Author: Jeff Foster (Page 1 of 4)

An open Bible on a wooden table accompanied by colored pencils, symbolizing study and spirituality.

Surveying the Rubble

August 15, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.” (Nehemiah 2:12, KJV)

Under the quiet cover of darkness, while the rest of the city slept, Nehemiah slipped out through the Valley Gate. He didn’t make a grand public announcement or parade his plans in front of the crowds. Instead, accompanied by only a few trusted companions, he rode out under the moonlight to conduct a quiet, secret inspection.

As he surveyed the broken walls alone in the stillness of night, God walked beside him, granting him the sharp discernment needed to accurately evaluate the destruction. Nehemiah needed a clear, unfiltered understanding of the exact conditions of the ruined walls he was called to rebuild. Before we attempt to repair any brokenness, whether in our own hearts, our relationships, or circumstances around us; we must follow Nehemiah’s lead and survey the rubble with open eyes and discerning hearts.

Taking an Honest Inventory

To rebuild effectively, we have to take a careful inventory and check the integrity of the original foundation. With God’s help, we need spiritual clarity to see if there is any lasting value left in the rubble or if there are repairable cracks in the structure. In some cases, we might discover that a minor patch-up job simply won’t cut it; we need God’s spiritual bulldozer to sweep away the debris entirely so we can start fresh on the sure, unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ.

Counting the Cost and Studying the Blueprint

Riding among the ruins also gave Nehemiah the chance to start tallying up the exact materials required to rebuild the city walls. Jesus echoed this principle in Luke 14:28 when He asked, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

The exact same precept applies to anyone desiring to build a life of godly integrity and Christian character. If we want to grow more like Christ, the very first step is ensuring that Jesus’ precious blood has been applied to our sinful souls. Beyond that initial step of salvation, we must dedicate daily effort to understanding God’s plan for our lives.

Worn Plans and Heavenly Provisions

Much like a modern architect drafting detailed blueprints, Nehemiah likely sketched out drawings of the construction work that needed to be carried out. Construction workers must constantly refer back to the master drawings throughout the building process to ensure everything aligns with the architect’s design. By the time the building is finished, those paper plans are usually marked up, smudged, and well-worn from daily use.

In the same way, as we navigate our daily walk with God, our Bibles ought to be well-worn from constant reading, and our knees calloused by earnest prayer. That is how we ensure we are building according to God’s blueprint, laying up eternal treasures for when we reach heaven’s gate.

Just as king Artaxerxes provided the physical materials Nehemiah needed to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, our King Jesus provides every spiritual resource we need to construct a vibrant Christian life. In return, He asks for our full surrender; that we take up our cross daily and follow Him.

Seed for Thought: Is there an area in your life where you have been trying to build on a cracked foundation or guessing at the blueprint? Take time today to get alone with God in prayer, open His Word, and ask Him to reveal what needs to be cleared away so you can build on Christ alone.

Reflect and Respond

Surveying Your Foundation: Have you taken time recently to quietly survey the state of your own heart or relationships, or are you ignoring the cracks in your spiritual foundation? Ask God to give you open eyes and discerning judgment as you evaluate your spiritual health.
Consulting the Blueprint: Is your Bible well-worn from daily consultation, or has it sat gathering dust on a shelf? Consider how constantly referencing God’s Word keeps your life aligned with His master plan.
Surrendering to the King: King Jesus has provided everything you need to build a life of godly character, but He asks for total surrender in return. What cross or burden are you being called to pick up today as you follow Him?

Asking in Faith

August 8, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.” (Nehemiah 2:4-5, KJV)

Opportunities rarely arrive with a grand fanfare. More often than not, they pop up unexpectedly in the middle of everyday life, catching us completely off guard. When God calls us to do something for Him, we cannot sit around waiting for every single piece of the puzzle to fall perfectly into place before we take action. We have to keep our eyes wide open, stay alert for open doors, and be ready to ask for whatever we need to get the job done.

Nehemiah found himself standing at just such a crossroad. King Artaxerxes noticed his sorrow and suddenly threw open the door with a direct question: “For what dost thou make request?” In a split second, Nehemiah had a choice. He could shrink back in fear, or he could step through that door with bold faith.

