How to Joyfully Serve One Another in Love

​Discover practical ways to serve others with joy and love, deepening relationships and fostering a caring community rooted in kindness and compassion.

​Learn how to joyfully serve one another in love and strengthen your relationships. This message shares practical tips, biblical insights, and personal stories to inspire you to care for others with genuine kindness. Whether in your family, church, or community, discover how loving service can make a lasting impact.

​Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.

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I started this week knowing I had difficult conversations to have with a lot of people. Some I serve, others I support. All of them had to be done in love.

Have you ever had a week when you just weren’t looking forward to Monday morning?

Some people call that “adulting”. Other people call it life.

Sometimes Serve willingly

We’re talking today about Enjoying Service and I need to start out by saying “It’s not always enjoyable.”

Let’s consider something…what if God didn’t give the local church to us to make us happy, but to make us holy?

Sometimes things just need to be done. Sometimes we’re the only one who can get that thing done. Sometimes what we do isn’t noticed or when it is noticed, it’s complained about. Sometimes we feel that nobody cares. We can feel unseen and unappreciated. We can become weary in doing good.

Listen, that’s not the way God designed service to be.

We’re to serve Him and each other in a wonderful, reaffirming, self-effacing, rhythmic dance of joy.

You CAN have peace and hope and joy at all times and in every situation. I’ll give you some tips and tools to do that in the day-to-day of your everyday if you currently are—have in the past or will in the future —serve God and others without joy.

We have lots to get through today.

Can I pray?

Let’s start with what Paul tells the church in Phillipi:

Philippians 2:1-18 - NIV Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Before we go on I need to mention something that some of you may be experiencing or may be approaching. I know that portion of scripture can seem trite or overwhelming if you’re not in the right place. Specifically, I’m thinking about something called compassion fatigue.

A word on Compassion Fatigue

In my day job I work with capable and caring people who care for others. When I meet with them, one thing I listen for is compassion fatigue.

Define what it is:

Compassion fatigue is a state of physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion resulting from the repeated, prolonged exposure to the suffering or trauma of others. This happens in caring professions and it happens in the church.

Signs you can pick up on:

Emotional and Mental signs:

Reduced empathy, mood changes, cognitive difficulties, hypervigilance or a negative self-view

Physical signs:

Profound exhaustion, stress-related ailments (headaches, gastrointestinal issues) Sleep disturbances, Appetite changes

Behavioural signs:

Social withdrawal, avoidance, loss of interest, unhealthy coping.

Different than burn-out.

• Burnout is typically related to work-related stress, feeling overwhelmed by workload, or feeling unappreciated in a professional environment.
• Compassion Fatigue is specifically rooted in the act of caring for others and being exposed to their trauma, leading to "secondary traumatic stress".
• What to do

When this happens, it’s important to always remember what they tell you in the airplanes—put your own oxygen mask on before helping the person next to you.

I’ve learned that if I can listen for signs of it and catch it early, we can mitigate disaster later on.

It’s like huge asteroids heading towards earth. Hollywood would have us believe we can blast them out of the sky when they’re right on top of us. But the resulting debris would still probably kill us. Those who—know more about math and space than I do—are working on gently nudging asteroids a long way out. Far enough out a gentle nudge is all you need.

So I listen for compassion fatigue and work to mitigate it in the moment and help the people I serve create plans to avoid it in the future.

I’m not talking about compassion fatigue today.

I need to mention it because my focus today is on understanding the spiritual and theological elements of serving with joy. And I would never pull out this list—that I’m going to give you today— if I was sitting across the table with you, hearing you may have compassion fatigue.

If I’m hearing you have compassion fatigue my role is to create safe space so you can self express your thoughts feelings and emotions with judgement, criticism or condemnation. You need to be heard. You deserve to be seen.

The message today is more about more about long-term far out nudging to avoid certain devastation. It’s not a hammer to pound you to do what I think is right—even though it might seem like it if you have compassion fatigue.

Back to Philippians 2

Philippians 2 describes God’s intention for the church. And it works, as we work it. We need to work it in the strength He provides.

We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But in humility we value each other above ourselves,

This has to be a group effort. It doesn’t work if 10% of the people do it and 90% look out for their own interest. It doesn’t work if people are unseen or unappreciated as they submit to everyone else and nobody else serves anyone else. It’s not a dance unless we do it together.

Paul says:

not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

God has designed this to be so encouraging and it can be encouraging when it’s done in love. When someone stumbles we can pick them up. When they can’t walk together we can lift them up. All the while, together we are moving to the rhythms of his grace. It is beautiful, it is holy. It’s something like heaven will be. We’re serving one another in love.

Where are you?

I don’t know where you are today. I don’t know if you have compassion fatigue. I don’t know if you feel unnoticed and ignored. I don’t know if you’re in a season of waiting.

IF you feel unnoticed and ignored… I have one tip for you today.

I had someone in my first church that I noticed one Sunday in his regular spot. I hadn’t seen him for a while so I went up to him to say hi and ask him how he was doing.

“Terrible” he said. “I was in the hospital and no one came to see me.” I was shocked. “Did you tell me and I forgot?” “No.” Then I got curious. “Did you tell someone in the office and they forgot to tell me?” “No.” “Did you tell the elders of the church?” “No.” Then I remembered, “You have a Care Group that meets in your house, did you tell them? “No.” Then I remembered something else. “I had an hour long conversation with your wife this week, why didn’t she tell me?” “I told her not to tell you.”

I lost it. “That’s why James tells us if we’re sick to CALL FOR the Elders of the church to pray. How are we supposed to know if you don’t tell us? God has yet to lead me to a random hospital room to meet someone who could have told me they wanted a visit.”

