“Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God” Acts 10:4 NIV

Do you want God’s special attention?

Do you want to be a channel of blessing to others?

The way to reaching these goals is through prayer and giving.

I’m sure you’re not surprised by the first one—prayer—but giving is not usually something we think about as a way of connecting with God.

In Acts 10, we read about Cornelius, a Roman commander who was the first non-Jew to be Spirit-filled. One day, as he was praying, an angel came to him and said that his prayers and generosity to the poor had caught God’s special attention.

After this, he was given instructions on how to get the apostle Peter to his house. As Peter came, the Spirit filled the whole group. It was an amazing thing!

Notice how it all started: with Cornelius’ prayers and gifts that caught the eye of heaven! And his faithfulness led to blessing for his household and friends.

This story is encouraging because all of us, no matter who we are, can pray and give. You might not be in a place in life where you can pray long or give very much; the amount isn’t what’s important. Pray as much and as often as you can, and give as much as you can. It is the action and heart behind it that matters.

Now I need to make clear that we are not talking about earning God’s attention. God’s gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit are pure gifts of grace. I’m not talking about trying to earn merit. Rather, it is a response to the love and generosity of God that we have already experienced. As we respond to God’s gift of life and blessings through prayer and generosity, we enter more deeply into relationship with Him, and His blessings overflow in our lives.

I encourage you to start practicing these two things right away and expect to see divine surprises as heaven looks your way.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. Help me now so that I can respond to Your grace by praying and giving, and so enter more deeply into communion with You and see Your blessings abound in my life.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.”
Proverbs 22:9 (The Message)

One Christmas in my late teens, I was given some money. I was very excited and started planning to buy something I had wanted for a long time—a gas-powered R/C car.

But during New Year's, I attended a church event, and during worship I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to give all the money to a young man who had two small children.

I don’t remember anything from the rest of the service because I wrestled with my fallen flesh over whether I really should give it away or not. Maybe I heard wrong? Or could I just give half? Finally, I decided that I had to obey God. So after the service, I walked up to him and gave him the gift.

He was deeply moved and told me that his family was in great need of money and that he had been praying for provision throughout the entire service. He praised God. The joy I felt that day was far greater than an R/C car—or anything else—could ever have given me. I decided that this is the way I want to live my life: to use my money to increase thanksgiving to God.

The Bible promises that when we are generous to others instead of holding on to things for ourselves, God will bless us in return. God is a giver, so when we give, we act more like God and open our lives more fully to the life of God.

I encourage you to practice generosity. Don’t wait until you have a lot. Some people think that once they become wealthy, they will start to give. No, start where you are. Look for opportunities to give, whether much or little. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your giving, and you will see people's lives touched by God. You will never regret it.

Father, thank You for all the good gifts You have given me. I acknowledge that You are the source of every blessing I have. Help me to practice generousity. Holy Spirit, lead me to people who need what I have. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Guard Your Heart—Two2Grow, June 11

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

The heart in biblical thought isn’t just the blood-pumping organ. It is an image of the center of our being, the headquarters that governs our thoughts, desires, and actions. That is why we are told to guard our hearts!

Think of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The serpent gave them a false narrative, claiming that the tree of knowledge of good and evil was actually something that would help them and that God had kept the fruit back because He was selfish and wanted to hoard His power.

Yet it was all a lie! When Adam and Eve believed the serpent rather than God, it changed their hearts. Like putting on colored glasses, the devil’s narrative altered their view of reality, which led them to act in rebellion against God. The world fell into sin because they didn’t protect their heart!

The devil still works the same way today. He will try to influence the way we see the world, playing into either our secret longings or deep-seated fears. When we let his crooked perspectives enter our hearts, we will end up living in sin.

For example, if you let the thought into your mind that a certain person dislikes you, it will make you insecure and more self-conscious, so you begin to act differently toward them. When our oldest daughter was born, we became good friends with a couple who also had their first baby at about the same time. From birth, the mother was convinced that her baby didn’t love her. Regardless of how crazy that sounds, we couldn’t help her break that thought, and the lie caused her to have a strained relationship with the baby from the start.

I encourage you to pray that the Holy Spirit reveals any deception in your worldview and resist the lies of the devil with the power of God’s Word. Spend time in prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers. God uses those times to expose deception and to ground our heart in reality.

