“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 NIV

I remember very vividly coming out of soccer practice in middle school and realizing that the van I had come with was no longer in the parking lot. My friend’s father, who had taken a group of us to practice, had taken all the other boys back but forgotten me. I felt deserted. Another family showed me mercy, and I arrived safely home.

We can all reach seasons in life when we feel forgotten. It could be a birthday or anniversary, and someone important to us forgets. Or we may have worked really hard, but our boss fails to give us the credit we deserve. We get ghosted on social media. We may be in the hospital and no one comes to visit us, or we retire and our phone stops ringing as we slowly fade into oblivion. Or a parent or spouse abandons us, leaving us to face life alone.

Worst of all is when we sense that God is silent, that our prayers aren’t being answered, and we don’t experience the closeness of God as we once did. Then the devil is quick to lie to us and say, “God has forgotten you. He has much more important things to do than to care about you.”

Those are the times when you need to stand strong on God’s Word. As today’s Scripture says, even though people around us may disappoint and forget us, God will never forget us!

Don’t look to your feelings to check whether God is with you or not. They are unreliable. Lean on God’s Word, which promises us that He will be with us to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).

Say it out loud: “Never forgotten!”

It helps to look into the mirror, point to yourself, and say it. Let those words sink into your spirit and shape your worldview.

Thank you, Father, that You never forget me. Open my eyes to recognize Your presence in my life and help me to overcome any sense of abandonment.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 NIV

The first paycheck I ever received was for packing orders in a shoe warehouse during evenings and weekends while I was in high school. It was hard work. I remember when my first paycheck came in the mail, I couldn't believe how small the amount was. After taxes were taken out (and Sweden has very high taxes!), I felt the work wasn't worth it.

God is altogether different from a boss who underpays. God takes pleasure in giving. The Father gave up His Son for us—the most precious gift He could ever give. As if that weren't enough, with Jesus, the Father graciously gives us all things! God wants to give us everything: "No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Ps. 84:11).

Why this mind-blowing generosity? The answer is found in the verse. It all comes down to grace.

Grace is a word we often hear in church, but we don't always understand what it means. A simple way to remember it is the acronym: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

Think about that. Through the gift of Jesus, you have access to every gift. Jesus paid the price for our salvation and eternal life. Even more than that, in Christ we are brought into the fullness of God's life and blessings. And it is all a gift. There are no strings attached, no hidden fine print that you'll discover later, and what you receive will always be far more than you ever expected—all of God's riches. In other words, God overpays even when we haven’t worked at all.

Father, thank you for your love and generosity and for giving me Jesus. Give me a deeper revelation of your grace today.

"Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." John 14:1 NLT

Fear is a bully—it wants to set the limits for our lives and decide what we can and cannot do.

Fear is an enemy. If we give in to fear, we will never fulfill God’s assignment for our lives.

We tend to speak our fears and make choices based on what we are afraid could happen.
But Jesus doesn’t want us to be ruled by fear. Jesus came to set us free from fear.

Faith is the antidote to fear. Trusting God doesn’t mean we will never feel fear, but it does mean that we look beyond our fear to God and His Word. We don’t deny what we experience, but in the midst of trouble, we choose to trust God.

We have to choose not to let fear take our hearts captive and instead turn to Jesus. All it takes is telling the Lord, “I trust You,” and then acting accordingly. Instead of putting our fear into words and actions, we let our faith in Jesus shape our words, thoughts, and actions.
Fear wants to rule and ruin your life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, you can choose today not to let fear bully you.

Tell fear: “Fear, I will not let you run my life. I resist you in Jesus’ name.”

Tell Jesus: “I decide to trust You today. I know You will come through for me.”

Now listen to the song Trust You by 7 Hills Worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpkiZZ4Z0bw

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

Our greatest enemy isn’t Satan; it is ourselves. Our fallen nature is constantly working against the will of God in our lives.

We need to grow in self-control in our walk with the Lord so that we don’t give in to every impulse we have and simply let our fallen nature take over.

We can do great things—even take a city—but if we lack self-control, sooner or later we will stumble and fall.

Self-control takes practice. It is about saying “no” to the desires of our fallen flesh. We practice speaking only words that edify and refuse to speak words of bitterness, anger, or hate. We practice resisting evil and lustful thoughts and not letting them find a home in our minds. It also applies to our work lives: we need self-control so that we neither overwork nor become lazy and idle.

I encourage you to identify areas in your life where you need to exercise more self-control. Be honest with yourself. It also helps to talk to a Christian friend about those areas so they can pray with you. Growth starts there.

