Faithfulness Amid Betrayal

 

Scripture: John 13:21 (NIV)

Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” .

Reflection

Holy Week exposes human frailty as betrayal emerges from within the circle of trust, where the pain cuts more deeply because it comes from those who have walked closest. Jesus receives that wound with clear-eyed truth, naming what is unfolding even as he remains steadfast in the mission entrusted by God.

Communities often carry wounds inflicted from inside as well as outside. Lent acknowledges this complexity. Faithfulness continues even when relationships fracture and trust is strained.

Jesus remains committed to love, choosing the path of obedience rather than retaliation. Such steadfastness reveals a courage grounded in God’s purposes rather than human reliability.

Prayer

God of unwavering faithfulness,

Hold me when trust is shaken.

Heal the wounds of betrayal.

Strengthen my commitment to love.

Guide me in wisdom

Through fragile relationships ~ Amen.

Invitation

Pray for someone with whom trust has been strained.

Entrust the relationship to God’s care.

Say quietly:

“God, bring healing.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Lent Day 36 | Tuesday 31 March | Faithfulness Amid Betrayal

His Passion

 

Defined as “any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling”, “enthusiastic enjoyment of an interest or activity”, “an emotion that is deeply stirring”, we see that our English word “passion” primarily deals with emotion, ardent affection or an intense desire, however, in years gone by, this word “passion”, referred to other senses, including “suffering”.

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God – Acts 1:3 (KJV)

The prologue of the Book of Acts speaks of Jesus appearing alive “after His passion”. Clearly this has nothing to do with the modern-day use of the word.

Our English word passion is derived from Latin, “patior”, meaning “to experience, undergo, endure, suffer” with its perfective aspect “passus” expressing a completed action.

And it is in this regard that the New Testament consistently utilises this word and when capitalized, refers specifically to Jesus Christ’s last sufferings and death – the betrayal, the arrest, the trial, the scourging, the journey to Golgotha, the cross…

Beloved, as you journey along this last week of Lent, I encourage you to meditate upon His Passion and everything that Jesus experienced, underwent, endured, and suffered on your behalf, all because God so loves you.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “His Passion” ©2026 March 30, 2026

 

 

 

A Triumphal Entry

 

Many people carpeted the road in front of him with their cloaks and prayer shawls, while others gathered palm branches and spread them before him. Jesus rode in the center of the procession, with crowds going before him and behind him. They all shouted in celebration, “Bring the victory! We welcome the one coming with blessings sent from the Lord YAHWEH! Blessings rest on this kingdom he ushers in—the kingdom of our father David! Bring us the victory in the highest realms of heaven!” Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem and up to the temple… – Mark 11:8-11 (TPT)

What an entry! Picture it, cloaks, prayer shawls and palm branches covering the road like a carpet together with celebratory shouts of victory to welcome Jesus to Jerusalem – that was a triumphal entry!

Jesus entered Jerusalem as the conqueror and King that He is but by the end of that week the same people who lauded praise over Him would reject Him.

Despite the expressions of praise and joy, the multitude would eventually question Jesus’ identity and the claims of Him being their saviour, as He was not the Messiah they imagined.

Today, the day known as Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar, Holy Week – the seven days which led up to an event that turned the entire world on its head. A triumphal entry which led to a heartbreaking crucifixion which led to an amazing resurrection, and the world was forever changed.

These last days of Lent, invite each of us to walk with Jesus, step by step. Too often, we want to move from a triumphal entry straight to a glorious resurrection, conveniently ignoring everything in between – the betrayal, the surrender, the testing, and the sacrifice.

Beloved, understand that this is the same in between that you, as a believer, must encounter on your personal journey to spiritual resurrection. It is not an easy road, but a necessary one. With each step you may feel defeated, but do not give up, focus on Jesus and keep walking, it is the road that leads you to victory and a triumphal entry into eternal life.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Triumphal Entry” ©2026 March 28, 2026  

 

 

 

 

Jesus sends for an ass

 

Throughout the New Testament we read of Jesus calling sheep, caring for sheep, tending sheep, sending sheep and referring to us humans as sheep, but in one particular New Testament account, Jesus sends for an ass.

The Weymouth New Testament translation of Matthew 21:1-3 reads,

When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front, saying to them, "Go to the village you see facing you, and as you enter it you will find a she-ass tied up and a foal with her. Untie her and bring them to me. And if any one says anything to you, say, 'The Master needs them,' and he will at once send them."

In those days, the ass did not have the lowly status as it has today, on the contrary, the ass was a prized possession and, as we see in all four Gospel accounts, was an appropriate choice for a triumphal entry.

