 “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:1-4, NIV One of the most profound things Jesus does after his resurrection is appear in person to an enemy. Saul is on his way to Damascus to destroy those who believe in Jesus. And Jesus meets him on the road. And what he does with Saul is extraordinary. He doesn’t rant and rave about Saul’s behaviour. He doesn’t condemn him to an eternity in hell. He simply shows Saul who he is - the risen, glorified Jesus - and leaves who he is to do the talking. I am convinced that the best way to help people to come to know Jesus is to show them who he is. Our lives always speak louder than our words. Be resilient in your witness. You are great at showing people who Jesus is. Let’s pray Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings; you have given me more than I could ever have imagined. My spirit soars when I think of your goodness to me. Thank you that my life shouts praise to you. Let it shout louder. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!
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 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121, NIV When Ian read this Psalm recently he imagined himself sitting with David having a chat and David said, “Ian you need to know that God is your true helper. He will always guide you, never letting you stumble or fail. He will never forget about you. He will always have your back.” And that spoke to me because if you know me at all you'll know I am pretty capable and self-sufficient, and it makes me very happy to be able to do things myself without needing to ask for help. But there are some things I can't do myself: I can't watch over myself when I'm asleep. My hand isn't big enough to shade me from the sun. I can't watch over my life and my coming and going. Nor can you! But God can. Part of developing resilience is understand it's in God's character - his nature - to help you. And all you need to do is look to him to do it. Let’s pray Thank you Father for watching over me, for seeing my deepest heart, my hope and dreams, concerns and frustrations. Help me to increasingly put my trust on you for our help and provision. What a good God you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  "Righteousness exalts a nation" Proverbs 14:34, NIV Righteousness is a bit of Christian jargon, but a layman’s definition would be “right standing with God.” We can’t achieve right standing with God on our own, we only become righteous by accepting what Jesus did for us on the cross. But right now, our nation needs to be aligned to the purposes of God and the only way it can do that is if it is led by people who know and love Jesus. This is not a political statement it is a faith statement. We have to be resilient enough to believe we can effect change in the hearts and minds of politicians, business owners, educators, health professionals, investors, inventors, scientists, mental health professionals, the media, even the church by praying that people find Jesus. As we draw closer to Easter we must believe in the power of the cross to transform the United Kingdom and want to see God put a new heart and a new spirit into the people of our nation. And it starts by us committing to pray. Let’s pray Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Lord, restore our nation. Convict us of our need for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13, NKJV The Jewish leaders were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John. They were not astonished by their education; they had no formal religious training. They were not astonished by their credentials; they had none. It was the Spirit-filled boldness born out of knowing Jesus that was utterly astonishing. The passage goes on to tell us that the believers asked the Lord to look on the threats they were facing and give them increased boldness as he continues to carry out signs, wonders and miracles. And they get what they ask for. Acts 4:31 tells us when they’d prayed, the place they were in shook, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they carried on speaking boldly. One key to developing resilience is to ask the Lord for what you need and then expect him to provide it. Be bold and ask for what you need today. Then astonish people as you minister. Let’s pray Make me brave. Lord. Make me bold. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and release all the resources I need to point others to your astonishing love, power, and provision. I want others to see I have been with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1, NIV We watch Strictly (there, I’ve said it!) and every time I watch it I can’t help but be aware of the complexity of relationships. Last season Ranvir - a broadcaster and grown daughter - was concerned about what her mum would think of her dancing a sensuous tango. JJ - ex-military man and dad - wiped away tears as he watched his little girl on video. Human relationships are - at their best - resilient and glorious. The relationship you can have with God is - at its best - resilient and glorious because he has made you his child. The Lord knows who are his. He knows you. He’s like the Ranvir’s mum - fiercely protective and wanting the best for you - but also like JJ - proud and profoundly in love with you. There’s no downside to being loved by God. All he wants to do is lavish his elaborate, rich, luxurious love on you for eternity. Nothing will ever separate you from that lavished love. You will always remain in lavished love. You are completely secure in his lavished love. We are called children of God. And that is what we are! Let’s pray Thank you, amazing Father that your love never fails and never gives up on me. Thank You for the comfort of knowing that I am secure in the promise that nothing can ever separate me from your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10 NIV If everyone in the UK was born again right now in this minute it would be amazing but there would still be problems, still issues to be resolved, habits to be changed, mindsets to be altered, relationships to be restored. We know that from our own lives, don’t we? We say ‘yes’ to Jesus and some things are fixed instantly: we move from darkness to light, sin to salvation, from being enemies of God to being his friends, sons, daughters, priests, co-heirs with Christ, victors, rulers... But the focus of God is never just salvation. Salvation is the crucial first step; you can’t become everything God created you to be without accepting that Jesus died on the cross for you. But God’s focus goes beyond salvation. He wants to establish such a resilient devotion for him in the middle of you, such a desire to be with him, such a joy in experiencing his love that it transforms you from the inside and ensures everything you are speaks of him. Because God knows if you live in a way that is utterly devoted to him you can create a longing for him in the hearts of other people. Not a longing to be like you. Not even a longing for the relationship you have with God. But a longing for God himself. Let’s pray This is an old worship song by Laurie Klein. If you know it, sing it. If you don’t know it, just pray it: I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you. Oh, my soul, rejoice! Take joy my King in what you hear. Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear. Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13, NLT A group of prisoners of war during World War Two were made to do hard labour in a prison camp. Each had a shovel, would dig all day, then hand in his tool in the evening. One evening 20 prisoners were lined up by the guard and the shovels were counted. The guard counted 19 shovels and demanded to know which prisoner had not returned his shovel. No one responded. The guard took out his gun and warned he would shoot five men if the guilty prisoner did not step forward. After a moment of silence, a 19-year-old soldier stepped forward. The guard shot him in the head. When the guard left, the shovels were counted again. There were 20. The guard had miscounted. The 19-year-old soldier stepped forward, took responsibility for something he did not do, and chose to die so the others might live. Jesus made the same choice. But he didn't respond to external pressure or as prisoner with little choice in the matter. Jesus chose to die when he was divinely rich. He chose to die as he exercised authority and upheld the universe by the word of his power. He chose to die as he held all things together in him. He chose to die as he enjoyed the love and glory he shares with God the Father. He chose to die as he received the worship of the heavenly hosts. He gave up all of that stepped forward, took responsibility for something he did not do, and died so you might live. Jesus shows great resilience as he focuses not on what he loses but on what he gains. What a Saviour! Let’s pray Thank you, Jesus for humbling yourself and dying a criminal’s death on a cross even though you did nothing wrong. I am so grateful for your sacrifice and for the life it has won me. I bless you and worship you today. My friend and my Saviour. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  “What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways! That person won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat. Their pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,” meditating day and night in the true revelation of light. They will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of their life. They are never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.” Psalm 1:1-3, TPT The ability to be resilient, to stand firm, and to root yourself deeply in God isn’t a natural one. This isn’t about summoning up strength, toughing it out or having a stiff upper lip. The ability to bend, to stand, and the power that comes to you when you do that, comes to us through a gift - a supernatural gift given to us all in equal measure by the Holy Spirit. And that gift is the gift of grace. The New Testament writers inspired by the Holy Spirit took an ordinary Greek word - charis - to describe grace and turned it into a word of profound theological and spiritual significance. So when charis is used it carries with it the reminder that God has favoured us and shown his kindness. But it also reminds us that the gift he has given us is supernatural and powerful because he is supernatural and powerful. Let’s pray Help me grasp the extent of favour and power you have given me; I want to live at the level of grace I have received. Help me to come boldly to the throne of grace, not just to obtain mercy, but also to receive power. In Jesus' name. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14, NIV There seems to be only one condition that the Lord puts on our ability to be with him in his Kingdom mission and final return and that it is that we stay faithful. “Called, chosen and faithful.” The first two are Jesus’ prerogative, the last one is your priority. Psalm 110:3 says, “Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power” which means you get to choose whether you line up with the call of Jesus. And Jesus says if you remain in him he will remain in you and so clearly the choice is not a one-time decision but one you must make every day across your lifetime. And there is always good news with Jesus. You have the reassurance that the Father does his part in helping you stay faithful because he has given you everything you need for life and godliness. Not only so, but he is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. Be resilient. Stay faithful to the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is so worth it! Let’s pray Thank you for choosing and calling me, Lord. Help me to remember your steadfast love for me and the great faithfulness you have shown me. I will stay faithful to you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here!  “But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him!” 2 Corinthians 2:14, CJB This verse resonates with me because Ian and I have two huge dogs and - frankly - at times they stink. As a result, we have diffusers everywhere in the house. The idea is to smell them, not the dogs. The bible says when you triumph you are a fragrance diffuser; you smell like the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere you go. And, amazingly, triumph has been made easy for you because:
Triumphing has been made easy for you because you matter to Jesus – and so does everyone with whom you share his fragrance. Let’s pray Thank you for always leading me in triumph, Jesus. Make me smellier! In your precious name. Amen. Want more? Order my new book Developing Kingdom Resilience here! |
Author"Life is short; eat dessert first." Loraine Davies Archives
March 2025
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