Holy Spirit, help me to protect my heart from the deceptive narratives of the devil. Show me where I need to change so that I can live in the truth. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:12–13 NIV
 
A post by Emelie Stenhammar, MD

One night while I was sleeping, I had a dream that really scared me. I dreamed that someone was trying to hurt one of my daughters. I woke up feeling very upset and anxious. I woke Mikael so we could pray together.

As we were praying, Jesus spoke to me. It was not an audible voice, but rather a strong thought that did not originate from me, and I knew it was Jesus. He said, “I am not a hired shepherd.”

That was all. But it was all I needed. With that word came an amazing peace. Jesus is not a hired shepherd. He would not abandon the sheep and run away if a wolf came. Even if the devil wanted to harm some of those dearest to me, I did not need to be afraid because Jesus would be there. He would fight for me. He would fight for my girls. He is not a hired shepherd.

I did not need to worry. And neither do you.

Our worrying will not change anything. Instead, let us entrust the lives of our loved ones into the loving hands of the Shepherd and know that He is the owner of the sheep. He will not abandon us in times of danger. We belong to Him, and He takes good care of His belongings.

Jesus, I thank You that You are not a hired shepherd. You are the owner of the sheep. I belong to You. I do not need to be afraid. Thank You for fighting my battles.

“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV

In 2023, there was a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Asbury Seminary. Over the course of a couple of weeks, more than 50,000 people flooded the small city of Wilmore, Kentucky, which has a population of only 6,000, because of the strong presence of God.

If you want to hear testimonies from the revival, you can listen to them here: https://www.asbury.edu/about/revival-history/outpouring/.

I heard that in the days leading up to the revival, a visiting professor from Malaysia had walked around campus with a sign saying, “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here!”

That is powerful! Let us also be people who live lives that are hospitable to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is everywhere—because He is God—but the Holy Spirit isn’t welcomed everywhere. The Spirit is quenched by the sin in the world. So our attitude and actions should be to “unquench” the Spirit, if you get what I mean.

You don’t have to carry around a sign like that (though that might not be such a bad idea at times!), but let it become the prayer of your heart.

When you enter your classroom today, or your office cubicle, your car, join an online video conference call, talk to a person in the checkout line, or visit a house or restaurant, whisper in your heart, “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here,” and see what the Lord will do.

Sometimes you will see radical changes and notice how the atmosphere becomes saturated with the Lord’s presence. Other times, the change will be less noticeable and simply be part of God making you more aware of Him and receptive to Him. We leave all those results to God.

The point is to move toward a greater openness to the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives and thereby be better able to present Jesus to this world because He was (and is) a man of the Spirit!

Holy Spirit, You are welcome in my life. I pray that today I will be more aware of Your presence and see You manifest Yourself through me. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

I had a teacher in Bible school who said that all the exercise he ever got was when he walked between the dinner table and his bathtub.

God created our bodies, and we are to take care of our bodies as a way of serving the God who gave us life. Today’s Scripture says that, even though living in a way that pleases God is of the greatest value, physical training is at least of some value.

I understand that hearing about exercise might not be the most encouraging word on a Monday morning, but in the long run (excuse my pun), you will greatly benefit from having an exercise routine of some sort.

One value of physical training is to build a stronger body so that you can serve God better, do better at your job, and be more active with your family and friends. Another is that exercise develops self-control and helps keep our sinful flesh under control. Some kind of physical exercise is also a great stress reliever and a way to focus your mind on God. I have also found that God often speaks to me while working out.

This is not to say that we need to work out several hours a day, get obsessive about our eating habits, and try to look like the latest influencer or movie star. It is not about our appearance but about living a well-rounded life before God.

If you don’t have a habit of getting some exercise, I encourage you to take some baby steps toward that goal. Perhaps taking a five-minute walk during your lunch break, choosing the stairs instead of the elevator, or dusting off that old bicycle in the garage to go for a ride in the park on Saturday morning before the sun gets too hot.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me life and such a wonderful body. Help me to be a good steward of it so that I can be strong enough to serve you all the days of my life.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

No Claim on Me—Two2Grow, June 7

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me." — John 14:30 (ESV)

“Oh, look at that rat!” my mother cried out the first time she visited us in England. We were sitting at the kitchen table facing the glass doors that looked out onto our small backyard when she spotted a rat running across the lawn with a large French fry in its mouth.
The rest of us laughed. Our house was next to the train station, and people often left trash there that attracted rats.