It was funny. But how many times does that happen to us? We’d rather sit in the pew and be offended than bother someone for help—even when we need help. We’d rather keep on working because “Someone has to do it” instead of being a burden to others.

But God placed us together to carry one another burdens so so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

If you are feeling you’re growing weary doing good TELL SOMEONE! We’re here to encourage one another. We’re here to build each other up. We will give you safe space to self-express your thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgment, criticism or condemnation.

Church, we can’t put ministries over people’s wellness. If you are serving anywhere and don’t feel supported or feel you need a break, you need to tell a pastor.

I would rather anything not get done than have people leave the church because they feel locked in and can’t get out without leaving the church.

What about waiting?

Now another thing that might be going through could be you’re in a season of waiting. I had a season where it felt I was put on shelf. No door would open. There was nowhere I could serve. Everywhere I was able to serve wasn’t given any support and instead there was conflicting priorities.

IF you’re in a season of waiting… I have one tip for you.

Times of waiting are not always easy times to get through. I think the best advice I’ve heard about a season of waiting is that “When you have to wait, be a like a waiter—and serve others.”

I’ll show you how to do it with joy.

I believe the key to serving with joy is to serve with our whole heart.

Serving with our Whole Heart

We’re told in Deuteronomy to serve the Lord with all of our heart:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NLT “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

Remember the heart to the Hebrew thinker was the seat of the emotion—yes, but it was also the seat of the decision and the seat of the action. Our decisions, our emotions and our actions need to line up in order to be doing something with our whole heart.

So how do you serve with your whole heart?

Decision

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
→ Service is a deliberate choice to follow God. And it’s a deliberate choice to serve others in love (Galatians 5:13).

Action

1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
→ Serving God is lived out through faithfulness in what we do.

We do what we say we’re going to do. We keep our word even when it hurts (Psalm 15:4).

Emotion

When we serve with our whole heart we have joy. (Acts 20:35, Psalm 100:2, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 2:17-18, Matthew 25:21)

→ Gladness and joy should characterize our service.

It’s more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) When we serve others we’re serving God and we serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2). We know God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) Even if we’re being poured out as drink offering we can be glad and rejoice (Philippians 2:17-18). We work to hear “'Well done, good and faithful servant! ... Come and share your master’s happiness!'" (Matthew 25:21).

Serve God and Others with our Whole Heart

When we serve God and others with our whole heart, a beautiful rhythm starts to emerge. We think of each other ahead of ourselves. We look out for each other’s interests. We do nothing out or selfish ambition or vain conceit. We honour one another, accept one another, serve one another, submit to one another, forgive one another, encourage one another, love one another.

This is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus - to have peace and hope and joy at all times and in every situation.

When we serve we should have joy.

When we don’t have the joy we need to be able to stop and access why we don’t.

Here are 6 Biblical Reasons Serving Can Lose its Joy

1) Serving becomes self-focused instead of God-focused Matthew 6:1
2) Pride and comparison creep in Galatians 6:4
3) Serving is done in human strength, not God’s strength 1 Peter 4:11
4) Serve others with wrong expectations Luke 6:35
5) Sin, bitterness, or resentment enters the heart Hebrews 12:15
6) Love grows cold Matthew 24:12

What’s the solution?

That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.

On top of all the difficult things I had to do this week, I got to enjoy developing the Be JOYFUL Serving Tool

J – Jesus-focused
O – Operate humbly
Y – Yield to God's strength
F – Free expectations
U – Unclutter your heart
L – Let love grow

Let’s unpack the Be JOYFUL Serving Tool

J – Jesus-focused

When service is done mainly for recognition, appreciation, or a sense of worth, it can become draining. When serving becomes self-focused instead of God-focused, joy disappears. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:1, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” Our joy is lost when service is about impressing people rather than pleasing God.

Selfish ambition - Selfish ambition is saying or thinking “I need to look good or I need to avoid looking bad.”

I think that too often we do things because someone expects us to do it. We do it look good to them. Unfortunately, that’s often pastors or parents or kids or siblings putting on the pressure.

How to keep your joy:

Serve the way God wants you to serve, not the way others tell you should. Take the time to hear from Him. He’ll direct your steps.

Anytime someone asks you to serve—hey, can you get the garbage or would you mind stacking the chairs—but committing to something for a season—train yourself to say “I’ll pray about that” then pray about it until you find peace in saying yes or saying no.

Whatever you do work for God

Colossians 3:23–24 — Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Do all you do to the glory of God

1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Serve for Jesus’ glory, not for personal recognition.

Tip: Do everything for the glory of God. I’ve learned to preach to please God. If I end up pleasing you it makes sense if you’re pleasing God. Or I might be telling you what you want to hear. I don’t know the difference.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Am I serving for the show?

O – Operate humbly

Joy fades when a servant starts comparing their role, results, or attention with others. Pride and comparison rob us of joy. Galatians 6:4 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Joy drains away when we compare or compete instead of serving with humility.

Remember Selfish ambition is saying or thinking “I need to look good or I need to avoid looking bad.”

Vain conceit is saying or thinking, “I deserve this”

How to keep your joy:

Practice humility and see yourself as part of one body. Humility is not putting yourself down, it’s seeing yourself as God sees you and treating others like they are made in His image.

Count others more significant than yourself.

Philippians 2:3–4 — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Remember we are members of one body

Romans 12:3 — For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Celebrate others and focus on your calling.