The Power of a Silent Prayer

Before Nehemiah answered the most powerful ruler of his day, he took a critical first step: he recognized that without God’s help, he could do absolutely nothing. Scripture records five simple words that carry massive weight: “So I prayed to the God of heaven”. There was no time for a long, formal, public prayer. Instead, Nehemiah shot a quick, silent “arrow prayer” straight up to the throne room—something as simple as, “Lord, guide my words right now”.

Seeking God’s guidance must always be our default impulse whenever an opportunity presents itself. A brief moment of surrender in the quiet of your mind can completely alter the outcome of a conversation. When we step forward in faith, asking the Lord for wisdom before we open our mouths, even a silent prayer yields a monumental impact.

Recognizing God’s Unlikely Tools

Once Nehemiah prayed, he spoke up clearly, asking the king for permission to return to Judah and rebuild the city of his fathers. But he didn’t stop there; he also asked for royal letters for safe passage and timber from the king’s forest to build the gates and walls.

Nehemiah gratefully acknowledged the tools and paths God placed right in front of him. King Artaxerxes was not a godly man, yet God intended to use the king’s authority and vast royal resources to accomplish His divine purpose. Sometimes we miss God’s provision because it arrives wrapped in an unfamiliar package. We need to learn to recognize and receive whatever means God chooses to use, whether it is an employer, an unexpected resource, or an unlikely helper.

Respecting Sovereignty and Authority

Notice how Nehemiah addressed the king. He didn’t approach him with a demanding attitude or an air of moral superiority. He began his plea with deep respect: “If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight”.

This attitude aligns with a vital biblical truth. The Apostle Paul instructed young Timothy that believers ought to pray for all who are in authority. Holding leaders in respect—whether or not we agree with their personal beliefs or actions—demonstrates our trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty. It is God who sets up rulers and establishes authority, so by showing honor to earthly authorities, we honor our Heavenly Father.

When God places a burden on your heart, whether it is encouraging a neighbor across the street or stepping out to rebuild something broken in your community, watch closely for open doors. Ask God for His immediate help, acknowledge His sovereignty, respect those around you, and step out in faith so He can accomplish His divine will through you.

Seed for Thought: Is there an open door or a difficult request you have been hesitating to bring before an employer, leader, or family member? Take a moment right now to whisper a quiet prayer for guidance, asking God to give you the favor and courage needed to step out in faith.

Reflect and Respond

The Habit of Arrow Prayers: Do you pause to whisper a quick prayer for guidance before responding in high-stakes moments, or do you rely entirely on your own quick thinking? Reflect on how Nehemiah’s silent moment with God paved the way for his bold request.
Seeing God Behind the Provision: Are you overlooking practical resources or open doors simply because they come from secular or unexpected sources? Consider how God can use anyone—even an earthly ruler—to supply what you need to fulfill His calling.
Honoring Authority in Faith: How well do you demonstrate respect toward those in authority over you, especially when you disagree with their personal views? Commit today to praying for leaders, trusting that God’s sovereignty rules over every earthly position.

A Changed Countenance

August 1, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?”
(Nehemiah 2:3, KJV)

Have you ever tried hiding a heavy heart? It is almost impossible. No matter how hard we try to put on a brave face, deep sorrow or an overwhelming burden eventually finds a way to leak out.

That is right where Nehemiah found himself. The massive task God laid on his heart—rebuilding the ruined city of Jerusalem—was simply too big for one man to carry alone. It weighed down his spirit so heavily that he couldn’t mask it anymore. His grief showed right on his face. Standing before the king with a sad countenance was risky, but God used Nehemiah’s visible distress as an open door. King Artaxerxes noticed, asked what was wrong, giving Nehemiah the exact opportunity he needed to ask for help.

The Weight of the Mission

If we are honest with ourselves, we have been handed a task that feels just as daunting. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus laid out our clear burden: to go and reach all nations with the gospel. When you step back and look at the sheer scale of that calling, it is easy to feel intimidated, fearful, or entirely overwhelmed. Facing friends, neighbors, or a culture that seems disinterested in Christ can leave us feeling utterly helpless.

Never Laboring Alone

Here is the good news: Jesus never asked us to shoulder this burden in our own limited strength. Right after giving that monumental command, He promised to be with us always. We do not have to figure this out by ourselves.

God gave us the book of Ephesians to show us how to stand firm against the enemy’s tactics as we work. On top of that, He gave us a local church family. We have brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us, sharpen us, and labor right alongside us as we go.

