“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

I never wanted to preach. I grew up in a pastor’s home and saw many of the downsides, so I wanted to get into business. But then I met the Lord and woke up to the fact that God had given me a gift that I needed to steward, so I began preaching in my late teens. Before God began using me, I was first overcome with a great longing to be used.

When God forgave our sins and birthed us anew by the Holy Spirit, it was not just so that we could get eternal life—it was also to use us to display His powerful love here and now.

But we can’t do that in our own strength. For our lives to bring greater blessings, the Holy Spirit gives each of us various kinds of gifts, certain supernatural abilities, if you will, that come from God and are meant for us to flow in so that God can be glorified and the body of Christ be edified.

Many Christians don’t know that God wants to use them in spiritual gifts. That is too sad. My prayer is that each of us will become aware of the charismatic gifts in our lives and start practicing them. In that way, we will see the kingdom of God expand among us.

A good step in that direction is to welcome the Holy Spirit to become a more active part of our lives. As we release ourselves to Him, spiritual gifts will start to flow.

Holy Spirit, I want You to have all of me. I pray that You will flow through me and use me in the gifts for Your glory. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9–10 NIV

Giving to the Lord is a practice we have to learn, as it doesn’t come naturally to most of us, as our fallen nature tends to want to hold fast to the money and possessions we have. Yet giving our tithes (ten percent of our income) and offerings to the Lord is a very important part of our walk with God.

Today’s text shows us two key truths about the power of giving:

First, our giving shows who is really our God, that is, who we put our ultimate trust and love in. When we give, we show that Mammon doesn’t hold power over us, but that our hearts are set on the Lord. In that way, we honor God for who God is—the source and sustainer of our life.

Secondly, our giving positions us into the life of God. God’s resources are limitless, and He is ready to meet our every need. When we give, we imitate God, who is the ultimate Giver, and by doing so we open ourselves for the overflowing and abundant life of the Holy Spirit where there is no lack.

The devil and our selfish nature lie to us and say that when we give, we lose. The biblical truth is, as we just have seen, the exact opposite. By giving, we receive. That is how the kingdom of God works. This is why we give, even when it seems foolish to the fallen world to do so.

Father, thank You for giving me life and everything else. I want to be a giver like You. Help me to honor You with my possessions and to trust You to meet all my needs this month. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
Ruth 4:14 NIV

A post by Josephine Stenhammar

The book of Ruth is a beautiful story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth, a Moabite woman. The book shows the redemption of God and His love and plan to include all people in His salvation story.

Ruth leaves her country and returns with Naomi to Bethlehem. There, she gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s late husband, Elimelek. Boaz becomes their family redeemer, marries Ruth, and they have a son named Obed. Obed becomes the grandfather of King David and is part of the genealogy of Jesus.

Reading this story, it is clear how God is working even in the tiniest details. However, at that time, it would have been hard for them to understand what God’s plan was.

Before the beautiful story of redemption, there were times of hardship and sadness. Naomi lost her husband, and both her sons and Ruth lost their husbands. Ruth came as a foreigner to Bethlehem, and life for them was tough.

Sometimes God works in our lives behind the scenes. We might not understand that God is working until we look back. Ruth did not receive a prophetic word that she was meant to go to Boaz’s fields. Yet, God had planned everything and was working all the time.

So, if we feel like God is quiet and does not tell us what He is doing, we can be calm and trust that He is still in control. God has a plan, and He will work in ways we cannot see and cannot always understand. We must trust that one day we will be able to look back and rejoice over what God has done, just like Naomi and the women rejoiced when they held little Obed in their arms.
 
Thank you Jesus that You never stop working in my life. Help me to trust that You are in control and that one day I will be able to see and rejoice in the things that You have done. Amen.

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” Mark 16:17 NKJV

My first personal encounter with the demonic is still a vivid memory to me. Growing up in a pastor’s home, we sometimes had people living with us who had various challenges and problems. One time, we had a person staying with us whom I later found out was battling the demonic in their life.