I read this passage in several versions and somehow it conjured up in my mind how we humans might be compared to an ass, not as lowly but as a prized possession, and worthy of use by God.

Let’s eavesdrop on a conversation God is having with Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian maid, about Ismael, the son she had for Abram, in Genesis 16:12 (NRSV),

“He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.”

Okay, pause for a moment, because I know that you know someone who fits that description, but you’re headed in the wrong direction; so, come back this way and let’s move on.

This wild-ass nature is not what you think it is. It has nothing to do with the type of turbulent lifestyle or being prone to violence in the way you might imagine, but about being free to be of service to God.

Free to surrender all to Him, free to be obedient to His call, unafraid and ready to go out into the world to proclaim the more than good news, to work diligently on His behalf, it is about being free to stand up for Christ.

It’s not to serve yourself but to serve God, just like the ass Jesus sent for.

The ass Jesus sends for, comes in both genders – a wild ass of a man, like Ishmael, or a wild ass of a woman, they are those persons who are untamed and cannot be harnessed, ready to bolt forward into the world for God’s purposes.

The ass that Jesus sends for, is passionate and violent about his/her spiritual mission; he/she eagerly pursues the Kingdom undaunted.

And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. – Matthew 11:12 (AMPC)

When Jesus sends for an ass, He knows that person will be wild for Christ, unburdened to do whatever He has called him/her to do – to demonstrate His glory and give Him a triumphal entry into the lives of others.

The ass that Jesus sends for is untethered, to bring hope to the suffering, to assure them that God is able to provide all their needs if they’ll trust Him and allow Him to.

The ass that Jesus sends for is freed to go to the lost and let them know that God sees them, that He hears them.

Beloved, the ass that Jesus sends for is unleashed to roam from place to place burdened with nothing but the amazing message of a God who loves and cares deeply for them, so much so, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life (John 3:16 ERV).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Jesus sends for an ass” ©2026 March 27, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drawing All People

 

Scripture: John 12:32 (NIV)

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Reflection

The cross stands as both exposure and invitation. It reveals the depth of human violence and the depth of God’s love at the same time. Christ lifted up becomes a centre drawing humanity toward reconciliation.

Lent prepares us to face this reality without turning away. At the cross, human cruelty is laid bare and divine mercy remains steadfast, drawing wounded humanity toward restoration.

Communities gathered around this love become agents of healing. They participate in the work of drawing people toward justice, compassion, and restored relationship.

Prayer

God of reconciling love,

Draw my heart toward Christ.

Heal divisions that wound your people.

Strengthen my commitment to unity.

Make me an instrument

Of your reconciling work ~ Amen.

Invitation

Pray for someone different from yourself.

Hold them in God’s love.

Say quietly:

“Draw us together.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson | Drawing All People

 

Hope that Refuses to Die

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3 NIV)

Apostle Peter assures us that through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are re-born into a living hope, hope that refuses to die. What a marvellous gift!

Hope that refuses to die is that hope which Apostle Paul speaks of when he wrote,

Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us. (Romans 5:2-5 ERV)

It is that hope that motivates us even in challenging times; that hope is the driving force.

Hope that refuses to die gives us the strength to carry on and to not give up. It is that hope that empowers us to believe that things don’t remain the same, that change is possible and miracles happen.

Job in all his suffering does not condemn hope but clings to it…

“My days pass by faster than a weaver’s shuttle, and my life will end without hope. (Job 7:6 ERV)

He believed that without hope his life would end – that is hope that refuses to die.

Apostle Paul cites Abraham as having that same hope when he wrote,

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” (Romans 4:18 ESV)

And in 1 Corinthians 13:13 he says that hope together with faith and love is an essential characteristic of the Christian

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love

This hope of which Paul speaks isn’t the misplaced hope that cultivates false hope on which we too often rely, this hope isn’t just confined to mere expectation and desire but includes trust, confidence and refuge in the God of hope.

For it was by hope that we were saved; but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For who of us hopes for something we see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:24-25 GNT)

The hope that refuses to die is a desirable attribute of human life which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27 NIV).

Christ Jesus, who is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1 NASB) is hope that refuses to die.

Beloved, hope that refuses to die isn’t placed in human beings, not even in great leaders, for they fail us and disappoint us (ref. Psalm 118:8-9; 146:3-4; Jeremiah 17:5-6). It is far better to hope in God, for that is hope that will never die, that is hope that refuses to die.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Hope that Refuses to Die” ©2026 March 26, 2026

Something Stinketh

 

The Gospel of John chapter eleven tells us the story of Jesus’ good friends, sisters Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus, who had fallen gravely ill.

