Tough Love

 

The expression, “tough love”, conjures up certain images in one’s mind. Perhaps you see a drill sergeant hammering the troops under his control into submission.

Spiritually speaking, that’s not what tough love is about; it’s not about displaying a rough, hard-nosed demeanour or forcing Christianity upon your relatives or beating people over the head with your bible.

Apostle Paul says that if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path… (Galatians 6:1 TLB)

Tough love is exhibited in gentleness and self-control which are elements found in the Fruit of the Spirit…

what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection…We find ourselves…not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (ref. Galatians 5:22, 23 MSG)

Tough love is displayed when you do what’s best and not what’s easiest for you, in like…

Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. (Leviticus 19:18 GNT)

And…

But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44 GNT)

From a spiritual perspective, exercising tough love is indeed tough to do but if you don’t correct your children, you don’t love them. If you love them, you will be quick to discipline them. (Proverbs 13:24 ERV)

However, decisions have spiritual implications, so before exercising tough love you must pray about it as Proverbs 9:8 (GNT) advises to never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you.

In as much as you may be exercising tough love toward others, remember that choices have consequences so you must be willing to receive the tough love that is meted out to you; Galatians 6:1 says that even as you are leading others back onto the right path, you must keep in mind that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong.

Tough love is another way to lay the foundation for leading others to Jesus Christ.

Beloved, God shows His love for His children in many ways, and you and I must follow His lead because according to 1 Corinthians 13:8, godly love never fails, it endures forever and that same unfailing love is the reason God Himself exercises tough love from time to time.

For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. (Hebrews 12:6 AMPC)

Both experiencing and exercising tough love opens your heart to the lesson it brings. Tough love shifts your perspective when you recognize that it’s not punishment for punishment’s sake but a divine gift to be appreciated, as it cultivates a sense of mindfulness that enriches your spiritual journey.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Tough Love” ©2026 April 29, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relational Love

 

I am YAHWEH, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: ‘Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!’ – Isaiah 41:13 (TPT)

Our best example of relational love is experienced from being in relationship with God – Father, Son and Spirit.

Relational love speaks of connection. God says that He grips our right hand and He won’t let go. Now that is some connection. Our connection to God is of utmost importance and should be mirrored in our connection to and relationships with others.

We need to invite God into all the relationships we’re already in and those we are about to enter. You see, inviting God into our relational dynamics, allows us to cultivate healthy connections grounded in mutual respect and understanding.

That “getting along together and understanding of each other” connection is vital in promoting free and open communication. It is that freedom and openness that is the key to relationships that thrive.

Relational love is the embodiment of God’s love and must be present in our relations with others.

Relational love empowers us to respond to situations with intention rather than reacting impulsively based purely upon an emotional knee-jerk.

Too often love is lacking when we relate to others.

When “love” is laced with manipulation and is demanding in a puffed-up way, it’s not relational love.

When “love” is exhausting and emotionally draining, it’s not relational love.

When “love” is driven by envy or jealousy, it’s not relational love.

There is no deceit, paranoia, betrayal and confusion in love; if there is then it’s not relational love.

When “love” is unsafe, it’s not relational love.

When “love” is weaponized, it’s not relational love.

When “love” is physically, emotionally or verbally abusive, that’s abuse masquerading as love and that love is not love at all.

When “love” is control disguised as care, it’s not relational love.

Relational love is not the possibility of love; it is authentic love. It is love that is gentle, kind, giving, forgiving, nurturing, thoughtful, honest, helpful, safe, caring, trustworthy, selfless, grounded, devoted, loyal, committed, grateful, playful, happy and most importantly, rooted in God.

Seeing all our relationships through the lens of authentic love can transform our interactions into opportunities for spiritual growth, not just for ourselves but for those around us as well.

Beloved, the love we feel for our family and friends is relational love that comes easily, but relational love which concerns people in general, does not come naturally to us, it’s not automatic; we must rely on Spirit to develop relational love within us for all people.

It’s that love that causes us, like the “Good Samaritan” of Luke 10:25-37, to be willing to help and offer care to a stranger.

It’s that love that feeds our need to connect with other people and in certain instances, to find ways to stay connected.

It’s that love that leads us to get involved in others’ lives in a meaningful way, genuinely sharing their concerns and engaging in the things they enjoy.

It’s that love that healthy relationships are built upon, both physical and spiritual.

Without relational love, our message of God’s love will carry no weight because there’ll be no relationship behind the words. Jesus related to individuals and then met their spiritual needs, and He is our example to follow.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Relational Love” ©2026 April 28, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conditional Love

 

Some of us on this spiritual walk, create a step by step list of tasks to accomplish, and next to each task is a checkbox that we tick off every time a task is completed.

For instance,

• pray daily between the hours of 3am and 4am (tick)
• read my bible from 4am to 5am (tick)
• listen to worship music from 5am to 6am (tick)

and the list goes on and on, and you check off those boxes on a daily basis.