We can’t control our fallen flesh in our own strength. We need God’s help.

Developing habits of daily prayer, Bible reading, and financial generosity are great ways to practice self-control. These practices open our lives more fully to the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is only through Him that we can truly gain self-control.

Father, forgive me when I lack self-control and let my fallen nature take over. Holy Spirit, help me develop self-control so that You can shape me more into the likeness of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 NIV

We are in a war—whether we know it or not. There is an ongoing spiritual battle for our minds. Satan wants us to lose focus on Jesus and the kingdom of God and become consumed with what is going on around us in this world. He knows that when our focus is where it should be, we become dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.

When he can get us to lose our kingdom focus, we can be tricked and deceived.
So how do you keep your mind “set on things above,” as our verse instructs us to do? It comes down to being intentional about what you expose yourself to. When you realize that there is a battle for your mind, you start to evaluate what you spend your mental energy on and what content you fill your mind with.

Ask yourself: Does what I spend my time and attention on help me maintain a kingdom focus? Am I taking this seriously? Am I intentional in my choices?

If we constantly feed our minds with social media, let the television run nonstop 24/7, listen to all the world's gossip, read books that stir up our deepest fears, and watch whatever movie everyone else is watching without any discernment, our minds will be set on this world. When we come to a moment in life when we need to press into God and hear from Him, our focus will be so caught up in this world that it will be very difficult.

This is not legalism. It is about waking up to the battle and making informed choices. It is not legalism that keeps me from drinking water from a pond when I get thirsty—it is my knowledge that the water is dirty and my desire to stay healthy.

I encourage you today to fill yourself with content that feeds your faith and keeps your mind on God and His kingdom. When you do, you will see how the peace, love, and joy of the Lord flood your mind and life, and hearing from Him and being led by the Holy Spirit will become much easier.

Father, thank You for being with me today. Help me stay focused on You and Your kingdom. Holy Spirit, show me what I need to change so that my mind is set on You. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, Phd

“The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11 NLT

Throughout the Bible, God shows His love toward His people by providing for their material needs. It is not, as some think, that God only cares about our spiritual lives and leaves us to sort out our physical needs. No. God cares about every dimension of our lives, and He takes pleasure in providing for us.

Emelie and I have seen God’s provision in amazing ways. Even when God has called us to take radical steps of faith that involved financial risks, not once have we fallen behind on bills or ended up stranded in some way. Often, we had no idea how God was going to provide, but He always came through.

I love the expression, “Where God guides, He provides.” It captures the wonderful promise of God’s provision, just as we read about in today’s verse.

But it also highlights an important point that is sometimes forgotten: God’s promise of provision is directly connected to living according to His will for our lives.

When you know that you are walking in God’s plan, you can also trust Him to provide for your material needs. God is not unjust; He will not send you on a mission without also making sure you have the resources needed to complete it. Trust Him with all your needs today.

Father, thank You that You have a plan for my life. Help me to trust You and believe that You have already stored up provisions for me as I walk with you.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
 

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

I have one older brother, and growing up, I compared everything he got with what I got. When my mom gave us ice cream at home, I put my bowl next to his to check to see if it was exactly equal to his.

Comparison is a normal part of growing up with siblings, but it is also a great temptation in the family of God, the church. We compare our walk with God to that of others, we compare the blessings God has given us with those of others, and so on.

The devil is happy when he gets us to compare our lives with others. Why? Because the outcomes fit his agenda perfectly.

Think about it. When I, for example, measure my walk with God against another person, I will either feel discouraged because they have a much deeper relationship with God than I do, or I will feel proud because I sense that I have gone further with God than they have.

If my brother or sister is blessed beyond what I am, comparison easily makes me envious. But when I feel that I’m more favored by God, I am tempted to judge and look down on them.

Discouragement or pride, envy or judgment, are all among the enemy’s favorite tools to keep us from running the race of faith. This is why, in today’s text, we are warned that it is unwise to measure ourselves against others.

So what are we to do to break the curse of comparison? The answer is to measure yourself against Jesus and His calling for your life. Are you growing in likeness to Him? Are you living in His will for your life? Pursuing Jesus and His assignment for your life, while refusing to compare yourself with others, leads to true freedom—that is the life of wisdom.