The sisters sent Jesus a message letting Him know of their brother’s condition, but He did not come right away; as a matter of fact, we are told in verse six that Jesus stayed where he was for the next two days

Sadly, before Jesus even made a move to leave where He was, Lazarus died.

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. – John 11:17 (NLT)

Martha, upon hearing that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him just outside the village. She expressed her belief that if Jesus had been here, her brother would still be alive, but Jesus assured her, “Your brother will rise again.” (v 23).

Jesus was taken to His friend’s tomb.

a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. – John 11:38-39a (NLT)

But Martha protested, saying to Jesus, by this time he stinketh (v 39b KJV).

You’ve prayed, wanting immediate relief, you’ve cried out to Jesus asking Him to come, but He doesn’t. One day goes by, you pray; two days go by, you pray, three days, then four, and maybe it’s been years and your situation hasn’t got any better.

By now, something stinketh.

If you’re honest, oftentimes you behave just like Martha does in this story, where you’d prefer to keep some things hidden in a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. Things in your life that you don’t want to come out or be exposed because they stinketh.

Something that you really need to address but have buried deep within because you’d rather not deal with it.

You’d prefer not to face a certain person to have that difficult conversation so you avoid them like the plague.

You’d rather not come to terms with the grief that you’re feeling so you’ve buried it along with your loved one.

You don’t want to deal with the hurt and the disappointment and the anger and the bitterness that is ravaging your soul.

You want to tuck it all away somewhere and never bring it up or out.

You just think it best to leave it where it is, to not roll the stone aside because you can’t handle the stench.

Beloved, you can’t continue to avoid those things you don’t want to face. Something stinketh but if you are to heal, the stone must be removed. Yes, you’ve prayed but Jesus did not act and you don’t understand why.

Beloved, there are times when you pray, then you sit still and wait and there are other times when you have to act, when you must be an active participant in your restoration.

You pray and you move. You pray and you step into your situation. You pray and you make that call. You pray and you go to a grief counsellor. You pray and you visit the doctor. You pray and you remove the stone and let the stink come out.

Notice, Jesus did not remove the stone from the entrance to Lazarus’ tomb Himself, He told the people to move it, to roll it aside. They participated in the miracle. Jesus allowed them to got involved.

When something stinketh, Jesus allows you to get involved in its removal. You can’t keep avoiding it. You must participate for things to activate.

Beloved, Jesus is waiting for you to move, before He resurrects the dead areas of your life, before He calls forth the miracle.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Something Stinketh” ©2026 March 24, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sullied Reputation

 

Has anyone ever tried to tarnish or succeeded in tarnishing your character?

Many years ago, I fell ill and was away from work for a period of time. I was so sick that I could hardly get out of bed but one afternoon I received a visitor. One of the guys from my office had come to check up on me. How nice of him, right?

So, I forced my weakened self out of bed and into the living room where he was seated on a couch. I sat on a single chair. The visit was brief, as he could clearly see that I could barely hold myself upright. After just a few minutes, he left and I went back to bed.

Recovered, I went back out to work, only to hear that this same guy who had come to see me during my illness had told everyone in the office that he had come into my bedroom, stayed for quite some time talking and we eventually kissed. Why?

I confronted him in the lunchroom in front of several co-workers; he had no choice but to fess up and apologize for lying.

Mary Magdalene never got the opportunity to confront Pope Gregory the Great who gave her a sullied reputation. He tarnished her character and besmirched her good name by identifying her as a woman living a sinful lifestyle.

Since the year 591CE, this lie has followed Mary, clung to her character, as generations of Christians have believed the men of God who, over the years, have perpetuated this misidentification of a great apostle of Jesus Christ.

John 8:3 (ISV) reads, “the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery”

Luke 7:37 (AMP) reads, “Now there was a woman in the city who was [known as] a sinner”

With a footnote that defines “sinner” as “an immoral woman or prostitute”

Then 13 verses later, in Luke 8:1-2 (NLT), we read,

“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons”

This pope, the great Gregory (how ironic), took the liberty to give a name to two unnamed women mentioned in two separate Gospel accounts. By knitting these two sinners together into one, he succeeded in giving Mary Magdalene a sullied reputation. Why?

Perhaps Pope Gregory was emphasizing one’s utter need to repent by creating this picture of repentance and forgiveness of such a sin-filled sinner. His interpretation or manipulation of Mary’s story took root and grew into a redemption arc that is still preached to this day.

Beloved, there is no need to lie to enhance your story or anyone else’s. Maybe the pope’s intentions were good, but his good intentions sullied a good woman’s image for thousands of years. It is 2026, Pope Gregory said what he said in the year 591, calculate that.