Every day you religiously go through your list, sincerely believing that by doing this you can earn God’s approval and by extension, His love.

But the bible clearly tells us that God’s love is not earned; it is a gift, He cannot help but love us because He is love.

What happens to us, is that we tend to project our imperfect human characteristics onto a divinely perfect God and that includes the way we love.

Our human offering of love is always conditional, we seldom, if at all, love unconditionally. We may proclaim our love to someone saying, “I love you unconditionally” and we may honestly believe it to be true but mostly it’s not.

You see, if we really think about the way in which we love, we’ll realize that there is some kind of string attached. We feel that others must earn our love. We say things like,

“I am not going to love him until he…”

“You better do … otherwise I can never love you”

“I’ll love her if she…”

“I’ve fallen out of love because you don’t do…for me anymore”

“I love you because you do…for me”

If God were to love us only if we did something noteworthy, then heaven help us. God’s love is not a reward for our perfection. God’s love has no conditions attached. We don’t have to earn it or search for it, but we must surrender to it and abide in it by allowing it to abide in us.

God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. – 1 John 4:16 (AMP)

We don’t recognize that all our relationships are transactional, whether romantic or not, it’s always about what’s in it for me.

A friend, referring to a guy with whom I’d just got into a relationship, asked me, “So what has he brought to the table?” I was taken aback because that never crossed my mind.

These days the concept of love has been watered down and commercialized to the extent that we are unable to grasp the unconditional nature of love; it is that love that God wants us to show to each other.

love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. – John 13:34 (ESV)

Jesus has shown us how to love without condition and as believers in Him, we need to acquire a perception of love from a divine perspective.

God is the definition of love and He loves us unconditionally. Nothing we do makes Him love us more, and nothing we do makes Him love us less.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Our first step out of conditional love toward unconditional love is to surrender our love to God so that He may replace it with the fullness of His love.

First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. – 1 John 4:19 (MSG)

Beloved, only God can release you from the constraints of conditional love, and thrust you into His radical unconditional love, where love is experienced in a whole new way. God’s love is your example of how to love.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Conditional Love” ©2026 April 27, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practical Love

 

Have you been trying to lead your family to Jesus, specifically those living with you? It can prove a daunting task and if you haven’t been able to make headway, perhaps you may want to change your methods, or maybe it’s your behaviour that needs an overhaul. You see it’s just as Jesus said in Mark 6:4 (NLT),

“A prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

That’s no surprise, since your family knows the real you; those with whom you live everyday know your character and witness your behaviour, godly and ungodly.

What’s the example you’ve been setting? How have you been treating your parents, your siblings, your spouse, your children or even the housekeeper, the gardener, the plumber or any other service provider?  

Have you been demonstrating practical love?

Too often it’s the godly person’s treatment of others that leaves much to be desired. Seeing them in action and observing their attitude toward others leaves the onlooker scratching their heads in disbelief, wondering: How could the Christian be so mean-spirited? Why is the Christian so rude? Is this person really a follower of Jesus Christ?

I am sure that you have encountered this type of person right under your own roof, the same relative who comes to you to chat about Jesus. Why would anyone want to become like that? And if it’s you who can draw the string of that cap, then you need to check yourself.

Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Of course, if you fail the test, he is not in you. (2 Corinthians 13:5 ERV)

Think about it for more than a moment. You know we never see ourselves the way others see us, so, in denial we say, “Nah, that’s not me”, never bothering to take an honest look at yourself.

Instead, you continue to strut around, high and mighty with your self-exalted self, giving instructions, barking orders and making demands as if you are king but that position has already been filled – Jesus Christ is King and He practiced practical love – love that is not judgmental, love that seeks the well-being of others, love that is not self-seeking, love that is heart-felt, love that is rooted in sacrificial service.

But you seem to conveniently forget that truth, especially when it suits your agenda. You don’t seem to realize that you are behaving the same way as “those other Christians” whom you complain about and criticize.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5 NIV)

Beloved, the people around you must see Christ-like authenticity in you demonstrated in your behaviour, your actions and your attitude; let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18 NIV).

Jesus must be lifted up, not just in the words you speak but in the way you act. Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He will draw men to Himself (see John12:32) but no one will be drawn to Jesus if His followers are treating them with scant courtesy, rather than showing forth the transformative power of the Gospel.

Your life must be a sermon worth preaching. Your love for Christ should never be confined to an outward display at church, but real vital Christianity has to be fostered in your home.

We must all aim to exemplify the tenets of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in our everyday interactions, for that is practical love in action.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Practical Love” ©2026 April 26, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Little Flower

 

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. (Matthew 6:28 NIV)

How big is your vision?

Have you ever thought about what God could do through you that would impact someone else’s life?

Jesus Christ gathered together a diverse group of twelve men to gain a vision that was so big that it wouldn’t just impact one or two lives but would impact the entire world.

He told them that He “came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). And as His loyal followers, they were and we are to do the same – to seek the lost and guide them to the path of salvation.