Father, forgive me when I fall for the temptation to compare myself with others. Help me to look to Jesus alone and protect my heart from pride and discouragement, envy and judgment.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 NIV

A post by Emelie Stenhammar, MD

At the word of the angel of the Lord, the women left the tomb where they had been looking for Jesus’ body and went to tell the other disciples of His resurrection. They were given a commission from the angel to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. They were afraid, probably both from meeting the angel (the soldiers were so afraid that “they shook and became like dead men”), but also because their Lord had just been executed and His followers might be the next targets.
 
They did not let that fear hinder them, though, from doing what the Lord had asked them to do. And as they journeyed on in fear and joy, Jesus met them on the road. Jesus told them not to be afraid, and we know that at His word, fear leaves.
 
In our lives, Mikael and I have many times been asked by Jesus to do things that have been beyond our capacity, outside our comfort zone, and that have made us afraid. But as we have stepped out on His word, afraid yet filled with the joy and excitement that come from living a life led by the Spirit, God has always met us on the road, spoken peace over us, and chased away our fear.
 
If we want to wait to obey the Lord until all our fear is gone, we will not be able to be of much use for the Kingdom. But if we choose faith over fear, if we do it afraid, we will, like the women, meet Jesus on the road. He will speak peace over us and empower us for the task He has set before us.
 
Jesus, I pray that I, like the women, will respond in obedience to Your call, even if I am afraid, knowing that You will meet me on the road and speak Your peace over my life.
 

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 NIV

When our kids were young, we lived in a small two-story house that had a very steep staircase, almost like a ladder, leading to the second floor. They were not allowed to climb it alone—Emelie and I were always behind them so that if they fell, they would fall into our arms.

I believe that’s a great image coming out of today’s Scripture. Life is often like being a child climbing a steep ladder, and there is always the risk of a misstep or losing one’s balance. But when we do, we fall right into God’s arms of goodness and love.

Fear of failure often keeps us from obeying God. The “what ifs” plague our minds and immobilize us. But when our eyes are opened to the fact that God is behind us and that if we fall, we fall into Him—fear of failure loses its grip.

Other translations render it as “goodness and mercy.” I love that because the focus on merciful love, in particular, erases the fear of falling into judgment. God will not shame you or punish you for misstepping as you climb closer to Him. It would be as wrong as a parent punishing their little child for misstepping on a ladder.

God is both ahead of you, leading the way, directing every step you take, and pointing out every danger. Behind you, ready to catch you if you fall, are His goodness and love.
I particularly love that our text says this is true “all the days of my life”—not just on Sundays, or on the days when I feel more holy, or when I have prayed and paid my tithe.

Today is one of those “all the days,” meaning that right now God’s arms of goodness and merciful love are behind me, ready to support and catch me. Isn’t that amazing? Glory to God!

Father, thank You for Your goodness and merciful love that are following me today. Holy Spirit, help me realize this in a deeper way. I repent of the fear of failure and trust that You are in front of me and behind me today.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” Revelation 4:6a NIV

Have you ever experienced chaos—whether in your circumstances or in your inner emotional life? You lose all your fixed points in life, and confusion and fear take over.

The devil is the master of chaos. Whenever he enters the picture, that's what he brings. Chaos is what happens when God's good and peaceful order is turned upside down.

In the Book of Revelation, John is given a vision of heaven where he sees God's throne and the angels worshiping Him. There is something in particular I want you to notice, and that is the sea-like expanse in front of the throne and the fact that it is clear.

Why is this significant? In our day, the sea often brings pleasant feelings. We may think of beaches, swimming, boating, or going on a cruise. Yet in biblical times, people often looked at the sea with fear. The sea is typically portrayed in Scripture as a wild and untamed place associated with chaos and danger.

Many of us can relate to being in a stormy sea where we feel completely out of control.

Yet what we see in Revelation is that the powers of chaos are tamed and under the feet of God. The fact that the sea is transparent speaks of God transforming chaos into peace. What was once a source of fear and uncertainty has become clear, calm, and fully subject to God's rule—chaos is tamed and turned into divine, peaceful order!

Take courage today if you are facing chaos. Jesus defeated the devil, and chaos is under God's feet. You might not see any way forward, but for God it is transparent—He sees through the sea, so to speak.

The powers of chaos will not define your life, nor will they have the final say. Put your hope in God; you will yet praise Him (Ps. 42:11).

Father, thank You for defeating the devil and the powers of chaos and for bringing me and my loved ones into a place of peace, order, and flourishing.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9 NIV

I have a mentor in ministry who is now over 90 years old. One of his favorite things to say to me when I face hardship is, “Be bold.”