Remember, it is the Holy Spirit of God Who interprets the Word of God (ref. John 16:13), so consult Him before you make any pronouncements concerning His Word. Do not take it upon yourself to come up with your own interpretations or manipulate the Word in any way, as this will have far reaching consequences, like enduring years of a sullied reputation, it just might be your own.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Sullied Reputation” ©2026 March 24, 2026

 

Rest and Restoration

 

Scripture: Matthew 11:28–29

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.

Reflection

At this time it is important to make space for restoration as well as repentance. God calls weary people into rest that renews strength and restores hope. Faith grows through trust in God’s sustaining presence. God offers rest that prepares people to live with courage, compassion, and endurance. Lent reminds communities that renewal is part of God’s ongoing work of making life whole.

 Prayer

God of rest and renewal,

Hold me in your peace.

Calm what is anxious within me.

Restore what has been worn down.

 Prepare me to live with strength and grace

In service of your love ~ Amen.

Invitation

Sit in stillness for a moment.

 Notice your breathing.

Say quietly:

“God, restore my soul.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson | Rest and Restoration

 

Daily Devotions from the URC

 

St Matthew 26: 28 – 30 (NRSV)

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the[d] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Reflection

Yesterday, I was chatting with a minister of a Methodist/URC Local Ecumenical Partnership and the conversation veered to how Holy Communion is celebrated in various traditions. We wondered if anyone really understood what is happening as we eat and drink the elements together. 

Whether we might view the sacrament as entirely symbolic, an encounter with the Real Presence of Christ, or something in between, there remains a deep mystery that suggested, to us at least, that if you think you understand what is happening in the Eucharist, you probably don’t understand what is happening in the Eucharist. 

I strongly suspect that Jesus’ friends, hearing these words uttered for the very first time, gathered around him in that upper room, didn’t understand either – but it didn’t prevent them from participating anyway.

This passage, and its parallel in Mark 14:26, are the only times in the gospel texts that we read of Jesus singing! The ‘Hallel’ psalms (113-118), are still sung around the Passover meal today in many Jewish gatherings. In my church, we sing a metrical version of Psalm 118 during our Maundy Thursday service, reflecting on the final words that Jesus and his friends would have sung from memory before they went out into the night.

What words and phrases do you have ringing in your mind in times of testing and trial? Scripture verses learned at a young age? Perhaps a line of a hymn or worship song that pops into your thoughts when you were least expecting it? Or is it the unkind and callous words of others, wounding like a knife and replayed over and over?

For my part, I make a conscious choice to fill my mind with words of life, from scripture, poetry and songs, and try to let those be my meditation. Somehow, this spiritual food helps to sustain me even when all around seems bleak and hopeless: it’s as much a mystery for me as bread broken and wine outpoured. What sustains you today?

Prayer

God who sings,
the song of creation and re-creation,
of lamentation and deliverance,
sing over me now your song of love.
As I take captive my thoughts,
fill up my life with praise,
to silence the accuser 
in holy defiance
of the challenges before me this day.
May the song of my heart
and the melodies of my life
harmonise with the song of heaven,
and keep in step with the dance of the Divine
today and always.  Amen.

 

Author: Roo Stewart Daily Devotions from the URC Thursday, 19 March 2026 

 

 

Glory Revealed in Love

 

Scripture: John 12:23 (NIV)

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Photo courtesy Chionsu Barclay

Reflection

Glory, in the language of the gospel, appears in a form that overturns expectation. It is revealed through humility, suffering, and unwavering love. The approaching cross becomes the moment where God’s character is most fully displayed.

Lent brings us to this threshold. The path ahead leads through vulnerability toward transformation. Glory is no longer associated with domination but with self-giving love that restores the world.

As Holy Week approaches, the invitation is to remain attentive. God’s glory is already breaking through wherever love persists, mercy triumphs, and hope refuses to die.

Prayer

God of radiant love,

Open my eyes to your glory

Strengthen my faith for the road ahead.

Teach me to recognise your presence

In humility and sacrifice.

 Prepare my heart

For the mystery of the cross ~ Amen.

Invitation

Spend a moment in silence before God.

Notice where love is at work around you.

Say quietly:

“Your glory is here.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Lent Day 28 | Saturday 21 March | Glory Revealed in Love

 

Scattered Intentions

 

Have you ever made up your mind to do a thing but then some other thing comes up and derails your plan? Confused, in doubt, and completely dishevelled, you now have scattered intentions.

In Matthew 26:31-35 (TPT) we read,

Along the way Jesus said to them, “Before the night is over, you will all desert me. This will fulfill the prophecy of the Scripture that says: I will strike down the shepherd and all the sheep will scatter far and wide! “But after I am risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and will meet you there.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “Even if all the rest lose courage and fall away, I will still be beside you, Jesus!” “Are you sure, Peter?” Jesus said. “In fact, before the rooster crows a few hours from now, you will have denied me three times.” Peter replied, “I absolutely will never deny you, even if I have to die with you!” And all the others said the same thing.

