A Letter to Philemon

 

Apostle Paul wrote lots of letters; letters to entire congregations and letters to individuals. One of the latter, was a letter to Philemon, his friend and brother in Christ.

When the apostle was in prison, he met a runaway slave named Onesimus, who became a follower of Jesus Christ. As it turned out, Onesimus had been owned by Philemon, and he wanted to return to his former master to make amends.

So, Paul intervenes by writing a letter to Philemon on Onesimus’ behalf, asking him to accept and welcome Onesimus, not as a slave but as a Christian brother.

In his leadership role, Apostle Paul would not have been out of place in commanding Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as a brother in Christ, however, even though he gave his friend several reasons why he should, he really wanted Philemon to freely act on Christian principles rather than being forced to comply.

but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. (v 14 NASB 1995)

It is a warm personal letter from one friend to another based on Christian fellowship. Paul writes with tact and in love, starting the letter with gratitude to God, then in praise of Philemon before persuading his friend to forgive and receive his former slave. Paul continues this brief letter with a further appeal for Onesimus’ freedom.

Paul’s letter to Philemon is a lesson in grace and reconciliation and challenges everything we think we know about forgiveness and lovingkindness.

How is Philemon, a wealthy Christian master, supposed to welcome back, with open arms, his runaway slave, as a brother in Christ?

How do we welcome and accept those who want to return to the fold after having “runaway” from church via behaviour that is considered unacceptable?

How do we receive former congregants who have literally runaway from church for years and want to return as bona fide members of the congregation?

This short and exquisitely written letter forces us to confront difficult questions about the equality that is supposed to be found in the family of God; it sheds light directly on how we ought to deal with divisions, disappointment, distrust and hurt we face in our various churches.

Beloved, Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Philemon between 61to 63 AD that applies to all of us today. He was persuading Philemon then and us now, to release the chains of resentment, find freedom in forgiveness, embrace true reconciliation no matter the offense and see others as Christ sees them, regardless of social status or past behaviour.

I encourage you to read the 25 verses of Philemon for yourself and I pray that the wisdom contained therein will resonate with you.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Letter to Philemon” © 2026 June 29, 2026

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Helpers

 

It was late at night when my phone rang. I knew it was my son, as I assigned a special ringtone to his number. I stirred from sleep and immediately my heart skipped several beats. I answered.

“Mommy,” his voice trembled, “I just got into an accident”

In a steady matter-of-fact tone I asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes, I’m okay…shaken but okay. I’m not hurt.”

Relieved, I silently thanked God, then I thanked Him aloud.

My son continued, “Someone hit me from behind but didn’t stop.” He paused for a moment then said, “Mom, I heard the impact, I felt the impact but…”

He paused again as if searching for words. I did not speak; I waited for him to formulate whatever it was he wanted to say.

“But then I felt as if the car was lifted and gently placed on the shoulder of the road. Mom, I didn’t pull aside, I did not drive the car off the highway and onto the shoulder and then I noticed a couple other drivers, running towards me asking if I was okay.”

Was he crying? I could almost hear tears in his voice. I did not speak, just listened.

“Mom, they told me that they’d witnessed the accident, that they heard the loud sound of the crash and were convinced that I was terribly hurt and that the car was badly damaged but there’s not even a scratch on the car mommy. Not one scratch.”

Tears rolled down my face as I thanked God for sending His heavenly helpers.

You have made the Lord your defender, the Most High your protector, and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home. God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from hurting your feet on the stones. – Psalm 91:9-12 (GNT)

The bible records several instances when angels appeared to people in both the Old and New Testaments.

Hagar, when she had fled to the wilderness with Ishmael recorded in Genesis chapter 16.

When the Lord visited Abraham in Genesis chapter 18, He was accompanied by two angels.

Two angels were almost accosted by the men of Sodom when they went to warn Lot of impending disaster in Genesis chapter 19.

In Daniel 6:22, Daniel, still inside the lion’s den said to the king,

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. 

Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in Luke chapter 1.

Angels were sent to minister to Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew chapter 4 and again in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke chapter 22.

And in the Book of Acts, the disciples, the Apostles, Philip, Cornelius, Peter and Paul all had encounters with angels.

David, in Psalm 34:7, gives the assurance that,

The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers. (AMPC)

Even though angels are usually invisible they are never inactive. Psalm 91 lets us know that God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go when you make Him your defender and your protector. And when you revere and worship Him, the Angel of the Lord sets up an encampment around you.

An encampment speaks of army troops.

There was a very good reason why Jesus cautioned His disciples saying,

Be careful. Don’t think these little children are not important. I tell you that these children have angels in heaven. And those angels are always with my Father in heaven. – Matthew 18:10 (ERV)

Each one of us is assigned a host of angels, heavenly helpers who are spirit-messengers sent out to help and care for those who are to receive his salvation (see Hebrews 1:14 TLB).

Beloved, you may not have ever seen angels but that does not mean they aren’t real, my son can attest to that and furthermore there is biblical proof of their existence.

