“A season of waiting brings out what we believe” – Truth to Table

Reflection is reflective. Stop, pay attention to the pause. Lean into the rest, here. Quietly, sit. Wait. Breathe. Think. This is when you demonstrate what you believe. Questioning and doubt manifests here, as well as trust and hope. In the quiet gaps we feel the need to fill, in the chasms of our hearts left by unanswered question, what is the dialogue you indulge? In the space between then and now, where hope delays and promise tarries, the void often gapes despondent. What is it that you see? What is it that you speak? Second guessing. Thinking about it again. Rethinking. Tiring yourself out with doubt. The interim is for renewal, yet we linger here and often rather succumb.

During their trek through wilderness the Israelites persisted in the belief that they had been abandoned by God, falling short of promise. God, through Moses, urged them to worship. The result of worship was  different language a manifesting. Words testifying of His presence and provision. When they referred to the past, God instructed worship. When they were hungry, God instructed worship. This is significant for you today. Worship. In the interim of dry dust and sand, of dunes and heated waiting – worship. When your past reminds you of unfulfilled promise, Worship. When you are longing and barren, worship. When the quiet whispers of failures, worship. When the darkness presses hopeless, worship. By default, worship.

Sit with it. Wait through it. Rest, and hope still. He who called you is faithful, yet. I like to remind myself when the Spirit hovered over the deep and darkness was king God stepped in and spoke into that very void to create destiny and substance. Be sustained in potential. Wait patiently.

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life.” Philippians 4:6

Read with me, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:26-31 

He is omniscient. He has intimate knowledge of things present, things past, and things to come. 

How often have we read, heard and quoted verse 31 They who wait on the Lord will renew their strength? Do you see the context here lends itself not to our weakness but to His omniscience. Let the scriptures show today that though you have temporary weakness, loss, battle, and exhaustion, He is everlasting. He knows all, searches it all, and empowers us as we wait on Him to move. 

I am reminded, especially when I call to mind what God has done in the past, that He is involved. He is present. The psalmist spoke truly when declaring that He is an ever present help in times of need. 

He is omniscient. He was and He is. He is here, and He was there. Understand that He is already in what is to come. As we welcome a new year, know and set your heart on this, today. He is present. 

Our views are often limited to what we can see. Right now, you vision might be clouded and blurry, hope delaying. But look up, where does your help come from? It comes from Him. There is a place we fix our eyes that transcends what is visible to you right this minute. Fix you eyes on the One who hold your future full of hope, one in which your mind prospers, a future of valiantly hopeful expectation.

He is constant. With Him there is no shadow of turning. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful to do what He promised. 

When I look ahead and see no hope, I am reminded to look up. Right now, in the face of chaos, devastation and loss, He is present. Even here, He is a source of hope for me. In the reality of hardships, He is still Lord. “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.” 

There comes a place where you have to ask and honestly answer the question of His Lordship in your heart. Is He lord? In your view, does your situation detract from His sovereignty? Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort your heart, soothing your disappointments. He is acquainted with sorry. He knows grief well. He has a strategy to help us process the grievances of life and loss. 

Sit with it. Sit with Him. Be loved. Let the mess stand and sit with Him. Cry at His feet and be loved. He is here right now. Let 2023 be the year where you see as He sees, welcoming new perspectives and opinions. Lift you eyes and see who is the One who truly knows and understands you.

Read with me, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3



As we enter the holiday season, for many it is a time of less demanding schedules, reduced busyness, and change of pace. It is a season to be joyful, and one of rest. It is the time of the year associated with ease, a month of peace and goodwill. I want to embrace this wholeheartedly. These are attributes of the Kingdom we can surely get behind.

 Luke 1 :45 -49 says “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.”

Blessed is she who believed. There is intrinsic blessing associated with a heart that believes. Note, it didn’t say received, the emphasis was on belief. A blessed life is resultant from being in a state of hopeful faith. During this festive season, may we believe. Believe that He is, believe He rewards those who seek Him.