Tip: Comparison is the thief of joy. Gratitude is the gateway to grow. The easiest way to align your thoughts with God’s thoughts is to be grateful. Give thanks with your whole heart. Decide to give thanks. Feel grateful. Show appreciation to God and people.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Am I comparing myself to others?

Y – Yield to God's strength

Serving in our own strength leads to exhaustion and frustration. 1 Peter 4:11 reminds us, “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides.” Relying on ourselves makes serving a burden rather than a blessing.

…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

How to keep your joy:

Rely on God’s power and rest in Him. Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

Isaiah 30:15 In returning and rest you will be saved. In quietness and in trust you will have strength.

Remember apart from Christ we can do nothing.

John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Remember Jesus will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28–30 — “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ask God daily for His power to serve.

Tip: Stick to your capacity—knowing that changes over time and circumstance. God has given you everything you need for life and godliness. You live by the spirit so keep in step with Holy Spirit.

One of the hardest things I’m still dealing with is my capacity to work.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Why am I so tired?

F – Free expectations

If we expect gratitude, fairness, or success in return, disappointment can kill joy. Joy is lost when we serve with the wrong expectations, hoping for praise or repayment.

Jesus said in Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” Serving with strings attached leads to disappointment.

If that’s how we’re supposed to treat our enemies, how should we treat our friends. If we feel slighted or overlooked, it’s up to us to go talk to them. Do it for reconilitation’s sake.

How to keep your joy:

Do the good you know you should do and trust God with the results.

Galatians 6:9 — Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Work for the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:58 — Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Serve freely, expecting nothing but God's pleasure.

Tip: Whatever you do work with your whole heart as unto the Lord. Encourage others and you will be encouraged. Bless others and you will be blessed.

We need to encourage and build each other up. But while we can enjoy it from others, our greatest encouragement needs to come from God.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Do I seek my validation from others?

U – Unclutter your heart

If hurt, anger, or unforgiveness take root, service can feel heavy and joyless. Sin, bitterness, or resentment choke out joy in serving. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” An unexamined heart quickly turns service into drudgery.

How to keep your joy:

Root out Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Bitterness is sneaky—it can start small and quietly poison your heart. The Bible tells us to actively watch for it, uproot it early, and not let it spread. Unforgiveness left unchecked always drains joy from service.

Bring Your Burdens Into the Light

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Don’t suffer in silence. God designed the church as a family to support one another. Sharing your hurts breaks the power of isolation and invites healing and encouragement.

Regularly confess, repent and forgive, and keep your heart clear before God.

Tip: Risk sharing your frustration with others. Don’t give your frustration to everyone and anyone. Choose people of wisdom. How do you know people of Wisdom? James 3:17 - wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Is bitterness affecting my service?

L – Let love grow

When love grows cold, service feels hollow. Paul taught us: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13 Without love, service is just routine and loses meaning.

How to keep your joy:

Repent and do the things you did at first

Jesus told the church in Ephesus to “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. (Revelation 2:4-5).

When we lose our love we need to repent and do the things we did at first.

Remember what love looks like

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Tip: Ask God to renew your love for Him and others daily. For specific people- Ask God to help them. Intercede for them and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 That changes your heart towards them and allows you to serve in love.

If you have lost serving with joy ask Holy Spirit:

Has my love grown cold?

Conclusion

When we serve God and others we should do it with our whole heart and have joy. When we lose the joy in serving, these questions can help us know what we’re to do.

Questions to nudge you to safety

Am I serving for the show? See - Matthew 6:1
Am I comparing myself to others? See - Galatians 6:4
Why am I so tired? See - Matthew 11:28
Do I seek my validation from others? See - Galatians 1:10
Is bitterness affecting my service? See - Hebrews 12:15
Has my love grown cold? See - Revelation 2:4-5

God has given us the tools of confession and repentance to allow us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Confession is agreeing with Him that it’s sin. Repentance is changing our minds and doing the exact opposite. (We need to repent with our whole heart.)

Will you enjoy service? Will you agree with God that he’s given you everything you need for life and godliness? With you throw off everything that hinders you serving God and others with your whole heart? You may need to give up stuff that you’re doing to look good or avoid looking bad.

God is calling us to a wonderful, reaffirming, self-effacing, rhythmic dance of joy when he tells us to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13)

Get help if you experience compassion fatigue. I firmly believe those hurt in community are best healed in community.

The end of my week

I knew I had difficult conversations at the start of the week. I didn’t know about the heart breaking conversations I had later in the week. I put my phone on do not disturb, knowing I may have crisis calls coming in at some point.

We need to encourage and build each other up. We need to share our burdens for each other to know. Sometimes it’s just giving each other safe space to self-express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgement, criticism or condemnation. Sometimes we can pray peace and quietness into each other’s souls. We need to give each other permission to do that. I’m not saying everyone needs to tell everyone everything—use wisdom in this. Seek people of wisdom and use some social awareness to know when a good time is to share.

End with a Blessing

Romans 15:5 (NLT) May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

Can I pray?

How to Pray Like Jesus Taught

Learn how to pray as Jesus taught in the Bible. Discover the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and deepen your connection with God through guided steps.​

Want to learn how to pray like Jesus taught His disciples? In this video, we break down the steps of the Lord’s Prayer, explain its meaning, and give practical tips for deepening your connection with God. Whether you’re new to faith or looking to strengthen your prayer life, these insights will help you pray with greater purpose and understanding. Subscribe for more faith-based videos and guides!

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Read How to Pray As Jesus Taught

​When was the last time God surprised you with something really good?

What was it?

Was it something you looked for and searched for?

Did He simply drop it into your heart?

I’ve learned that the parable of the good seed scattered on the different soils is not just about the first time we heard about the good news…it’s about every time He speaks His word.