That moment helps illustrate today’s Scripture.

Humanity’s sin and rebellion were the garbage that allowed Satan to come and rule the world. We were under the dominion of death with no way of escape. So God sent Jesus to remove all garbage and drive Satan out. The cross was the great clash between Satan and God—and God won!

Jesus overcame Satan because He was without sin. The Enemy had “no claim” on Him. In other words, there was no garbage in Him for the rat to feed on!

What does this teach us? To live in the victory Jesus has won for us, we must get rid of the spiritual garbage in our lives.

If we entertain lustful thoughts, have greedy hearts, harbor unforgiveness or hatred, carry envy or a desire for revenge, or live with self-hatred, all of that is garbage. For more examples, read the list in Galatians 5:19–20.

To live victoriously, we need to be made holy. Pray that Jesus will come and cleanse you from all spiritual garbage so that Satan has no claim on you.

Jesus, I want to be more like You. Show me where there is spiritual garbage in my life. I confess it as sin and repent. Help me get rid of it so that Satan has no claim on me. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. — Matthew 5:6 NIV

Have you ever been really sick?

I once was leading a seminar for church leaders in Africa when I drank some contaminated water. I became so sick that I could hardly stand. When we are that sick, the only thing we want is to get well. I didn’t care if someone offered me the finest food or lots of cash—all I wanted was to be healthy again. Sickness has a way of making us realize what our true priorities should be.

You might wonder what this has to do with today’s Scripture. Let me explain.

In our Western world, with all its abundance, most of us have little understanding of what true hunger and thirst really mean. Few of us have gone without food or water for any significant length of time. We think hunger means the rumbling of our stomachs when lunch is delayed. Because of this, the words of Jesus in our text lose much of their impact.

Another way to rephrase what Jesus is saying, which may help drive His point home, is this:

“Blessed are those who are sick for God, for their desire will be satisfied.”

In other words, when you come to the point where you desire God and His Kingdom as much as you desire health when you are sick, that is the point at which you will experience more of God.

Let me ask you an honest question: Is your desire for God at that level?

The move of God we long for is on the other side of becoming lovesick for Him. Can you say, as the Song of Songs says, “I am sick with love” (Song of Songs 2:5 ESV)?

God, I want to want You. Give me the gift of being sick for You. Holy Spirit, I open myself to You today. Come and set my heart on fire with a passion for Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come. John 7:8 NIV

Timing is everything!

We know from everyday life that if you get the timing wrong, things go wrong. In everything from cooking and driving to gardening and sports, a right action at the wrong time can prove disastrous. Think of planting seeds during a hot, dry season, taking the chicken out of the fryer while the meat is still raw, changing lanes when a car is in your blind spot, or kicking the soccer ball before the referee has blown the whistle.

What makes someone succeed is not just getting the action right but getting the timing right as well. The same applies to our walk with God.

Jesus was very sensitive to the Father's timing. He knew that His life was not just about doing the right thing but also about getting the timing right.

That's why, when His brothers tried to convince Him to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Jews remembered the exodus from Egypt, He refused, saying, "My time has not yet fully come." Yet we see that a short time later He still went to the feast.

Jesus wasn't being deceptive. Rather, He lived in complete dependence on the Father's timing, relying on the Holy Spirit to lead Him.

Many believers don't look to God for the right timing. Instead, they look around and either let the majority decide what time it is or allow their favorite preacher or YouTube prophet to determine it for them. There is nothing wrong with listening to what God is saying to others, but you are capable of hearing from God yourself.

Growing spiritually includes discerning what season you are in. As you spend time with God in prayer and worship, in the Word, and in fellowship with other believers, God will reveal His timing so that you can "keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25).

Holy Spirit, I turn to you today. Show me what I need to do, and also reveal to me when the right time is to do it. Amen.
 
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about. Jeremiah 33:3 GNB

Have you ever met someone you thought was important—or in some way “out of your league”—and then been surprised that they were willing to give you their phone number?Or sent an email to someone in a position of authority and actually received a personal reply?