Equipped for the Purpose

Caring about lost souls ought to weigh on us. It should soften our hearts and, yes, even change our countenance at times. Indifference has no place in the life of a believer. But a heavy heart should never drive us to despair. Our great Father in heaven has already provided every spiritual truth, every resource, and every bit of grace we need to accomplish His purpose.

Seed for Thought: Does the burden for reaching lost souls show in your life, or have you grown comfortable and detached? Take a moment right now to ask God for a heart that genuinely cares for the lost, while trusting Him to supply everything you need to reach them.

Reflect and Respond

A Heart That Shows: Does your concern for lost people ever show on your face, or do you keep your spiritual burdens hidden away? Reflect on how Nehemiah’s open vulnerability became the very doorway God used to grant him favor.
Facing the Monumental Task: When you think about sharing the gospel in a world that often rejects it, do you feel fearful or overwhelmed? Remind yourself of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 28 that He is right beside you every step of the way.
Leaning on Your Provision: Are you trying to carry out God’s calling alone, or are you actively drawing strength from His Word and your church family? Take time this week to thank God for the spiritual tools and fellow believers He has placed around you to help you fulfill your purpose.

Shaken Faith

July 25, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.” (Nehemiah 1:11, KJV)

To modern ears, the role of a cupbearer might sound like a simple, domestic task, but in the Persian court, it was a position of supreme importance and constant danger. The cupbearer was the king’s most trustworthy confidant. Day after day, he willingly put his own life on the line to safeguard the ruler against treason and poisoning. Succeeding in this role required unrelenting vigilance over every detail of food storage and preparation, along with ensuring that wine and other beverages were properly sourced and free from deadly contaminants.

Yet, the rewards associated with this solemn duty were considerable. Nehemiah enjoyed direct, daily access to the royal presence. His personal integrity placed him in a respected position of influence with the individual holding the highest power in the land. Because of this close relationship, Nehemiah was routinely expected to offer counsel on decisions affecting the king’s best interest. But a deep tension was rising within him. He now needed a royal decision that would favor the interests of his own suffering people and the broken city of Jerusalem.

The Discomfort of God’s Calling

Stepping up to follow God’s direction can often feel awkward and unsettling. When God prompts us to move, our faith can easily be shaken by unexpected doubt and anxiety. We naturally prefer the safety of familiar routines, yet divine obedience almost always asks us to step beyond our comfort zone. For Nehemiah, acting on God’s call meant risking his personal reputation, his security, and his standing with the king.

A Faith Strengthened Through Shaking

When we submit to our heavenly Father in obedience, we must allow Him to shake our faith a bit during the process. This shaking is not meant to break us; rather, God uses it to strengthen our spirit for the exact task He has set before us. By allowing our earthly security to feel uncertain, God teaches us to rely fully on His divine power rather than our own credentials or position.

Trading Doubt for Divine Confidence

Approaching a powerful ruler to ask him to favor a ruined, conquered city was a massive risk. Yet, God routinely replaces our fear and doubt with firm confidence whenever we choose to trust in His plan. Nehemiah didn’t rely on clever politics or personal charm; he brought his petition to the Lord first, asking for mercy before he spoke a single word to the king. When God places you in a position of responsibility, He will grant you the courage and wisdom to fulfill His purpose.

Seed for Thought: Has God placed you in a position of influence or responsibility where stepping up feels risky or uncomfortable? Take a moment right now to submit your fears to the Lord, trusting Him to replace your anxiousness with the confidence needed to follow His plan.

Reflect and Respond

Stewarding Your Influence: Nehemiah was the king’s most trustworthy confidant, using his integrity and royal access to advocate for Jerusalem. How can you leverage the position or influence God has granted you to help others and honor Him?
Enduring the Uncertainty: Stepping out in obedience can feel awkward, and our faith is often tested by doubt. Are you willing to let God use those moments of uncertainty to strengthen your spirit for the work ahead?
Replacing Fear with Trust: Following God’s call required Nehemiah to risk his reputation and his relationship with the king. What fears or doubts are holding you back today, and will you trust God to grant you confidence as you step out in faith?

Taking Responsibility

July 18, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.” (Nehemiah 1:6, KJV)

Whenever a crisis hits or a difficult situation unfolds, our natural human instinct is to look for someone else to blame. It is always much easier to point out the flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings of the people around us than it is to look honestly into our own hearts. When things begin to fall apart in our families, our churches, or our communities, we frequently look for a convenient scapegoat so we can remove our hands from the problem.