There is a Kingdom mechanism portrayed here that is essential to peace. The very things we believe (there’s that word again) will provide us with relief of worry and anxiety, the things we know once received will alleviate the burden, those are the things He says cannot and will not give you peace or stay your heart. Our peace is found not in what we get, but in trusting in the One who already gave it all. ‘And she magnified the Lord and rejoiced in God.’ In Him; rejoicing, peace, rest is found in Him.

Restfulness leaves no place for tormented worry, you have taken a chill pill, you are not anxious about tomorrow. Rest here, in this corner in your mind, abide. Make space in your heart to believe and trust Him still, then stay the thoughts that would disrupt you. In your mind, occupy a different space this holiday, one that allows only for steadfast believe, hopeful trust, quiet rest. Proactively choose to trust. Rest in this knowledge, you are blessed for believing. You are peaceable when trustful. You see, trust eliminates turmoil. Hopefulness is restored when we rest in believing. When believing Him, when trusting in Him is enough, we find our peace.

Stay your mind. Keep it set. Do not allow your thoughts to be directed left or right. Focus on the good. Rest in Him. He is Holy. He is worthy. Give others the gift of hope, be steadfast in your anticipation of His goodness

Read with me, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

Because thanksgiving anchors our hope to the one, it is an essential part of our worship. We need to have a lifestyle of thankfulness. A heart posture of always giving thanks aligns our thoughts with His intentions. Grateful attitudes sets us apart from weariness, sets us up for good perspectives, and sets us in right standing with the One we praise.

I believe that praise and thanksgiving is not a seasonal topic, but eternal. There is a perpetual need for thanksgiving, the season for praise is unending. Will we ever be able to thank God enough for all He has done for us? What is the right amount of praise? The scriptures regularly mention giving thanks, being grateful, and praising God in your heart and with your mouth. The Psalmist goes as far as encouraging us to express our praise and thanksgiving with a tremendous noise! Imagine everyone around you is aware that you are thankful because you just won’t keep it to yourself. Make it known to your heart and others’ that your noise is joyful and thankful.


In the passage above the unction is to be watchful with thanksgiving. It is important for us to look, and choose how we respond. Watch, see, observe, witness, then give thanks. Even when circumstances are dire, even as you look and all you see is desolation, then watch and be thankful. Pray, and also give thanks. Ask, and also praise. Supplicate, make known your requests, but do so with thanksgiving in your heart. Set your heart on hopeful gratefulness, and do not allow hardship to lead to hardness. Praise Him, and pray still. Never let anxiety overtake your thoughts leading your heart into despondency. Even if you are struggling to see, while watching still thank Him for the air in your lungs, for life, for Himself. In all circumstances, give thanks. Not only when it goes well, but in during it all, the chaos, the messes, the smooth sailing and the stormy wave – say it loud!

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Colossians 3:15

Read with me, “Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door.” James 5:9

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Philippians 2:14

DO NOT COMPLAIN! What a command. Philippians reminds us along with James us to do EVERYTHING without complaining, grumbling or disputing.  How often is life hard, and challenging. How often would complaining be justified by reasonable thinking. James 5 says to keep your heart steadfast, firmly set on God. Not complaining is a conscious choice to speak praise. Let only wholesome talk come from your mouth, that which edifies, and gives grace to those who hear. We have to understand that what we speak creates. Our words carry within them immense power to shift atmospheres. With our mouths we cannot both praise and curse. Our tongues steer the direction on our lives, and if faith comes by hearing we need to be sure to be speaking the words of faith.

Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ. Think above, be higher minded. When faced with unfair and challenging circumstances be sure to take the thoughts captive that would exalt themselves against what you know to be true of Him. Take it captive and speak life. It is more than positive thinking, it is life thinking. Speak life. Think life.

Do not complain against each other. It is so imperative to remember that what we say affects the hearer also. When we complain we also lay a load of burden on someone else. No matter how hard it is going, set your heart on God, keep it steadfast, and remember the truth of who He is. See yourself living a life where you never complain or grumble. Grumbling does nothing to alleviate the pressure of a situation, complaining can’t lift burdens. The anointing breaks the yoke. Speak life. Do not complain. Set your heart, align your mind, and speak what is true.