One day, while the person was in our house and I was trying to go to sleep, I sensed that my room was filled with a dark and evil presence. It was so real that I could have cut it with a knife. I tried to sleep so that I would get away from it, but it was too much. I had seen my mother rebuke the devil before and had also been in church services where people spoke the name of Jesus. So I knelt by my bedside, and I remember that as I did, I felt like someone large and evil was standing just behind me, almost leaning over me. I just said what I had heard others say: “I take authority over you in the name of Jesus. Leave my room now.”

There was no struggle or fight. In an instant, the peace of God filled the room. My body was at peace, and I was overcome with great joy and thankfulness for Jesus’ victory over evil.
Since then, Emelie and I have seen the power in the name of Jesus to dispel darkness and set people free. You don’t need a special spiritual gift or a degree in theology. Jesus said that using His name is for everyone who believes in Him.

Today, don’t let the devil bully you. Don’t allow fear to have the final word. Speak the name of Jesus. Stand your ground in Jesus’ authority and see the devil flee.

Jesus, thank You for defeating the devil and all the power of evil. Open my eyes to Your victory and lead me to people who need to be set free. In Your name, amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 NIV

I grew up as a pastor’s kid in a Christian home and have always believed in Jesus, but I wasn’t very interested in living for Him. In my late teens, my older brother, who was on fire for the Lord, invited me to another church that had a Thursday night Bible school. I didn’t want to go because I had fun stuff going on in my life. I will never forget what my brother said: “Mikael, soon you will graduate high school and move out from home, but you don’t have any foundation to build your life on. You need the Word of God.”

God used my brother to wake me up to the fact that I was totally unstable and needed to build my life on God’s Word. I joined the evening Bible school, and it changed the direction of my life.

In Jesus’ famous parable of the housebuilder, He says that those who build their lives on His Word are like a man building his house on a rock. Yet those who do not build their lives on His Word are like a man building his house on sand. The unifying denominator in both is that “the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against” both houses. Notice that! Jesus doesn’t promise us that when we build our lives on His Word, it will protect us from the problems and temptations of life. No. But it will make us strong in them.

Believers face the same hardships as everyone else: sickness, financial problems, relational challenges, untimely deaths, persecution, and so on. But when we have invested time in God’s Word and put it into practice, we have a solid foundation that will stand no matter what we face.

I am so grateful that I took time to build my life on God’s Word!

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Help me to give it my highest priority and put it into practice so that my life will have a solid foundation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” Luke 17:17 NIV

The first time I came to East Africa, I was 20 years old, and I spent time in very poor areas. I was struck by the joy that believers showed, especially the children. This impression has proven to be true; there is a deep joy among believers in Africa, and it is often expressed in thankfulness to God. I realized the connection between joy and thankfulness.

In our text today, Jesus healed ten people who were sick with leprosy. He sent them to go to the priest, and as they went, they were healed. Yet only one of them returned to give thanks.

It is so easy for us to forget to give thanks to God for everything He has done for us. We just go from one prayer need to another without stopping to even think about all the prayers God has already answered.

I don’t want Jesus to ask, “Wasn’t Mikael also blessed? Where is he?”

Since we don’t want to be one of the nine today is a good time to stop and reflect on what the Lord has done recently for us and give Him thanks for it.

You might still have many prayers that you are waiting to see answered, but surely there are prayers God has already answered. Focus on them right now. That will build your faith as you continue to trust God with your future.

Father, thank You for hearing me and answering my prayers. Forgive me when I act like the nine who never turned back to praise You. Today I am so thankful that You [fill in the blank]. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.” Acts 9:39 NIV

The fallen world around us tells us to live for ourselves, get the most out of life, and maximize our happiness—even if that means hurting others and acting selfishly.
The common phrase that captures this attitude is YOLO: You Only Live Once.

But that is completely contrary to the life God wants us to live. YOLO says, “life is short, so live for yourself.” God calls us to something radically different: to live a self-giving life, looking out for the best interests of others.

There was a disciple in the book of Acts named Dorcas who embodied this. She is only mentioned in one passage, which speaks of how she helped the poor and how people mourned her death. It also says that they showed Peter the clothes she had made. In other words, Dorcas had lived such a self-giving life in the service of others that she was deeply missed when she died.

