FUEL For Your FAITH

When we meet Peter in Acts 9, he isn’t preaching to a crowd of thousands but traveling from town to town, intentionally looking for opportunities to serve. This shows us that ministry isn’t limited to the pulpit or big moments — it’s found in the everyday, ordinary places of life. Peter encountered Aeneas, a man paralyzed for eight years, not because Aeneas sought him out, but because Peter was attentive to the Spirit’s prompting. Many of us wait for ministry opportunities to come to us, but Scripture encourages us to be active and intentional. God places opportunities in our paths daily — a hurting coworker, a struggling friend, or even a stranger in need of encouragement. The challenge is whether we are paying attention. Too often, we become distracted, busy, or self-focused and miss the divine appointments God has arranged. Living intentionally for God means waking up each day asking, “Lord, how can I glorify You today? Who can I serve?” It is through these small, faithful steps tha...

Peter’s story is one of transformation. In the gospels, he is impulsive, headstrong, and often stumbles over his words. He even denies Jesus at His most vulnerable moment. Yet, in Acts, we see a different Peter — bold, steadfast, and Spirit-empowered. This is a reminder that our past failures do not disqualify us from being used by God. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Peter is available to us today. As Christians, we often struggle with guilt from past mistakes or doubts about our abilities. We may feel inadequate, thinking God cannot use us because of where we’ve been. But the beauty of the gospel is that God transforms weakness into strength through His Spirit. Living a Spirit-empowered life doesn’t mean perfection; it means surrender. When we yield our hearts, minds, and daily actions to the Spirit, God equips us for what He calls us to do. A Spirit-empowered life is the difference between striving in our own strength and walking in God’s power. Just like Peter, we can move from ...

Paul, even after years of serving Christ, admitted he hadn’t “arrived” spiritually (Philippians 3:12–14). His focus was on pressing forward, never becoming stagnant. This reminds us that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. We will never outgrow the need to grow. God continually calls us deeper, urging us to leave behind what is past and pursue His upward call. As Christians, we sometimes plateau. We may feel like we’ve reached a comfortable level of faith. But comfort can be dangerous if it leads to complacency. Instead, God invites us to keep pressing on—to seek Him more, serve Him more faithfully, and become more like Christ each day. Spiritual growth is not about perfection but direction. The key is to keep moving forward in faith, trusting God to complete the good work He started in us.   Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14 - Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Chr...

Though we often picture Paul as a bold, independent leader, Scripture shows us that he relied heavily on the support of other believers. When his life was threatened, his friends helped him escape. When the Jerusalem church was afraid of him, Barnabas vouched for him. Even the strongest Christians need community. Spiritual growth is not meant to be a solo journey. God places us in the body of Christ so that we can encourage, challenge, and support one another. Too often, we isolate ourselves out of pride or fear. Yet God uses the voices and hands of His people to minister to us in powerful ways. Just as Paul accepted help, we too must learn to lean on the encouragement and counsel of other believers. Growth flourishes in the soil of community.   Scripture: Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.   Application: Reach out to a trusted Christian friend this week. Share one area of your life where you need prayer or support.   Praye...

Paul’s early ministry was met with opposition—both from Jews who wanted to kill him and from Christians who feared him. Conflict is inevitable in the Christian life. The real question is not if we’ll face it, but how we will respond. Jesus calls us to pursue peace, forgive quickly, and even love our enemies (Matthew 5:43–44). As Christians, we often struggle here. When misunderstood or wronged, our natural tendency is to become defensive or bitter. A growing Christian learns to let go of offense, extend forgiveness, and trust God to handle justice. Responding to conflict with grace not only protects our spiritual health, but it also demonstrates Jesus’ love to others.   Scripture: Matthew 5:43-44 - "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,     Application: Think of someone with whom you have unresolved conflict. Take a step toward forgiveness toda...

Paul didn’t become a bold preacher of the gospel overnight. After his conversion, he spent years in prayer, reflection, and study, allowing God to reshape his thinking and prepare him for ministry (Galatians 1:15–18). Growth takes time. For us, this truth can be both comforting and challenging. We live in a world of instant results, but spiritual growth is more like a slow-cultivated garden. God often uses seasons of waiting, refining, and stretching to make us more like Jesus. Sometimes we resist the growth process because it requires change, humility, and patience. Yet God promises that His work in us will not be wasted. Every trial, every correction, and every lesson is meant to shape us into the image of His Son. Our role is to embrace the process, trusting that God knows exactly what He’s doing. Growth may not always feel glamorous, but it is holy.   Scripture: Romans 8:28-29 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those wh...

Paul’s transformation on the road to Damascus marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of knowing Jesus. In Acts 9, after regaining his sight, Paul immediately began seeking to understand who Jesus truly was. He spent time with believers, learning, praying, and growing in his relationship with Jesus.   Later in life, Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7–14 about counting everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus. For him, spiritual growth was not about one powerful encounter, but about daily walking with the Lord. As Christians, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we “know enough” about God once we’ve been in church for years. But Jesus invites us to a living, ongoing relationship with Him—one where we never stop learning. The infinite nature of God means there will always be more of Him to discover.   Pursuing Christ daily keeps our hearts alive and prevents spiritual stagnation. Knowing Jesus is not just about head knowledge, but heart transformation. The more we kno...

The Damascus Road wasn’t only about Saul—it also involved Ananias. God called him to minister to the very man who had been terrorizing Christians. At first, Ananias hesitated, but God challenged him to see Saul not as an enemy, but as a brother. This is the challenge we all face: to see people not through human eyes, but through the lens of Jesus’ grace. Ananias’ obedience played a vital role in Saul’s transformation, reminding us that sometimes our call is to come alongside someone others would rather avoid. True service often stretches us beyond comfort, asking us to forgive, reconcile, and walk in faith. God is always calling His people to greater service—will we say, “Here I am, Lord”?   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us...

  Saul entered Damascus intending to silence the name of Jesus. But after encountering Him, Saul immediately began proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. This transformation shows the power of grace. No one is beyond the reach of Christ’s redemption. Saul’s story encourages us that God can use anyone, no matter their past. Too often we disqualify ourselves from serving because of our failures or history. But Jesus delights in turning our mess into a message. If He could transform Saul—the church’s greatest enemy—into Paul, its greatest missionary, then He can use us too. Our calling as believers is not just to believe but to proclaim, to share the hope of Christ with boldness and love.   Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Application: Reflect on how God has transformed you and look for opportunities to speak about His work in your life.   Prayer: Lord, thank ...

Saul’s encounter with Jesus transformed him from a man breathing threats to a man trembling in awe before the Lord. This shift reminds us that true change begins with humility. Saul, who once dragged others into captivity, now found himself helpless, blind, and dependent on others to lead him. Sometimes God allows us to be “blinded” to remove our illusions of control and force us to lean on Him. We, too, may be confident in our own strength, but an encounter with Jesus brings us to our knees. In this place of surrender, God begins the real work of transformation. Saul’s trembling was not weakness but the beginning of wisdom. Fear of the Lord leads to reverence, worship, and a new way of living.   Scripture: Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.   Application: Identify an area in your life where you’ve been relying on your own strength. Pray specifically for God to help you trust Him instead of your...

When Saul fell to the ground, he heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Why are you persecuting me?” In that moment, Saul realized that his fight against Christians was actually a fight against Jesus Himself. This shows us the deep intimacy between Jesus and His people. To harm a believer is to harm Jesus. To serve His people is to serve Jesus.   Many times, we emphasize our own identity—our achievements, strengths, or even failures. But Saul’s encounter reminds us that the focus must shift from who we are to who Jesus is. He is Lord, King, Creator, Savior, and the Head of His Church. When we truly see Jesus for who He is, it changes how we see ourselves and how we treat others. The question “Who are You, Lord?” must be one we ask daily, seeking to know Him more deeply.   Scripture: John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”   John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Fath...

The story of Saul on the Damascus Road begins with confrontation. Saul, full of zeal and hatred, set out to destroy Christians, convinced he was serving God. But before he reached his destination, he was stopped by a light brighter than the sun—the very presence of Christ.   Like Saul, we at time can think we are walking in truth when we are actually blinded by our own pride, traditions, or self-righteousness. The Light of Christ exposes what is hidden, not to condemn us, but to bring us into truth. Many resist this confrontation because it challenges their comfort or control. Yet without it, we remain in spiritual blindness.   As Christians, we need to welcome the Light of Christ daily, allowing Him to reveal and correct what we cannot see. The Damascus Road reminds us that before God can use us, He must first confront us.     Scripture: John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkne...

God’s timing is always perfect. When Philip approached the Ethiopian, the man was reading Isaiah 53—one of the clearest prophecies about Jesus’ sacrifice. Philip didn’t orchestrate that moment; God did.   Often, we grow impatient when we don’t see fruit right away in our conversations or prayers. But being the scattered church means trusting that God is already at work ahead of us. Our role is obedience; His role is transformation.   Every “chance” encounter, every conversation, and every act of faithfulness is an opportunity for God to display His sovereignty. Trusting His timing frees us from anxiety and helps us walk with confidence, knowing He is the one who draws people to Himself.   Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”   Application: Reflect on a time when God’s t...

Simon the sorcerer is a sobering example in Acts 8. He was amazed by the miracles but missed the true message of salvation. His heart was set on power, not repentance. It’s possible to be near the things of God—attend church, serve, even be baptized—and yet not truly know Him. What God wants most is a heart surrendered to Him.   As A.W. Tozer once said, “Many have had religious experiences without ever being saved.”   This reminds us that being the church isn’t about appearances or activity—it’s about authenticity before God. We must daily examine our hearts to ensure we’re walking in repentance, humility, and true faith.   Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good ...

When Philip approached the Ethiopian official, he didn’t waste the opportunity. He asked a simple question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” That question opened the door to share the gospel.   Often, we assume sharing Jesus must be complicated or eloquent, but Philip shows us that evangelism begins with listening and guiding people to God’s truth.   Every believer carries a story worth telling—not because of our wisdom, but because of Jesus’ work in us. Too often we let fear or feelings of inadequacy silence us, but God simply asks us to be willing vessels. Our role is not to convince people but to point them to Christ. To be the scattered church is to scatter the seed of the gospel wherever God places us, trusting Him with the harvest.   Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous...

Philip didn’t just leave his comfort zone; he also listened attentively to the Spirit’s leading. When the Spirit told him to go to the desert road, Philip didn’t argue or delay—he simply went.   Obedience to the Spirit often feels risky, especially when we don’t know the “why” behind His instructions. Yet, the Spirit sees what we cannot. Following His lead requires humility, patience, and trust that God is writing a bigger story than we can see. Too often, we hesitate, overanalyze, or ignore His nudges. But being the church means surrendering our plans for His direction. The Spirit doesn’t just guide pastors or missionaries; He leads every believer. Our daily availability to the Spirit is what makes us effective witnesses.   Scripture: Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.   Isaiah 30:21 - Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.   Application: Take 5...

The call to follow Jesus is never a call to comfort but a call to mission. In Acts 8, we see Philip leaving Jerusalem and going to Samaria—a place Jewish people normally avoided because of deep cultural and religious tensions. Yet God’s Spirit led him into uncomfortable territory to share the gospel.   Like Philip, we often prefer to stay where it feels safe, whether in familiar routines, relationships, or even inside church walls. But Jesus calls us beyond comfort, because the kingdom grows when we step out in faith. Many times, our fear of rejection or failure keeps us from sharing our faith, yet God promises to be with us wherever He sends us. The truth is, comfort never grows us—obedience does. To be the church is to be willing to scatter, even when it means stepping into places we’d rather avoid.     Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your pa...

Stephen’s life and death remind us that this world is not our final home. When he “fell asleep,” he awoke in the presence of Jesus.   For believers, death is not defeat — it is victory, because Jesus has conquered death. Too often we live as if this life is all there is, chasing comfort, success, or security. But living with eternity in view transforms how we face trials, persecution, and even death. It reminds us to live faithfully now because others are watching. Stephen’s witness left a lasting impact on Saul (later Paul), showing that a faithful life and a faithful death speak powerfully. What legacy are you leaving? Are you living with eternity in mind, or only for the moment? When we live with eternity before us, we embrace boldness, forgiveness, sacrifice, and obedience, knowing our ultimate reward is with Christ.   Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is t...

As the stones rained down on Stephen, his last words were words of forgiveness. This mirrors the heart of Christ, who prayed for His executioners from the cross. Forgiveness is not natural — our natural response to hurt is anger, bitterness, or revenge. Yet the Spirit-empowered life is marked by forgiveness, even toward those who wound us deeply.   Carrying unforgiveness weighs us down, poisons our hearts, and distances us from God’s peace. Stephen’s example shows us that forgiveness is possible even in the most painful circumstances. It doesn’t excuse the wrong, but it releases the burden and entrusts justice to God. True forgiveness is an extraordinary act that points others to the grace of Christ. Who do you need to forgive today? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Choose to release the offense, not for their sake alone, but for yours — so your heart can be free. Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also h...

When Stephen faced death, he looked up and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. What a powerful reminder: in the midst of chaos, suffering, or fear, we must lift our eyes to Jesus.   Life often pulls our attention downward — toward stress, pain, conflict, or distractions. Stephen’s gaze teaches us to redirect our focus. When he looked up, he saw not despair, but the presence and glory of his Savior.   Keeping our eyes on Jesus gives us perspective: the problems of earth grow small in the light of His eternal promises. As believers, we can face trials and even death with confidence because our Savior is alive, present, and standing for us. Where we fix our gaze determines our peace. If we look at circumstances, we may be discouraged; if we look at Jesus, we find strength, courage, and hope.   Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the si...

When Stephen stood before the religious leaders, he spoke boldly and without compromise. He did not shrink back even though he knew the cost. Boldness doesn’t mean being harsh or arrogant it means speaking truth with courage and clarity. Many of us wrestle with fear: fear of rejection, ridicule, or conflict. Yet Stephen shows us that being bold is an essential part of moving from ordinary to extraordinary. He rooted his boldness in Scripture and spoke with both conviction and gentleness.   Our culture often pressures us to remain silent about our faith, but the call of Christ is to be witnesses — unashamed, uncompromising, and Spirit-empowered.   Boldness doesn’t mean we have to preach long sermons; it means being willing to stand for Jesus in conversations, decisions, and daily interactions. The world needs believers who are both gracious and courageous, pointing to Jesus even when it’s uncomfortable.   Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15 - Sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart...

Stephen was described as “full” — full of the Spirit, wisdom, faith, grace, and power. He was an ordinary man who allowed himself to be filled completely by God. This readiness didn’t come from talent or status, but from surrender. Many of us struggle here. We want God to use us, but we resist letting Him fully fill us. Instead, we live half-hearted, distracted, or spiritually empty lives.   Stephen shows us that extraordinary impact flows out of ordinary people who make themselves available to God by staying spiritually full. Being filled with the Spirit means our thoughts, actions, and decisions are guided by God rather than our flesh. Being full of wisdom means knowing how to apply His Word in daily living. Being full of faith means trusting God when we can’t see the outcome. Being full of grace means extending God’s love to others, and being full of power means relying on His strength, not ours.   Readiness is not about perfection, but about preparation — making space...