Heavenly helpers certainly protected my son that night and they are constantly protecting you and me, for God sends an angel before you to guard you on the way (Exodus 3:20).

Thank God for the unseen bodyguards He has sent to keep you safe.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Heavenly Helpers” © 2026 June 28, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyrene

We are introduced to Cyrene in the New Testament, when it first appears in the Gospel of Mark. This was a Libyan city in North Africa separated from Egypt by a section of the Libyan Desert.

photo Shutterstock

Originally a Greek colony, Cyrene, a veritable oasis in the desert, was a haven for weary travellers as its climate was delightful additionally it was a fertile and productive city.

This city gained its place of importance when one of its citizens was chosen to carry the cross of Jesus.

There was a man from Cyrene named Simon walking into the city from the fields. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Mark 15:21 ERV)

Though Simon had been impressed by the Roman soldiers into carrying the cross, this act, by its connection to Jesus’ journey to Golgotha, was not by happenstance but was the result of divine design and orchestration.

The soldiers led Jesus away. At that same time there was a man from Cyrene named Simon coming into the city from the fields. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross and walk behind him. (Luke 23:26 ERV)

You see, God can and will use anyone to accomplish His purposes here on earth.

Simon of Cyrene was minding his own business when he was placed in direct contact with Jesus. But isn’t that like God? It is when we are about our own business that God seizes us and puts us in position to have a divine encounter. He takes us from the desert to the cross of Jesus.

That’s exactly what happened to Saul, Jesus’ most avid persecutor. While on his way to Damascus to arrest any followers of Jesus he may have found there (see Acts 9:3-20), and still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (v 1), God had His way with Saul and, after this divine encounter, this one-time persecutor became Paul of whom God said was an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel (v 15 NRSVUE).

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NLT)

When Simon left Cyrene, he could never have imagined that he would be deliberately chosen to be of use to the Lord; God may have used the soldiers’ grasp, but it was definitely God’s hand at play.

Beloved, I hope you understand that God can use you too, even if you believe that you are unusable (see 1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

Mark and Luke’s similar accounts are all we know about Simon of Cyrene but that is no indication that his story ended after he carried the cross. No one’s story comes to an end after encountering the cross, for that is where your real story begins.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Cyrene” © 2026 June 27, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

Your inner Room is in your Brain?

 

Our brain is the most fascinating part of our body, yet we take it for granted. I’m not a doctor, I’m not a biologist but I do like to read and to learn and to discover so, I enjoy digging deep and making interesting connections.

One such connection is the link between the inner room, inner chamber, closet or simply room in some translations, that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6:6 and the brain. This, it turns out, is an exhaustive topic which I hope to condense. I encourage you to research for yourself.

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:6 (NASB 1995)

From the signals it receives from our bodies and the outside world, our brain is capable of producing an array of responses that provide us with rich and oftentimes complex experiences.

These responses can range from basic everyday movements, that we do by rote, to abstract reasoning.  The human brain is an amazing creation, made up of a collection of specialized systems that interact; no single area of the brain works in isolation.

The human brain comprises two hemispheres with each containing four different regions called lobes. These lobes are distinct yet work together magnificently. Our brain functions multidimensionally.

And it is this multidimensional functionality that Jesus appears to use as a template for prayer in Matthew chapter six. Though this chapter forms part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, here He was speaking directly to His devoted followers, His disciples (see Luke 11:1-4), the ones who would have to be well-equipped to carry out the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:16-20).

You see, when Jesus instructed His disciples, in Matthew 6:6, when you pray, go into your inner room, He wasn’t only sending them to a physical location but was directing them on how to properly connect to God the Father just as He connected internally.

Those whom Jesus called to be His disciples would have grown accustomed to a certain way of praying and must have recognized that Jesus’ way was far different from other Rabbis and priests. They would have noticed that even if they were nearby, Jesus would go off alone to pray in solitude.

Jesus gave them three protocols to follow if they were to make that ultimate connection:

Do not be hypocritical – in other words their intentions must be honest, real. (v 5)

Do not stand and pray in public to be seen by men. (v 5)

Do not use meaningless repetition. (v 7)

So, where exactly is this inner room? In last week Thursday’s blog post, “Your Inner Room”, I shared with you that I discovered that there’s a part of our brain called the thalamus which is located at the centre of each of our brains and that the word is derived from ancient Greek thalamos, meaning the inner room or chamber, the most private room in a Greek home and carries the same meaning as tameion.

From this, we can conclude that Jesus was introducing His disciples to a much more profound concept of prayer. He was directing the disciples to an internal space or place – somewhere within themselves. What did Jesus say to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21?

The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. (AMPC)

This speaks of Presence deep inside your regenerated self, at the control centre of your being. Your brain is the control centre of your body and has a very powerful influence on your stress levels, your mood and your overall health.