He’s always speaking but it’s up to us to break up the hard soil and throw out all the stones and rip out all the weeds so the seed that is sown can find good soil to take root and produce a harvest of 10, 50 or 100 times what was sown.

Stay curious, my friend.

There’s always more to learn about God and experience through Holy Spirit.

Can I pray?

One of the things I absolutely love about God is that he surprises me with truth I may have not known or that I might have completely forgot—at times I may not even be looking.

It happened again, not too long ago.

A few years ago I sensed God telling me to seek Him. I always want to follow that call. I’ve learned how I can seek Him changes at different times and different seasons. So I had to seek Him for how he wanted me to seek Him.

And I decided on a prayer rhythm that had 5 minute intervals for every moment I wanted to include in my time with Him. I may have overcomplicated it…but it works.

I felt his presence throughout my day. I moved things around and combined some and let some fall off and over several months I thought I had a pretty good system.

But I knew it was lacking something, I just couldn’t tell what it was.

Then I had a friend step up to lead a devotional for a team meeting. He’s a retired pastor who has deep wells to pull from, so he could do it on short notice. He decided to show us how he learned to pray.

As he spoke, the penny dropped.

So since he told me how he learned to pray, I reworked my prayer time to follow the rhythm and I was surprised how much of what I was doing fit. It was a different order, but I got most of everything in.

And oh, what an order.

My friend showed me how he uses the prayer rhythm Jesus His disciples to pray in his personal times and when He leads prayer groups. So let’s go to that now.

The Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

It’s beautiful.

I thought I knew it. I’ve taught on it several times, but didn’t see how could so deeply impact my life.

I didn’t see it until my friend pointed it out.

I mean, this was one of the first portion of scriptures I memorized before I could read. I memorized in the King James version.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6 Parts of the Lord's Prayer

There are 6 parts of this prayer--the prayer I originally learned. I know it’s five in more modern translations.

But by the fourth century we have liturgies with the ending because they knew it was popular for prayers in first century Judea to end. “For your’s is the Kingdom, power and the glory for ever and ever Amen.” It’s the common doxology—statement of praise, usually at the end—that was said by Jewish people in the first century.

In the 12th century, it was included in manuscripts. The King James version used one of these manuscript—that was the earliest available at the time. Textus Receptus It has the doxology. Our newer translations use earlier manuscripts that don’t have it- like Codex Alexandrinus- that’s why it’s not in newer translations.

But I include it in my prayer rhythm because it leads to just an amazing rhythm of prayer to go from Adoration and end with Worship…and it is a wonderful flow.

Overview of How to Pray Like Jesus

Let me give you the overview.

Adoration - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Intercession - Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Petition - Give us today our daily bread
Alignment - Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us
Battle - And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil
Worship - For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

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Let’s unpack that…

How to Pray Like Jesus Taught

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name

Pray Like Jesus - Adoration

https://revtrev.com/adoration

We start with Adoration. We want to be more aware of His presence as we pray. God is always with us, how can we be with Him? The psalmist gave us the key the entering in with His presence.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

I’ve learned the value of giving thanks to God with my whole heart. The whole heart is the seat of our decision, the seat of emotions and the seat of our actions. When we decide to give thanks, feel gratitude for what we he has done for us, it naturally leads us to praise Him for who he is. It’s how we show are appreciation for Him.

So I want to always give thanks and naturally give praise to Him. I have some tools and prayers to help on days when it doesn’t come naturally.

Pray Prompts

Be in Awe tool- https://revtrev.com/be-in-awe/
My Be Aware Prayer - https://revtrev.com/aware/
Give thanks with your Whole Heart Tool -https://revtrev.com/feel-gratitude/
I Will Praise You Lord with All Of My Heart Prayer - https://revtrev.com/i-will-praise/

Tip: Don’t leave this time until you’re more aware of His presence.

From Adoration we flow right into Intercession. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Pray like Jesus - Intercession

https://revtrev.com/intercession

Let me start with a verse that has revolutionized my prayer life. Paul tells Timothy:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1

When I pray Intercession I pray from authority Matthew 28:18-19 I agree with God’s will for each person and situation. Pray God helps them. Intercede for them, and give thanks for them

A. Our Family

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

Our family, extended family, all the kids and significant others and future spouse, by name and by need. I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.

B. Who God puts on my heart

Colossians 1:9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

For friends, For workmate, For church, Anyone I complain about. I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.

C. For our Country

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Nations Leaders - Our Country’s Leaders and Politicians representing me- Provincial Politicians representing me - City Politicians representing me I thank God for them. I ask God to help them and I intercede for them.

I have prayer prompts to pray in a more general way for people. I use these to jump into more specific prayers.

Pray Prompts

My Prayer For Family’s Future https://revtrev.com/family/
My Prayer for My Parents who are Aging https://revtrev.com/parents
My Prayer for My Future Grandkids https://revtrev.com/grandkids/
My Prayer for My Politicians https://revtrev.com/politicians/

TIP: Start with giving thanks for them by name, it makes a difference for how you intercede for people. 1 Timothy 2:1

From Intercession we go into petition: Give us today our daily bread

Petition

https://revtrev.com/petition

Our daily bread is what consumes our thoughts today.

If we pray intercession from Authority we pray petitions from Identity Matthew 7:9-11 You have a good Father who enjoys giving good gifts to his children. Because you have a good Father - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

If I have to work for it, I need to pray for it.
If I try to figure something out, I need to bring it to God.
If I need to find something, I ask my good Father for help.
If I’m lacking anything I need to ask Him for it.
Doing it with thanks opens me up to his leading.