However, Nehemiah modeled a completely different approach to brokenness. When he received the devastating news about the ruined walls and burned gates of Jerusalem, he didn’t launch into a critical evaluation of the failed leaders who had preceded him. Instead, he fell to his knees in deep intercession. As he poured out his heart to the Lord, his prayer featured two incredibly powerful words: we and I. Rather than distancing himself from the problem, he included himself directly, taking personal blame for the brokenness of his homeland.

The Deception of Pointing Fingers

It would have been very easy for Nehemiah to point a finger at the generations of Israelites who had failed their responsibilities before him. After all, he was living hundreds of miles away, serving comfortably in the Persian palace. He had no personal role in the historic failures that led to Jerusalem’s destruction. Yet, he understood a vital truth that every believer must learn: pointing fingers simply does not get any work done. A great leader refuses to stand on the sidelines as a mere critic. Instead, a true leader must lead by example, being the first one to take responsibility and the first one to take up the tools to start building.

The Posture of True Prayer

God has graciously given us the privilege of prayer, allowing us to bring our deepest burdens directly before His throne. But prayer is not a platform for us to complain about the faults of others. We must enter into prayer with genuine humility and a repentant heart. If we approach God while harboring bitterness, or if we are constantly blaming others for our current situation, our prayers will be hindered. If we find ourselves focusing entirely on the failures of those around us, our first petition must be for God to change our own attitude.

Stepping into the Gap

Spiritual restoration can only begin when we stop making excuses and start owning our part in the circumstances around us. Nehemiah’s willingness to confess his own sins, along with the sins of his nation, cleared the way for God to use him in a miraculous way. When we humble ourselves and take responsibility, we invite the Holy Spirit to work through us to bring healing. Do not wait for someone else to take the first step toward reconciliation or rebuilding. Allow God to work on your heart today, and be willing to be the one who steps into the dust to start the restoration process.

Seed for Thought: Is there a broken area in your life, family, or church where you have been pointing fingers at others? Take a moment right now to bring that situation to the Lord in humility, asking Him to shift your focus from others’ failures to what He wants to do through you.

Reflect and Respond

Owning the Brokenness: When you pray about the problems in your immediate circle, do you include yourself in the confession, or do you view yourself as an innocent bystander? Reflect on how Nehemiah’s choice to use “we” and “I” opened the door for God’s power to move.
Leading by Example: Are you currently waiting for someone else to fix a broken situation, or are you willing to lead by example? Consider what it looks like to be the first one to take responsibility and actively pick up the tools to start building today.
Exchanging Blame for Humility: Think about whether you have been blaming others for your current circumstances. If so, are you willing to make your first petition a prayer for God to change your attitude? Commit to entering His presence with a truly humble and repentant heart.

Empathy or Compassion?

July 10, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,” (Nehemiah 1:4, KJV)

The mission project placed before Nehemiah was clearly obvious: he was called to rebuild the ruined city of Jerusalem. Yet, when we consider his life up to this point, the magnitude of this calling becomes even more striking. Nehemiah was part of the third generation of Hebrews living in captivity, meaning he was likely born in Persia and had never once set foot in the ancestral homeland of his forefathers.

Furthermore, the people currently living in Jerusalem were not his immediate relatives or near kinsmen. While it was entirely natural for him to feel a sense of empathy for these distant people in their affliction and reproach, human empathy alone would never provide the sustained passion required to successfully complete the monumental task God had set before him.

The Limitation of Human Empathy

True empathy is a basic human emotion that stems from a genuine love and caring for our fellow man. When we see a person in distress, a broken home, a fractured community, or a struggling church, our natural response is to feel their pain. However, empathy on its own has its limits. It allows us to feel sorrow for a situation, but it often lacks the enduring strength needed to bring about lasting restoration. For Nehemiah, a simple emotional reaction to the news of Jerusalem’s broken walls wasn’t enough; his natural empathy needed to be transformed into something far deeper.

The Catalyst of Divine Passion

Instead of letting his emotions fizzle out, Nehemiah allowed his empathy to drive him straight to his knees. He sat down and wept, mourned for days, fasted, and prayed as he passionately pleaded with God to find clear direction for rebuilding what had been broken. It was in this season of intercession that a powerful shift occurred: God replaced Nehemiah’s basic empathy with a divine passion. While empathy is a natural human emotion, true passion is instilled directly by our heavenly Father. It acts as a spiritual catalyst, energizing us to keep moving forward until the mission is fully complete.