The word meditate means to “think deeply about something. To consider, to mentally plan.” The Strong’s definition of “meditate” that we find in the Bible is from the Greek word meletaō, which means “to take care of, i.e. (by implication) revolve in the mind, imagine, (pre-)meditate”. (Source: https://justdisciple.com/christian-meditation/)

Meditation is used to train the mind to create awareness and attention, also to achieve mental clarity. Meditation is a learning tool, a method to hone the skill of mindfulness.

We study a scripture  just as a cow rechews it food over and over again, processing it, we re-ponder, revolve the words in our minds, rethink, repeat it, think on it again during the day, say it out load to someone else, and reread. In this way we become mindful, i.e. we make our minds full of, that text. We can approach a scripture as not just 5 minutes of quiet time, but as a tool for mental health. Meditating on His word will create greater awareness of His person. It will allow us to know Him more and truly.

Graham Cooke tells a story of how he was stuck reading Psalm 91 for over 6months. The same passage everyday for 6 months. This is a leader, a pastor, a man well-versed in Bible text, yet God took him on a journey of making just one passage his own. Only when Graham fully knew and believed the Psalm did God release him to read other passages again. He meditated on the Psalm to make it his own, everyday. God wanted Graham to really experience the reality of Himself and how He was represented in that passage.

“I have set the Lord continually before me. Because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16: 8


In the noise, meditate on His words. Through the chaos, meditate on His promises. At the start and end, meditate on Him. Meditate on Him, renew your mind.

“But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

Read with me, ” But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. “ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Imagine you have a test today, a test of strength. Imagine, today your strength will be measured by how much you can rely on Him. How much can you relent? How much will you let go and let Him be today? His power is made perfect in our weakness, so much so that He even invites us to boast in them. Imagine that. He is in essence inviting us to shift the attention away from our own ability and honour Him as strong and capable. When we realise we can do nothing outside of His empowerment, and allow Him to be strong in us, we get to see His grace fill the void made by insufficiency. He is strong, in our weakness. Allow Him to be strong, rest in the knowledge that you do not need to do it all, do not need to know how to do it all – His grace is enough.

His grace is made manifest in our weakness. Imagine this! He doesn’t need you to have the oceans capacity to rage powerful in order to demonstrate His power through you. No, He doesn’t need you to be big, strong, capable, or famous to showcase Himself. He doesn’t require a platform, a following, a  grand stage. His power is manifested in weakness.

All throughout nature He displays His power  in extravagant ways. Raging seas, immovable mountains, impressive forces of nature, yet in you His power finds it expression when you are weak.  When we are weak, He is strong.

When we feel inadequate, thinking that God can do nothing with the little we have to offer, that is when Grace comes into its own. When we feel rendered  powerless by situations, that is when He accomplishes the work of Grace. When we feel weak, unable, limited, and inadequate, that is exactly when Grace comes rushing in and fills the void, making us strong, equipping,  empowering, and enabling us.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Take hold and seize as your own the promises of God. Strengthen your hold, your grip, on them as you meditate en proclaim them. Let faith comes as you keep hearing His words to you. Bind them around your neck, close to your heart, and do not forget them. Think on them. Share them. Know them.

I challenge you to share some of these with someone today. Meditate on some, learn them off by heart. Let them take up space in your mind today. Allow the promises of God’s word to minister hope to the desolate places in your heart. Allow the word to wash you.

I pray that through these scriptures you will see anew the amazing kindness and goodness in His heart, that the scope of His intentions towards you will be laid open and that you will truly see Him.




Isaiah 41:13 

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

John 16:33 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

James 1:12 

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I Corinthians 10:13 

“…God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.”

Romans 8:28 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’’


Deuteronomy 31:8

“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.”

Psalm 86:5

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Read with me, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103

Making room is putting down the things in your hands. It is holding space for what He is busy with. It is a posture your heart assumes, in prostration and humility, ready to receive from Him, unhindered by the fear of what He might ask or give. Making room is making time for Him.

In your heart, save space for Him. As you would keep a seat for your friend at a concert, close to you, and intentional, you save space in your thoughts and heart for Him to possess.