When I was a young teenager, church leaders who came to my school to teach “Religious Knowledge”, would quote from Matthew 28:19, telling all the young people that it was our mission to “go and make disciples of all nations”, then they would proceed to give us instructions on how we were to make disciples. I never liked their one-size-fits-all approach since even at that young age, I believed that because of people’s different personalities and experiences, everyone’s approach couldn’t be the same but must be a fit for each individual.

Introducing someone to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God is the main goal but how it’s done can’t be the same for everyone – for the introdu-cer and the introdu-cee.

Recently, I read about a teenaged girl, not yet fifteen, who was determined to join the convent, Lisieux Carmel. She had a heart for Jesus and from the age of four she already knew her calling to religious life. Her name was Thérèse, but she was nicknamed the Little Flower.

To this end she said,

“It is impossible for me to grow up, so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short and totally new.”

What’s quite interesting about Thérèse is that she became a cloistered nun, so after entering Lisieux Carmel, she never left. She did not go on missions, she did nothing heroic, she never started a religious order, she never went out to evangelize, but she had a big vision of standing at the foot of the cross, collecting Jesus’ blood and giving it to the lost.

Thérèse devoted herself to loving Jesus and praying for sinners. She abandoned herself in complete surrender to Jesus and continual acceptance of His will. She practiced what she termed the little way – doing small things with tremendous love, and every little thing she did, Thérèse wrote down.

Thérèse’s vision was to be realized after her death, as those writings were published and she became one of the most famous saints in the Catholic Church. Ironically, she is the patron saint of missionaries.

Beloved, the Little Flower did not step out of the convent, yet she has influenced countless lives. Her approach to the spiritual life was simple and practical. There was no fanfare, no gimmickry, no pretence or awkwardness, just genuine love for Jesus Christ. The Little Flower with a big vision for mission and evangelism in a completely different way.

Every path, though headed in the same direction, is not the same. Every method to lead others to Jesus cannot be the same for every person. Thérèse looked to Jesus and so should we.

Let Spirit be your guide. Let Spirit lead the way and show you how to share your faith and the more than good news in a practical and personal way suited to you so that you don’t come across as disingenuous.

The Little Flower practiced evangelism in its purest form, sharing with the world what Jesus Christ had done in her life, you should too.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Little Flower” ©2026 April 25, 2026

 

 

 

God Speaks

 

Your hurt is incurable; your wound is grievous. (Jeremiah 30:12 NRSVUE)

Imagine going to a doctor and receiving this diagnosis. No one wants to hear this, especially if it’s coming from God. But this is exactly how God admonished the people of Israel and Judah through His prophet Jeremiah.

These were a recalcitrant and obstinate people who were living in captivity, a result of becoming blind to their own sinful behaviour and taking no responsibility or accountability for their actions.

But God had made them a promise of deliverance, of freedom and a return to their own land.

However, the words of Jeremiah 30:12 conveyed a sense of hopelessness, like driving for hours on a long stretch of road that ends in a cul-de-sac – nowhere left to go. We may feel that our situation is beyond repair and hopeless, but God does not forsake His children, He gives hope.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62:5 NIV)

Our hope comes from God. Resting in Him and placing our trust and confidence in Him fuels our hope.

Israel and Judah, inflated with pride, were filled with false confidence that is rooted in self and anything but God; they ceased to entertain hope in Him, instead they were lulled into a hope that was terribly misplaced.

They hoped that they would serve a two-year period of punishment, but that was not for them to determine, only God could prescribe the time not them and it was set for seventy years.

God’s words through Jeremiah were meant to sting, a wake-up call and a means of preparing them for patient waiting. He spoke to lead His people to a serious acknowledgement of His judgment of a scourge of seventy years that they were to endure – their hurt incurable and their wound grievous.

However, look at the adjective “grievous” used here to describe “your wound”. It speaks of the wound being difficult to heal but not impossible of healing, for with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37).

Beloved, even after all that we may have done and do, God still recalls us to Himself. And just as He gave the people of Israel and of Judah the hope of restoration and return, He will do the same for you and me.

But before that, we too must be held responsible and accountable for our actions. God speaks the truth before He provides the hope. God speaks in order to expose our hearts so that we see our need for change.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “God Speaks” ©2026 April 24, 2026

Held Hostage

 In that day, declares the LORD Almighty, I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. – Jeremiah 30:8 (NIV)

Beloved, what things are holding you captive?

Unforgiveness?

Guilt?

Bitterness?

Resentment?

Envy?

Pride?

Shame?

What yokes need to be broken off your necks?

What has you in bondage?

Fornication?

Adultery?

Pornography?

Lying?

Can you name those things that have enslaved you?

Certain behaviours allowed to go unchecked, can wreak havoc in our lives as they begin to exert control over us. When this happens, it is very difficult for us to break those ties and we are held hostage.

Don’t for a moment believe that this is a non-Christian affliction. Unless you’ve taken up residence under a rock, I’m sure that you have heard of, read and seen reports of priests, pastors, and other church leaders who have engaged in some of the worst behaviour.