Your inner room is in your brain, at the very centre of your brain. The thalamus is not the only structure at the very centre of your brain, just under it is the hypothalamus which monitors the body’s vital functions, the amygdala, two almond-shaped clusters in the middle of your brain that are central to processing emotions, then embedded deep in the centre of the thalamus, there’s the pineal gland, which governs sleep patterns by secreting the hormone melatonin in response to darkness, it’s your nightly biological reset.

These structures at the centre of your brain are essential for its proper functioning; they work together to create a harmonious performance and contribute to the complexity of your behaviour and your cognitive abilities.

By now you may be thinking, “Your inner Room is in your Brain? Okay, all this information is great but how does it relate to what Jesus said in Matthew chapter six?”

We’re getting there but it will be a too-long post so, let’s leave that for another day. Amen?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Your inner Room is in your Brain?” © 2026 June 26, 2026

 

I Never Knew You

 

Matthew 7:23 records the words of Jesus no believer wants to hear; it’s a most unsettling sentence.

Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’ (NRSVUE)

Understand that this was not an indictment against unbelievers, as Jesus Himself said, these will be persons who had prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name and would have done many mighty works in His name (see v 22). Jesus was referring to followers, people who claimed to belong; people who performed in His name.

His words were addressed to those who believed they belonged to the household of God.

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God? (1 Peter 4:17 NRSVUE)

But Jesus said that not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21 NRSVUE) so that merely believing you belong is not an automatic access pass.

You see, knowing Jesus is one thing but Jesus knowing you is another. This knowing has nothing to do with facts, this has to do with intimacy, covenant knowing in the way that Adam knew Eve his wife (Genesis 4:1). It’s actually the same word found in Jeremiah 1:5 (NRSVUE).

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…

When Jesus said, I never knew you, He brought together two Greek words, oudepote (never) and ginōskō (knew), which in effect say, “not even at any time did I have an intimate relationship”.

This was not fear mongering on Jesus’ part, He was exposing something that had already taken root among believers and sadly it’s still happening today. It’s so dangerous in its subtlety that Jesus had to shine a light on it; it’s when churchgoers replace relationship with performance. Where doing in Jesus’ name is substituted for an intimate relationship with Jesus – relationship replaced by activity.

Too many of us are so busy doing ministry that we have completely ignored relationship. We seek recognition for church involvement, we stand to make public testimonies of our faith, we show visible results for the things we’ve done, we’re fluent in religious language, yet none of these activities, though commendable, address the issue Jesus has exposed.

It’s not about what you do, it’s about who you are to Him. Salvation is not transactional but relational, it is abiding, it is union, it is connection, it is adoption, it is knowing – you knowing Jesus and more importantly Jesus knowing you. It’s not outward activity done solely for man’s approval but inward reality that bears good fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20) to the Father’s glory, as a result of your intimate relationship with Jesus (see John 15:5-8).

Matthew 7:23 is a statement purely about relationship, the ultimate spiritual connection – not yours to Jesus but His to you.

Beloved, the question at the final judgment won’t be what you accomplished in Jesus’ name. The question will be if He ever knew you.

Does Jesus know you now? You can be working for Jesus but not walking with Jesus; talking about Him but not with Him; know of Him but not known by Him because you have not established an authentic, mutual relationship with Jesus.

You can do something about it today so that you’ll never have to hear Jesus say I never knew you.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “I Never Knew You” © 2026 June 25, 2026

Worship the Lord

 

Revelation 15:2-4 (ERV)

I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. All those who had won the victory over the beast and his idol and over the number of its name were standing by the sea. These people had harps that God had given them. They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and wonderful are the things you do,
Lord God All-Powerful.
Right and true are your ways,
Ruler of the nations.
All people will fear you, O Lord.
All people will praise your name.
Only you are holy.
All people will come and worship before you,
because it is clear that you do what is right.”

Several years ago, I suffered the heartbreaking loss of a very dear friend; it was unexpected, I was crushed, and my trust, like glass that has fallen onto a tiled floor, shattered into tiny shards.

Grieving the loss, I was at sea, then one day God laid a song on my heart, and I sang and every day thereafter I would worship the Lord singing songs of praise.

And as I continued to worship the Lord, a sense of peace invaded my heart and little by little those tiny shards of broken trust were fitted back together until my trust in God was restored.

When you worship the Lord, not only does the atmosphere around you change but the atmosphere everywhere is affected. Worship at work is invisible to the naked eye but its effects in you are unmistakably visible.

And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away. – 1 Samuel 16:23 (NLT)

When you engage in authentic, intentional worship, with your mind focused on God, something incredible happens – the Presence of the Lord is manifested as He inhabits your praises (ref. Psalm 22:3).

Beloved, your worship may not compare to that of the celestial choir in Revelation 15, with their heavenly voices and unworldly melodies but nothing is stopping you from using their beautiful words of adoration to worship the Lord.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Worship the Lord” © 2026 June 24, 2026

 

 

Lost in Translation

 

I think that we forget that the bible was not originally written in English. I think that we forget that the bible was written about real people living real experiences at a real time in history. I think we forget that these real people spoke a language that wasn’t English.