All the disciples had made up their minds about what they would do but Jesus knew what would actually happen, not that their intentions weren’t in the right place however, in the heat of what was to occur, those intentions, like them, would scatter.

Even though they’d been with Jesus for the last three years, when faced with the grim reality of that night, the disciples would become overwhelmed, confused, afraid, unsure, unclear, and disappear into the nighttime blackness.

Jesus knew that His disciples would scatter, He told them, but they did not believe that about themselves. How could Jesus even say that about them? Like Peter, they too were adamant – I absolutely will never deny you! – they had no intention of deserting their beloved Rabbi.

The disciples’ intentions were sincere and no doubt, Jesus’ words must have hurt but like any good shepherd, He knows His sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep; He has power to lay it down, and power to take it again (see John 10:11-18).

Beloved, you belong to Jesus’ flock, He knows you, He knows that your initial intentions were sincere and He understands that sometimes you become doubtful, unsure, afraid, overwhelmed and you fall away as a result of your now scattered intentions, and just as He, in love, assured the disciples, after I am risen, I will go ahead of you…and will meet you there, today He, in love, is giving you that same assurance, He will arise and meet you wherever you are right now, just as you are.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Scattered Intentions” ©2026 March 20, 2026

 

Losing Life to Find It

 

Scripture: John 12:25 (NIV)

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Reflection

Jesus speaks of a paradox at the centre of faith. Life grasped tightly shrinks; life offered freely expands. The call is toward freedom from self-preservation as the highest good.

Lent exposes the fear that drives possessiveness — fear of loss, irrelevance, vulnerability. The gospel opens another way: trust that life rooted in God cannot be diminished by generosity or sacrifice.

Communities shaped by this trust become capable of courageous action. They invest themselves in justice, mercy, and hope because their identity rests in God rather than in status or security.

Prayer

God of abundant life,

Loosen my grip on what I fear to lose.

Free me for courageous love.

Root my identity in you.

Teach me to live

With open hands ~ Amen.

 Invitation

Release one small attachment today time, comfort, or control. Offer it to God.

Say quietly:

“My life is in you.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Lent Day 26 | Thursday 19 March | Losing Life to Find It

 

A Spiritual Problem

 

I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. – Psalm 121:1 (TPT)

I am in no way an expert on any type of addiction, but what I do know is that there are many who have found themselves in positions where they have to deal with someone who has an addiction.

Though addiction, in whatever form it takes, is very personal to the individual, it becomes a personal condition for anyone who is in relationship with the addict; whether it’s a blood relative or a co-worker or boss, being related to that person takes a toll.

I have read that experts tend to study addiction in terms of a general disease and their solution to the problem of addiction is to apply evidence-based scientific interventions to develop treatment options.

But, from my own limited experience, I have observed that addiction seems to affect its victims in different ways, so that a generalized scientific intervention may not be the best solution, as it might not work for everyone. Anyway, what do I know. I’ve often wondered why persons become addicted in the first place; what is the root cause of their addiction. Does it stem from childhood? Not the addiction itself but the cause of it.

Perhaps it involves a complex set of factors that have an adverse effect on the mind from some childhood trauma? Addiction is still a problem, so it seems that no one has yet figured it out; nobody has come up with a single solution or approach to treating or curing addictions.

I have asked God and His response was, “Addicts are deeply wounded but it’s not an ordinary wound that requires ordinary healing.”

Puzzled, I queried, “Then how? Have they become disconnected from You and not realizing what it is, are searching for that fulfilment elsewhere in things that cannot truly satisfy? God, is addiction a spiritual problem?”

“Mostly, so it requires a spiritual solution. Their hearts are broken and they are lost.”

God told me that prayer is the solution to a spiritual problem; prayer works and faith fixes things. Psalm 147:3 (TPT) tells us that God ministers to the wounded and brokenhearted.

He heals the wounds of every shattered heart.

Beloved, you may not be dealing with an addict but may know someone who is, or perhaps you’re dealing with some other issue, you must pray. The solution to a spiritual problem is prayer. Prayer can, and will, make a difference. Be encouraged by James 5:14-16,

Are there any sick among you?...the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up, and if they have committed sins they will be forgiven. Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

This is worth repeating, tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Not a single passionate and heartfelt prayer goes unheard in heaven. When you pray for others, tremendous power is released, making a difference in a very real way, both spiritually and temporally, not only in the lives of others but in your own life.