Making room is allowing Him to occupy your thoughts. Making room is denying  instant gratification. Making room is actively arranging your life, thoughts, and heart to accommodate His purpose.

Making room for Him is not necessarily being on Facebook less (though that is always a good idea.) Making room for Him is being occupied with yourself less. The peace we need is found at the end of your own indulgence and preoccupation. Turmoil is often times a result of rethinking the same worrisome thoughts over and over. Repetition makes progress and perfect. When we repetitively worry we become very good at it. It is important to take thoughts captive, and turn our attention to something else.

Imagine setting a table, you are having friends over for dinner. The party consists of many facets, the planning is involved. It requires forethought, planning ahead, and your time. There is a space for everything you might need. There you create beauty, you carve out space for silver, crystal, and silk. Seats are counted and set in place. Excitement and anticipation floods your thoughts as you prepare. It is the same with making room for Him as your guest of honor. And when He enters the room, and sit beside you, He communes with you and shares sustenance with you. His conversation invigorates your soul as the food satisfies your deep hunger. Communion fills the silences, His eyes keep your attention from wandering to the worries of tomorrow, and a joyous exchange takes place. Opinions are exchanged, insights are developed, revelation  shines on your processes, and in His fellowship shame comes to an end.

Make room for Him. Hold space in your daily routine to hear Him, to look on Him, to commune with Him. Whatever you do, set a place for Him to participate in the process. Hold space for Him to be next to you, to speak, to engage. Make room by making Him a priority. Just as you would serve and attend to your guest, attend to His voice. He is a friend, longing to sit and talk to you. Make time for Him. Find out what He likes,  inquire how He like to do things, ask Him what He sees and how He feels.

Make room for Him by allowing Him to carve the roast, break the bread, and pour the wind at your table. Relent control of the process, give up your need to steer the conversation, surrender your timetable to honor Him. Let go of what is in your hands. Let Him. Yield to His intention. He is good, and trustworthy. Let Him be significant. Let Him be honored in your heart, by giving Him space and time.

Read with me,“When the Lord saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”’ Exodus 3:4

The dictionary defines an encounter to be suddenly faced with someone. I like comparing an encounter to walking into a wall. Anyone who is a bit clumsy will understand the feeling of walls and furniture walking ‘in front of you.’ There you are walking, going about your daily life when suddenly the desk stood still in front of you. Not just me, right? This is in simple terms the concept of an encounter. A sudden running into that removes your attention from  where you think you were going. Something similar happened to Moses, except it wasn’t furniture but a fire. I don’t know about you but I have never investigated the object I  clumsily walk into, but I have certainly glared at it. Let’s see what Moses thought of the interruption.

Moses was tending sheep for his father in law when all of a sudden there was a fire inside of a bush on the side of the mountain. The fire did not consume the bush. Moses said to himself, let me turn away from what I am busy with and look at the bush. Verse four says when God saw that Moses had turned away from the flock, God called him by his name, ‘Moses, Moses.’ How significant is it that Moses in his own heart first turned away from his everyday doings and goings, and turned his face towards where God was operating. An encounter necessitates a response. An encounter catalyses an action. Our response to what God is doing is significant. Whether we opt to turn our focus to the fire is determinate of our direction.

The funny thing about walking into a wall or table or fire is that there is an immediate situational awareness that takes place. Walking into a wall makes you adequately aware of your and the wall’s geographical placement. When I bump into you, I am suddenly keenly aware of where you are in relation to me. This is the purpose of a God encounter. He encounters us to make us aware of where He is and what He is busy with. An encounter also makes us aware of how we relate to where He is and what He is busy with. We then have the opportunity to step aside and carry on as we were, or lean into the encounter and see Him. God, upon seeing Moses look, spoke. Only when He saw Moses turn and look at the fire did He speak. When we intentionally turn our eyes away from being busy and look into what God is busy with, we encounter His voice and find direction, purpose, and kingdom directives.


His fire burns for others to see, His fire burns as a beacon calling your attention away from your everyday busyness. Respond to Him. Lean into the direction the fire burns. Do not be afraid to distance your heart from your tasks to sit and talk to Him. Curiosity will find you in His presence.