In the English language we have one word to describe a thing while in other languages there are several different words to describe the different types of the single word we use in English.

For instance, our English word “love”, no matter what type of love we want to express, there is only this one word, while in Greek, there are several words to describe the different kinds of love, agape, eros, philía, philautía, storge, and xenia, so there’s no ambiguity.

And in some instances, certain words in one language simply do not exist in English, so the very essence of the word gets lost in translation. Take the Danish word “hygge”, it can’t be properly expressed in English because it’s more of a feeling, a mood or an experience; in an effort to explain its meaning, it’s translated as “coziness” but that doesn’t do it justice since it is so much more than that.

“Hygge”, like some Hebrew and Greek words, is cultural and relational, so the translation is more of an interpretation than a true reflection of the word itself and inevitably the word’s essential meaning is lost in translation.

I imagine that when translating from any language into another, translators have to decide the best word-meaning choice, wondering, “will it fit the context?”, “will it carry the cultural meaning?”, “will it convey the genuine essence of the original language?”

Whatever the choice, it will have an effect on how we understand the word and in the case of God’s Word which was translated from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to English.

Those who translated the bible years ago did not have the same life experiences as the people of the first century.

Their culture, their idea of community, how they viewed honour, saw shame, carried out justice, their familial relationships, their entire way of life, and even their communion with God, were vastly different so, it’s no wonder that context got lost in translation. Meanings got lost in translation. Understanding got lost in translation. Expressions got lost in translation. The intensity and the true impact of a whole verse or even a chapter got lost in translation because of the interpretation of a single word.

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC)

Beloved, every time you read the bible, you’re reading someone’s interpretation so that’s more reason for you to dig deep, go beneath the words on the pages, and always seek Spirit’s guidance because the words that have been lost in translation hold much more meaning than you realize.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Lost in Translation” ©2026 June 23, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the depths of despair

 

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. – Psalm 130:1-2 (NLT)

There’s so much chaos going on in the wider world today and closer to home, where you might be one of those persons who has lost their job or their livelihood. Life seems an endless spiral of doom and gloom and it feels as if you’re in the depths of despair with no apparent way out.

When bills are mounting and everything seems to be going wrong, don’t be afraid to call on the Lord for help. That’s what the psalmist did, he cried out to the Lord, from the depths of despair, asking Him to pay attention to his prayer.

Despair makes hope distant, but you must hang onto the belief that the Lord is hearing your voice and is listening to your prayers.

You can confidently echo Jesus’ words, I know You always hear and listen to Me (John 11:42 AMPC) because the Lord does, as a matter of fact, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him (Matthew 6:8 NLT).

Trust that He knows your predicament and He will act, however, you must patiently await His response. The Lord acts in His timeframe, not yours. The period of waiting may be longer than you would want it to be and the anguish that waiting in the depths of despair brings is real, but the Lord is not slow as you understand slowness.

Beloved, even though you have been redeemed by Christ, you are not immune from the depths of despair that arise during difficult times, it’s par for the course but remember always that the Lord is aware of all that you’re going through and He is with you every step of the way.

So, as you wait for the joy that is sure to come in the morning, continue to trust that the Lord is working all things together for your good. Now, rest in His love for you.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “From the depths of despair” ©2026 June 22, 2026

An Anchored Soul

 

In Priscilla Jane Owens’ 1882 hymn, she asks,

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

This world is in turmoil, and it is seeping into our personal spaces – there is chaos everywhere you turn.

But, despite all that is churning up around you, imagine waking up each morning with a confident hope, not because your situation has changed but because your soul is anchored in something that’s deeper than your troubles.

Theological platitudes can only give relief to a downcast soul for a short time, all they do is act as a placebo – a temporary fix and not a long-term solution.

God’s incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, is an unwavering anchor for your soul. He is the Rock which cannot move, it is in Him that your soul must be firmly and deeply anchored.

Troubles come to all of us, but an anchored soul in Jesus will buffet life’s fiercest storms.

A very bad wind came up on the lake. The waves were coming over the sides and into the boat, and it was almost full of water…Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm. – Mark 4:37 & 39 (ERV)

Your boat may be almost full of water but do not panic, know that the same Jesus who stilled the wind and calmed the waves is with you today. Jesus is the only anchor that can keep your soul steady in the most turbulent times; in Him is your peace, your strength and your hope.

God’s Word tells us to,

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. – Romans 12:12 (NLT)

I know all too well just how difficult it is to rejoice and be patient during the storms of life, but you must determine to do so because these are the seasons when your most holy faith is built up.