Facing the Brokenness Around Us

As Christians, we will inevitably face many broken things throughout our journey in life. This brokenness may manifest deep within ourselves, or it may be evident in the lives of our nearby loved ones. At times, we will see it plaguing our local communities, or even affecting peoples and nations far across the globe. In every broken situation put before us, we cannot rely on superficial emotions. We must follow Nehemiah’s example and be willing to weep, fast, and pray for direction by the Holy Spirit.

When we surrender our natural feelings to the Lord, He promises to plant the very passion in our hearts that we need to accomplish His divine will.

Seed for Thought: What broken situation or hurting person has God placed in your path today? Take a moment right now to move past simple empathy, and ask the Lord to ignite a divine passion in your heart to fulfill your part in His plan for healing.

Reflect and Respond

Moving Beyond Empathy: When you encounter someone in distress or a broken situation, do you rely solely on natural empathy, or does that feeling drive you to your knees in prayer? Consider how Nehemiah’s initial sorrow served as a doorway to pleading with God for true direction.
The Fuel of Divine Passion: Reflect on the difference between a basic human emotion and a supernatural passion instilled by the Father. Are you currently trying to address a broken home, community, or church out of your own limited strength, or are you relying on the catalyst that energizes you to finish the task?
Seeking Holy Spirit Direction: Are you fully willing to weep, fast, and pray over the broken areas within yourself, your loved ones, or nations far away? Commit today to actively seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, trusting that God will plant the exact passion required to accomplish His divine will.

A Thorough Evaluation

July 6, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3, KJV)

House flipping has become quite a lucrative enterprise in today’s real estate market. Anyone with a few basic skills and a little management savvy can buy an older or distressed house, make the needed repairs, then resell it at a handsome profit. The key to making this a successful business, though, begins with a thorough evaluation of the prospective house’s condition. Cleaning and painting might make for a quick resale, but if the house isn’t structurally sound, the new homeowner will be extremely disappointed and may take legal action against you. A prudent house flipper will hire a licensed inspector to investigate and report the home’s condition from the ground up.

Nehemiah understood this concept as he accepted his calling to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. When word reached him concerning the ruin of his homeland, he knew that a superficial patch-up wouldn’t suffice. As we study the book of Nehemiah, we can see God’s blueprint for rebuilding the broken walls and burned gates in our own lives.

The Condition: Assessing the Brokenness

While we may not be required to rebuild an ancient city, we are often called to rebuild broken relationships in our lives, broken lives due to some tragedy, or maybe even broken churches. Brokenness has a way of exposing the fragility of our own strength.

The first step in any restoration project is facing the damage honestly. Nehemiah did not minimize the report he received; he allowed the weight of Jerusalem’s condition to drive him to his knees. Before we can begin rebuilding, we must be willing to look directly at the rubble of our circumstances without pretending everything is fine.

The Inspection: Evaluating by the Word

Our first step in rebuilding the brokenness should always include a thorough evaluation in the light of God’s Word. Scripture serves as our divine inspector, revealing the hidden faults, compromised foundations, and structural weaknesses that we might otherwise overlook.

When we hold our broken situations up to the mirror of God’s truth, we are no longer guessing at how to fix them. The Word provides the exact measurements, standards, and wisdom required to construct something lasting. A thorough evaluation allows us to see where we have drifted from God’s design so we can begin the intentional work of structural alignment.

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

True restoration is never an overnight cosmetic job. It requires patience, obedience, and a lifelong commitment to God’s structural process. Do not let discouragement tempt you to settle for a quick, surface-level cover-up of deep-seated issues.

Stand firm in the knowledge that the Lord is the Master Builder. If you will allow Him to inspect your heart and lead the reconstruction, He will take what has been ruined by fire and transform it into a lasting testimony of His faithfulness.

Seed for Thought: What area of your life—whether a relationship, a personal habit, or a spiritual discipline—is currently experiencing brokenness? Take a moment right now to present this area before the Lord, asking Him to begin a thorough evaluation through His Word.