So, let us pray for those who are addicted because prayers save, heal, and lead us and our loved ones back to the heart of God.

Prayer is powerful, and it works!

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A Spiritual Problem” ©2026 March 17, 2026

The Fragrance of Love

 

Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. – John 12:3 (AMPC)

I’m sure that you all know the proverbial phrase “Love don’t cost a thing”, the simple meaning being that true love is free. Which it is depending on how you look at it but is it perfectly true that there isn't a cost? Because God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son (John 3:16) who paid a very high price for our redemption, and the perfume that Mary poured on Jesus’ feet, which Judas Iscariot described as worth a year’s wages for an ordinary work man (John 12:5), was rare and very expensive.

These were acts of love and they certainly cost a thing.

Both acts were done out of genuine, authentic love and both carried an extremely high price, so love, true love – love that’s real – costs something and in certain instances, everything.

This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. – 1 John 3:16 (ERV)

Are you willing to lay down your life in love for others; to pour out everything you cherish, to pay a great price, whatever the cost may be?

Mary, like Jesus, held nothing back. Their acts were signs of the authenticity of their love – love in its deepest form that gives generously and selflessly. The worth of such love can’t be measured.

The fragrance that filled the house wasn’t just the sweet aroma of Mary’s perfume but was symbolic of the sacrificial offering of a life fully given over to God in love, similarly, Jesus, in love, gave over His life to God as a sacrifice for us.

Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God – Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

Beloved, genuine acts of love are not restrained but are poured out as an offering of yourself as you surrender everything that you have and are to God.

Love poured out changes the atmosphere around it and affects those in its wake in unimaginable ways.

During this season of Lent, may God, who is Love, teach you how to love as unselfishly as He loves, free your heart from holding back, and loosen whatever keeps you restrained, so that your life will exude the fragrance of love.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Fragrance of Love” ©2026 March 16, 2026

 

Eternal Life

The frequency of the use of the expression “eternal life” by Apostle John in the gospel and epistles attributed to him is notable. The way in which he uses it is in a mingling of the future and the present, pertaining to a quality of life that one is afforded in God through faith in Jesus Christ.

In John's gospel account, Jesus Himself proclaimed,

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.” – John 5:24 (AMP)

While in his first letter to the church community, John writes,

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. – 1 John 5:11 (ESV)

Adam possessed eternal life, he knew God (see John 17:3), theirs was an intimate and personal relationship but that connection was broken. All that occurred in the Garden brought death into life, but Jesus Christ restored that connection, through Him eternal life is again a possibility for those who believe.

Jesus said that when we believe and trust in the Father, eternal life begins and we pass over from death into life.

Eternal life is a present concept; we can have it right now. Understand that it is not something to possess after death, it is for this life.

Jesus came so that we may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 (ESV)

Too many Christians place a full stop after “perish” so they fail to realize that this truth continues, they don’t see the conjunction and the words that come after it.

Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life now, at this present time. He gives it to you.

But earthly food spoils and ruins. So don’t work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. He is the only one qualified by God the Father to give it to you. – John 6:27 (ERV)

Eternal life is not reserved for heaven, it is a now reality which relates to Matthew 6:10,

Your kingdom come…On earth as it is in heaven

Beloved you can have that connection which facilitates eternal life right here, right now. You may be saved but not experiencing all that salvation entails – you sincerely believe in the Son but have not truly connected in the way you should.

The truth is, not many of us have established that eternal life connection. Perhaps it’s because we’ve been taught that eternal life is for the afterlife. But we need to free ourselves from that wrongful belief by renewing our minds (see Romans 12:2).

We must let go of the mindset of limitation and start believing in more than enough, as we properly work out our salvation in reverence of God who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).

Jesus died a very cruel death so that we may have life, eternal life. Thank God it’s never too late to embrace the gift of the cross in all its amazing manifestations.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Eternal Life” ©2026 March 15, 2026

 

 

Heaven’s Fullness

 

Galatians 4:4 (ESV) says,

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son

The fullness of time, from a purely earthly standpoint, is seen only in chronological terms as a point on a timeline, however, this phrase used by Paul in his letter to the Galatians, relates to the right or proper time for Jesus’ advent.

This expression concerns the Father and His chosen time and has to do with everything that has taken place and is still to take place in the eternal realm.

Galatians 4:4 from an eternal perspective can be understood as, God sent His Son so that we could partake of heaven’s fullness; the right or proper time for its release.

Jesus’ coming has given us the opportunity to step into eternal life, a life of abundance of everything, heaven’s fullness.

What did Jesus Himself say?