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! – Jude 1:20-21 (MSG)

Beloved, an anchored soul in Jesus Christ is the real life. He is the Living Word on whom you can depend and in whom you can place your confident hope (ref. Psalm 42). And as you anchor your soul in Him, hold securely to the following promise of God,

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. – Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (ERV)

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “An Anchored Soul” ©2026 June 21, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

Let us Pray: Psalm 85

 

"Morning has Broken" by Shelley Johnson

O Lord, thank You for the favour You continuously show to me; for bringing me success in everything I do.

Thank You for forgiving me and for covering all my sins by the Blood of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Because of Your Son, You set aside all Your wrath and turned from Your fierce anger.

Thank You for restoring me again O Lord my Saviour.

Thank You for reviving me again; I rejoice in You.

Thank You for showing me Your unfailing love, O Lord and granting me Your salvation.

Thank You for giving me new life.

Thank You for Your glory which dwells within my home and for Your steadfast love and faithfulness that meet together there.

Thank You for Your mercy, goodness and peace that greet me with a kiss every morning.

Thank You for Your faithfulness that springs up from the ground and Your righteousness that looks down from heaven.

Thank You Lord for indeed You always give me what is good – You make me prosper and I yield an abundant harvest.

Thank You for pouring down Your blessings on me.

Thank You that righteousness goes as a herald before You and sets me in the way of Your steps.

I make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Let us Pray: Psalm 85” ©2026 June 21, 2026

 

Let us pray: Psalm 84

 

photo courtesy Chionsu Barclay

O Lord Almighty, my King and my God, You are the living God, You are the All-powerful Lord, You are the Omnipresent God and everywhere You are, is beautiful.

Thank You for the great blessings of abiding in Your house.

Thank You that I’m able to praise You.

I am greatly blessed because I depend on You for strength.

You have set my heart on a spiritual journey;

And as I pass through the valleys of life, You are there, making it a place of springs;

You also send the autumn rains to cover it with pools of blessings.

I go from strength to strength, till I appear before my God in Zion.

Thank You, Lord God All-powerful, for hearing my prayer and for listening to me.

Thank You for watching over me with favour.

I declare that one day is better in Your house than a thousand days anywhere else;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.

Thank You, my Lord God, for being my Sun and Shield, my Protector, my glorious King;

Thank You for blessing me with favour and honour;

Thank You for freely giving me every good thing, as I have been made right with You by the loving sacrifice of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ,

O Lord Almighty, thank You that as my trust in You increases, so do Your blessings increase in my life.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Let us pray: Psalm 84” ©2026 June 20, 2026

 

Accepting Injustice

 

Injustice seems to be the order of the day these days and too many persons, including people who claim to be Christians, simply turn a blind eye.

The world’s leaders are leading the charge as they are the primary perpetrators of the injustice we see being meted out to citizens and we do nothing. In our silence and failure to condemn such actions, we have become abettors.

Why are we, children of a just God, accepting injustice?

This is nothing new, centuries ago, the prophet Amos delivered a message to those who were perpetrating and accepting injustice. Pay attention to his words.

You people hate anyone who challenges injustice and speaks the whole truth in court. You have oppressed the poor and robbed them of their grain. And so you will not live in the fine stone houses you build or drink wine from the beautiful vineyards you plant. I know how terrible your sins are and how many crimes you have committed. You persecute good people, take bribes, and prevent the poor from getting justice in the courts. And so, keeping quiet in such evil times is the smart thing to do! – Amos 5:10-13 (GNT)

Yes, we keep quiet because we think it’s the smart thing to do. We think it’s the smart thing to do when our jobs are at stake. We think it’s the smart thing to do because we don’t want to ruffle any feathers. We think it’s the smart thing to do simply because we’re afraid to speak out, so, we keep quiet.

Amos continues,

Make it your aim to do what is right, not what is evil, so that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty really will be with you, as you claim he is. Hate what is evil, love what is right, and see that justice prevails in the courts. Perhaps the Lord will be merciful to the people of this nation who are still left alive. – Amos 5:14-15 (GNT)

Right here, in my little country, there is so much injustice but Christians and those who claim God’s sovereignty in their lives, are quiet. Not a word, not a whisper, just silence. And in some other countries we see Pastors, women and men of God, upholding and uplifting, almost genuflecting, leaders who engage in criminal behaviour, and persist in doing what is evil.

Amos continues,

And so the Sovereign Lord Almighty says, “There will be wailing and cries of sorrow in the city streets. Even farmers will be called to mourn the dead along with those who are paid to mourn. There will be wailing in all the vineyards. All this will take place because I am coming to punish you.” The Lord has spoken. – Amos 5:16-17 (GNT)

Perhaps you believe that because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, you do not fall into this category, that Amos’ words aren’t meant for you, and that maybe so but only if you sincerely repent. God still disciplines (see Hebrews 12:7-11). There are still consequences that result from the choices you make (see Galatians 6:7).