Both have happened to me, and I felt privileged. But those experiences pale in comparison to today’s Scripture.

Imagine that the God who created and sustains the universe has given you His “number” and promises to answer. Talk about privilege.

Let me say this plainly—and I hope you don’t spill your coffee: only fools don’t pray.
I don’t mean that as an insult. I’m using “fool” in the biblical sense.

In Proverbs, a fool is someone who lives as though life can be managed on their own, as if God’s wisdom and instructions are optional.

The invitation to pray is rooted in the reality of our weakness and ignorance. We cannot access God’s “wonderful and marvelous things” apart from calling on Him.

I’m reminded of a time when we visited a zoo in England and were watching the lions. The viewing wall was too high for one of our children to see over, so they asked me to pick them up.

That’s a picture of prayer: calling on the Father and being lifted up so you can see what you couldn’t see on your own.

We cannot afford to live without a prayer life. Start today. If all you can manage is one minute a day, that is perfectly fine—start there. Next week, try two minutes, and build from there.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being invited to call on You. I want to grow in prayer. Help me pray today.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27 NIV

My spiritual mother is an eighty-year-old Kenyan woman of God. One of her favorite songs has this part in it that she often reminds me of:

Fear him, you saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make serving him your sole delight,
your wants shall be his care.

Isn’t that a powerful truth? Fear God, and you have nothing else to fear!

The same Jesus who tells us not to be afraid of disaster, disease, death, or the devil also says that we are to fear God (see Luke 12:5). Now, that can set our thinking off in the wrong direction. To fear God doesn’t mean we are afraid of Him in the same way we may feel in the face of danger, sickness, poverty, war, or public shame. Being afraid of something is destructive and limiting. Fearing God is altogether different. It is freeing and empowering. Remember this: God is not frightening—He is holy. We are not afraid of God, but we fear Him.

Basically, fearing God means that we realize God's greatness and our own insignificance. It is a deep respect. This kind of fear is what a matchstick feels in relation to the sun, a drop of water in relation to the ocean, or an ant in relation to an elephant—you get the idea. The way to increase in the fear of God is to gain a greater revelation of God’s power and holy love.

Fearing God is the end of being afraid.

Father, open my eyes today to Your greatness so that I can fear You and, in that, be free from all other fears, so that I no longer have to be afraid. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:14 NIV

When I was in junior high school, we went on a family vacation to Italy and visited St. Mark’s Square, famous not just for its spectacular buildings but also for the many pickpockets who prey on tourists. We had been warned, and as the responsible son I was, I took it upon myself to keep a sharp eye on my mother’s handbag. But when we got back to the hotel, we realized her bag was empty!

Fun fact: several years later, the Italian police contacted her and said they had found her driver’s license. The only time I can think of when I wasn’t watching it was for a very short moment when she took a photo of the whole family by the fountain.

We have something way more precious to keep watch over than a handbag—we have been given the gift salvation and the call to carry the good news of Jesus to the world. The devil will do what he can to steal what we have been given. So how do you guard it?

God’s kingdom works very differently from the world. In the world, the best way to keep something is to hold fast to it. But in God’s way of doing things, the best way to guard what you have been given is to give it away! And the more you share, the more you’ll have and the safer it will be (see Luke 9:24).

I have seen this many times: those who keep Jesus for themselves grow weak and, sadly, often turn away from Him later in life, while  the people who share Jesus with others grow stronger.

Is there someone the Lord has placed a burden for on your heart? Reach out to them today with the good news. The Holy Spirit will anoint you with power to share what God has given you; when you do, it will grow and be safe.

I have a person on my heart that I’m thinking of right now, and I plan to write a letter to share the gospel with them—that’s my way of guarding the treasure of Jesus.

Holy Spirit, help me not keep the gospel to myself but to share it with others. Lead me today to people who need what You have given me, and give me the boldness to act.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4 (NIV)

Have you ever felt as if God has forgotten you and that the prayers you prayed have gone unanswered? We have all been there.

Mary and Martha certainly must have felt that way when their brother died. Even though they sent word to Jesus, He waited, and when He finally arrived, it was too late.

Scripture says, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (John 11:5-6). That doesn’t make any sense. In our minds, if Jesus loved them, He would have come immediately. In fact, He wouldn’t even have let Lazarus die in the first place!