How do you do that? Here what I’ve learned…

A. Remember to ask for

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

My Health, My Immediate Plans, Help me find, Help me finish, Help me know, Help Me Create, Help me figure out. I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.

B. Commit my long Terms Plans

Psalms 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

Dream with God, Stay on track with what He’s prompted me to do I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.

C. Commit my Commitments

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

For my church, and my company and my work. I tell God what I need and thank Him for all He has done.

I have prayer prompts to help me petition my good father.

Pray Prompts

My Prayer of Agreement http://revtrev.link/agree
My Reflection on Healing http://revtrev.link/seegood

TIP: Keep track of answers to your prayers so you can thank Him for all He’s done.Philippians 4:6

From Petition we move into alignment: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us

Alignment

Prayer is the place we exchange our problems for His peace.

I know this works. I don’t think all of you know this story. I starts almost a year ago. I was waiting for Cardiac Ablation Surgery and we were just about to leave to go to New Zealand because our son was getting married and his and his soon-to-be wife were graduating from Vet school.

I got the call and was booked for the week before we were going to leave. I asked the nurse if that was going to a problem that I fly around the world a week after the procedure. “Oh” she said “We don’t want you having complications out-of-province”. And said she’d try to rebook it after I got back.

But that word “complications” I didn’t sit well with me.

I’ve had too many complications. I don’t need more complications.

So—it took me a few days to realize I was thinking about it so much—I eventually took it to God and poured out my complaint to Him. God doesn’t mind us pouring out what’s on our heart to Him—He knows us better than we know ourselves.

As I complained to God He brought to my memory the times I’ve had complications with my health and He showed me He was with me and that He helped me and that He was turning it out for good. I felt Him ask me if I would trust Him with any complication this time. I did. And I felt His peace. I exchanged my problems for His peace through prayer.

We had a bit of a complication.

The surgery went fine. I had to lie on my back and not sit up. The nurses found one hematoma that was starting to form, but they worked it out. I almost pasted out and threw up, but the gave me some drip and and orange juice and everything was good.

A few hours later, they were getting me ready to leave the ward and two nurses were changing the dressing on each side. The one on the right was done and left. The one on the left was holding pressure on a possible hematoma when he noticed I had sprung a leak. He asked Karen the leave, put pressure on the right side and called the other nurse back. She took over and pressed harder and I started to feel like I’d be sick or pass out. They put me back on a drip and gave me some orange juice again, so I started feeling better.

And I felt appreciation for this nurse. She was working overtime to make sure I could make it home as soon as I could. So I thanked her and told her I appreciate her. She had been holding pressure the whole time. She replied “You have far too much joy for the situation you’re in right now.”

She was right. I was lying in a pool of my own blood. I laughed and said, “I’m just glad it happened here and that you could help me rather than at home.”

It wasn’t a delusional laugh. I was at peace. I had His joy. I knew He was going to use this for His good. I had taken to time to exchange my problems for His peace.

Hopefully this won’t always take a whole lot of time for you, but it’s good to ask these questions and pause to let Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.

5 Short, Contemplative Prayers
to Exchange Your Problems for His Peace

Confess, Address, Lament, Repent, Forgive

Confess

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Agree with God

Question you can ask God:

If I’ve done anything to make you unhappy, please forgive me.

Pray Prompts

BE STILL and Know Tool https://revtrev.com/be-still/

Address

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Be still. Let Him show you.

Question you can ask God:

If I am holding on to some worry I haven’t released to you, show me where I’ve stopped trusting you.

Pray Prompts

CAST Your Cares Upon Him Tool https://revtrev.com/cast/

Lament

Psalm 56:3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

It’s OK to feel your feelings.

Question you can ask God:

If I am needing to trust You with emotions—that may scare me—show me.

Pray Prompts

100 Psalms of Laments organized by emotions https://revtrev.com/psalms

Repent

Acts 3:19-20 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord,

Change your mind and go in the opposite direction

Question you can ask God:

If I need to change an attitude or action—in your mercy—show me what I may be ignorant of or excusing.

Pray Prompts

TURN to repent tool https://revtrev.com/turn/

Forgive

Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Forgive with your whole heart

Question you can ask God:

If there is anyone I hold anything against, help me forgive with my whole heart.

Pray Prompts

Forgive with your whole heart tool https://revtrev.com/forgive/

Tip: Do not leave this time of alignment without peace, hope or joy.

Because we’re aligned we can go into battles He has for us.

And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil

Battle

https://revtrev.com/battle

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We start by recognizing that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

We need to put on the whole armour of God.

Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Guess what you have been doing?

This whole prayer time has been about getting his truth fitted around you, and His righteousness firmly in place. You feet are fitted with the Gospel, because those people you’ve been praying for, giving thanks for and interceding for have made you more and more eager to share with, your shield of faith is stronger because you’ve exchanged your problems for His peace. You have the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit and if your intercession list is anywhere as long as mine you’ve been praying in the spirit when words have run out.

Peace is proof of your authority. Speak life not death. Agree with God’s will in each situation. Pray the expressed will of God in Scripture for each situation.

It’s time to do battle.

Pray Prompts

I Stand in The Gap for my Kids https://revtrev.com/gap/
Favour, Open Doors and Personal Spiritual Breakthrough https://revtrev.com/opendoor/
A prayer of breakthrough for health and healing https://revtrev.com/health/
A prayer for protection for my family https://revtrev.com/protect/

Tip: Don’t demand from God. Don’t magnify the enemy. Insist on God’s will being done.

