, like those you’re taking in this gratitude challenge. As you continue, remember Paul’s words: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15
Embrace gratitude. Watch God transform your life—one thankful day at a time.
Ready to take the next step? Share what you’re grateful for in the comments below, subscribe for more inspiration, or pass this post along to someone who needs encouragement today!
Today’s 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Question
How can I maintain a gratitude habit after 70 days?
Maintaining a gratitude habit after completing the 70 Day Gratitude Challenge can be a rewarding endeavour. Here are some effective strategies to help you continue this practice:
7 Ways to Keep the Gratitude Challenge Flowing
Set a Daily Reminder: Establish a specific time each day for your gratitude practice. Use reminders on your phone or calendar to keep you accountable. Source: Psychology Today - How to Practice Gratitude Daily
Keep a Gratitude Journal: Continue writing in your gratitude journal, even if it's just a few lines each day. Documenting your thoughts can reinforce the habit.Source: Harvard Health Publishing - Keeping a Gratitude Journal
Create a Gratitude Ritual: Incorporate gratitude into your daily routine, such as during breakfast, before bed, or while commuting. Making it a ritual can help it feel more natural. Source: Greater Good Science Center - How to Cultivate Gratitude
Use Prompts: Keep a list of gratitude prompts handy to inspire your reflections. You can choose one each day or week to guide your thoughts. Source: Positive Psychology - 55 Gratitude Prompts
Share with Others: Join or form a group where you can share gratitude experiences with friends or family. Discussing what you're grateful for can strengthen your commitment. Source: Mindful - The Benefits of Sharing Gratitude
Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness techniques to enhance your awareness of gratitude. Take moments throughout the day to pause and reflect on what you appreciate. Source: Mindful - Mindfulness and Gratitude
Mix It Up: Try different methods of expressing gratitude, such as writing letters to people you appreciate, creating gratitude jars, or using apps designed for tracking gratitude. Source: Verywell Mind - 10 Ways to Practice Gratitude
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you can successfully maintain a gratitude habit beyond the 70-day challenge, leading to ongoing benefits for your mental and emotional well-being.
How I can help you do a 70-Day Gratitude Challenge
Live LIGHT Gratitude Journal - Printable
Looking to deepen your gratitude practice and see real changes in your daily outlook? The Live LIGHT Gratitude Journal - Printable is designed to guide you through 70 days of morning and evening prompts, helping you focus on thankfulness and positivity. Track your progress, reflect on milestones, and use the built-in mood tracker to monitor your growth. Whether you join the Course + Community + Clarity for full access or purchase the journal separately, this powerful tool makes it easy to build a lasting gratitude habit—anytime, anywhere. Get your copy today at https://revtrev.link/thanks and start experiencing the benefits of gratitude in your life! Get just the Printable Journal here: https://livelight.ca/b/yNoct
Next Steps
Check out https://revtrev.link/thanks and learn how I can help you get involved in the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge or do one on your own.
Today’s spotlight is on the Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub—the central spot for everything related to our 70-Day Challenge!
It’s packed with resources like replays of live casts, downloadable guides, and helpful articles so you can keep growing in gratitude all challenge long.
Your heart is the seat of your decisions, the seat of your emotions and the seat of your actions. So every day for 70 days—-from Friday, September 19, 2025 – Thursday November 27, 2025
Read and get the links to Explore the Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub
Looking for all things gratitude in one place? The Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub has everything you need for the 70-Day Challenge!
Find daily live cast replays, downloadable resources, helpful articles, and more—all designed to support your journey toward a more thankful life.
Whether you need quick inspiration or want to dive deeper into gratitude practices, the hub is here for you every step of the way.
Check in regularly for updates and new content as we move through the challenge together. Make it your go-to spot for encouragement, learning, and community connection during these transformational 70 days!
Explore the Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub
Why a Central Gratitude Resource Makes All the Difference
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to maintain a gratitude practice. With daily distractions, changing schedules, and the sheer volume of information online, many people find it hard to stay consistent with thankfulness—even when they know how powerful it is for mental health, relationships, and overall happiness. The solution? Having a single, reliable place to go for all things gratitude.
That’s why the Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub is the heart of the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge—and your go-to resource for developing lifelong habits of positivity and appreciation.
The Hub isn’t just another website or app; it’s a thoughtfully curated platform designed to support your journey every step of the way.
Learn how the Gratitude Hub can help you stay inspired, organized, and connected, whether you’re just starting or deepening your gratitude practice.
What Is the Live LIGHT Gratitude HUB?
