Challenged? Shift, pray, proclaim

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Welcome to The Smart Edit newsletter! … praying for a new, holy momentum for you. Holy, Big Mo is our friend!

This week … Jesus (and then Peter) showed us how to deal with “sick or dying” areas of life.

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Trivia question: January is named after Janus, the Roman god of what?

P.S. — Other than pastors, who disciples church-goers?

KINGDOM DYNAMIC
Challenged? Shift, pray, proclaim

What do you do when faced with "sick or dying" areas of life? What challenge or opportunity is before you?

Be inspired by Peter raising Tabitha (see Acts 9:36-43). He learned this from Jesus. This scriptural template offers a surprising, three-step approach …

➡️ Shift the atmosphere

Peter began by asking the mourners to leave, clearing the space of grief and doubt. This intentional action created an environment where faith could flourish.

In our lives, removing negative influences, distractions, and spiritual clutter can prepare the way for God’s transformative work.

He saw Jesus do the same with a little girl who died: “He (Jesus) said, ‘Leave’ … when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.” (Matthew 9:24-25 NASB)

🤲 Pray to align with God

After creating the right environment, Peter knelt and prayed.

This shows the necessity of seeking God’s presence, listening to His direction, and gaining clarity before taking action. Prayer isn’t just preparation—it’s where battles are won and fulfillment secured.

💬 Proclaim with authority

After praying through, Peter turned to Tabitha and commanded her to rise. This bold proclamation, spoken in alignment with God’s will, brought her back to life.

Similarly, when we declare God’s truth over situations—rooted in prayer and faith—we invite His rule to manifest.

This approach teaches us that transformation doesn’t happen by chance. We partner with God by preparing our surroundings, connecting deeply through prayer, and confidently speaking His promises into our circumstances … creating space for miracles and renewal.

Jesus, you showed us how your Kingdom works. Cause our faith to rise to address challenging days. We will conform to your modeling and teachings, not the average of what’s around us. Amen.

Take a refreshing, quick worship break

🎧️ On the pod

Questing for the land marked out for you (ep 324). Each son and daughter of God has a "landedness" to claim. David reveals a dynamic reality in Psalm 16. The Lord has set the boundaries of our lives in custom places of blessing.

Memo to men. (And women.)

A growing number of young, single men are finding their way to the Eastern Orthodox Church, drawn by what they see as a more "masculine" expression of the Christian faith—often discovered through online influencers. Many of these new converts share a common story: feeling disenchanted with what they see as the "feminization" of modern Protestant churches. Orthodoxy, in contrast, offers what they describe as an "authentic" spiritual path—one that challenges them both physically and mentally.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces resignation. He became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including covid response, political intimidation and censorship, and surging immigration.

Word of the week:
Leviathan (ləˈvīəTH(ə)n) — a thing that is very large or powerful, a very large aquatic creature, especially a whale. “The newest cruise ship was a towering leviathan of the seas.” Latin, late 14th century.

Trivia answer: Beginnings, transitions, and doorways (Janus is often depicted with two faces, looking to the past and the future).

Related newsletter: Stretch for the miracle!

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