Battle done God’s way naturally leads us back to Worship.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

Worship

https://revtrev.com/worship

You start out becoming aware of His presence, you go into praying and interceding and giving thanks for the most important people in your life and everyone God has put on your heart, you’ve taken your own needs to Him and trusted Him as the good Father He is. You’ve aligned your heart with His heart and exchange your problems for His peace and then lifted up the battles His given you to fight. From there, the only way you can finish and remain in His presence is to go into worship, and you’re once again back in the place He’s created you to be in.

What is our natural response to the presence of God?

It’s Worship

Who I have in heaven but you?

When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, who am I that you think of me? Why do you care for me so much?

Yet you dance over me with singing and quiet me with your love. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Your name is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved. You are my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—more than all the sand on every beach on every ocean and every dune in every desert—and when I awake, I am still with you.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Go out with joy and be led forth in peace. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Pray Prompts

Who Have I In Heaven, but You? https://revtrev.com/heaven

Tip: Come back whole circle to the presence of God.

Conclusion

What is your prayer time like? Do you make space to be with the One who formed you and said “very good?” Do you feel His pleasure on you and feel His power through you?

Do you plead and beg or do you worry about nothing, pray about everything with thanksgiving?

Do you pray at people or do you Ask God to help them. Intercede for them and give thanks for them?

If I could give you a taste for anything today I hope it’s the difference gratitude makes in our prayers.

Jesus has given us a pattern. And instead of reading through it like a pattern or discussing about the pattern…will you live out the pattern when you go to prayer by yourself and with others?

Can we stand and pray the Lord’s prayer in closing? It will be an antiphonal reading

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
We will enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise.

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
We will pray your blessing, intercede for others, and give thanks for them.

Give us today our daily bread.
We will worry about nothing, pray about everything, tell you what we need and thank you for all You’ve done.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We will keep short accounts with You and others.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
We will stand firm with Your full armour and rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances for this is Your will for us.

For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen
We will stay Your presence and grow more and more aware of your presence. Thank you that you’re always with us, help us be with you.

Finish with closing blessing.

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26

Learn more at https://revtrev.com/our-father

Why and How to live counterintuitive to the world

​Discover why living counterintuitive to the world leads to true freedom and success, plus practical steps to embrace this mindset today.

​In this message, we explore why living counterintuitive to the world can be a powerful path to personal freedom and lasting success. Most people follow societal norms without question, but true growth often comes from thinking differently and challenging conventional wisdom. Learn practical steps to adopt a counterintuitive mindset that helps you break free from limiting beliefs and create the life you truly want. Whether you want to improve your mindset, career, or relationships, this guide will inspire you to think outside the box and live authentically. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights!

​Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.

Learn more about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge at https://revtrev.link/fast

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Read Why and How to live counterintuitive to the world

​When I used to do more speaking in other churches and it was a new church for me, I would start with a game so people could get to know me.

“3 Truths and a Lie” . Admittedly this made some pastors nervous—you don’t want a guest speaker to tell you he’s going to lie to you. So let’s call it “discernment practice”.

We’ll see today who either knows me best, knows people best, is operating with discernment OR needs to learn how to discern. Let’s have a little fun with this.

I’m going to tell you 4 statements about myself—three of them are true, one of them is false— and then we’ll go through them again and you can vote on the one you think is the false.

I believe in ghosts—I am one.

I secretly trained as a ninja.

I won a contest by stuffing 26 marshmallows in my mouth and saying “Chubby Bunny”

A world government has categorized me as an alien.

Put up your hand for the one you think is a fabrication.

Focus on “A world government has categorized me as an alien.”

Amplified Bible 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers in this world to abstain from the sensual urges, those dishonourable desires, that wage war against the soul. Keep your behaviour excellent among the unsaved Gentiles, conduct yourself honourably, with graciousness and integrity, so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may instead come to glorify God in the day of visitation, when He looks upon them with mercy.

We need to live as aliens and strangers in this world. Look at what Paul tells the Galatians:

Galatians 5:16-26 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Can I pray?

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Sermon on the Mount Matthew - 5:1- 7:29

(19 minutes)

16 Counterintuitive ways to live Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5

1. Rejoice when persecuted for righteousness (5:11–12)

2. Let your light shine but do good works quietly (5:16; 6:1–4)

3. Need to Out-righteous the self-righteousness (5:20)

4. Anger equals murder in God’s eyes (5:21–22)

5. Lust equals adultery (5:27–28)

6. Radical action against sin is required (5:29–30)

7. Do not resist an evil person; turn the other cheek (5:39)

8. Go the second mile (5:41)

9. Love your enemies and pray for persecutors (5:44)

Matthew 6

10. Give, pray, and fast in secret (6:1–18)

11. Forgive to be forgiven (6:14–15)

12. Do not lay up treasures on earth (6:19–21)

13. Do not worry about your life (6:25–34)

Matthew 7

14. Do not judge, or you will be judged (7:1–2)

15. Remove the log from your own eye first (7:3–5)

16. Enter only by the narrow gate (7:13–14)

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

I’ve found 9 other counterintuitive teachings that Jesus gave us specifically on the Kingdom of God.

9 Counterintuitive Teachings of the Kingdom

Jesus gives several counter-intuitive teachings specifically about the Kingdom of God throughout the Gospels. These teachings challenge conventional wisdom about power, status, wealth, and inclusion. Here are some of the key examples, with references:

1. The Greatest in the Kingdom Is the Servant of All

Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43–44; Matthew 20:26–27; Luke 22:26 “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43–44)

2. You must Enter the Kingdom as a child

Matthew 18:1–4; Luke 18:16–17; Mark 10:14–15 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3–4)

3. The Kingdom Belongs to the Poor and Persecuted

Luke 6:20; Matthew 5:3, 10 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

4. The Kingdom Is Given to Outsiders and Sinners

Matthew 21:31–32 “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

5. In the Kingdom Those Who Are Last Will Be First

Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30 “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

6. The Kingdom Is Like a Mustard Seed or Yeast—Starts Small, Becomes Great

Matthew 13:31–33; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–21 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed...though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants.”