HUB — Help • Unite • Build your gratitude
A place to get replays, resources and community support to grow your 70‑day gratitude habit.
The Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub is an all-in-one online portal where participants in the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge (and anyone interested in living more gratefully) can find every resource they need. The Hub brings together daily content, community interaction, practical tools, and ongoing support in one easy-to-access space.
Key features include:
Daily live cast replays and archives
Downloadable guides and reflection prompts
Blog highlights with fresh insights
Links to podcasts and audio inspiration
Community forums and discussion threads
Lifetime access to all resources—so you can revisit anytime
Why a Central Resource Hub Makes Gratitude Easier
1. Convenience
Instead of searching across multiple websites, email lists, or social media accounts, you have everything you need in one place. That means less time hunting for content and more time practicing gratitude.
2. Organization
The Hub is structured so you can easily find what you need—whether it’s today’s live cast replay, a past blog post on overcoming negativity, or a printable gratitude journal template.
3. Daily Motivation
The Gratitude Hub updates daily during the challenge (and continues with new content afterward), so there’s always something fresh to keep you inspired.
4. Community Connection
Forums and comment threads let you share wins, ask questions, and encourage others—making gratitude a shared experience rather than a solitary one.
5. Flexibility
Access the Hub whenever and wherever you want—early mornings, late nights, weekends, or holidays. It’s mobile friendly and always open.
How Does the Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub Work?
When you join the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge (or simply sign up for Hub access), you’ll receive login details for your personal dashboard. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Home Dashboard: Quick links to today’s featured content.
Live Cast Replay Library: Every broadcast available on-demand.
Blog Highlights Section: Daily posts with actionable tips.
Podcast Archive: Listen to episodes focused on gratitude wherever you are.
Community Space: Connect with others through forums or private messaging.
Event Calendar: Track upcoming workshops, group coaching sessions, and special events.
All content is searchable and categorized by topic, making it easy to dive deep into areas that interest you most.
Everything is available whenever you need it—no pressure or deadlines.
How the Gratitude Hub Supports Habit Building
Research shows that lasting habits are formed through repetition, accountability, and variety. The Live LIGHT Gratitude HUB incorporates each of these:
Accountability: Community forums create gentle reminders and encouragement.
Variety: Different formats (video, audio, text, downloadable guides) cater to all learning styles.
Tracking Progress: Many resources include checklists or journaling prompts so you can see how far you’ve come.
Over time, this structure helps turn gratitude from an occasional thought into a way of life.
Who Should Use the Gratitude Hub?
The Hub is perfect for:
Anyone participating in the 70-Day Challenge
People who want ongoing support after finishing the challenge
Individuals new to gratitude practice looking for guidance
Those seeking faith-based encouragement or spiritual growth
Leaders wanting to foster gratitude at work or home
Anyone who prefers self-paced learning with flexible access
No prior experience is needed; resources are designed to support all levels.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Gratitude Hub
Q: Is there a cost for using the Hub? Yes. You need to either purchase the Course + Community OR the Course + Community + Clarity package. Details are at revtrev.link/thanks.
Q: What if I miss days? No worries! All content is archived so you can catch up anytime.
Q: How do I interact with others? Use forums, comments under blog posts, or private messaging—community features are built in. Connect in the Live LIGHT Cascade Chalet anytime or during scheduled events.
Q: Is the content faith-based only? While rooted in biblical principles like Psalm 138:1, most resources focus on universal themes of positivity and thankfulness.
Q: Can I access everything from my phone? Yes—the Gratitude Hub is designed to be mobile friendly.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Gratitude Hub Experience
Set a daily reminder to check in—even five minutes is enough
Explore different formats (video, audio, text) to see what works best
Engage in forums; share your reflections and encourage others
Download templates and guides for offline use
Celebrate milestones (day 21, halfway point, completion) using tracking tools
Bookmark favourite resources to revisit when you need extra encouragement
Why a Centralized Resource Is So Valuable
Without a central hub, it’s easy for even the most committed person to lose momentum. Messages get buried in email inboxes; videos are scattered across platforms; old blog posts get lost in archives. The Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub solves these problems by:
Keeping you organized and motivated
Streamlining your learning process
Providing regular updates so you never fall behind
Making community connection simple and rewarding
This structure helps gratitude become second nature—not just during a challenge but for life.
Pairing the Hub With Other Challenge Activities
For maximum growth:
Use daily blog highlights for reflection before or after live casts
Listen to podcast episodes on-the-go for extra motivation
Attend weekly meetings the the Cascade Chalet and listed on the event calendar for deeper insight
Connect in forums to share wins and challenges
Download guides for journaling or sharing with friends/family
Mixing these approaches helps reinforce new habits from all angles.