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

And just as Jesus, while on earth, stepped in and out of the chronological timeline to access heaven’s provision, we, as sons and daughters of the Father through Christ, are privileged to do likewise. We are to freely partake of every victory, blessing and promise of God that is documented in His Word.

Jesus, through the cross has made this a possibility because the cross is the ultimate focus, culmination and fulfilment of every biblical blessing.

The cross is God’s glorious masterstroke. In it and through it is His provision. In the application of the cross, all of God’s favour is released. Heaven’s fullness is realized, fulfilled and accessed by means of the cross.

Understand that when Jesus said in John 18:36 that His Kingdom is not of this world, He was letting us know that there is a reality beyond our own, a reality that was outside of this earthly realm, a reality that is spiritually accessible, an eternal reality.

This was the reality in which Jesus operated while on earth. When Jesus healed the sick and fed the more than 5,000 and walked upon the water and stilled the raging winds, He did so from a place outside of earthly limitations.

Jesus, yet to be nailed to the cross, was ministering in the power of the completed work of the cross; He was accessing its provision as an example to us, bringing from the spiritual into the natural, stepping outside of the constraints of time to bring heaven’s fullness into time.

Beloved, Revelation 13:8 says that since the foundation of the world the Lamb was slain, that means that God had already made provision for mankind  from time immemorial, the cross was an eternal reality, a reality outside of this realm long before Jesus ever hung from it so heaven’s fullness has always been possible and will always be possible, you just have to lay claim to it and freely access it.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Heaven’s Fullness” ©2026 March 15, 2026

 

The Joy of Restoration

 

 

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

 

Reflection

The journey of repentance and renewal leads finally toward joy. God’s relationship with Creation is defined by restoring love, not by relentless accusation. The prophet speaks of a God who sings over a restored people.

Lent prepares the heart to receive that joy. Through repentance, patience, and renewed commitment, communities become ready to experience the fullness of God’s delight.

The future God prepares is not merely survival; it is flourishing. The promise of restoration carries music within it — the song of a God who rejoices in the healing of the world.

 

Prayer

God of rejoicing love,

Renew my spirit with hope.

Lift the weight of discouragement.

Teach me to trust your promise.

Let my life join

The song of your restoration ~ Amen.

 

Invitation

Step outside or pause in stillness. Listen for a moment of gratitude.

Say quietly:

“God, you rejoice over your people.”

 

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Lent Day 22 | Saturday 14 March | The Joy of Restoration

 

Justice and Compassion

Scripture: Micah 6:8 (NIV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Watercolour Illustration of balanced justice scales with green olive branches. Dreamstime.com

Reflection

The call of God remains disarmingly clear. Justice, mercy, and humility form the rhythm of faithful life. These are lived commitments shaping how power is used, how neighbours are treated, and how communities flourish.

Lent presses faith beyond private spirituality into public responsibility. The God who loves mercy also demands justice. Together they reshape the moral imagination of God’s people.

Walking humbly with God means aligning life with the purposes of God — purposes that honour dignity, confront harm, and build communities where love becomes visible.

 

Prayer

God of justice and mercy, 

Guide my steps in your ways. 

Teach me humility. 

Strengthen my commitment to justice. 

Shape my life 

As a witness to your love ~ Amen.

 

Invitation

Identify one small act of justice you can pursue today. Commit it to God.

Say quietly:

“God, lead my steps.”

Daily Lent Devotions Revd Mark Robinson | Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Lent Day 21 | Friday 13 March | Justice and Compassion

Rediscover the Prophetic

 

Early Morning Mackerel Sky

From the time of creation God has been speaking and contrary to what some believe, God continues to speak, and it is this divine communication that we call the prophetic.

Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us that,

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

The prophetic is God’s way of revealing His heart, His will and His purpose through His Spirit to guide His people, glorify Christ and reveal His perspective.

The prophetic gives us direction enabling us to walk in God’s truth. Through the prophetic we are aligned to God.

God’s voice breaks into human reality not as a form of entertainment but for us to know Him and His desires. It is His way for His destiny to be fulfilled.

It’s not about predicting the future for predicting sake but it serves to serve Him by a foretelling of His plan.

It is imperative that we learn to recognize and acknowledge God’s voice if we are to follow His direction and guidance.

The prophetic cannot be detached from God otherwise it loses its true spirit and essence.

Some Christians seem to believe that hearing from God was confined to biblical times or even more so to the Old Testament times of the prophets, but God is still speaking.

Are we listening? Are you listening?

Some believe that the prophetic is no longer needed.

They argue that the bible and the church speak for God.

But are those enough?

Much more is required for a truly redemptive, personal relationship with God.

The prophetic was not limited to the so-called primitive church. The prophetic is not obsolete.