7. The Kingdom Is Hidden and Costly—Worth Giving Up Everything

Matthew 13:44–46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

8. It’s Hard for the Rich to Enter to the Kingdom

Mark 10:23–25; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 18:24–25 “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

9. Not Everyone Who Says ‘Lord’ Will Enter the Kingdom

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Kingdom of God is nothing like any Kingdom this world has ever seen. It where the poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom, where the mourners are comforted, the merciful are shown mercy, and the peacemakers are called the Sons of God. It’s a kingdom where those who are insulted, persecuted, and lied about will be blessed.

It is a Kingdom where the first will be last and the last will be first; where the those who wish to save their life must first abandon it; where life comes only through dying, success only through taking up the cross daily.

In this kingdom, the children are valued and the greatest will be those who are the servants of all. The poor will say that they are rich, the weak will be strong, the blind will see, the lame will walk, the mute will shout for joy. The sick be healed. The lepers will be cleansed. Demons will be cast out. The dead will be raised.

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Now you might be thinking “But Kingdom sense is common sense to me?”.

You may have been in the kingdom so long you’ve begun to think God’s thoughts yourself. If so that’s great, we all need to get there, all of the time.

Or maybe you’ve never understood what this Kingdom is all about.

Do you know how Jesus tells us we can enter the Kingdom of God?

7 Counterintuitive Keys to Enter the Kingdom

1. Become Like a Child (Humility and Trust)

Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Humble, dependent, and trusting posture is required.

A 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day and a 40-year-old laughs about four.

I want to be more like His child. When we laugh it shows us we’re trusting God as our good Father. Trust the trustable and laugh at your circumstances.

How often do I find myself laughing?

2. Repent and Believe

Mark 1:15 John said, “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Confession (agreeing with God that what He calls sin is sin.) Repentance (changing your mind and turning from sin) are foundational.

Please don’t think it’s one and done. It’s repentance every time Holy Spirit convicts us of something that’s counter to the Kingdom.

If His Kingdom is wherever His will is done and if my life doesn’t line up with His will, I need to agree with Him and repent.

Let me give you an example. I found myself complaining about decisions of different politicians have been making that look like anything but wisdom. I’ve heard some sermons (not here - out there) that look like anything but wisdom—and that tends to offend me, so I complain.

And one day as I was reading the Bible two verses jumped out at me:

1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

And I realized I needed to repent. I needed to turn around and do the exact opposite. So every politician I complained about I started asking God to help them, interceding for them and giving thanks for them. It’s amazing how out of line I was with the Kingdom rule in my life. When I complain about anyone, I need to repent and remember to ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.

When I did that for politicians I actually started seeing them as people God loves.

Since we live by the Spirit we need to keep in step with Holy Spirit. Follow those leadings that poke wholes in your practice.

Is there anything you feel Holy Spirit is encouraging you to turn from and do the exact opposite in?

3. Be Born Again

John 3:3-7 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”

Spiritual rebirth—renewal by God’s Spirit—is essential.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

God wants you to become more and more like Jesus.

Am I becoming more and more like Jesus?

4. Do the Will of the Father

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

True obedience, not just words or outward religion.

What do we know is God’s will for us?

Be Holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Live Honourable. 1 Peter 2:15
Always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And since we live by the Spirit we keep in step with the Spirit.

Am I quick to hear and quick to obey what Holy Spirit tells me to do?

5. Have a Righteousness Greater Than the Self-Righteous

Matthew 5:20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

This is possible only by the grace of God.

His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own.

By his grace we are saved Ephesians 2:8–9, Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11, we are justified Romans 3:24, Romans 5:15–17, we have our inheritance Romans 4:16, are given our gifts and ability to serve Romans 12:6, Ephesians 3:7, and our identity and calling 1 Corinthians 15:10.

His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own. We can only have a righteousness greater than the self-righteous by His grace.

Can I say, by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect?

6. Detachment yourself from worldly riches

Matthew 19:23–24; Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Bad sermon preached on camel going through the “Eye of the needle”. There was no hole in any city wall for camels to get through when the gates were closed. That illustration comes from an archbishop in the 14th century (Archbishop Thomas Bradwardine). Luke uses the word for surgical needle.

Jesus was saying a literal camel getting through a literal eye of needle. He wanted us to know we need to have a willingness to let go of everything else for Jesus. It’s not about being wealthy. It’s about what you are trusting in. You can have no money and be more occupied with it than someone is who has wealth and put their trust in God.

Am I willing to lay down anything God wants me to?

7. Have faith in Jesus

Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Entrance is ultimately through trust in Christ Himself.

Is Jesus my King? Is He Lord of my life?

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

The Problem

The problem is that it’s not the Kingdom that is counterintuitive, it’s the world that has been corrupted.

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense is maybe better said:

Common sense isn’t Kingdom sense.

You can’t think about things the way the world does.

You aren’t led by fear, you’re led by compassion.

You don’t measure success with material things but by the peace you feel when you trust in God.

You take your worries and don’t magnify them but in prayer and lament exchange your problems for his peace.

How do you practically live counterintuitive?

How do practice all this? Look at this verse in Romans 12:2:

Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

By not conforming to the pattern of the world.
By the renewing of your mind.
By testing and approving His will

Renewing your mind. Not conforming to the world. Doing His will.

Remember that because it’s how we align ourselves to Kingdom thinking.

Renew your mind, don’t conform to the world and do His will.

How do we align ourselves to counterintuitive Kingdom thinking?

That’s a great question. I have a practical solution for you. It will help you renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.

The Solution

How about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge?

The challenge helps us to : renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.

I want to invite you to participate in the Inaugural Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.

Ash Wednesday February 18 – Monday April 6, 2026

A Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.

Let me give you some background first.

In 2006 I ran my first Negativity Fast. I had a friend come up to me before a service and tell me a vision she had of huge wave of negativity crashing on our city, specifically against our church. I told her to go talk to the pastor.

But during worship I had a word pop in my head —“Negativity Fast”. I had never heard of it before so I searched for it. The first 20 pages of Google didn’t have one reference to a Christian organization promoting a negativity fast. It was filled with gurus and new age practitioners talking about the benefit of fasting from negativity and it ticked me off.

At the break of the service I went up to the pastor and my friend was talking to him about her vision. I said “We should run a negativity fast. I’ll write 40 daily emails and people can sign up for them so they can start thinking God’s thoughts about them. We can start in two weeks.”

And in two weeks I had most the email written and the email list off and running. Over the years God did some amazing things.

A vicar in England created a small group study based on the material. A youth leader in the US developed a youth curriculum. Oprah encouraged her fans to do a negativity fast and RevTrev.com negativity fast outranked her site and I had over 10,000 people sign up for the emails.

I decided to give up negativity for Lent, and started running the fast for 46 days. Lent is 40 days, but Sundays don’t count. I don’t think you should be negative on Sundays so I ran it straight through…and added an extra day to celebrate. I added daily reflections and created a course because I’d always have people asking for a day or two they deleted from the emails that got sent out.

Two years ago I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge and it change my life. I knew I had to change the Negativity Fast into a Challenge. So on the 20th anniversary of the first Negativity Fast, I’m launching the first Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.

It will help you to: Renew your mind, Not conform to the world Do His will.

The challenge is that everyday for 47 days:

Be Mindful - (Renew your mind)

Be Grateful - (Don’t conform to the world)

Be Kind - (Do His will).

The Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.

For Christians, I have developed the Live LIGHT 47-Day Gratitude Challenge Course. You can sign up for this for free during the campaign.

Be Mindful.

Every day for 47 days I have Reflections and Devotionals to help you think God’s thoughts for you.

Be Grateful.

Every day for 47 days I have gratitude prompts to help you decide to give thanks, feel gratitude and show appreciation.

Be Kind.

Every day for 47 days I have kindness prompts to help you show kindness to people you love and strangers God loves so your light shines before people so they can see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

You can sign up for free at https://revtrev.link/fast

Now if you don’t want to have the course. I’ve also developed this Challenge as an Open Edition and Faith Edition. I personally think the Faith Edition is easier and more fun, but I better explain why either will be bring benefits to participants.

Open Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

This is the OPEN EDITION. This is for anyone who doesn’t want to bring God into it. It’s perfect for family and friends who you’re praying for. Get them to practice the Kingdom before entering the Kingdom.

Be Mindful.

8 Things to Say to Yourself Before you Get Out of Bed Each Morning

1. Today is going to be a great day. 2. Something amazing is going to happen to me. 3. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. 4. An exciting new chapter of my life is starting today. 5. I’ve changed from the person I once was and I’m becoming who I really am. 6. I am allowed to be a work in progress. 7. If I keep showing up, good things will find me. 8. I have an important contribution to make to my world today.

Mel Robbins - If you want to know how each statement impacts us I have a free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast

Be Grateful.

Gratitude Strategy - Remember to do three things:

Decide to give thanks.

Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.

Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for.

Be Kind.

Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you, you can’t fake it.

In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.

Faith Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

This is the FAITH EDITION - This gets more fun. It’s less on you and more on God.

Be Mindful.

Before you get out of bed, read or recite the following:

Morning Prayer Declaration.

Today is going to be a great day. God is going to bless me with something amazing. My eyes are open and expectant for every treasure He has for me to find. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. He will finish the good work He’s started in me and empower me to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. I have an important contribution to make to my everyday world today. Today is the day He has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Where do we get this from? It’s Scripture. Download the free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast

Be Grateful.

Give thanks with your whole heart - Ask Holy Spirit what He wants you to feel gratitude for.

Decide to give thanks.
Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.
Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for, knowing it’s God’s will for you to give thanks always. (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Be Kind.

Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you. Ask the Father what He loves about the person in front of you.

In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.

How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge with Others

Do you want to do it friends and family or co-workers? You can do the Negativity Fast Challenge with others whenever you want. Here’s some tips to help with that.

FAST

F - Figure out who you’ll do it with

A - Agree to a season that works for everyone (it’s 47 days)

S - Strategize how you’ll support each other (FB group? weekly coffee? daily group chats?)

T - Together Decide to: Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

I’ve printed out Bookmarks that you can duplicate and give out.

Conclusion

You need to live counterintuitive to the world. Our thoughts cannot be their thoughts. We can’t afford to have a thought in our heads that isn’t God’s. We won’t conform to the patterns of this world but will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then we’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good pleasing and perfect will.

Will you live as an alien and stranger in this world? Will you let Holy Spirit Guide your lives. What He’s saying about Being mindful, being grateful and being kind as you prepare for Easter?

Will you pick up this challenge?

Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

I’m starting this Wednesday, will you join me?

Can I pray?