I recently heard the rhetorical question, “Who will cry when you die?” That is a good question to ask. Am I living such a self-giving life that I too, like Dorcas, will be missed? Do I add value and meaning to the lives of others, or am I trying to shape the world around my wishes and desires?

Father, help me to live a self-giving and generous life for Your glory. Give me the power to keep loving and giving, especially when people don’t deserve it or never give anything back. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

"The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 NIV

When I was a kid, like most kids, I had a lively imagination—especially when it was dark. The staircase in our house leading upstairs to my bedroom had openings between the steps so that you could see through them. In my imagination, it was the very last step before reaching the upper floor that was the problem. That was where the monsters would reach through the open space from the darkness downstairs and grab hold of my legs. It never happened,  naturally, because I made sure to always take a big leap and jump over that step!

This verse speaks of the Lord as both our light and our salvation. I love that. He is the Savior who rescues us from all the evil around us. But He is also our light. There is no darkness where monsters can hide. His saving power will not be outwitted by darkness. He won’t miss a spot. He lights up the room, and whatever is revealed, He has the power to save us from.

If He were only light, there might be some scary creatures He would expose. A child might be afraid of the monsters hiding in the darkness under the bed—but if those monsters came out into the light, that would be even worse.

And if the Lord were only salvation, that would certainly be wonderful, but something might still be lurking in the darkness, keeping us anxiously awake at night.

But He is light and salvation. He lights up the house, exposes whatever is there, and then saves us from it.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my light and my salvation. I truly have nothing to fear when I have You.

Emelie Stenhammar, MD

“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Mark 3:14–15 NIV

When I first started walking with Jesus, I thought being a disciple was all about doing: getting involved in church, studying Scripture, living in obedience to God’s Word, sharing the gospel with others, and praying for miracles. But as I pressed further into Scripture, I saw that at the center of it all is our personal walk with Jesus—to fellowship with Him and get to know Him.

Today’s verse makes it clear that knowing comes before doing—the personal walk with Jesus was the first reason the disciples were chosen. And that is the first reason you and I were chosen by the Lord, too!

Doing comes as a consequence of the relationship. Yet a common problem is that we often reverse the order—put the cart before the horse—and focus most of our attention on doing things for God rather than seeking God.

I encourage you today to set your focus on walking with Jesus. When you put your relationship with Him first in your life, everything else will fall into place, and you will see how He can use you in amazing ways to further God’s kingdom.

Jesus, thank You for the honor of being called into a relationship with You. I want to prioritize You in my work and in all I do today. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 NIV

I found prayer hard for many reasons. One of my biggest hindrances was that I found prayer dull and slow. I liked to be on the move and have stuff happening. When I tried to pray, I felt drowsy and got ants in my pants, so to speak. I was glad that other people prayed so that I didn’t have to!

But then I came to realize from today’s text that there is a great reward in prayer—and I like rewards. So even if prayer can feel like a waste of time, our prayers are recorded in heaven, and God will reward us for them.

I also saw that Jesus expects his followers to talk to God—and I want to be his follower. Notice in today’s verse that Jesus said “when” you pray, not “if” you pray. And then he gives a clear instruction: seek out a space that gives you privacy and helps you to focus.

I have found that in today’s world, where we have technology everywhere, we have to be more intentional about creating quiet time with the Lord.

Often, the best time to seek the Lord is early in the morning or late at night (depending on your personality and sleep routine), when the world around us is moving more slowly and there are fewer distractions. We also need to put our technology aside—a smartphone or smartwatch can easily take our focus away.

If you haven’t developed the habit of daily prayer, don’t feel guilty about it. Just start.
You don’t have to begin with a long prayer time. Starting with just five minutes is totally fine. Once you start, you will see God moving on your behalf in ways you could never imagine, and that will make you never want to stop praying.

Father, I want to seek Your face. Help me to press deeper into You through prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13–14 NIV

A Post by Josephine Stenhammar
 
In these verses we see how Joshua, who God had chosen to lead Israel into the promise land, met the commander of the army of the Lord.
Joshua’s first question when he saw him was whether the person (or angel) was on their side or their enemy's side.
 
The commander replies that he is on neither side, but he is the commander of the army of the Lord. This shows Joshua how God does not side with people, but God has His own divine will and purpose.
 