But this was all in God’s loving hands. Jesus knew that by coming when all hope was lost, they would see new revelations of His kingdom and glory, and He would be made known to the world.

Today, you might feel like a situation is beyond hope, that something has died. Refuse to fear, and trust that the God who created you is with you. He will move heaven and earth to make His plans come true in your life. You, like the sisters of Lazarus, will also testify to the greatness of Jesus!

Use today's Scripture: name your problem and your fear, and then put your faith in God. Fill in the blank:

“This ___________ will not end in ___________! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

This financial problem will not end in foreclosure! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

This conflict will not end in a relational breakdown! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

This dark season will not end in a lifelong depression! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

This difficult exam will not end in a failing grade! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

This health challenge will not end in disaster! No, it is for the glory of God so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

Lord Jesus, help me to trust in You even when You haven’t changed my circumstances. Give me faith to believe that whatever I’m facing will ultimately reveal Your love and power to the world.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 NKJV

“Sir, how tall do you think you are?” The officer looked up from examining my driver’s license renewal application. She had spotted a mistake. I had misplaced a number, so instead of indicating that I was 6 feet tall, I claimed to be 6 inches tall! We had a good laugh.

As I left the office, I thought of John the Baptist. He had an incredible ministry with amazing national impact. Some think that he could have reached crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands, making up several percent of the population of Israel.

But then Jesus showed up, and everyone started going to Him. John the Baptist went from being a celebrity in the spotlight to being outdated and uninteresting. It’s like technology: I laugh when I compare my new smartphone with my twenty-year-old dumbphone, remembering how, at one time, it was cool!

But how did John handle his sudden loss of glory? It is one thing to have never had fame and influence, but to have had it and then lose it hurts much more. His response sets the standard for all of us, which can be paraphrased as “Less of me, more of Him”.

Decreasing for God’s glory is beautiful. We should never fear becoming smaller for God, because our decreasing creates space for Jesus to show His greatness—which is the greatest longing of our hearts!

Make a commitment today to resist fear and follow the principle of John the Baptist!

Jesus, I want You to increase in my life. Holy Spirit, show me where I can decrease so that Jesus will be even more glorified through my life.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. 'This is a remote place,' they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”” Mark 6:35-36 NIV

A guest post by Josephine Stenhammar
 
I am sure many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

In this story, we first see how the disciples come to Jesus and tell him about the problem–how it is a remote place, and it is getting late– and their own solution to it– that Jesus should send the people away so they can buy food to eat. The disciples have taken the situation into their own hands, presented their plan to Jesus, and asked him to bless it and make it come to pass.

They were leaning on their own understanding rather than submitting to Jesus (unlike in Proverbs 3:5-6). But Jesus had a different plan. Jesus already knew about the problem before the disciples even asked him, and Jesus had a solution that was different from the ideas of the disciples.

The disciples should have instead come to Jesus, surrendered their problems to him, and allowed him to lead. The same thing with us today, instead of trying to solve things in our understanding and presenting our fixed plan to Jesus, we should come and surrender to him, allowing him to work his way out, which will always be the best way.

When Jesus had his way with the feeding of the five thousand, all of them ate and were satisfied- there were even leftovers. This would not have happened if Jesus had allowed the disciples to have their way. When we surrender to Jesus and trust his ways, it will always turn out better, even if it requires walking by faith and us giving up control.

Thank you, Jesus, for loving us and caring for me. I want to surrender all of my problems to you. I trust that you have a plan and that your way is better than my way. Lead me on your path and help me to trust in you. Amen.

“Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” Luke 5:18–19 NIV

Christian relationships are absolutely essential for success in life. At some point, we will all face hardships that can only be overcome with the support of godly friends. The man Jesus healed received his miracle when his friends carried him to Jesus because he was unable to do it himself.

I once heard a speaker addressing a group of Christian leaders who carried a great deal of responsibility. He asked each person to take out a pen and paper and write down the names of four Christian friends they knew would carry them to Jesus when they were too weak to do it for themselves. He told them, “If you can’t write down four names, you’re in trouble!” His point hit home.

Let us nurture godly relationships so that when we face a spiritual battle too great to fight on our own, or when we are sick and weak, we can ask our friends to carry us to Jesus in prayer. This means building friendships with people whom we know can touch heaven through their prayers.

