Ruth was certainly a woman who chose to follow God. Yet she also faced the tragedies of life. She lost her husband. She experienced the loss of her father-in-law, and the family lost her brother-in-law as well. She left her homeland, her culture, and everything familiar behind. She lost her financial security. She lost, she lost, and she lost. That’s enough to make anyone bitter. Fair? That’s life for many people.

But is loss the end?

Do we have an escape plan? Is there a way out? Who will help us and restore all things?

In a few months, 27 nations have engaged with our content. That was never something I planned. I initially thought that if only a few people could come to this website and be blessed by these resources, that would be wonderful. However, if this content is helping people discover God and their valuable identity in Him, then why not?

Think about the criminal who was crucified beside Jesus. He was guilty, condemned, and hanging on a cross because of his crimes. Yet, in his final moments, he placed his faith in Christ. Jesus responded, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

It was supernatural and very powerful. I saw sick people getting healed, people puking while being delivered from demons, people walking out of wheelchairs, and people saying a big yes to God. Now, this is not a normal experience. It was a large, massive gathering with a demonstration of God’s power and love for all those who were present.

This was a priceless and life-giving discovery. Today, we live in a world where technology gives us access to incredible resources. We have apps that work day and night, providing knowledge, teachings, and tools at our fingertips. Even the Bible is available freely through digital platforms.

But free does not mean it has no value.

If every match is scripted, someone must be writing the storyline, deciding the goals, and directing every dramatic moment on the pitch. Perhaps, before the final whistle blows, you should put on your detective hat and discover who this mysterious “soccer director” really is, or whether we’re simply hearing rumours that have taken on a life of their own.

It’s so interesting how we are all being wired today and how we sometimes lean toward plugging our ears into something that can give us a little more life, a little more motivation, a little more direction, and a little more excitement. A little more fun noise. A little more dopamine. Something that helps us keep going and hit our goals.

Let others criticize. But the Body of Christ, especially those called to priestly intercession, should not primarily be known for criticism. Rather, they should speak blessing, life, wisdom, righteousness, and pray for the flourishing of the nation according to God’s purposes.

God will be your rear guard. God will take care of you. God will give you intelligence and wisdom. God will give you abundant life. God forgives, restores, and renews. That is our purpose: to lift God high.

Perhaps the fox is the voice of a close friend who discourages you from pursuing that relationship. Perhaps it is the negative voice of a colleague. These voices can sabotage the beginning of your vineyard that would have blossomed if you had learned to CATCH THE FOX

You know what amazes me? When I slow down and carefully read this psalm, I notice that Asaph is not writing with despair. He is not discouraged. He is not depressed about the spiritual formation of the next generation. He is not wondering whether God’s covenant will survive.

Instead, he makes a declaration.

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children.”

Even the whole team of Germany was pretty neat: Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Özil, Klose, Podolski, Müller, Boateng, and of course the goalkeeper Neuer. They were all pretty good, so I was able to pick them as my team even before the first game of the 2014 World Cup. I knew Germany would win. That was my calculated, instinctive gut-level call—pretty accurate. And I don’t know this time because I don’t know all the new players in the different teams. It may be a surprise to see who will win.

Wouldn’t we all agree that there will always be some grief, some chaos, some noise, or some situation that tries to disturb our peace? Every human being knows that the death of a loved one is perhaps the greatest disturbance we can experience. When you lose someone dear to you, your heart is shaken in a way nothing else can compare to.

We do not discover our identity apart from Christ, neither can we produce these virtues in our lives apart from the Holy Spirit. We cannot display this spiritual wardrobe in our daily contexts if we are not walking in and being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to faithfully live the Christian life without the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

I would define him as an excellent, glorious, and impactful theological leader, uniquely commissioned to enlarge the Kingdom of God for the sake of humanity and, ultimately, for the glory of God. Therefore, when a spiritual and theological giant like Paul exhorts believers to “watch out for dogs,” we must take his warning seriously. We should pay careful attention to his words.

Who, then, are these “dogs”?

We must also be open to sufferings with quietness and maturity, to digest it and not become surprised by it. It is often easy to lose the vision and passion for our calls. It often starts with a messy formation that becomes confused, hurt, or discouraged by persecution or suffering.

The Holy Spirit in you will glorify God the Father. This will open the Glorious Art of Prayers with His manifested tangible presence and great rest, with the movements of God in all spectrum of your life.

We are not waiting on any new age movements or new revelations. Yes, a revived spiritual life will always make a difference. It is about our faithful devotion. At the same time, biblical literacy and faithful biblical exegesis matter greatly.

The voice of the text is not about our preferences, opinions, emotions, or our own strategic plans being infused into the text. We need to detach our emotions from the text and devote ourselves to the text.