We understand how God is not a God we can claim and use for our benefit.
It is easy for us to claim God as our own and to claim the works of God as ours. In reality, God is Holy, awesome, and does not belong to anyone. It reminds me of what God says in Isaiah 66:1-2:
 
“Heaven is my throne,
   and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
   Where will my resting place be?
 Has not my hand made all these things,
   and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.
 
God is bigger than we can imagine, and we cannot claim Him and use Him for our purposes. God has His plan and His divine purpose and will. The question is not if He is on or side, rather, if we are on God’s side.
 
Yet in all of God’s greatness and awesomeness, He still comes down to our level and invites us to be part of His divine plan and purpose.
 
Lord, open my eyes that I may see more of your awesomeness. May I always align my life with your will and kingdom. Thank you for inviting me into your plan and your story. Amen

“I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8 NIV

Have you ever seen a child clinging to one of their parent’s legs? Perhaps you have a memory of yourself doing it, or you remember your own child hanging on to you like that—wrapping their little arms and legs around yours and, with their whole body, holding on so tightly that if you move, so does your child. Every step you take also moves the child along.

Throughout our lives, the Lord has many times asked Pastor Mikael and me to walk on water—to do things that seem impossible or even crazy from a human viewpoint. Sometimes (often), that can be scary. But let me tell you a secret: this is how we have done it. All we have done is cling to the leg of Jesus and then let Him do the walking. When He stepped out onto the water, the children clinging to the legs of His pants—Mikael and me—just went along.

This is what walking by faith looks like! Jesus says you have to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. Stay close to Jesus. Wrap the arms and legs of your soul around Him, refusing to let go. Then—when He moves—so do you.

People might come to you afterward, when you are safe on the other shore, and want to commend you for your “great faith.” (The devil likes to trap us in pride because that renders us useless in God’s business.) But then, when you hear those flattering words, you will know that it was never really about your faith, but all about the great leg you were clinging to.

Jesus, help me stay close to you today. Like a little child, I want to cling to you. I trust that you will bring me safely to where every you want us to go. Amen.

Emelie Stenhammar, MD

God in Me Is Greater—Two2Grow, Thursday, August 20

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NKJV

Every season of life comes with its own set of challenges. As a young student, the need to perform well in school, as well as being accepted by others, can be overwhelming. Once you graduate, the pressure comes from finding a job and doing well at it. Social responsibilities change; for many, it means raising and providing for a family or navigating singleness. Later in life, we might take on the burden of caring for elderly parents and relatives. And when you get older yourself, it comes with its own set of worries—What about my future? Will I be able to take care of myself? What about the future of my loved ones?

All this can make you feel very small and vulnerable. And the devil stands ready to attack and amplify every worry and pressure that is already present.

Regardless of what season of life you are in, no matter what attacks the devil brings, it brings great strength to know that God in you is greater than everything. You don’t have to look for power and direction somewhere outside yourself; turn to Jesus, who by the Spirit lives inside of you.

When you face a challenge larger than yourself, it really helps to remind yourself who lives on the inside of you. I often repeat the phrase, “He who is in me is greater,” in my mind when I face problems. It strengthens my faith.

I encourage you to name your challenge, picture it as an entity in front of you, point to it, and say, “God in me is greater!”

Father, I thank You that You in me are greater than anything that life or the devil can bring against me. Open my eyes to Your power and strengthen my faith so that I can live faithfully to You today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” Revelation 21:5 NIV

When you look at the world news—or just at our own lives, for that matter—it is wonderful to know that one day God will make everything new.

Think about that word: everything. God’s renewing work is all-encompassing.

That means that the devil’s powers of chaos, destruction, and evil will not have the final word. Our hope is that Jesus will come back and will put the world right. The same creative power of God that formed the world out of nothing will recreate the world.

The good news is that God has already started this new creation. When you surrender your life to Jesus, God births you anew by the Holy Spirit (see John 3:1–8). When you are born again, you are set on the path that will one day include the remaking of everything into God’s final and perfect will, a new creation where there will be no evil, injustice, pain, or sorrow.