Reflect and Respond

Assessing the Condition: When faced with a crisis or a broken relationship, do you tend to rush into quick, cosmetic fixes, or do you take the time for an honest evaluation? Consider how acknowledging the true state of your circumstances is essential for genuine healing.
The Divine Standard: How often do you allow God’s Word to serve as the structural inspector of your heart? Reflect on how aligning your personal evaluation with Scripture changes your approach to rebuilding broken areas.
A Sound Foundation: Are you trying to rebuild a part of your life using your own management savvy, or are you relying on the ground-up restoration that only the Holy Spirit can provide? Commit today to building a spiritual foundation that will stand strong against the storms of life.

Praying in Confidence

May 2, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15, KJV)

There is a specific kind of weight that settles on the heart when we carry a burden for a loved one, a neighbor, or a colleague who has yet to experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We often find ourselves at a loss for words, wondering if our prayers are making a difference or if our Father even hears us.

However, the Apostle John provides us with a certainty for our prayer life. The word confidence used here means an assured boldness. He doesn’t suggest that we pray with a “hope so” attitude; he commands us to pray with a “know so” confidence.

The Method: Praying According to His Will

The first step in praying for the lost is aligning our petitions with the heart of the Father. When we pray for someone’s salvation, we aren’t guessing at God’s desires. We know that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

When you name that specific person in your quiet time, you are standing on the bedrock of God’s revealed will. The method is simple but significant: take the name of the lost and bind it to the promise of the Word. Paul expressed this same method in Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Your specific desire for their soul is a reflection of God’s own heart.

The Attitude: The Quietness of Certainty

The scripture tells us that if we ask according to His will, “he heareth us.” This isn’t just about auditory perception; it’s about divine attention. The moment the name of that lost soul leaves your lips in faith, the ear of the Almighty is inclined toward you.

John goes a step further: “And if we know that he heareth us… we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” This is the attitude of the expectant intercessor. We do not need to wait for the outward signs of change to believe that God is at work. We can rest in the “knowing” that the petition has been granted in the spiritual realm.

Sowing the Seed of Prayer

Do not let “spiritual drift” or discouragement silence your intercession. If you have been praying for a child, a spouse, or a friend for years, remember that the “confidence” mentioned in 1 John is not based on the speed of the result, but on the character of the Hearer.

Continue to ask. Continue to seek. Stand in the gap with the assurance that your prayers are not in vain, for He who promised is faithful.

Seed for Thought: Who is the one person God has laid on your heart today? Take a moment right now to present their name before the throne, knowing that you are asking exactly what He desires to give.

Reflect and Respond

Aligning the Will: When you intercede for the lost, do you approach God with a “hope so” attitude, or do you stand on the certainty that it is His revealed will for all to come to repentance? Consider how 2 Peter 3:9 provides a “bedrock” of confidence for your specific request.
The Hearing of God: Does the knowledge that God grants “divine attention” to your prayers change the way you handle periods of silence? Reflect on the “quietness of certainty” that comes from knowing He hears you the moment a name leaves your lips in faith.
Persistent Sowing: Are you currently binding the names of your loved ones to the promises of the Word, or have you allowed “spiritual drift” to discourage your intercession? Remember that your confidence is anchored in the character of the Hearer rather than the speed of the result.

Stopping the Spiritual Drift

March 18, 2026 / Jeff Foster / 4 Comments

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:1-3)

In the rush of our daily routines, it is incredibly easy to find ourselves drifting. Hebrews 2:1 gives us a sobering nudge: we must give “earnest heed” to the truths we’ve heard, lest we let them slip. Think of a vessel with a tiny, unnoticed crack; it doesn’t empty all at once, but drop by drop, the living water escapes until the jar is dry. Our spiritual lives often follow a similar path. We don’t usually decide to abandon our faith in one giant leap; rather, we slowly lose our grip on the Word through simple inattention. When we stop prioritizing our time at the feet of Jesus, the vibrant truths of the Gospel begin to leak out of our hearts, leaving us vulnerable to the currents of the world around us.

This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a vital safeguard for our souls. The writer of Hebrews asks a piercing question: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Notice that the warning isn’t directed at those who reject Christ, but those who neglect Him. You don’t have to actively fight against God to lose your way; you only have to do nothing. This salvation was spoken by the Lord Himself and is far too precious to be treated as a background thought or a Sunday-only ritual. Today, let’s choose to tighten our grip on His promises. Let’s stop the drift by anchoring our hearts once again in the “so great” love that rescued us, making sure His Word isn’t just something we’ve heard, but something we are actively holding onto.