If a friend has really helped you, have you ever reached out to appreciate them?

Beyond making an effort to have these kinds of people in our lives, we should also make sure that we are those kinds of friends to others. Human friendship and support are important, but even more important is our ability to pray for others effectively.

Is there anyone in your life who needs you to carry them to Jesus?

Father, thank You for my friends. I pray that You would give me more good Christian relationships who will stand with me and support me during difficult times. I also pray that You would bring people into my life whom I can encourage and support in prayer.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:7 NIV

Regrets are part of life. Often, we cannot escape the remorse of having made the wrong choice and wondering what would have happened if we had acted differently. Yet what we do with our regrets can affect our future.

In today’s Scripture, the angel tells the women to announce to the disciples that Jesus is alive. Notice the little phrase: “and Peter.” Why is that so important? It highlights God’s heart for those who have made a mess of things and struggle with remorse.

After denying Jesus three times, Peter was filled with regret. The Bible says that after his triple failure, “he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). So what does God do? He makes sure to single Peter out from the others—not for shame or judgment, but for restorative love. Peter accepted God’s love, and it transformed him into a key leader in the early church.

Judas Iscariot also experienced deep regret. He “was seized with remorse” when he realized the consequences of his actions (Matt. 27:3). The difference between Peter and Judas was that, instead of humbling himself and turning to God for forgiveness and help, Judas took matters into his own hands and tried to escape the pain by ending his life.
Judas serves as a warning example. Instead of trying to carry your regrets alone, bring the memories of your bad choices and the consequences of missed opportunities to Jesus.

God’s heart goes out to you. He wants to wipe away your bitter tears, break the cycle of regret, and lead you into a new day. He can free you from the torment of past mistakes and make you fruitful for the kingdom of God—just as he did for Peter.

Father, I bring my regrets to you. Thank you for loving me despite the wrong choices I’ve made and the opportunities I’ve missed. Thank you that you still have a hope and a future for me.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Power in Not Knowing — Two2Grow, May 27

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7–8 NIV

It is very hard to be in a place where you don’t know what to do or how long it will take before circumstances change. When we lack knowledge, we tend to get anxious, and we either give up or try to control everything—neither of which is a good option.

In our text today the disciples wanted Jesus to tell them when exactly God was going to establish His kingdom. But Jesus’ response was to give the promise of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Often we think of the anointing of the Holy Spirit as the power to perform miracles and operate in other charismatic gifts. All that is good, and we need more of that. But what we see in this text is that one reason we need to be anointed with power is that we live in a time when we don’t have full knowledge—we only know “in part,” as Paul wrote (1 Cor. 13:12).

There are so many things we just don’t know:

• How long will I be lonely before God sends me a soulmate?
• How long will I have to battle this sickness?
• How long will I have to wait for the fulfillment of the vision God gave me?
• How long will it take before I get the financial breakthrough I am praying for?
• When will I overcome this temptation?

God might show you a specific time, but what I have found is that, most often, Jesus answers us the same: “It is not for you to know…But you will receive power”.

The Holy Spirit gives you the power to live in uncertainty—exactly as the first disciples in the book of Acts. God’s answer is to give you power to live a fruitful and meaningful life and to work for His kingdom even while not knowing.

God is faithful. He will not leave you powerless, even when He leaves you without answers.

Jesus, I cannot live this life without You. I know that You have the timing figured out, and that is enough for me. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I may have the power I need to live in uncertainty.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Make Room for Suddenly — Two2Grow, May 26

"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." Acts 2:2 NIV

Suddenly marks the key moment in the book of Acts; the disciples waiting for the promise of the Spirit in the Upper Room experienced God’s sudden move that changed history forever.

You can find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place, seeing no human way out. You might have a problem with no apparent solution. And if there is going to be any positive change, it seems like it will only come slowly and take ages. You might battle health issues, financial struggles, or relational conflicts, and the devil keeps telling you that the future will just be an extension of the present.

You might have a God-given dream of a certain career or academic or athletic achievement, but you don’t have the money or connections to get there. Or you might sense a call of God on your life, but you are still grinding away at your job, and watching the years pass by is eating you up inside, and you can’t see any door opening.