So as we open our lives up to more of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will begin the wonderful work of transforming and remaking our lives in the hope that one day everything will be made new.

As God does this amazing work, our assignment is to invite others into the same transforming work. Pray about who you can reach out to today to share the good news of salvation in Jesus.

Father, we thank You that the power of chaos and evil will not have the final word. Help me to have hope that You are about to make everything new, open my eyes to see the renewing work You are already doing in my life, and lead me to people who need what You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah.” Genesis 7:8-9 NIV

A post by Josephine Stenhammar.

Has God ever commanded you to do something that seems to be impossible?

When I read the story of Noah and imagine myself in the shoes of Noah, I would feel like I would be up for an impossible task. Imagine building an ark for your family and all those animals! Let alone the task of trying to find and capture pairs of all kinds of animals. If you have ever tried to catch a bird or hare with your bare hands, you know what a tough task it would be for Noah.

But Noah did everything God commanded him, and God gave him the strength and wisdom to build the ark. And as for the animals, Noah would not have had to worry a single bit about catching them. As we read in today’s Scripture, the animals themselves came to Noah. God made sure the animals would get into the ark!

When God tells us to do something, He does not give us the task and then leave us to complete it in our own strength and understanding. God Himself helps us and is in control. God sent the animals to enter the ark. God will make a way for us when we trust Him.

Do not be afraid, do not worry. You are not alone. If God has given you the task, then God will help you complete it. As Jesus said, he has not left us orphans. He has given us the Holy Spirit. And we know, as we read in Zechariah 4:6, that the task is not completed by “might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”

Lord, I thank You that You promise to be with me and help me. Show me what task You have for me and help me to trust that You will give me the power and strength to complete it for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

“Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV

My wife Emelie once had a supervisor at her hospital who was really giving her a hard time and making her work difficult. She started to pray for her boss, thinking that God would change her, only to find out that the one who really changed was Emelie herself. She started to feel God’s love for her boss, and that made Emelie’s attitude change, which, over time, made her boss change too. Her boss finally showed Emelie favor that was unheard of.

Today’s verse speaks about how love is eternal—it will never come to an end. But in an extended sense, we can also say that love never fails in the sense of never losing, always winning, and always reaching its goal. The most powerful thing in the world is the love of God.

Why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8).

When you choose the road of love, when you pray for God’s love to fill you so that your attitudes and actions flow out of God’s love, you have entered the realm of unlimited possibilities—the realm of God’s creative power.

Some of the greatest miracles of healing and deliverance I have seen have happened when the Holy Spirit filled my heart with such a love for a person that I just had to act on it.
I encourage you today to open your heart to more of the love of God.

Holy Spirit, I want to walk in love today. I ask You to fill my heart today with the love of the Father for the people in my social network, especially those I find hard to love. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’” James 4:6 NIV

There was a season in my life when I felt I was just stuck and couldn’t move forward toward the goal that God had shown me. Have you ever felt that somehow God stood between you and the fulfillment of God’s promises for your life? There are times when we just can’t move forward in life; it is like having the Father’s loving hand on our forehead, stopping us from moving forward.

That can be a very perplexing time because the vision you are aiming for was given to you by God, and now it seems as if the same God who gave it to you stands in the way of its fulfillment.

I’ve come to learn that when that happens, often it is because there is something in our lives that needs to be adjusted. Instead of being bitter toward God, we should realize that God stops us out of His goodness because He doesn’t want us to end up in trouble. If we enter unprepared into the place God has called us, we will get hurt. To prevent that from happening, God stops us.

And God is so kind and faithful that He will communicate with you about what needs to change for you to move forward. So don’t get bitter, angry, or discouraged; turn to the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you what you need to adjust. Not only will the Holy Spirit show you, but God will also give you the power to change it.

Father, I thank You for Your love for me and that You have good things stored up for me. Show me where I need to change so I can keep moving forward with You into all You have for me. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Set Your Face Like Flint—Two2Grow, Saturday, August 15

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 50:7 NIV

My spiritual mother is an elderly Kenyan woman of God. One of her favorite expressions, and something she often reminds me of, is that when we walk with God, we have to “set our face like flint.” In the hardships of life in Africa, especially now as a widow, she has often had to practice what she preaches—and God has been so faithful. 