A Prayer for an Anchored Heart

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the “so great salvation” You have poured into my life through Jesus. Forgive me for the times I’ve treated Your grace as a background noise rather than the very air I breathe. Lord, I don’t want to be a drifter. I don’t want to let the precious truths of Your Word slip through the cracks of a busy schedule or a distracted mind. Today, I ask for the grace to give “earnest heed” to Your voice. Anchor my soul in Your promises so that no matter how hard the winds of life blow, I remain tethered to You. Keep my heart soft, my eyes open, and my spirit attentive to Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Cultivating the Heart: Reflection Questions

In the spirit of “Seed Sowing,” use these questions to examine the current state of your spiritual garden.

• Identifying the Leak: If you feel “dry” spiritually, look at your daily routine. What are the “cracks” (distractions, habits, or anxieties) that are causing the living water of the Word to leak out of your heart?
• The Difference Between Hearing and Heeding: We often hear a sermon or read a verse and then immediately move on. What is one specific truth from Hebrews 2 that you can move from your head to your hands—acting on it today rather than just thinking about it?
• Defining “Neglect”: Neglect isn’t usually a loud rebellion; it’s a quiet forgetting. Is there a part of your relationship with God—like prayer, fellowship, or study—that has become a “Sunday-only” ritual? How can you move it back to the center of your Monday-through-Saturday life?
• The Weight of the Gift: Spend a few minutes meditating on the phrase “so great salvation.” If you truly viewed your salvation as the most valuable treasure you owned, how would your “earnest heed” change this week?

Keep On Praying

September 27, 2025 / Jeff Foster / 0 Comments

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7)

Ask. A simple three letter word that sets things in motion. It’s how we get the things we want. We ask the waitress to bring our food selection from the menu. We ask our coworker to help us lift a heavy object and move it where it needs to be. We ask the pretty girl to go out on a date. Without the ask, we can be assured none of those things we want will happen. We go hungry because the waitress never brings us food. We get reprimanded when we don’t get the job done at work. We never get the opportunity to kiss the girl.

Jesus teaches us in our verse today that it works the same way with our heavenly Father. We must ask for the things we want. God’s storehouse is overflowing with gifts for His children. But He waits for us to come to Him in prayer and ask for the desires of our heart. Yes, sometimes He will drop a surprise in our lap, just like our earthly fathers sometimes give us gifts we aren’t expecting. And while our Father knows all that we have need of, He desires the intimacy of a conversation with us. He wants us to come to Him and ask.

Seek. Many times though, especially early in our Christian growth, our Father will say no when ask him for something. God always knows what’s best for us. He sees the future that we can’t. The answer of no then prompts the question, “why not?”. Our ask must always be according to God’s will. That’s why Jesus tells us to seek. We must search God’s word, meditate on it in prayer, and eventually the Holy Spirit will reveal the answer to us. Seeking is how we develop deeper conversations with our Father. In that deeper connection we begin to understand God’s character and will for our life. It’s there we learn what to ask for that will be pleasing to our Father. We must continuously seek God’s will.

Knock. God rewards our seeking with wisdom which gives us understanding, confidence, and assurance. With that in hand we must be persistent. Maintaining enthusiasm while working on any project is key to successfully accomplishing the task set before us. Keep knocking until the ask is answered. Not only does our persistence show our Father that we trust Him, but it also motivates the faith of those watching us in our day to day Christian walk.

Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking. Keep on PRAYING!!

Taking an Honest Inventory

Counting the Cost and Studying the Blueprint

Worn Plans and Heavenly Provisions

Reflect and Respond

The Power of a Silent Prayer

Recognizing God’s Unlikely Tools

Respecting Sovereignty and Authority

Reflect and Respond

The Weight of the Mission

Never Laboring Alone

Equipped for the Purpose

Reflect and Respond

The Discomfort of God’s Calling

A Faith Strengthened Through Shaking

Trading Doubt for Divine Confidence

Reflect and Respond

The Deception of Pointing Fingers

The Posture of True Prayer

Stepping into the Gap

Reflect and Respond

The Limitation of Human Empathy

The Catalyst of Divine Passion

Facing the Brokenness Around Us

Reflect and Respond

The Condition: Assessing the Brokenness

The Inspection: Evaluating by the Word

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Reflect and Respond

The Method: Praying According to His Will

The Attitude: The Quietness of Certainty

Sowing the Seed of Prayer

Reflect and Respond

A Prayer for an Anchored Heart

Cultivating the Heart: Reflection Questions

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