How to use the Hub
Let’s imagine how three different users might benefit:
Anna is busy with work and family. She checks the daily live cast replay after dinner each night and uses downloadable prompts for quick journaling before bed. She likes reading blogs on weekends for deeper reflection.
Carlos prefers audio learning. He listens to podcast episodes during his morning run and joins group coaching sessions every other week. Community forums help him engage with others when he has questions about gratitude in tough times.
Priya enjoys connecting with others. She participates in discussion threads after reading blog highlights and attends virtual events listed on the calendar. Lifetime Chalet access means she returns even after finishing the challenge whenever she needs encouragement.
All three stay motivated because everything they need is easy to find—all within one supportive hub.
Final Thoughts: Make Gratitude Simple & Sustainable
Building a gratitude habit should be straightforward—not stressful. The Live LIGHT Gratitude Hub puts all your resources in one place so you can focus on what matters: noticing blessings, reflecting deeply, connecting with others, and growing in positivity day by day.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your thankfulness practice further, this central portal is designed with you in mind. With daily updates, flexible access, community support, and lifetime resources at your fingertips, there’s no better way to make gratitude part of your everyday life.
Ready to explore your go-to resource?
Visit revtrev.link/thanks and discover how easy—and enjoyable—gratitude can be when everything is right at your fingertips!
Read the Notes for What does God with us mean for our everyday ordinary lives?
Let’s read the Christmas story from Mathew:
Matthew 1:18-25 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
“and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.
God with us
I don’t think we realize how offensive that is to some people. - How can the holy be so profaned?
I know we don’t always grasp how significant that is for us. GOD - the creator of all the universes, outside of time and space, the author of all things, the first and the last. GOD is with us.
Today I want to to know GOD is with us...
and I want to to be brave enough to ask yourself - “am I with him?”
God is with us…am I with him?
Can I pray?
What does “GOD is with us” mean for us in our everyday ordinary lives?
How often do you take the time to be in Awe of God?
It could be in worship.
Maybe when you’re in nature?
Perhaps it’ when a new born grasped your finger.
It can happen when your deep in study of anything in the created world.
OR when the song plays on the radio or when you read a passage you’ve read hundreds of times before.
It can sneak up on you when you’re in conversation. It should come to your mind when you’re in prayer.
When was the last time you were in awe of God?
I’ve found
The more I stay curious, the more I’m impressed with God.
The more I am thankful,
the more sense His presence.
the more I expect to meet God,
the more I experience Him.
the more I’m in the moment,
the more I’m in awe of God.
Curious people are never bored. Bored people are rarely curious.
Thankful people have hope, peace and joy. It’s because they trust in the God of hope.
Stories happen in experience.
Miracles happen in the moments.
Let’s take some time to be in Awe of God. I’ve created a tool to help us VALUE His Presence
God is with Us…am I with Him?
Marvel at the mystery
The mystery you need to marvel at is God himself.
The one who spoke the universes into being, the creator of all. The one who thought up sub atomic particles and is outside of space and time. Who thinks in ways that we can’t ever imagine. Paul reminds us…
Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
We need to see him as our father, as our friend, as as the one who sticks closer than a brother, and we’ll talk about that in a moment. All these things that we can relate to, because that's how he expresses himself to us and scripture.
But also, remember, writer of Hebrews says
Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIVUK) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’
That's the otherness of God that we need to keep in balance. That’s the otherness of God we need to embrace. The unknowable God who has made Himself known. Don’t not let that hurt your brain.
That is the GOD who is with you.
The GOD who is with you is also seen in the person of Jesus Christ. The unknowable One who has made Himself known.
Jesus says,
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 (NLT)
That’s because Jesus was the exact representation of the Father.
He only did what He saw the Father do
For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. John 6:38 New Living Translation (NLT)
He only said what He heard the Father say
I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” John 12:49-50 New Living Translation (NLT)
So let’s spend some time looking at Jesus so we can see the unknowable God who has made himself known more clearly.
How are Jesus and the Father Alike?
Jesus – Liked to Party
The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Matthew 11:19 (New Living Translation)
The Father – Rejoices Over You with Singing
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (New Living Translation)
Jesus – Loved His Friends
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:13-14 (New Living Translation)
The Father – Calls You The Apple of His Eye
Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings Psalm 17:7-8 (New International Version)
Jesus – Didn’t Come to Condemn
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (New Living Translation)
The Father – Is Not Angry with You
“Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:9-10 (New Living Translation)
Jesus – Healed All Who Were Oppressed by The Devil
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (New Living Translation)
The Father – Forgives ALL Your Sins and Heals All Your Diseases
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalm 103:2-3 (New Living Translation)
Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. He is perfect theology. If you want to know the Father, you need to know His Son.