Jeremiah 30 verse 8 reminds us of the God that we serve who has declared that He will do the breaking and the tearing and the releasing. Further, He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:7-8 NLT).

Feelings of guilt and shame tend to drive a wedge between us and God but under the dispensation of grace through Jesus Christ, God has said, I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs.” (Hebrews 8:12 GNT)

This is in no way permission for us to continue in sin. Confronting this same dilemma, Apostle Paul said to the Church in Rome, What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? Certainly not! We have died to sin—how then can we go on living in it? (Romans 6:1-2 GNT)

Yes, we have died to sin, however, salvation is a process (see Philippians 2:12) and we all have weaknesses and we often stumble and sometimes we fall but we must get back up. According to a familiar Japanese proverb, “Fall seven times, stand up eight”.

Fall seven times, confess your sins to God every time and repent until you are able to remain standing, for If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV) and as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 ESV).

Beloved, you cannot afford to continue being held hostage to a lifestyle of habitual sin, for it will affect your eternal life (John 10:10), not just in the future but in the present.

Know that just as Jesus pulled Peter up from sinking into the heaving sea (ref. Matthew 14:22-33), He can pull you up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set [your] feet upon a rock, making [your] steps secure (Psalm 40:2 ESV).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Held Hostage” ©2026 April 23, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

What about Ebed-Melech?

 

Photo courtesy of O'Reilly Lewis

There are people in the bible who everyone knows because we hear about them over and over from pulpits, at Sunday School and in bible study.

Then there are those persons that are entirely unfamiliar; oftentimes appearing only once in the bible, their stories aren’t preached neither are they celebrated and so they remain on the pages of our bibles languishing in obscurity.

Ebed-Melech is one of those in the unfamiliar group of persons. He is an overlooked hero who stood when others fell. His name first appears in Jeremiah 38:7.

But Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, an important court official…

Long story short…

Ebed-Melech was an Ethiopian in the court of king Zedekiah. His name carries the meaning “servant of the king”, so it wasn’t just his name, but it echoed his position.

Though a foreigner in the land, Ebed-Melech held a position of great responsibility in the royal court of Judah.

At that time Jeremiah was a well-established prophet and spoke a prophecy which those in authority despised, as it spoke of Israel’s surrender to the Babylonians,

So these officials went to the king and said, “Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!” – Jeremiah 38:4 (NLT)

The king agreed and, Jeremiah, who had been imprisoned, was taken from his cell and lowered by ropes into a waterless, mud-filled cistern by the ones who were intent on silencing him. Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

Enter Ebed-Melech. He heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern (Jeremiah 38:7 NLT) and without fear for his own life, implored the king not to leave Jeremiah there. The king relented and gave Ebed-Melech permission to rescue Jeremiah.

So the king told Ebed-Melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.” – Jeremiah 38:10 (NLT)

Ebed-Melech and the men went to the cistern, lowered a rope together with some old rags and discarded clothes and called out to Jeremiah saying, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.”  (Jeremiah 38:12 NLT). Now, how thoughtful was that?

Ebed-Melech’s actions epitomized all the characteristics of love as Apostle Paul outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. For all intents and purposes, as “servant of the king”, and as loyalty subscribes, Ebed-Melech should have been Jeremiah’s opponent but instead, Ebed-Melech was “servant of the King”, the King of Creation.

Ebed-Melech honoured God by honouring His prophet. He could have chosen to remain silent, but he spoke up even at the risk of death.

While the voice of God had become an irritation to those in power, Ebed-Melech became a vessel of courage, compassion and righteousness.

His brief story invites us to recognize that God will use anyone even those whom society overlooks; His choices are not reserved for the powerful but for the willing.

Ebed-Melech was a man of great character and moral integrity who stood for truth when it was unpopular; he stood for what was right and he stood up for Jeremiah when everyone else was against him.

An outsider who had more going on inside him, because greater was He who was in him than he who was in the world (ref. 1 John 4:4). And just like that Ebed-Melech was woven into the fabric of the divine plan.

We may not have known his name, but God knows his name just as He knows yours.

Beloved, James 4:17 (TPT) says, if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin. Ebed-Melech knew of such an opportunity, and he did the right thing. He did not do the right thing for recognition, but he did what he did because it was the right thing to do.

Ebed-Melech chose courage over comfort, conviction over convenience and the King over the king and because of that, God rewarded him.

You see, Jeremiah’s despised prophecy did come to pass and the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, captured king Zedekiah, pronounced judgment upon him, slaughtered his sons, slaughtered all the nobles of Judah, gouged out the king’s eyes, bound him in chains, burnt the palace and all the houses and tore down the walls of the city of Jerusalem (see Jeremiah 39:1-10).

Then God gave Jeremiah a message for Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian who recognized Jeremiah as authentic, and took a stand for righteousness, the foreigner who did not compromise his character for clout, the outsider who recognized the voice of God when others rejected it,

“Say to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” – Jeremiah 39:16-18 (NLT)

Beloved, Ebed-Melech rescued Jeremiah and in turn, when disaster struck, God rescued him. God rewarded his faithfulness to Him. Ebed-Melech was left standing tall, while leaders who had hardened their hearts against God and manipulated truth and schemed for political and personal gain would fall.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Ebed-Melech?” ©2026 April 22, 2026

What’s the Secret?

 

Recently, I came across a video of a guy talking about having strength and it got me thinking about Samson and the strength he possessed. It’s something I hadn’t really considered before but maybe you have and soon enough you’ll know what I mean because I am about to tell you.

The story of Samson can be found in the Old Testament Book of Judges, chapters 13 to 16 but long story very short…

Samson’s mother, who was barren was visited by the Angel of the Lord and He said to her,

“You have not been able to have children. But you will become pregnant and have a son. Don’t drink any wine or any other strong drink. Don’t eat any food that is unclean, because you are pregnant, and you will have a son. He will be dedicated to God in a special way. He will be a Nazirite. So you must never cut his hair. He will be God’s special person from before he is born. He will save the Israelites from the power of the Philistines.” – Judges 13:3-5 (ERV)

She then told her husband what had happened. Both weren’t sure how to properly care for God’s special person and the husband prayed for the Angel to return to instruct them as to his care.

I want you to note that the Angel of the Lord is no ordinary angel, He is pre-incarnate Jesus as attested to by Samson’s father, who, after the visitation said to his wife,

“We have seen God…” (v 22)

Indeed, Samson was born. At the time of his birth, the Israelites had been in bondage to the Philistines for 40 years and the Lord was about to use Samson to deliver Israel out of their hands.

Now as a Nazarite, Samson was living a life of strict obedience to his vows to God however he did have one conspicuous weakness which would ultimately be his downfall, but that’s a story for another day.

Samson had a secret and that secret was in his hair. You see, he became famous for his prodigious strength, strength that no one could figure out. And this leads to the thing I told you I never considered.

The question on everyone’s minds, especially the Philistines, was “What’s the secret?” And suddenly it dawned on me that Samson must have been an ordinary looking guy.

I’ve always had an image of Samson as being a behemoth of a man, with muscles like that of a world-champion body builder and those Bible Story illustrations I’d seen in books as a child helped to cement that picture in my mind, even docuseries on television present Samson in that light.

But think about it, if Samson flaunted a well-built ripped physique, why would anyone be so confused about the strength he displayed?

Samson performed incredible feats in his fight against the Philistines. He was able to catch 300 foxes to use as living firebrands (see Judges 15:4-6) and single-handedly kill 1,000 men using the jawbone of a dead donkey (see v 14-17).

Can you imagine an average looking Joe with no definition in his arms or legs or chest or back doing these things? You too would have been completely perplexed and prompted to ask, “What’s the secret?”

Samson spent years slaughtering Israel’s enemy, destroying their army and their nation.

What’s the secret?

Through a series of events which you ought to read for yourself, the secret of Samson’s strength was discovered. His strength, though symbolized by and tied to his uncut hair, was not in his hair.

Just as his birth was divinely foretold, Samson’s life was divinely touched.

Samson was moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord, he was God’s vessel who, when empowered by Spirit, became a powerhouse of supernatural strength enabling him to perform the extraordinary.

a young lion suddenly roared and jumped at Samson! The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson with great power. He tore the lion apart with his bare hands. (Judges 14:5-6 ERV)

he got up and grabbed the doors of the city gate and pulled them loose from the wall. He pulled down the doors, the two posts, and the bars that lock the doors shut. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill near the city of Hebron (Judges 16:3 ERV)

Beloved, the Spirit of the Lord still empowers but you and I must be willing to be used mightily. God still uses ordinary men and women in extraordinary ways.

I’ll leave you with this, the Spirit of the Lord came on Samson with great power but there’s a big difference between you and Samson in that, the Spirit came on him but the same Spirit lives in you and that’s your secret superpower.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What’s the Secret?” ©2026 April 21, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleopas’ Companion

Now for us to speak of Cleopas’ companion, we should first speak of Cleopas. So, in case you’ve never met him, let me introduce you to Cleopas.

Cleopas was a disciple of Jesus, presumed to be one of the seventy-two whom Jesus sent out on a mission.

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. (Luke 10:1 NLT)

Among other things Jesus instructed the seventy-two to do, He also told them to, Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ (Luke 10:9 NLT)

So, if that presumption is true then Jesus was no stranger to Cleopas and Jesus would have known him. However, we don’t meet Cleopas until his name is mentioned in chapter twenty-four of Luke’s Gospel account, when he and his companion have an incredible encounter.

Long story short…

It was the afternoon of the day of Jesus’ resurrection. The Man who many had followed and were banking on to free them from the despotic rule of Rome had been brutally crucified and now His body was missing (Luke 24:21-23).