Flint is a very hard stone. In Bible times, people associated it with what is firm, hard, and unyielding. So what the expression captures is that faith requires us to have resolve and determination—to not give up or back down, no matter what enemy we come against.

Today, decide not to let go of the promises of God. Even in the face of discouragement or doubt, and whether you face voices of unbelief and fear from those around you, decide to set your face like flint.

We have made up our minds to walk with God and to trust Him no matter what. And you know that you will not be put to shame. God will come through, and you will have a story to tell.

Father, I thank You that You are reliable and faithful. Help me to hold fast to Your promises, set my face like flint, and not give in no matter what comes against me. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

“My joy is not that cheap” is an expression I have used for years when I go through circumstances that are about to steal my joy. Just recently, we locked ourselves out of our house and had to pay a locksmith to come and open our door. It cost money that we wanted to use for other things, and I was about to lose my joy. But I told myself, “My joy is not that cheap,” and decided not to let go of my joy.

When we allow circumstances and the devil to steal our joy, we get weak spiritually, and we start to lose hope and many other blessings too. Some people lose their joy way too easily—just because someone cuts them off in traffic, says an unkind word, ghosts them on social media, or whatever.

Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is grounded in good and pleasant circumstances. I am happy when I feel good, when people are kind to me, and when things are going well. I lose my happiness when circumstances go wrong.

The joy of the Lord has its foundation in God—who the Lord is, what He has done for us, His promises, and the fact that we belong to the kingdom of God.

Since God never changes, His love is constant toward us, and He has promised to be with us through thick and thin, we can have joy even in the most difficult and challenging circumstances. Joy and hope go together.

Joy is the work of the Holy Spirit, but we need to make sure to nurture joy and protect our hearts so that we don’t lose it.

So whatever you are facing, decide that your joy in the Lord isn’t that cheap. You are not letting go of your joy in the Lord for anything.

Father, I thank You that You never change, that Your love toward me is ever-flowing, and that You are with me no matter what I face. Holy Spirit, help me to nurture joy in my heart and protect it as I go through this day. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

”Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3 NIV

I heard a story about a missionary couple who served in a very dangerous country that had a lot of gang violence. God used them to lead the son of a gang boss to the Lord. That didn’t make the gang dad happy. One day, some of the goons knocked on the couple’s door and told them that they would kill them unless they went back home. To which they replied, “You cannot threaten a Christian with thoughts of heaven.”

When our hope is anchored in God and in our coming resurrection, fear will lose its power over us. Because ultimately, fear is driven by death.

What comes through very powerfully in today’s text is that David could be bold in the face of the most dangerous and threatening situations of war and violence, not in his own strength but because he knew his God. The psalm begins:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Why don’t you declare that out loud right now? Remind yourself of who the Lord is, and because of Him, no fear will lord it over you.

Father, I thank You that You defeated death for me. Today, I will not fear, no matter what comes at me, because You are my light, my salvation, and my stronghold. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.” Acts 1:1 NIV

In one of the churches where we served as pastors, there was an elder who, every time God moved, would come up to me and say, “Acts 29,” and then walk away. For those who are unfamiliar with the Book of Acts, that probably doesn’t say much. But the book actually has only 28 chapters, and that final chapter doesn’t bring the book to any real closure. It kind of just leaves us hanging. So what he—and others who use the same expression—means by saying “Acts 29” is that we are now part of writing the continuation of the story of Acts.

Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, begins Acts by saying that in his Gospel he wrote about what Jesus began to do and teach. In Acts, we see Jesus continuing to do and teach through His people, the church.

How does this apply to you and me?

It means that we are part of continuing Jesus’ actions and words in the world. We are the hands and mouth of Jesus, so to speak.

Jesus doesn’t look for perfect people; He looks for those who are willing and available. When you make yourself available to Him, He will anoint you with the power of the Holy Spirit and use you to write the continuation of the book of Acts. That is our greatest calling as His people.