Joshua was taking over as the leader of God’s people after Moses. It was a great and difficult task. Joshua needed to hear what is said in today’s Scripture—and so do we.

We learn something important here: God will lead you into places and situations where you will be tempted to feel weak, fearful, and hopeless. Many times, we find ourselves in those places not because we have missed God, but because we are right in the center of His will.

The key is that in those moments, we must lift our eyes away from our own feelings and limitations and focus on the God who is with us. When our hearts are assured of His presence, weakness turns into strength, fear turns into faith, and discouragement turns into hope.

It all hinges on God’s promise never to leave us alone. The God of the universe is with you, and He will not let you fail or fall. His strength is sufficient for every challenge, His wisdom has no limits, and He already has a plan in place.

Look to God today. Don’t run away or try to ignore your problems. Pray that the Holy Spirit—who is the personal presence of God with you—will fill you with power to face your challenges. You are not alone. Like Joshua, you will come out on the other side with a testimony that will inspire others to trust in God’s faithfulness.

Father, I look to You! Fill me with courage, faith, and wisdom to face my challenges today. I trust You to bring me through.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.  James 3:6 The Message

At the wall in a house of some elderly missionaries we often visited in Africa hung a framed print on yellowed, moisture-damaged paper:

“Christ is the Head of this house, the unseen Guest at every meal, and the silent Listener to every conversation.”

I particularly remember that last phrase, and it is a very good reminder for us today. I don’t think it would hurt if we had this on our walls today too.

Some might think that God doesn’t care how we talk to one another, but that is a serious mistake. Just read the rest of James chapter 3, and you will see how seriously God views our words.

As we walk with Jesus, one of the most important areas where we need to mature is how we speak. Just as a child’s age is revealed by their speech, the maturity of a follower of Jesus is often revealed by how they handle their tongue.

It is strange, but some people seem to get energy from complaining and speaking bitter words. But we need to discipline our tongue and not let anger, bitterness, hate, fear, complaining, or other toxic attitudes find a voice through us. Our words should be edifying and full of life.

This is especially important in our homes, where we tend to let our guard down and let ourselves go. We need to speak life and blessing over our loved ones, not words that hurt and tear down.

Take a moment and reread today’s Scripture in The Message paraphrase. It brings the point home, and I hope it motivates all of us to keep a tight rein on our tongue today.

Father, forgive me for every word I’ve spoken that didn’t glorify You. Help me today to discipline my tongue so that my words will bless those around me.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalm 34:19 NKJV

Living for Jesus will attract problems—where the light shines, that's where the bugs come.
So don't be surprised when you go through difficulties, and don't let the devil lie to you and say that you are suffering because God doesn't care about you or that God has left you alone.

Our text today is almost like a promise: when you live faithfully for God and His covenant, you will have afflictions.

In case you didn't notice, let me point out the word "many." Encouraging, huh? Perhaps not very encouraging, but it is reality. So if you're not going through some hardship right now, just get ready—another one is on its way.

This psalm would be depressing if it stopped after predicting troubles for us, but the beauty of it is that it continues with a promise: “But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” The word "many" is overcome by the word "all."

Whatever you are going through today, the Lord will deliver you. Don't let the devil tell you that your present problem is an exception. No! Like someone said, "All means all, and that's all all means!"

God will not leave you alone in your problems. There is already a rescue plan in heaven for the difficulty you are facing today. Trust that God's got it. Take courage today and know that God will work it out. You will have a story to tell of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Father, thank You that You are on my side no matter what I face and that You have a plan to work things out for my good and Your glory. Help me trust You and give me peace until Your answer comes.

Declare it aloud: "The Lord will deliver me out of [fill in your problem]."

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 NIV

When I was young, I thought that if I only had strong enough faith, I wouldn't have to go through difficulties. I saw suffering and faith as opposites that could not be mixed, like water and oil. But as I went deeper into God's Word, I realized I had misunderstood it all.
The Bible teaches that following Jesus and suffering actually go together.

Jesus didn't just suffer in our place; He also suffered as our example. That's what today's verse says: "To this you were called"—called to suffer, that is.

But why would God allow His children to go through suffering? So often, suffering feels completely meaningless.

There was a great revival in Germany during the nineteenth century whose influence is still felt around the world today. Pastor Johann Christoph Blumhardt emphasized prayer, deliverance, healing, and the coming Kingdom of God. Extraordinary miracles were reported. Thousands of people traveled to his town seeking prayer, healing, and spiritual renewal, and reports of healings spread far and wide.