Even Scripture declares that these graces will be granted to the measure of the Spirit and of faith.

God’s marvellous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy.  – Romans 12:6 (TPT)

You and I must understand that hearing the voice of God was not only necessary in the early days of Christianity.

Sadly, there exists an incredible hubris among certain believers who insist that Christianity has gone beyond the need for prophecy; they believe that we have transcended those days of long ago and that the written Word of God is enough to go by or get by; they believe that we are fine without the kind of divine presence and interaction with humanity described in that same written Word to which they refer.

To dissect God’s written Word in that way, picking and choosing whatever suits their narrative, is a dangerous practice.

Those who persist in this attitude are sorely mistaken and awfully misguided; the prophetic is even now more a necessity as godlessness seems to be reasserting itself into the highest levels of human society, culture and even the clergy.

What is seen as progress is nothing more than a shifting away from God’s resources for life and ministry in the present.

Can we afford to forget the Lord’s benefits, the gift of prophecy being one such benefit?

The Spirit gives to one person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy – 1 Corinthians 12:10 (ERV)

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church testifies to the prophetic as being a gift of God that was not restricted to the Old Testament era.

We are doing God a disservice when we believe that His mighty acts, His magnificent power, and His wonders were only for the early believers.

Surely, we must determine to rediscover the prophetic as individuals and as the Body of Christ.

As people of God, we cannot and must not continue to say or think that it is only for a particular type of Christian and not for us. That attitude reeks of conceit.

Let us not fall prey to the Sadducean doctrine which taught that God stopped speaking when He finished speaking with Moses and that no alleged communications via angels, ethereal or human, could possibly be valid.

It is said that the aristocratic Sadducees did not accept individual communication with God; in their day they rejected the prophetic and frankly, too many of us nowadays have adopted this same idea.

Prophecy demonstrates God’s reality. It did in biblical times and it does in our time.

Beloved, Heavenly vision is a gift from God. Hearing from God as His spokesperson, is a privilege and an honour which any one of us can experience.

The eyes of the Body of Christ are supposed to see in the prophetic, whether with dreams and visions or direct communication with the voice of God.

God gives us eyes for seeing and ears for hearing (Proverbs 20:12) the spiritual as part of our inheritance through Christ Jesus.

Let us, especially in this season of Lent, reconnect with God, repent, and rediscover His wonderful gift of the prophetic.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Rediscover the Prophetic” ©2026 March 11, 2026

 

When nothing comes

I've been sitting in front of my laptop all day and nothing has come to me, but I must write something, so I'm just going to tell you exactly what's happening.

All day long, I’ve heard nothing and I’ve felt nothing. So, what am I to do? Pray you say? I have been praying. 

Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. – Psalm 22:2 (NLT)

What do you do when nothing comes? Like me, you’ve prayed and now you’re waiting and waiting and waiting yet still nothing just silence.

God has been silent or so it seems. Perhaps we have not been listening or perhaps God’s silence is an invitation to draw closer to Him, to understand that even His silence has purpose. Perhaps God is teaching us that though He is silent, He is never absent.

Okay, so as I’m writing, something’s coming…

When nothing comes, don’t think that it’s an indication of God’s abandonment, for He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us (ref. Deuteronomy 31:6-8), but see it as an opportunity to build stronger faith and deeper trust.

This is a deafening silence that has more to do with the complete lack of a response than the lack of noise, because everything and everyone around you can still be heard – the hum of the refrigerator, birds singing, the whir of the blades of the fan spinning and the muffled voices from the television in the other room but no response from God.

So, today I waited; all day I waited to hear from God what He wants me to tell you. But now, many hours later, I know. It’s exactly what I’m telling you now. I understand why I had to endure this all-day silence.

When nothing comes and God seems distant and unreachable and you feel cast aside, it’s not any of those things, He is neither and has not cast you aside. God’s silence is never a sign that He has left but a test of whether you believe He hasn’t.

God’s silence always feels unbearable but, in the silence, we need to turn to God in faith and in trust, daring to believe even when nothing comes.  It is preparation, not punishment; God’s silence is the proving ground of your faith and trust. It’s not about what is spoken, it is about what is not – the quiet work being done in you.

When nothing comes, continue to hope. When nothing comes, continue to believe. When nothing comes, continue to trust. When nothing comes, continue to have faith.

I cannot find God anywhere— in front or back of me, to my left or my right. God is always at work, though I never see him. But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold. – Job 23:8-10 (CEV)

Beloved, you may be in a season of silence when nothing comes, but God wants you to know that He has not left, He is not lost and neither are you. The silence is temporary, but what it produces in you isn’t.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “When nothing comes” ©2026 March 10, 2026