This is the GOD who is with us.
The unknowable One who has made himself known.
He’s revealed Himself with Love and Joy and Peace and Patience and Kindness and Goodness and Faithfulness and Gentleness and Self-Control.
This is the GOD is with us…
That’s amazing and humbling and empowering
And He’s given you His Spirit…
Romans 8:15-17 "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."
GOD is with us…
We don’t only Marvel at the mystery and be in Awe…we need to embrace the mystery of what being in relationship with him means.
This is what I mean by wanting us to ask ourselves …AM I WITH HIM?
God is with us…am I with him?
TO be with Him I need to allow the marveling at the mystery lead to embracing the mystery.
What do I mean by that?
Isaiah prophecies Isaiah 60:1-3 (NIVUK) ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
If there is one thing I’ve learned during this season that we are in, it’s that we need peace and joy and hope at all times and every situation. The world needs the peace and joy and hope that’s only available to us.
God’s Peace is only available to us
When the angels announced Jesus’ birth Luke tells us:
Luke 2:13-14 (NIVUK) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
It isn’t “peace on earth” like we so often abbreviate. It’s peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests.
It’s peace for you. It’s peace for me. In the darkness Peace is the light that shines. It’s us having peace at all times and in every situation that is the brightness of our dawn that nations come to.
To have that peace, we marvel at the mystery and then embrace the mystery that is God himself. We recognize God is with us… and we do what we can to be with Him at all times and in every situation.
How do we do this? We…
Trust in the God of all Hope…
You and I are in a divine dance with the creator of all. That dance takes us to places we’re not comfortable with and entrust us with gifts we’re not able to steward without Holy Spirit’s help.
In order to trust God, we need to embrace the mystery. Three tips I have for you are:
Three tips to trust God
1. We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.
2. We need to Live Unoffended at God
3. We need to look to what He’s doing and not to what’s left undone.
Let me unpack this
1. We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.
When we're faced with situations we don’t want to be in, we often ask God why.
Far too often it's the why of accusation, not the why of searching it out.
“Why did my prayers not get answered” vs “What do you want me to learn?”
We’re promised peace that passes understanding, but we want to demand understanding.
We need to give up our right to understand so that we can have the peace that passes understanding.
What does scripture say? (Phillipians 4:6-7) Worry about nothing. Pray about everything and be thankful.
Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIVUK) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Worry about nothing. Pray about everything and be thankful.
2. Live Unoffended at God
God has never promised us that we won’t have trouble. He never said things wouldn’t go our own way. Instead Jesus said we have trouble… and in that trouble we could have peace.
John 16:33 (NIVUK) ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
We will all have seasons that don’t seem to make sense. John was in jail when Jesus was saying he came to set prisoners free. Jesus didn’t say why John was in prison, only that he’d be blessed if he didn’t get offended his life didn’t make sense to his theology.
All of us will have multiple seasons when our life doesn’t make sense to our theology. If we don’t, our understanding of God and his will is really bad. We need to embrace the mystery of God himself live unoffended with him.
3. We need to look to what He’s doing and not to what’s left undone.
Phillipians 4:8-9 (NIVUK) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
It our choice and - Holy Spirit enable us to do this - to think about the good things of God when we find ourselves in trouble. And the benefit of thinking this way and living this way is the peace God has for us.
Paul and Silas started to worship while they were in prison.
Will you praise him in the storm?
GOD is with us…am I with Him?
Do I insist on understanding and not have the peace that passes understanding?
Do I live offended at him?
Am I looking to what’s left undone?
The good news is, you can start afresh today.
You can have peace at all times and in every situation.
Marvel at the unknowable One who has made himself known.
Embrace the mystery of God when life doesn’t make sense.
Seek peace and pursue it.
May you have peace at all times and in every situation.
Conclusion…
I came across one writer who suggested that we can replace “believe in” with “embrace the mystery” in the Nicene creed. I want to read this before I close in prayer.
We Embrace the Mystery
We embrace the mystery of one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We embrace the mystery of one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We embrace the mystery of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.
We embrace the mystery of one holy universal and apostolic Church.
We embrace the mystery of one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We embrace the mystery of the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
Will you marvel at the mystery?
Will you embrace the mystery?
God is will you…will you be with him?
Can I pray?
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:17-21 (NIVUK)
What I’ve taught on Holy Spirit
Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.