Yet in one of his devotional writings, he said:

“We must pass through all the grief that other people have, because there is to be a man of faith in every sorrow of the world.”¹

The point is this: suffering becomes a place of ministry to God and to others.

In the midst of suffering, we can serve as priests before God, offering a sacrifice of praise in the middle of hardship and pain.

As we participate in the suffering of the world, we can be salt and light, pointing people to the reality of Jesus.

So take courage today. Fix your eyes on Jesus, do not be ashamed of your suffering, and let it become a platform for praising God and proclaiming the gospel.

Holy Spirit, give me the strength to suffer for Jesus. Help me offer a sacrifice of praise and faithfully represent Jesus to those around me.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

¹ Johann Christoph Blumhardt, Thy Kingdom Come: A Blumhardt Reader, ed. Vernard Eller (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980), 170.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

Most churches I’ve attended in East Africa, regardless of tradition, close their services by having everyone quote this Scripture together in unison.

It is a rich text, and I particularly love the phrase, “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” There are two ways we can understand this.

The first is that the Holy Spirit creates fellowship among believers. It amazes me that you can meet believers from other countries and backgrounds who look different, speak differently, and even smell different. On the surface, we may seem to have nothing in common, yet we can still enjoy sweet fellowship with one another because of the Holy Spirit’s work in creating meaningful relationships. In this sense, the prayer is that we would experience the kind of rich fellowship among believers that only the Holy Spirit can create.

The second meaning speaks of our relationship with God and our invitation into a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit—that is, fellowship with the Spirit. What does that mean? It means nurturing an awareness of the Spirit’s presence, listening to the voice of the Spirit, and remaining open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Bible scholars have not settled on which meaning Paul intended. Some—and I count myself among them—believe he meant both.

Our goal is to live in relationships with others that are fostered by the Spirit and to live in close fellowship with the Spirit. That is exactly the kind of life we see in Jesus.

What can you do today to see both of these dimensions at work in your life?

Holy Spirit, I want to know You better and be more open to Your presence and more sensitive to Your leading. I also ask You to create deeper relationships with the people You have placed in my life. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

A Post by Emelie Stenhammar, MD

“The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8 NIV

In 2016, our family was preparing to move to England, where Mikael was going to do his PhD and I was going to work at a hospital. To be allowed to work there as a medical doctor, I was told that I might need to pass a very difficult English test.

I really did not want to take that test because I knew I would never achieve the score I needed, regardless of how much I practiced. Besides, I was working full-time and raising young children, so I had very little time to prepare. Since they said I “might” need the test, I directed all my prayers toward not having to take it.

One afternoon, I was sitting in our home office when I received an email. It said I had to take the test. Fear gripped me—almost panic. If I failed, which I was certain I would, we could not move to England. I was supposed to support our family, and without passing the test I would not be allowed to work. Mikael would not be able to pursue his PhD, and God’s plans would be stopped.

I knelt—not because I wanted to, but because I had no strength to sit, stand, or hardly even breathe. I prayed, “Jesus, You have to speak to me—say a word, anything!” I looked for a Bible but could not find one. Then I reached for a book from a pile on Mikael’s desk and opened it at random. The first words my eyes fell on were: “Not I, but God in me.”

As I read those words, the peace of God flooded me. All fear immediately left. I knew that if God had called us to do this, He would provide the strength and ability needed. I got up and, empowered by the Spirit, began to study. And yes, I passed the test, and we had a wonderful time in England.

One word from God can change everything. And even though God often uses the Bible – he can speak through anything and anyone.

Jesus, a word from you changes everything. Speak to me today, use whatever you want, and give me ears to hear.
 

“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 NKJV

A world-renowned evangelist once visited the church I was part of. I had never heard him preach before, so I asked one of the church leaders what it was like to listen to him. She said that when you hear him preach the gospel, it is so wonderful that you want to get saved all over again.

Most of us are not traveling the world and preaching the gospel to large crowds, but we are still called to share the good news of Jesus with the people around us.

When Jesus called His disciples, He said that He would "make them become fishers of men." Notice the emphasis on how they had to be trained by Jesus to win the lost. It did not come automatically for them, and it does not come automatically for us. We need to let Jesus transform us into fishers of men.

It all begins with developing a heart for the lost, and you do that by spending time with Jesus. As you fellowship with Him, you allow God's love and compassion to fill you to the point that you begin to desire reaching those who do not yet know the Lord.

When the love of God burns within you, it will help you overcome any shyness or sense of awkwardness and move you to reach out to those who need Jesus.