Two of those followers, despondent after everything that had occurred, embarked on the seven-mile journey from the city of Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. For them, hope had faded.

As they walked along the road, discussing the events of the past three days, they unknowingly met up with Jesus and after an initial discourse, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself (Luke 24:27 NIV).

Keep in mind that what we know as the New Testament was not yet in existence, the Scriptures would have comprised the five books of Moses, known as the Law – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy – and the Prophets, five major and 12 minor.

But even after Jesus explained all the Scriptures concerning Himself, they still did not recognize Him. Do you see what they did not see?

Do you recognize that if at that time only the Old Testament existed then Jesus was there from the beginning just as Apostle John tells us in 1 John 1:1-4.

Luke does not give the details of what Jesus would have said to the two, but we are told that, they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared! (Luke 24:28-31 NLT).

Luke recorded an awesome encounter! But questions remain:

Did Luke not know Cleopas’ companion? Why didn’t Luke divulge his or her name?

Just a couple nights ago my daughter said to me, “Mom, when you relate a story, you always name names, but when I tell a story, for me mentioning the names of people is not important, what’s important is the story itself and the lessons to be learnt from the story.”

And this story of what happened on the road to Emmaus is a wonderful example of that.

Clearly the name of Cleopas’ companion was not integral to the story, so it wasn’t worth mentioning but Cleopas being named must hold some significance, otherwise Luke might as well have left him unnamed too since Cleopas is not a name that’s widely remembered and he is only mentioned this one time throughout the entire bible.

Luke intentionally named Cleopas and I believe that the significance is in the name itself, the meaning of the name.

Cleopas is a short form of the Greek name Kleopatros which means glory of the Father, renowned father or vision of glory. All apt descriptions of what occurred on that road to Emmaus and when they got to Emmaus.

Cleopas and his unnamed companion’s encounter that afternoon was indeed a vision of glory. They experienced the glory of the Father through Jesus, the Son when He opened their eyes to the spiritual.

Beloved, that encounter with Jesus was real and whether you are named or unnamed in the telling of a story, Jesus knows who you are, just as He knew Cleopas’ companion whose name we don’t know to this day.

Jesus showed up for both His followers in their moment of disappointment and despair, and when hope is fading fast, you can rest assured that Jesus will show up for you. Even now He is with you and is not about to disappear. Jesus is patiently waiting for your eyes to open, so you not only recognize Him but realize that He has been walking with you every step of your journey.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Cleopas’ Companion” ©2026 April 20, 2026

 

 

The Traveller’s Psalm

David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. – 1 Samuel 23:14 (NIV)

David, being pursued by King Saul, sought refuge in the hills under God’s protection.  Credited as writing most of the songs in the Book of Psalms, it would come as no surprise if the one, which is called the Traveller’s Psalm, was written while David was in the wilderness.

You see, in this Psalm, numbered 121 in the bible, David speaks of looking at the hills as he releases a heartfelt cry for help,

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

He then answers his own question with surety, indicating that he already knew the answer – help comes from the ultimate Helper – the Lord.

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

When you cannot find help, when no one is willing to assist, to whom do you turn? Do you just keep asking others for help?

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

Have you ever been in such a predicament? Have you ever fallen alone? In desperation, that may prompt you to ask, like David, “from where does my help come?” and, like David, you must also know that your help comes from the Lord.

Don’t be like the woman with the 12-year haemorrhage who, only after she’d exhausted her resources, went to seek after the Lord for help (see Luke 8:43-48). Your first line of defence must always be the Lord, after all, He is a very present help in trouble (see Psalm 46:1).

We are all travellers on this journey of life, and David, in Psalm 121, reminds us that we do not travel alone; he lets us know that the Lord stands by our sides (v 5) so when trouble comes, for it will (see John 16:33), look to Him for help and be assured that He will provide divine care and protection.

Beloved, you may not be hiding out in the hills but as you travel along life’s journey, when you find yourself in need of help, the Traveller’s Psalm applied to your life, gives you courage in these uncertain, difficult and challenging times when fear can easily overwhelm.

Be assured that the Lord is with you day and night, offering you help, hope and protection, as you come and go both now and forever.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Traveller’s Psalm” ©2026 April 19, 2026

Let us Pray…

Acts 7:56 (ERV)

Stephen said, “Look! I see heaven open. And I see the Son of Man standing at God’s right side.”

Beloved, heaven is open and Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:21). Jesus became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) by His death on the cross, healed us of our sins, and at once tore away the barrier between God and man, providing us complete access to the throne of Almighty God.

Hebrews 4:16 (ERV)

With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.

We can boldly go to the throne of God in times of need because today, there is an open heaven, and we are invited to draw upwards into the realities of heaven where…

1 Corinthians 2:9 (ERV)

“No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Heaven is open beloved, we have complete access to God and can go boldly to His throne where there is grace so let us pray…

Let us pray, ascending upward until heaven invades earth.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Let us pray…” ©2026 April 18, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Prayer for Stress Relief

Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). – Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

Lord, You know things are hard for me right now. I am stressed and don’t see a way out, but I know that You see the bigger picture and that You can work miracles in my life. I release my burden on You trusting that I will get through this, not only surviving but thriving.