The feeling that whatever is now will always be is a lie meant to make you take your eyes off Jesus and the promise God has given you and make you forget God’s power.

We need to make room for God’s suddenly! Because the Holy Spirit is everywhere and all-powerful, anything is possible and things can change very quickly. God can do more for you in a split second than a lifetime of human effort and hard work ever could. The Spirit can open doors that you never thought possible and bring you to places you never dreamed of.

Stay faithful to God and keep looking to Him in prayer. As you prayerfully wait on Him, as the disciples did in Acts, you make room for God’s suddenly—and like them you will have a story to tell about God’s suddenly that brought about the fulfillment of God’s plan.

Heavenly Father, I look beyond my problems to You today. Give me strength to wait on You, fully confident that in Your timing You will act in power on my behalf and fulfill every promise.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7 (NKJV)

The world contains many things that make us afraid. If we were to write a list of things that can cause us to worry and feel anxiety, I’m sure the list would be very long. As if we didn’t have enough with fears about our personal life and family, the news constantly reminds us of world events that make us worry.

Can we protect ourselves from as much as we can, but if we are honest, we know deep inside that in our own strength there is no way we can keep safe from all evil around us. It is in this dark place we need to listen to Jesus’ words: “Do not fear”.

This is no mere suggestion. It is a divine imperative that commands us. It might sound like a hard and demanding thing. If you are under a dark cloud of angst and depression, the last thing you need is more pressure, isn’t it? But this is no heavy burden.

The amazing thing is that God’s commands always contain in them the power to make them happen! The power to drive out fear is right there in His presence and in His words. When we humbly accept by faith what He says, His words carry the ability of the Holy Spirit to make us be at peace in a fearful world.

It is good to pray:

Lord, on your command I will not fear. I will face this day in confidence knowing that you are with me.

In that response is the doorway into peace and faith. Sometimes you have to meditate on His word, repeat it several times, and pray over it as it leads you into His presence where fear cannot stand. Do with these words what a dog does with a juicy bone; bite down hard and don’t let go.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT
 
Words are very important and the way we use them affect our relationships: to others and most importantly to God.

Have you ever been around people who use their words to tear down, to spread fear and anger? Most of us have. Then you know how that impacts your mental health and spiritual strength in a negative way.

We should not act like that. As disciples we are to let Jesus be the Lord of our tongue so that our words become tools for the Lord to spread faith, hope, and love to people around us.

Sometimes when we go through dark places in life the temptation can be strong to let what we have inside affect our speech. But when our anxieties and anger come out through our mouth, we negatively affect those around us.

Some people are good at holding a tight rein on their tongue when in public but at home with their loved ones, they feel that they can “be themselves” and they speak however they want. Others use social media to vent their bitterness and frustrations.

Yet notice what the Scriptures says:  that “everything” we say should be good and helpful no matter who is around to hear or read from us.

If we grew up hearing our parents speak negatively we will automatically do the same unless we decide to change that pattern. Make a decision to let your words carry life and faith, especially to your loved ones. As parents, we need to be intentional to speak good words to our kids, never tear them down or discourage them.

We want to take responsibility for our speech and use our tongue to speak life to people, to encourage them and point them to Jesus. Our mouths should be a source of blessing to our spouses, parents, grandkids, friends and coworkers.

Lord Jesus, help me to use my mouth in a way that glorifies you and bring blessings to people around me. Forgive me for every word that has brought discouragement to others.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 NIV

A Guest Devotion from Josephine Stenhammar

I wonder what comes to mind when you read the words ”holiness” and ”sanctification.” Maybe you think of legalism and a list of don’ts to restrict Christians.

Maybe you read the words, look at your own life, and feel a sense of guilt and shame. God never intended for that to be the case.

Being sanctified is simply a purification of our hearts and minds. In other words, our love and motives become directed at God. The Holy Spirit gives us a pure and devoted heart filled with the love of God.

As sinners, we will always battle the flesh, and we are divided in our love and desire for God and for the sinful world. While we will always fight sin, God wants to wash us and make us pure so that we will wholeheartedly desire only God. The temptations of the world are no longer binding to us because all we desire is the presence and glory of Jesus.

God makes us holy and set apart from the world, not through restricting us but through washing us and inviting us to focus our love and desire on Him instead. And, as we read in Mathew 5:8, this comes with a promise to see God!