Jesus, here I am. I want to be used by You today so that Your actions and words can continue to go out into the world. Anoint me with Your Spirit and lead me to people that need You. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.” Luke 9:16 NIV

I will never forget when Emelie and I sat around the kitchen table at the start of a new school year just a few years ago and said that unless the Lord performed a miracle, our finances would totally crash before Christmas. We had taken steps of faith that had brought us to a point where we desperately needed God’s intervention. We prayed, and faith filled our hearts. Somehow, we knew God was going to save us.

Less than a week later, we got an email that changed everything. Out of nowhere, the university where Emelie was studying had received a chunk of money and gave her a scholarship. God had saved us!

In today’s famous text, Jesus multiplies the bread and fish to feed the multitude. That tells us that Jesus is more than the Savior of our sins; He is also the provider of our financial needs.

God has all power to meet every need we have. Many times, He will use ways that look very natural, but other times, He will perform supernatural miracles. Exactly how He is going to supply is not for us to decide. We just put our faith in Him.

If you have financial worries today, cast them on the Lord. Look to Him for all your needs. He is faithful. He will provide for you, as He has done for Emelie and me so many times.

Jesus, thank You for caring for me and my material needs. I trust You to provide everything I need so that I can serve You. Set me free from financial worry and fill me with peace. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

It is easy to feel frustrated after praying for something and not seeing any direct change. Many times, when we pray for someone or something, things can at first take a turn for the worse, and it can look even darker than before we prayed.

Jesus encouraged us to keep at it. Walking with God is a test of perseverance, and a fruitful prayer life is one of continuity—not giving up, but keeping on praying. No prayer is wasted. No time we have spent seeking the Lord is ever in vain.

Corrie ten Boom (if you don’t know who she was, take a moment and Google her life story, it will bless you!) once asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”

It is a good question to check what role prayer plays in our lives. Persistent prayer should be what guides us, not our circumstances.

I encourage you today to keep praying. You might not see any changes right now, or things might look worse, but follow today’s verse and don’t give up. God will come through for you. The test will turn into a testimony. How? We don’t know, but with God, nothing is impossible.

Father, I thank You that You invite me to talk to You and share my life with You. Holy Spirit, give me the strength to continue to pray and not give up until I see Your answer.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here… They have been a wonderful encouragement to me.” 1 Corinthians 16:17–18a NLT

Have you ever been down and didn’t know how to get back to a mental state of peace and hope, but after spending some time with good company, you realized that those dark clouds had disappeared? The apostle Paul knew what that was like, as today’s text shows.
Perhaps you have prayed for God to provide financially, hoping for a supernatural answer, only to discover that He provided through what looked completely ordinary.

By the time Paul wrote today’s text, he had had direct encounters with Jesus, had been taken to heaven, had visions, seen amazing miracles, and witnessed God’s supernatural power.

Yet at this moment when he needed encouragement, God didn’t give him another vision or a miracle—He sent people. God worked through what looked completely ordinary.
Paul’s experience shows us that no matter how spiritual we are, how close walk we have with God, we still need one another.

Today, let us be open to God using others in our lives as His vessels to bring encouragement and help. But let us also be open to being people whom God can use to bring life and hope to others. All for the good of people and for the glory of God.

Holy Spirit, open my eyes today to see how You are using others around me to bless and encourage me and help me to return the praises to You. And lead me to be a blessing to others around me. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:6 The Message

There is always more of God for us to have. Our walk with God is meant to move us deeper and deeper into His presence. God never says, “Stop, no further,” in our pursuit of Him.
Rather, He beckons us by the Holy Spirit to press on, to continue our quest for more of Him.

Sometimes, like a good parent, Jesus will take a step back so that a small child will walk toward Him. But even in those moments when we might not sense the closeness of the Lord as we are used to, that is just another invitation to draw closer—to set our eyes on Him and move toward a fresh encounter.

One of our biggest enemies is the desire settle, to think to ourselves that we have reached a comfortable and pleasant place in God and are no longer hungry for more.

Today’s paraphrase of Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes captures the important truth that having “a good appetite for God” is what we are after. Anything that goes contrary to this, that fights against our appetite for God, is something we must resist.

Our hunger for God is a gift from God, so we will guard it fiercely.

Father, I want to continue to hunger for more of You. Reveal to me areas in my life that work against my pursuit of You, and give me the strength to change. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD