'We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, '
This morning, I was sitting in Montana with some quiet time, coffee in hand, listening to a sermon by Steven Furtick. And as I listened, I found myself nodding along—not because it was new truth, but because it was the same truth I’ve been saying for years… just from another voice. And sometimes that’s all it takes: hearing something you already know in a fresh way.
What hit me so hard was this:
The battle is in your mind—and for your mind.
Steven referenced a moment in Scripture that I’ve never heard preached this way. Paul, writing in 2 Corinthians 2, said, “God opened a door for me… but I couldn’t walk through it, because I didn’t have peace. Titus wasn’t there, and my mind wasn’t right. So I left.”
Let that land:
God opened the door, but Paul missed it—because his mind was not in the right place.
Man, that wrecked me. How many doors have I missed—not because they weren’t real, or because God wasn’t faithful—but because I wasn’t mentally or spiritually in position to walk through them?
I’ve seen this play out in my relationship with Reneé. From where I sit, it feels like fear is keeping her from something good. But then I get convicted: Where is fear keeping me from what God has for me?
Where am I more focused on not losing her than I am on walking through the doors God’s already set in front of me?
One of the most powerful prophetic images that’s been wrecking me lately comes from 2 Kings 3. God speaks to His people in the middle of a drought and says, “You will not see wind. You will not see rain. Yet this valley will be filled with water… so dig ditches.”
Think about that.
God essentially tells them, “You won’t see evidence that anything is coming. But prepare like it is.”
No clouds.
No wind.
No signs.
Just a word.
And an instruction: Dig anyway.
That requires faith. That requires alignment. That requires a mindset that is surrendered enough to act before anything looks different.
And it made me ask:
Where in my life am I not digging?
Where have I allowed discouragement, distraction, or fear to keep me from preparing for what I’ve already prayed for?
Where have I let the absence of visible change convince me to stop moving forward?
This is where spiritual and clinical transformation intersect. Because when our nervous system is wired by past disappointment or trauma, we tend to withhold effort unless we see certainty. We don’t dig when we don’t see the rain—because that feels safer. Logical. Even wise.
But faith doesn’t work that way.
Faith says, “Even if I don’t see it, I trust His word more than my sight.”
Faith digs anyway.
Preparation without visible evidence is one of the purest expressions of surrender.
So here’s the question I’m sitting with—and maybe you need to sit with it too:
Am I living like I trust the promise, or waiting for proof before I move?
Because when the rain comes—and it will—you don’t want to realize you have nowhere to hold it.
No structure.
No system.
No space in your life because you didn’t dig when He told you to.
Let that land:
God opened the door, but Paul missed it—because his mind was not in the right place.
Man, that wrecked me. How many doors have I missed—not because they weren’t real, or because God wasn’t faithful—but because I wasn’t mentally or spiritually in position to walk through them?
I’ve seen this play out in my relationship with Reneé. From where I sit, it feels like fear is keeping her from something good. But then I get convicted: Where is fear keeping me from what God has for me?
Where am I more focused on not losing her than I am on walking through the doors God’s already set in front of me?
I just finished writing the fourth article in my Fear Series, (available on Thursday) and it centers on this:
Fear speaks. And when you listen long enough, you obey without realizing it.
Fear lies:
But God tells a different story:
So the question is this:
Whose voice are you following?
Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice” (John 10:27). But many of us—if we’re honest—have substituted the voice of fear for the voice of God. And here’s the hard truth:
If fear is consistently guiding your decisions more than God’s truth…
then fear has taken God’s place in your life.
That’s idolatry—even if it’s unintentional.
It’s easy to look at someone else’s fear. But Jesus said, “Take the log out of your own eye first.”
So I started asking:
Emotional avoidance might protect you in the short term—but it sabotages you in the long run.
What we refuse to face, we unconsciously follow.
If fear is shaping your decisions and you’re not naming it…
You’re still obeying it.
Philippians 4:6–7 tells us not to be anxious, but to cast all our cares on God.
Not some of them—all of them.
That’s hard.
But it’s the path to peace.
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is working all things for our good.
But here’s the hard line I had to face:
If I’m not actively listening to God’s voice and aligning my choices with His truth…
I will drift from the purpose He designed me for.
That’s not condemnation—it’s clarity.
God’s not mad at me.
He’s inviting me back.
There’s no neutral in the Kingdom. Even our indecision becomes a direction.
So ask yourself:
If the answer is confusion, drama, or self-protection…
That’s not God.
That’s the enemy.
So… why?
Understanding your wounds, your attachment patterns, and the beliefs you inherited—that’s how you start reclaiming truth. You don’t just “let go.” You retrain your heart to trust a better voice.
We’re often wired for survival because of what we’ve walked through. But healing rewires us for surrender—where safety is no longer about control, but about trust.
Jesus didn’t just come to help us survive.
He said, “I came that you may have life—and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
And yes, growth will cost you something.
But the fruit is peace, joy, love, and clarity.
Not ease—but freedom.
Posture: Sit upright, feet grounded, hands open on your lap.
Timing: 3–5 minutes
Use this breath rhythm:
Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 counts
Hold for 2 counts
Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 counts
Pause for 2 counts
Repeat 5–10 cycles.
As you breathe, speak this truth slowly on each exhale:
“I don’t follow fear—I follow the Father.”
“His voice leads me to peace.”
“I surrender the noise. I receive His truth.”
Let your breath anchor you in God’s presence. When the noise rises, this is how you return to the Voice.
Lord, make Your voice louder than fear.
Give us ears to hear You, eyes to see You, and a heart that longs to follow You.
We surrender our survival mode.
We trust Your heart.
And we choose Your voice over every lie.
Amen.
Taking time to reflect is one of the most powerful tools for spiritual growth and self-awareness. These journal prompts are designed to help you pause, process, and partner with God in the places He’s refining you. Don’t rush the answers—let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts. As you write, ask God to reveal what’s beneath the surface and align your heart more fully with His truth and design.
Download the FREE Heart Check Reflection guide that goes with this post.
The Kingdom OPORD is your step-by-step battle plan for spiritual growth and victory. Ready to turn conviction into clarity?
Disabled combat veteran turned Kingdom builder. I write to equip others with truth, strategy, and the fire to live boldly for Christ. Every battle has a purpose. Every word here is for the ones who refuse to stay shallow.
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This blog and podcast are a reflection of my journey as a follower of Christ, a disabled combat veteran, and a lifelong seeker of personal growth, faith, and resilience. Through radical honesty and authentic conversations, I share my struggles, victories, and lessons learned in overcoming fear, trust issues, and self-doubt. My mission is to inspire, encourage, and empower others to live with faith, purpose, and intention—embracing challenges, breaking strongholds, and pursuing the life God has called us to live.