Thank You for sustaining me and upholding me so I do not slip, fall or fail.

I boldly declare that I am Your beloved child made righteous through Christ, so You will never allow me to be shaken. I no longer take ownership of this burden of stress, instead, I take ownership of the abundant life, love and healing that come from You.

I proclaim that I am leaving behind anything that causes me stress; all burdens were crucified with Christ on that rugged Cross!

Thank You for caring for me and carrying me along the path that leads to victory.

I will stay in faith, and I will trust You completely Lord.

I now open my heart to God’s presence to the point that there is no room for stress to creep in and settle down anymore.

Thank You that Your perfect love has cast out all anxiety and I no longer live as a prisoner of fear.

I decree that I was created for a life that’s better than the one I’m living; to live a life of victory, to live a life of supernatural abundance and to live a life free of the burden of stress.

Thank You for the river-like peace that now flows within me, for the calm that surrounds me and the tranquillity that attends me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Prayer for Stress Relief” ©2026 April 17, 2026

You need to rest

 

Life can be overwhelming at times, but more so these days when there is so much happening in the world. And I say that because though you may not be in the direct line of fire, so to speak, our world has become small and the events that take place around us affect us.

On top of everything we have to deal with in our personal lives, we listen to the news, changing from one channel to the next to catch the latest headlines, we surf the web, read the papers and engage in conversations about war and politics and crime and injustice and racism and the list of sordid events goes on and on, all of it feeding our subconscious and we wonder why we’re always so tired.

Day after day we lap it up not realizing the effect all that negativity is having on us.

I have a friend who, genuinely needing someone to talk to, would call to unload his problematic life on me. One day my mother said, “Soon enough, if you continue listening to his problems it’s going to have an adverse effect on you.” I scoffed and continued taking it in because as a good friend that’s what I should do.

Well, after days turned into months of him spilling himself empty while I was getting full, my mother’s words proved true as I began to feel unusually drained. My energy had been depleted to the point of extreme fatigue. I wondered, “Could that be the cause?”

I went back to my mother, her advice to me, “You need to rest. Stop listening because you are absorbing too much negativity.”

Yes beloved, you need to rest; it is essential to your well-being.

He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. (Psalm 23:2 GNT)

This verse leaves no doubt as to who you must turn to for the rest you need. It is no ordinary rest – not a 10-minute power nap. This is rest that only our loving Father can provide – it is supernatural, allowing you to feed on His nature and bask in His Presence.

According to the psalmist, God wants to give you His rest, rest that is refreshing to your soul, rest that strengthens your spirit, rest that provides you with peace that surpasses every circumstance and transcends understanding. It’s not temporary relief but rest that renews, restores and remains.

You need to rest – to rest in Him, where negativity is replaced with gratitude, where weariness is transformed into strength, and where your mind is at peace and your soul finally finds true rest in God alone.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “You need to rest” ©2026 April 16, 2026

Don’t Believe Yourself

 

Don’t believe yourself? What kind of advice is that? Why shouldn’t I believe myself; then who must I believe instead?

I can almost hear you protesting but yes, don’t believe yourself because you lie to yourself all the time.

Okay, so you disagree? Then ask yourself a few questions.

What have I been telling myself?

Have I subjected myself to a consistent diatribe of put-downs or a slew of compliments?

How often do I listen to and believe the self-deprecating voice in my head?

What are the things that voice has been telling me about me?

Does it constantly judge me and criticize me?

What has it been telling me about my life – how I look, how others treat me and think about me, my capabilities, my relationships, my spouse, my job, my friendships, my house, my love life, my hair, my size, the way I speak?

Now, answer this question: Do you believe the voice?

The voice in your head is forever droning on and on and on and it’s mostly a cacophony of negativity.

The voice in your head is lying to you, and you do not have to believe it, you can choose to not believe the lies.

Don’t believe yourself until you change your internal monologue.

It is time for you to replace the lies you’ve been telling yourself with the truth. You’ve been lying to yourself for so long that it may seem a tedious endeavour but you must be determined to get rid of the noise, refuse to listen, and don’t believe yourself until…

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God made you in such a wonderful way, lovingly knitting you together while still in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:14 & 13).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God made you to be like Him with the ability to reflect divine attributes; He created you in His own image, empowered to rule over His creation (Genesis 1:26 & 27).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God loves you with an everlasting love and He will always be faithful to you (Jeremiah 31:3).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God is for you – He has your back – God is with you (Romans 8:31) and He will fight for you (Deuteronomy 3:22).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God’s love for you is so great that He gave His only Son, so that [you] who believe in Him may not die but have eternal life; Christ sacrificed His life for you (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16 GNT).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that God has a good plan for you, a plan filled with hope and a good future (Jeremiah 11:29).