This year, the church staff set "God goals"—things we wanted to accomplish in our walk with God during 2026. One of my goals was to become more active in evangelism and reach people beyond the church walls. I hope many of us will make that a goal this year and in the years to come.

Jesus, I ask You to make me a fisher of people. Fill me with Your love and compassion, and equip me with Your Word. Lead me to people who need You, and make me bold enough to reach out to them. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.” Genesis 2:21 NIV

At one point, I thought that the harder you work, the more God will bless you. I worked very long days and took pride in the few hours of sleep I got. But I eventually came close to burnout, and I was surprised that I somehow didn't sense God's blessing when I asked why I had reached that point.

As I studied Scripture, I came to realize that while we are to have a good work ethic and not be lazy (see Proverbs 18:9), it is also important to God that we get enough rest. Rest is part of our responsibility to care for the body God has given us. Sleep is part of our service to God. 

I also came to see that one reason why I—and many Christians with me—overwork is a lack of trust in God. It takes faith and discipline to get enough rest. I had to believe that God was at work even while I rested.

A passage of Scripture that brought this truth home was the creation story. What did Adam do when God created Eve? He slept! Adam's greatest blessing came to him while he rested. That speaks of the unearned grace of God.

You can trust that God will work things out for you even when you are not working.

So how much sleep should you get? That depends on your constitution and circumstances. I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. But we all know when we are overworking and undersleeping—and that does not honor God.

Father, thank You for caring for every part of me. Help me not to overwork, and help me trust that You are at work even when I am not. I pray that You would bless my sleep so that I get enough rest. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters. Isaiah 43:16 NIV

The worship song “Way Maker” is one of my favorites. It speaks of God’s power to do the impossible—to make a way where there is no way. If we could have listened to what the Israelites sang while crossing the Red Sea, I’m sure that would have been their song!

I love that we can speak of God based on the ways we have seen Him revealed in Scripture and how He has shown His power in our lives. One name that Emelie and I use for God is “Puzzle Solver.” By that, we mean God’s amazing way of taking the bits and pieces of our lives that seem totally unrelated and, at times, contradictory, and ultimately making them fit perfectly into His greater purposes. Even failures and mistakes, when placed in God’s hands, become pieces He can use in putting together the puzzle of our lives.

Emelie and I have often looked at circumstances in our lives and wondered how in the world they could ever make any sense. But they have!

We need to let go of trying to control our lives and instead surrender everything to God. You don’t have to understand everything. Just trust that God is God and that He knows what He is doing. When you surrender control to Him, you will be amazed at what God can do and at the beautiful puzzle He will put together in your life.

How has God proven Himself to be a “Puzzle Solver” in your life?

Why not listen to the song as you thank God that He is working things out? Before you do, just one comment. I think it is more than just an interesting fact that “Way Maker” was written in Africa by Nigerian Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu. It arose from a continent where many of God’s people desperately need to see Him move on their behalf for their survival. Below is the original song.

Father, thank You that You are the Way Maker and Puzzle Solver in my life. Help me trust that You are working things out even when I can’t see it, and that one day I will brag about what You have done. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 NIV

At one time, we had a visiting preacher in our church who was the leader of many churches in South Sudan, a country in Africa torn apart by a horrible civil war. I hosted him and had time to hear his story. He shared how, when he was young, militia men came to his village and murdered many family members and destroyed their property, but he survived. He was very angry and full of hatred, but when he encountered the Lord, he was filled with love and was able to forgive. His focus on forgiveness and reconciliation has led him to sit with presidents and military leaders to help them reconcile. One of his sayings is that when we hold unforgiveness toward someone who has hurt us, it is like drinking poison while thinking it will destroy our enemy—but we are the ones who actually get hurt.

God wants to flood our hearts with His love so that we don’t have to harbor unforgiveness, anger, and bitterness. As Scripture says, God’s love “keeps no record of wrongs.”

Sometimes we have been so mistreated by people that the record of their wrongs could be very long. But we need to fight the temptation to dwell on it and instead pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to forgive.

One way to move from hurt to forgiveness is to start praying for God to bless those who have hurt you. Pray that they will be blessed, healthy, successful, and for any other good thing you can think of. Make a point to do that every time you think of them. In blessing your enemy, you enter the realm of forgiveness.

Lord, help me not to harbor unforgiveness but to bless those who have hurt me. Set me free from bitterness and anger and fill me with Your love. I pray that You will bless [insert the name of the one who hurt you]. Amen.

Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD

“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