Amos continues,

How terrible it will be for you who long for the day of the Lord! What good will that day do you? For you it will be a day of darkness and not of light. It will be like someone who runs from a lion and meets a bear! Or like someone who comes home and puts his hand on the wall—only to be bitten by a snake! The day of the Lord will bring darkness and not light; it will be a day of gloom, without any brightness. – Amos 5:18-20 (GNT)

And then he says,

The Lord says, “I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! When you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will not accept the animals you have fattened to bring me as offerings. Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry. – Amos 5:21-24 (GNT)

Beloved, we cannot afford to ignore the context of these verses. As in Amos’ day, we are witnessing a system of justice that does not favour all people as it should; it is a prejudicial system of justice. Accepting injustice is aiding and abetting wrongdoing.

Remaining silent is a copout that weakens the fabric of trust in society. In a society that looks quite similar to our own, Amos went straight for the religious jugular, he did not mince God’s words.

No amount of fancy religiosity will negate the fact that we’ve kept quiet in the face of the injustice that is being doled out daily.

Let us repent for the part we have played and pray for the courage to protest injustice when we see it.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Accepting Injustice” ©2026 June 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Your Inner Room”

 

For a few weeks now, I’ve been feeling particularly stressed. This feeling is not a vague, wispy mist but more of a heavy, dense fog, a tangible pulsation in my head that comes and goes.

I have been guessing as to what could possibly be the cause, but I haven’t pinpointed any specific reason, and I imagine that my restless thoughts and disquieted soul are adding to this stress that I already feel.

Pray. Yes, that’s what I need to do. Pray and keep on praying, without ceasing is what Apostle Paul says to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. So, I sat alone on the balcony, early in the morning as I often do and, looking toward the heavens, let loose a barrage of prayers – asking and pleading, declaring and proclaiming, talking and talking and talking incessantly without ceasing.

Daylight…time for a cup of tea; I put the kettle on, got my cup, threw in an assortment of leaves, a flower, butterfly pea they call it, then I went back to sit, sip and be silent.

Then, a whisper, “I taught you how to pray.”

“Our Father who art in heaven…” I started but before I could continue, a whisper, “I taught you how to pray.”

Now at a loss, I thought, “What does that mean?”

Matthew chapter six! What did Jesus say in Matthew chapter six? Jesus’ sermon on the Mount. Not long after the Beatitudes, Jesus spoke of examining our motives and about giving with pure motives, not for showing off but secretly, then He taught us how to pray.

Reading verses 5 to 8, it dawned on me that Jesus gave very specific instructions before He gave the ultimate prayer sample which we fondly refer to as The Lord’s Prayer.

And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Motives.

But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Secrecy.

And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 

Hypocrisy.

So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Psalm 139:4 says of God,

Even before I speak, you already know what I will say. (GNT)

If those four verses are the preamble to instructions on how to pray, then why do we recite what Jesus says in the next five verses together in public out loud?

Jesus, it appears, is teaching His audience and us how to prepare to connect to our Creator, the living Source of our lives.

when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret

As I read Matthew 6, more than anything else, your inner room piqued my interest and I wondered: Could there be more to The Lord’s Prayer than meets the eye? Has something been lost in our English translation?

What was I to understand but wasn’t getting? This deserved a deep dive.

The Greek word that would have been used in this verse is tameion – a hidden, private and very secure room in the centre of a house – the inner room, a room that’s located furthest from the street. In most cases, there were no windows in this room, so inside this inner room would be pitch black.

The inner room was reserved for the things you valued most but Jesus wasn’t giving a lecture on architecture or home construction, He was giving a direction; Jesus is telling us of a place where we must go if we are to achieve the deepest communion with God, the Father.

Your inner room is not a physical place but an internal space, somewhere within yourself. So, what is Jesus referring to?

Hearing that whisper, “I taught you how to pray.”, twice, made me think of the occasions in the bible when Jesus says “Verily, verily” – a call to pay attention because what comes next is important. I knew that I had to do some digging.

Digging deeper I came across a word that is used in English which was derived from a Greek word for “bridal bed” and by extension the “inner room” in a house for the bed; the word is thalamus. You must have heard this word before.

A thalamus is in the very centre of each of our brains; it serves as the main relay station for incoming sensory and motor signals; simply put it controls behaviour and is described as the brain's "inner room".

I almost fell to the floor. “Your inner room” that Jesus is referring to, is in your brain?

Beloved, this was a lot to digest, so I’m leaving it here for now, as there’s much more digging to be done, then I’ll be sure to share my findings with you.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Your inner room” ©2026 June 17, 2026

A short prayer for today

 

Heavenly Father, today, I submit all stress and everything that gives rise to stressful feelings in me, to You,

Remove the restless thoughts that have my soul disquieted and renew a calm, unhurried spirit within me.

Thank You for filling me with the peace of God which transcends all understanding that guards my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus, in whose name I pray,

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A short prayer for today” ©2026 June 16, 2026

 

There’s always a reason

Romans 5:3-4 (NLT) says,

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Apostle Paul tells us that we can rejoice when we are faced with problems and trials, but when challenges arise, we don’t remember these verses, instead we begin praying earnestly for God to get us out of the mess.

But Paul lets us know that there's always a reason for our sufferings. The NIV translation says that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Whether endurance or perseverance, hard times prove our characters and strengthens our hope and assurance of eternal salvation.

So, do we or don’t we pray? The answer: yes, pray but it’s what we pray about or for that makes a difference.

Ask God to reveal the reason for your hardship.

Ask Him to give you the wherewithal to persevere, to endure for as long as it takes.

Ask God for the peace that transcends understanding and grace that allows you to cling to that peace.

Ask Him to give you a joy-filled heart through the time of testing sore and for it to remain after the trial has passed.

Reading the stories of the ancients in Scripture, you would notice that they were not rescued from their trials, they went through them, emerging with a certain maturity that they did not possess before.

Each one of the protagonists developed strength of character after facing their ordeals with stubborn perseverance.

It’s that same perseverance that empowers us to endure hardships, and the grace of God allows us to get up when we fall.

Joseph’s survival did not depend on escaping the damp cistern, or the Midianites or the Egyptian jail cell; it’s not what was done to him on the outside, but what was developing inside of him during these ordeals.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s survival did not depend on escaping the burning fiery furnace; it’s not what happened on the outside, but what occurred on the inside during the ordeal.

John’s survival on the rugged island of Patmos did not depend on escaping the isolation; it’s not what he saw on the outside, but what he was shown on the inside during his exile.

In all three instances, God was on the inside, and they all recognized His presence.

Beloved, I know how difficult it is to remain hopeful when life goes sideways, when God seems to have abandoned you in a pit of sufferation, but know that whatever hardship you are in right now is not the final chapter…

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. – 1 Peter 5:10 (AMP)

Joseph told his brothers,

Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. – Genesis 50:20 (NRSVUE)

Although Nebuchadnezzar, before casting Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, had ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated, in the end he, in amazement said,

Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?...But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the fourth has the appearance of a god. – Daniel 3:4, 5 (NRSVUE)

John wrote,

I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write in a book what you see”…Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and…I saw one like the Son of Man – Revelation 1:10,11,12 13 (NRSVUE)

We too must recognize God even in the dark places. While your world is crumbling, know that God is still there, He hasn’t left you and despite how chaotic life feels, still be grateful because there’s always a reason for the suffering.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “There’s always a reason” ©2026 June 15, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Examen Prayer

 

You may already know of the examen prayer, but I only recently found out about it. For those of you who may not know of it, I’ll give you just a brief overview, as a single blog post cannot provide you with all that this wonderful prayer entails. So, I encourage you to research it for yourself, see if it’s a fit and with God’s grace, practice it.  

This practice may seem simple enough but it’s profound in its simplicity in that, it purposely brings spiritual power into everyday life since it fosters intimacy with God as you grow in your awareness and communication with Him daily.

The examen prayer taps into a love for God that our hearts yearn for but may never fully experience because it is said that getting into a regular and enduring practice of it is not easy for many people; wanting a closer relationship with God, they begin the practice with much fervour but then, for one reason or another, can’t sustain it.

O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. – Psalm 63:1 (GNT)

Perduring in the examen prayer requires a genuine desire to love God thoroughly, coupled with willing determination. Both must be present if you are to effectively develop the practice into a lifestyle.

The practice paves the way to a spiritual experience like no other, where you are able to discern God’s loving, spiritual communications.

This powerful practice of prayerful reflection, is done at the end of each day, and involves five steps, however even before you get into these steps, you must become aware of God’s presence, so find a quiet space.

Gratitude: Take the time to be grateful; thank God for the blessings of the day just lived.

 Petition: Examine the light and strength – ask God for insight to shine a light that allows you to see how Spirit has worked in your life throughout the day and ask Him for grace to see your failings and strength to overcome them.

Review: Examine your day with God – carefully and honestly look at both the highs and the lows you would have experienced during the day; analyse the choices you’ve made, the decisions you’ve taken and ask God to reveal to you anything that happened that you did not recognize as divine intervention.

Forgiveness: Seek God’s forgiveness for those moments in the day where your heart was not aligned with His.

 Renewal: Resolve to change whatever behaviour or attitude you need to change and not repeat. Pray for the healing you need and ask God to show you how to live according to what God desires for you, then make a plan with Him for the coming day.

This method of praying is associated with Saint Ignatius who subscribed to looking back at his day with God, thanking Him for being present in his life and being attentive to where God’s grace has been present in the everyday events of his life, as a means of developing an awareness of how God works in his life daily.

Practicing the examen prayer is about finding God in all things, seeing God in the tiniest of details and getting in tune with the spiritual reality that is all around us.

It is transforming.

You and I cannot continue living life spiritually oblivious. There is a spiritual war, and we are caught in the midst of it.

for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12 (NRSVUE)

The battle for our souls is very real and praying in this way, opens our eyes, ears and hearts to God daily. We must willingly accept what’s from God and adamantly reject what’s not of God.

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. – James 4:7 (AMP)

When you submit to the authority of God and stand firm against the devil, all the hollowness, the emptiness you feel is replaced with the fullness of God including peace, joy, and a deep sense of satisfaction.

The examen prayer is believed by many to be an integral part of growth in the spiritual life, as observing this practice increases your awareness of what God is doing in you and around you.

Beloved, you may be thinking that with your busy schedule it may be a challenge to keep up with the examen prayer at the end of every day but it’s worth a try; isn’t it?

Being cognitive of God’s presence today, being grateful for God’s goodness to you today, prepares you to live differently tomorrow.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Examen Prayer” ©2026 June 14, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biblical Betrayal

There are so many stories of betrayal recorded in the bible. The most popular betrayal being that of Jesus by His disciple Judas.

Oftentimes we consider betrayal as being a spur of the moment decision, and in some instances, it probably is but more than likely the seed of betrayal is planted long before the betrayal actually occurs.

When Joseph’s brothers, consumed by envy, betrayed him by selling him into slavery, that stemmed from a pre-meditated plan to kill him (see Genesis 37:18-36).

So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt. (v 28 NLT)

Delilah’s decision to betray Samson, did not start on the night she lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then…called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. (Judges 16:19 NLT) No, that plan was hatched long before that night,

…Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” (Judges 16:4-5 NLT)

And Judas’ 3-year devotion to Jesus as one of His disciples, belied the evil intent brewing in his heart.

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? (Jeremiah 7:9 NLT)

The desperately wicked condition of Judas’s heart made him an easy target for demonic possession.

Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. (Luke 22:3-4 NLT)

Judas was not suddenly lured into this ultimate act of betrayal by the chief priests and the teachers of religious law who were already looking for some way to get rid of Jesus (see Luke 22:2). He voluntarily provided them with the solution to their Jesus problem.

They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around (Luke 22:5-6 NLT)

Because of the deceitfulness of Judas’ heart, betrayal was second nature to him.

You see, Judas also had a problem with Jesus. In his eyes, Jesus was a failed messiah, not the real deal, a masquerader.

The Jews, long subjugated by the Romans were desperate for a Messiah, someone who would ride into town on a stallion, brandishing a weapon of mas destruction to annihilate the entire Roman Empire in one fell swoop but the rivalry they’d imagined between the prophesied Messiah and Rome never materialised.

Judas was not unlike his countrymen and what he thought the deliverance would be like and what it actually was did not correlate. This Messiah to whom he had devoted three years of his life, was just a wimpy kid, not at all the fierce, battle-ready warrior he had envisioned.

All this time that Judas knew Jesus, he never knew Jesus, and like several of his fellow disciples, during his walk with Jesus, he never truly understood who Jesus was until the day of His crucifixion. Before then, he did not grasp the bigger picture (see Luke 9:43-45).

The belief is that Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was driven by greed but perhaps the driving force behind his actions was intense anger and a deep-rooted disillusionment with Jesus’ mission. it was not about the money, the 30 pieces of silver, the betrayal was afoot way before there was any financial negotiations.

Judas had spent three years with Jesus, he had seen the miracles, heard the sermons, listened to the teachings, experienced the love and the friendship but it wasn’t enough to counteract his extreme disappointment. His kiss usually a sign of deep affection signalled his betrayal.

Delilah coddling Samson’s head in her lap, normally a display of deep affection became a signal of betrayal.

Joseph, excited to be with his older brothers, searches for them but when he finally finds them, they don't welcome him, they betray him.

Betrayal cuts deep; physical injuries heal over time but the wounds from shattered trust fester, leaving scars that last forever.

Many more betrayal stories can be found in the bible, Cain and Abel, Saul and David, David and Uriah, to name a few. All of which carry a heavy price, but the three highlighted today are the only ones where silver was exchanged for betrayal to emphasize the profound consequences of betrayal.

Betrayal is certainly not confined to first century biblical history, it is rampant in this modern era; betrayal happens every day in homes, workplaces, schools, churches and governments.

The envy, the jealousy, the resentment, the financial greed, the divided loyalties, the ambition, the disappointment, the fear, the angst, and the moral weakness that influenced Joseph’s brothers, Delilah and Judas are the exact same things that influence people to commit acts of betrayal today.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)

This is the human condition that still exists to this day. Nothing has changed, the human heart remains deceitful above of all things, is desperately sick and God knows how bad our hearts are. He sees the contrast between our outward appearance and our inward intentions.

Beloved, these accounts of biblical betrayal aren’t for your reading pleasure, they are necessary lessons on how deception, distrust, disillusionment, resentment, jealousy, envy, misplaced hope, doubt, disappointment, vain ambition, fear, misinformation and immense greed negatively impact your life if left to take root.

These stories of betrayal are meant to resonate with all of us; every one of them compels you to confront uncomfortable truths about yourself and the choices you make that have lasting effects on your life and the lives of others.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Biblical Betrayal” ©2026 June 13, 2026