Don’t believe yourself until you internalize the truth that you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 ERV).

Remember what Jesus said in John 10:10 (GNT),

The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

Beloved, don’t believe yourself until you internalize that you cannot have life in all its fullness if you are believing the lies floating around in your head. That inner voice you are believing is like the thief, stealing, killing and destroying your life.

So, speak the truth God says about you until it replaces the lies that you’ve been telling yourself, for as you hear His word, as you accept it, as you embrace it and as you believe it, it will impact you in such an incredibly powerful way that it changes your life forever (1 Thessalonians 2:13).  

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Don’t Believe Yourself” ©2026 April 15, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about Persis?

 

We often question God. We ask,

“What is my purpose?”

Believe it or not, that is a question driven by self-serving needs. It may seem to be headed in a noble direction, but it has everything to do with you and nothing to do with God.

We are here to serve God, but we get so caught up in wanting to be served that we lose sight of our primary purpose. So, we ask the question, thinking of ourselves and how we can benefit from the answer.

Your purpose is tied to your being in service to God because it is serving God that gives you purpose and renders you significant. You were created to play a role in His eternal plan. It’s not even about being religious, it’s about being aligned with divine intention.

To serve God in any capacity is to fulfil the purpose for which you were created.

Some of us are well-known in our church and consider that our purpose but purpose has nothing to do with popularity. Persis is mentioned only once in the bible so we can conclude that she wasn’t popular, but she did have a purpose.

Long story short…no, her story isn’t long at all, it’s actually short.

Persis was a member of the church in Rome and in Apostle Paul’s letter to the church (Romans 16), she was one of several members to whom he sent greetings.

And though her name appears way down in verse 12, it’s obvious that Paul must have thought very highly of Persis, as he not only refers to her as “my dear friend Persis” but he then validates her significance by adding, “who has done so much work for the Lord”.

Paul recognized the amount of work that Persis had done for the Lord in the establishment of the church. She may not have been a leader or even popular but, as a member, she certainly laboured, not for recognition yet her work did not go unnoticed and the Apostle’s deliberate reference to that was his way of honouring her faithful service.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve. – Colossians 3:23-24 (GNT)

We should strive to work for the Lord with all our heart. That ought to be our goal in whatever we’re tasked to do.

Beloved, like Persis, you must work diligently and faithfully for the Lord in all you do. Seek ways to serve Him, after all you are His creation, it’s His world, His plan and His purpose.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Persis?” ©2026 April 14, 2026

 

 

 

Bless the Lord

 

Photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

God blessed nature.

God blessed all the living things in the sea and told them to have many babies and fill the seas. And he blessed the birds on land and told them to have many more babies. – Genesis 1:22 (ERV)

God blessed mankind.

God created humans…God blessed them and said to them, “Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:27, 28 (ERV)

God blessed the Sabbath.

God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day. He made it special because on that day he rested from all the work he did while creating the world. – Genesis 2:3 (ERV)

God blesses individuals.

Abraham lived to be a very old man. The Lord blessed him and everything he did. – Genesis 24:1 (ERV)

So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. – Galatians 3:9 (ESV)

God blesses nations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord – Psalm 33:12 (NIV)

Throughout the bible we see God doing the blessing, but we are also to bless – to bless the Lord. This is made very clear in Psalm 103, with its very first verse exhorting us to bless the Lord with all that is deepest within us, our innermost being must bless His holy name.

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

This Psalm expresses a deep personal worship and adoration of the Lord and rightly so as the Hebrew word used here means to kneel before, to adore, to salute, to praise.

No matter what, it is always fitting to bless the Lord; He deserves our praise.

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) – Psalm 150:6 (AMPC)

It is important to remind the soul, and to keep in mind to bless the Lord, as our human nature causes us to forget, especially when we get caught up in all the busyness of life.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. – Psalm 34:1 (AMPC) should be our mantra.

When we bless the Lord, our focus is zoomed in on Him.

When we bless the Lord, we bring His glory to mind and respond in worship.

And as we deliberately call to mind the goodness of God, we must bless the Lord

Psalm 103 in verses 20-22 (NASB) says,

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all you His angels,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, my soul!

To bless the Lord is to give Him praise.

To bless the Lord is to kneel before Him in adoration.

To bless the Lord is to bow in awe and love of Him.

To bless the Lord is to obey Him.

To bless the Lord is to serve Him by doing His will.

God’s heart is blessed when we bless Him in this way and as we bless the Lord, He inhabits our praises (ref. Psalm 22:3) and imparts His blessings upon us.

Beloved, bless the Lord for Who He is, not only for what He can do, has done, continues to do and will do. Bless the Lord because you are grateful and you love Him.

Blessing the Lord lifts your spirit high above all that seeks to confine you, and you’ll begin to sense His wonderful presence all around you as you break free from the limitations of this life. So, bless the Lord!

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Bless the Lord” ©2026 April 13, 2026