When we allow Jesus to sanctify our hearts and make us pure, then we will see God! He removes the dirt that blocks the eyes of our heart so that we can then gaze upon his beauty all the days of our life, as the psalmist writes in Psalm 27:4. What a beautiful promise, and how I long for each of us to have this purified vision, love, and desire of God.

I want to encourage you to continue to ask Jesus to sanctify you today.

Lord Jesus, I want to love you with all of my heart. I want to desire you and long for your presence. Sanctify me and refine my heart today that I may see you. Amen.

“Be It To Me According to Your Word” – Two2Grow, May 22

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38a NKJV

God is not a bully. He will not force you to do something against your will. Rather, He invites you to partner with Him.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, sets an example of what it means to partner with God for the fulfillment of His will.

Many of us get nervous the moment her name is mentioned, fearing that we might end up worshiping her. But don’t be anxious—the Bible depicts Mary as blessed “among women” (Luke 1:42); she is not to be exalted above other humans.

In many ways, Mary models how we should live. Her response to the angel Gabriel, announcing that she would miraculously give birth to Jesus, sets the gold standard for all of us: “Be it to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

When God speaks to us, a hundred questions and a thousand fears can rise in our hearts. Doubts make us question whether we truly heard from God or if He will be faithful to His promise. But from Mary, we learn that we are to accept God’s Word and leave the consequences to Him.

Let her response set the tone for your walk with God. There is an old worship song based on Mary’s words. Why don’t you listen to it and let the Scriptures sink into your spirit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8sAzBTAVCU

Father, today I choose to partner with You and accept Your word and leave the consequences to You.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NKJV

My mother loves strong perfumes. When we had our first daughter, Josephine, I let grandma hold her for a while, and when she gave her back to me the baby no longer had that new-baby smell but now smelled like grandma!

That spoke to me. We are to let Jesus draw us close and carry us, to the point where his scent rubs off on us. So when we move around the brokenness, chaos, and pain in this world we carry the fragrance of Jesus.

As with my baby, we are not the source of the divine aroma. We cannot work for it or make it happen: it simply comes as a natural consequence of letting Jesus pick us up and carry us.

I love today’s text in Acts says that the enemies of Jesus looked at the disciples and were surprised at their boldness but then “they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NKJV). Being with Jesus leaves you with his smell and people will come to realize that.

The greatest joy in life is when people catch the smell of Jesus on us. I love it when people ask: “What’s so different about you?” Or “Why can you have peace in the midst of all that is happening?” Those questions mean that they smell Jesus on us. It comes naturally and you can’t hide it! Such moments invite us to share the love of God with people.

Why don’t you lift your hands and pray: Jesus, carry me today! And hold me so close that I pick up on your scent and send me out to spread it in this broken world.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? Ps. 139:7 NIV

The world we live in is filled with the presence of God. The answer to David’s questions in today’s Scripture is “nowhere,” because the Spirit is everywhere (see Ps 139:8–12).

Most people, even most Christians, don’t realize that or live like it is true. But when are eyes are opened to the presence of God all around us it changes everything.

I heard a preacher once say that the Holy Spirit could visit most churches and walk down the aisle with a red hat on, and people wouldn’t still recognize Him. Sadly, I think that’s true. But not just in churches. Even in our lives and homes we seldom are attentive to the Spirit’s presence.

It is important that we cultivate an awareness of God’s presence. Life is an adventure when your heart starts to open to the reality of us being in God’s world, where God is present and constantly at work. Whatever we do or wherever we are, we should make it a point to discern how the Lord is moving and what He is doing.

I’m not talking about becoming weird or turning out to be so spiritually minded that we become of no earthly good. The invitation to us is to live life to the fullest and, in that, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of life. Instead, the more aware we become of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the more like Jesus we will become.

Jesus was always sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit while, at the same time, He was someone people loved to be around. The fact that Jesus was invited to weddings and that children loved Him shows how relational and social He was. That tells me that the more sensitive I am to the Spirit, the more fully alive I will be at the same time.

The Holy Spirit will not just connect me to God but also help me relate to the people around me in a good way.

Father, teach me to become more sensitive to Your Spirit and increasingly aware of Your presence. Help me grow more like Jesus each day, and show me how to be more open and responsive to You today.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD