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The other day my best friend told me that she was doing something called Bible Before Phone. She could tell by the look on my face that I had absolutely no idea what she meant. She began to explain that when her alarm goes off in the morning, she wants to reach for her Bible, begin her devotionals, and not touch her phone until she was done. My first reaction was "Wow, I'd never do that... but good for you!"

And then I thought about it... I asked myself... Why wouldn't I do that? Is checking my social media that big of a deal for me that I have to do it before I spend time with God?

Like a programmed robot, it's become my default morning routine. Turning over, one eye open, barely awake, scrolling and filling my brain with what seems like perfect photos and updates.

I'm embarrassed to even admit to this pitiful habit, but I know that if you bring a sin into the light, then God is able to heal you from it. And this is a sin that I no longer want in my life.

I can only hope to get to the place where God's Word is my first thought...Where prayer and peaceful quietness to be the first thing in my day...Where I long for His gentle whisper above all of the noise in this world...

Mornings with God’s Word in my hand can’t be beaten. I know that because I've had them before... But just like Israel, I'm so quick to forget and just do what's easier in the moment.

Here are some verses I've really been chewing on lately:

You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.

One of the first commands is to not worship something that is made by human hands! What are we thinking about constantly? What are we talking with our friends about? What do we spend most of our time doing? Social media is definitely up there for me. There is no doubt in my mind that that's an idol. The Lord talks about how over centuries, people have worshipped images and other foreign gods, yet the Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ is the only one that is to be praised.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

When looking at those verses, I can see that I'm so far from where I need to be...If you think you may be too, but you're still on the fence, one of the biggest red flags you will notice if social media is an idol in your life is this:

You care more about what your followers think than about what God thinks.

In Galatians, we see that if our first goal is serving people, then we can't be true followers of Christ. We must consider the things that we are posting and saying on social media. Are we doing things to glorify God or are we doing them to gain the attention of others?

For a long time, I'd honor God in the captions of my posts but not in the content of my posts. I'd post a photo in a bikini and then my caption would be all about Christ and a Bible verse. Give me a breaaaaak.

I have since deleted all of those posts because the Holy Spirit wouldn't quit convicting me (Thank God!), but it's still a struggle for me sometimes. I know what can get me more followers and more likes in a short amount of time... I also know that those things are exactly what God asks me not to do.

If social media wasn't in competition for first place in my heart, it wouldn't be such a wrestle to not post certain things...

So after being fed up with my spirit and flesh at a war, I surrendered to God and took a whole two weeks off of every single social media platform. I prayed and asked God how I could defeat this idol, once and for all.

It's not completely gone yet - but it is getting better!!! And God never starts something that He doesn't complete!

I got rid of any app that told me who unfollowed me

I got rid of all of my analytics apps for my social media channels so I didn't obsess over the numbers

I put into practice "Bible Before Phone" too.

I take one full 24 hour period off of social media every single week.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in social media and it’s easy to make it a little god in our lives. But if you are feeling a conviction deep in your spirit too, ignoring that can be very dangerous.

Here’s what starts to happen if you do ignore it:

We miss out on life right in front of us.

We start thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. Or more lower than we should.

We have a skewed perspective of what life should look like. Our mental health will get affected.

We start focusing on the values presented on our social feeds, rather than those we personally hold dear.

We can't hear the voice of God among the thousands of people trying to shove messages in our brain on the internet.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I literally earn a living in the digital world. So much good can come out of social media and our online lives! What I am saying is this: As Christians, we walk a fine line. If we aren't careful and on guard all of the time, then we can develop an idol in our lives and in result, feel really far from God.

Facebook, Snapchat, apps and Instagram are not bad ways to communicate the Gospel or to connect with family and friends. Social media becomes dangerous when we start becoming addicted to it, when we get our source of comfort from it rather than God and when it steals time from relationships and priorities.

Monitor your screen time with me! I try to spend more time with God every single day than I spend on social media. And I know you may be thinking "That's impossible!" but it's really not. Talk to God throughout your day. Read the Bible. Listen to a sermon as you do your thing during the day.

Take one 24 hour period off of your cell phone completely and spend time with your loved ones! My day for that is either Friday or Saturday, depends on the week!

In this highly passionate social media world in which we dwell, let’s make sure that the Most High God not only dwells in our hearts, but that God alone will reign on the throne of our lives!

The other day my best friend told me that she was doing something called Bible Before Phone. She could tell by the look on my face that I had absolutely no idea what she meant. She began to explain that when her alarm goes off in the morning, she wants to reach for her Bible, begin her devotionals, and not touch her phone until she was done. My first reaction was "Wow, I'd never do that... but good for you!"

And then I thought about it... I asked myself... Why wouldn't I do that? Is checking my social media that big of a deal for me that I have to do it before I spend time with God?

Yikes.

Like a programmed robot, it's become my default morning routine. Turning over, one eye open, barely awake, scrolling and filling my brain with what seems like perfect photos and updates.

Does that sound familiar to you?

I know I can't be the only one...

I'm embarrassed to even admit to this pitiful habit, but I know that if you bring a sin into the light, then God is able to heal you from it. And this is a sin that I no longer want in my life.

I can only hope to get to the place where God's Word is my first thought...Where prayer and peaceful quietness to be the first thing in my day...Where I long for His gentle whisper above all of the noise in this world...

Mornings with God’s Word in my hand can’t be beaten. I know that because I've had them before... But just like Israel, I'm so quick to forget and just do what's easier in the moment.

Here are some verses I've really been chewing on lately:

You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.

Exodus 20:2-5

One of the first commands is to not worship something that is made by human hands! What are we thinking about constantly? What are we talking with our friends about? What do we spend most of our time doing? Social media is definitely up there for me. There is no doubt in my mind that that's an idol. The Lord talks about how over centuries, people have worshipped images and other foreign gods, yet the Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ is the only one that is to be praised.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

Luke 4:8

When looking at those verses, I can see that I'm so far from where I need to be...If you think you may be too, but you're still on the fence, one of the biggest red flags you will notice if social media is an idol in your life is this:

You care more about what your followers think than about what God thinks.

In Galatians, we see that if our first goal is serving people, then we can't be true followers of Christ. We must consider the things that we are posting and saying on social media. Are we doing things to glorify God or are we doing them to gain the attention of others?

For a long time, I'd honor God in the captions of my posts but not in the content of my posts. I'd post a photo in a bikini and then my caption would be all about Christ and a Bible verse. Give me a breaaaaak.

I have since deleted all of those posts because the Holy Spirit wouldn't quit convicting me (Thank God!), but it's still a struggle for me sometimes. I know what can get me more followers and more likes in a short amount of time... I also know that those things are exactly what God asks me not to do.

If social media wasn't in competition for first place in my heart, it wouldn't be such a wrestle to not post certain things...

So after being fed up with my spirit and flesh at a war, I surrendered to God and took a whole two weeks off of every single social media platform. I prayed and asked God how I could defeat this idol, once and for all.

It's not completely gone yet - but it is getting better!!! And God never starts something that He doesn't complete!

So here's what I did:
I got rid of any app that told me who unfollowed me
I got rid of all of my analytics apps for my social media channels so I didn't obsess over the numbers
I put into practice "Bible Before Phone" too.
I take one full 24 hour period off of social media every single week.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in social media and it’s easy to make it a little god in our lives. But if you are feeling a conviction deep in your spirit too, ignoring that can be very dangerous.

Here’s what starts to happen if you do ignore it:
We miss out on life right in front of us.
We start thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. Or more lower than we should.
We have a skewed perspective of what life should look like. Our mental health will get affected.
We start focusing on the values presented on our social feeds, rather than those we personally hold dear.
We can't hear the voice of God among the thousands of people trying to shove messages in our brain on the internet.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I literally earn a living in the digital world. So much good can come out of social media and our online lives! What I am saying is this: As Christians, we walk a fine line. If we aren't careful and on guard all of the time, then we can develop an idol in our lives and in result, feel really far from God.

Let's Commit To Balance...

Facebook, Snapchat, apps and Instagram are not bad ways to communicate the Gospel or to connect with family and friends. Social media becomes dangerous when we start becoming addicted to it, when we get our source of comfort from it rather than God and when it steals time from relationships and priorities.

Monitor your screen time with me! I try to spend more time with God every single day than I spend on social media. And I know you may be thinking "That's impossible!" but it's really not. Talk to God throughout your day. Read the Bible. Listen to a sermon as you do your thing during the day.

Take one 24 hour period off of your cell phone completely and spend time with your loved ones! My day for that is either Friday or Saturday, depends on the week!

In this highly passionate social media world in which we dwell, let’s make sure that the Most High God not only dwells in our hearts, but that God alone will reign on the throne of our lives!


Is Social Media An Idol For Me?

We live in a world of likes. We live in a world where hearts and double-taps justify our self image and a specific number of comments on our post can confirm our purpose on this earth. We've been shaped by the digital age to believe that our follower count equates to our worth. And I've bought into this - hook, line, and sinker.

I currently have a little over 300k followers on all of my digital platforms combined. I own a marketing company, so it would be a little odd if I had anything less. I pride myself on attracting a targeted audience and keeping them around to engage. I'll be the first to admit, as a four on the enneagram, I get pretty attached to those people that interact with my account.

Maybe it's because I feel validated by them. Maybe it's because I really enjoy DMing back and forth. Maybe it's because I truly start to feel invested in their online life... Whatever it is, I love hard and open myself up rather quickly.

So when I see that someone stopped following me? When I see that they no longer have an front row seat to my life and my posts across their feed? It leaves me feeling a bit confused and dismayed.

I ask myself the same questions every time ... "Oh man, what did I say to offend her!? Was I too bold about my faith? Did I wear something immodest? Was I not posting enough? Did I forget to comment on her photos for a while!?"

My heart sinks to my stomach every. single. time.

For a while, I was pretty ashamed to admit that. Why would I want to tell anybody that it actually hurts me to my core when I get an unfollow? It sounds so shallow!

But if I'm feeling it, I know someone else must be feeling it too.

So for the past few months, I've been on a mission to stop feeling that way and reshape the way I've thought about this social media world.

The reason we hurt over something like this?

Perhaps it's because losing touch with people in real life is something that happens naturally and unintentionally... While unfollowing on social media is a deliberate act.

It’s like a slap in the face. It can sting. But I realized that unless people are dropping like flies on my account, un-followers aren’t such a bad thing...

Yeah, talk about progress!!! My mindset has shifted completely. I've realized this by being deep in the Bible, prayer, and journaling. I can't be everything for everybody, and I've realized that if I tried to be, I was going to lose myself in the process.

The first step for me was to ground myself in scripture and in who God says I am. I memorized Psalm 139, which you can find here, and I also made some ground rules for myself...

I deleted every single analytics app that told me when someone unfollowed me! Just so I wouldn't be obsessed with it.

I limited my screen time every single day to about 4 hours.

I started really investing in my real life friends.

I changed my motives. Instead of messaging somebody back, or posting, in order to gain or keep followers- I started to just do it all to for the glory of God!

I used to pour myself out completely on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook - All in hopes that people would stay on the platform and keep following along. That's where I was wrong! I had it all backwards! Now I pour myself out on all of those apps just to get the name of Christ out! I just want people to know HIM - Not me!

Of course -  it still hurts a bit when someone leaves, but it doesn't hurt as bad anymore. My self esteem and confidence is solely in Christ. I'm sure over time, it will just continue to get better. It doesn't have to kill you and ruin yourself esteem either, sister.

Take Social Media Rejection With a Pinch of Salt

I had to realize: An actual true friend will come to you directly if she is upset about something you said or did. But, said David Bennett, certified counselor, life coach, and author, “a friend who ends the friendship by unfollowing you on Instagram wasn’t a very good friend to begin with..."

Truth BOMB. If you think about it, we aren't really losing all that much.

As humans, we are all really messy. I've unfollowed some people in my day and probably have hurt others along the way. I never thought about how wrong that was until it happened to me. I had no emotional thoughts about it whatsoever back then! So they probably are not trying to intentionally hurt you.

Some people just struggle with envy. Some are just depressed. Some are having a hard time with life in general. Some are in a weak moment and can’t celebrate you, while others are able to.

As for you, choose to get in your Word, focus on being loved, first and foremost, by the King of Kings, and study what it means to live for Him and not for this world! Remember....

Psalm 84 says "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly"

He's not going to withhold anything good from you! What's meant to be yours, will be yours. Including your followers. Yup, God even cares about that!

We live in a world of likes. We live in a world where hearts and double-taps justify our self image and a specific number of comments on our post can confirm our purpose on this earth. We've been shaped by the digital age to believe that our follower count equates to our worth. And I've bought into this - hook, line, and sinker.

I currently have a little over 300k followers on all of my digital platforms combined. I own a marketing company, so it would be a little odd if I had anything less. I pride myself on attracting a targeted audience and keeping them around to engage. I'll be the first to admit, as a four on the enneagram, I get pretty attached to those people that interact with my account.

Maybe it's because I feel validated by them. Maybe it's because I really enjoy DMing back and forth. Maybe it's because I truly start to feel invested in their online life... Whatever it is, I love hard and open myself up rather quickly.

So when I see that someone stopped following me? When I see that they no longer have an front row seat to my life and my posts across their feed? It leaves me feeling a bit confused and dismayed.

I ask myself the same questions every time ... "Oh man, what did I say to offend her!? Was I too bold about my faith? Did I wear something immodest? Was I not posting enough? Did I forget to comment on her photos for a while!?"

My heart sinks to my stomach every. single. time.
For a while, I was pretty ashamed to admit that. Why would I want to tell anybody that it actually hurts me to my core when I get an unfollow? It sounds so shallow!

But if I'm feeling it, I know someone else must be feeling it too.

So for the past few months, I've been on a mission to stop feeling that way and reshape the way I've thought about this social media world.

The reason we hurt over something like this?

Perhaps it's because losing touch with people in real life is something that happens naturally and unintentionally... While unfollowing on social media is a deliberate act.

It’s like a slap in the face. It can sting. But I realized that unless people are dropping like flies on my account, un-followers aren’t such a bad thing...

Yeah, talk about progress!!! My mindset has shifted completely. I've realized this by being deep in the Bible, prayer, and journaling. I can't be everything for everybody, and I've realized that if I tried to be, I was going to lose myself in the process.

The first step for me was to ground myself in scripture and in who God says I am. I memorized Psalm 139, which you can find here, and I also made some ground rules for myself...

Here are my rules:
I deleted every single analytics app that told me when someone unfollowed me! Just so I wouldn't be obsessed with it.
I limited my screen time every single day to about 4 hours.
I started really investing in my real life friends.
I changed my motives. Instead of messaging somebody back, or posting, in order to gain or keep followers- I started to just do it all to for the glory of God!

I used to pour myself out completely on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook - All in hopes that people would stay on the platform and keep following along. That's where I was wrong! I had it all backwards! Now I pour myself out on all of those apps just to get the name of Christ out! I just want people to know HIM - Not me!

Of course -  it still hurts a bit when someone leaves, but it doesn't hurt as bad anymore. My self esteem and confidence is solely in Christ. I'm sure over time, it will just continue to get better. It doesn't have to kill you and ruin yourself esteem either, sister.

Take Social Media Rejection With a Pinch of Salt

I had to realize: An actual true friend will come to you directly if she is upset about something you said or did. But, said David Bennett, certified counselor, life coach, and author, “a friend who ends the friendship by unfollowing you on Instagram wasn’t a very good friend to begin with..."

Truth BOMB. If you think about it, we aren't really losing all that much.

As humans, we are all really messy. I've unfollowed some people in my day and probably have hurt others along the way. I never thought about how wrong that was until it happened to me. I had no emotional thoughts about it whatsoever back then! So they probably are not trying to intentionally hurt you.

Some people just struggle with envy. Some are just depressed. Some are having a hard time with life in general. Some are in a weak moment and can’t celebrate you, while others are able to.

As for you, choose to get in your Word, focus on being loved, first and foremost, by the King of Kings, and study what it means to live for Him and not for this world! Remember....

Psalm 84 says "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly"

He's not going to withhold anything good from you! What's meant to be yours, will be yours. Including your followers. Yup, God even cares about that!


Why does an unfollow online hurt so much?

When I first heard about the documentary American Gospel, I knew I had to watch it.

I heard about the movie from Lindsey Davis, an ex student from the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Upon watching this film, she left her college and spoke up about the dangers of their theology and the doctrine that they hold fast to. Her testimony inspired me and I was so excited to purchase the movie from Amazon prime - And now, it's free for all to watch on Netflix!

I spent years studying reformed theology and always found it comforting when others would speak up about studying it for themselves; breaking free from modern day, lukewarm, "Christianity".

This film by Brandon Kimber presents a well researched, brilliantly executed, critique of those ‘different gospels’ which continue to deceive thousands. He doesn't shy away from calling out Benny Hinn, T.D Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Steven Furtick, Joseph Prince, Bill Johnson, and many others. The film, American Gospel sets out to accomplish two important things: to present a clear and unmistakable presentation of the Christian message we know as the gospel and to contrast that message with the most popular counterfeit in American culture, commonly known as the “Word of Faith” or “Prosperity” gospel.

Although I already firmly believe in Calvinist theology and have a righteous disdain for those who preach the "Name It and Claim It" message, this movie still completely changed my walk with God and challenged me to go deeper into my faith. My husband said his life was changed by this movie! That's how powerful it is! The director, Brandon Kimber, takes the time to really tackle every single issue in American Christianity, and he also presents a clear message of justification by faith alone, Christ alone, and grace alone.

The most awesome teachers and preachers are strung together in this film.... Paul Washer, Ray Comfort, Costi Hinn, Sean Demars, Matt Chandler, Jackie Hill Perry, John Macarthur, Nabeel Qureshi, Julius Kim, and more! There is so much wisdom thrown at you -  my brain was on the verge of a serious information overload!

One of my favorite parts? An interview with Costi Hinn, nephew of famous preacher/healer Benny Hinn, was threaded throughout the film. Although he had worked with his uncle for many years in his ministry, he has now renounced everything to do with that false Gospel! He clearly lays out how unhealthy, broken, and misleading the "signs and wonders" gospel really is! I love this quote by Costi in the movie...

"Today I hold no positions that are in agreement with my family, the Word of Faith theology, or the prosperity gospel. And the reason for that is, I’ve come to an understanding of the true gospel."

Do you know the guts that it takes to turn your back on your entire family and your hefty inheritance in order to truly follow Christ!? Talk about goals.

This movie includes a straightforward definition of the true gospel and clearly identifies the error of ministries that downplay the gospel. It makes you question everything you've believed from the popular Christianity.  It also points out many errors in the Prosperity Gospel movement. Here are a few...

“Little god” theology. The idea that all believers are “little gods” based upon a false understanding of the image of God in man.

“Jesus Is Only a Spirit-filled Man” theology. The idea that Jesus laid aside all of his deity at the incarnation and did everything as a Spirit-filled man only. They don't believe Jesus was fully God while He was here on earth! Insane!!!!

“God doesn’t want you to be sick or poor” theology. Barf!

“Ecumenism.” The bring to light the idea of the false unity with preachers of a false gospel, most known as Roman Catholicism. There are so many popular Christian churches that have partnered with Catholicism, saying our beliefs are mainly the same...

The videography work is absolutely top-shelf. It's not going to bore you or annoy you and doesn't have the feel of a "low budget" film.  It's wonderfully done! I can't go into any more detail, so I'll just say this:  If you have extra time, consider turning off all the other secular shows for about two hours and watch this Christian documentary instead. It will be such a valuable use of your time! I can't think of another film more fruitful or edifying than this one! Don't miss out!

When I first heard about the documentary American Gospel, I knew I had to watch it.

I heard about the movie from Lindsey Davis, an ex student from the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Upon watching this film, she left her college and spoke up about the dangers of their theology and the doctrine that they hold fast to. Her testimony inspired me and I was so excited to purchase the movie from Amazon prime - And now, it's free for all to watch on Netflix!

I spent years studying reformed theology and always found it comforting when others would speak up about studying it for themselves; breaking free from modern day, lukewarm, "Christianity".

This movie was just that.

This film by Brandon Kimber presents a well researched, brilliantly executed, critique of those ‘different gospels’ which continue to deceive thousands. He doesn't shy away from calling out Benny Hinn, T.D Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Steven Furtick, Joseph Prince, Bill Johnson, and many others. The film, American Gospel sets out to accomplish two important things: to present a clear and unmistakable presentation of the Christian message we know as the gospel and to contrast that message with the most popular counterfeit in American culture, commonly known as the “Word of Faith” or “Prosperity” gospel.

Although I already firmly believe in Calvinist theology and have a righteous disdain for those who preach the "Name It and Claim It" message, this movie still completely changed my walk with God and challenged me to go deeper into my faith. My husband said his life was changed by this movie! That's how powerful it is! The director, Brandon Kimber, takes the time to really tackle every single issue in American Christianity, and he also presents a clear message of justification by faith alone, Christ alone, and grace alone.

The most awesome teachers and preachers are strung together in this film.... Paul Washer, Ray Comfort, Costi Hinn, Sean Demars, Matt Chandler, Jackie Hill Perry, John Macarthur, Nabeel Qureshi, Julius Kim, and more! There is so much wisdom thrown at you -  my brain was on the verge of a serious information overload!

One of my favorite parts? An interview with Costi Hinn, nephew of famous preacher/healer Benny Hinn, was threaded throughout the film. Although he had worked with his uncle for many years in his ministry, he has now renounced everything to do with that false Gospel! He clearly lays out how unhealthy, broken, and misleading the "signs and wonders" gospel really is! I love this quote by Costi in the movie...

"Today I hold no positions that are in agreement with my family, the Word of Faith theology, or the prosperity gospel. And the reason for that is, I’ve come to an understanding of the true gospel."

Do you know the guts that it takes to turn your back on your entire family and your hefty inheritance in order to truly follow Christ!? Talk about goals.

This movie includes a straightforward definition of the true gospel and clearly identifies the error of ministries that downplay the gospel. It makes you question everything you've believed from the popular Christianity.  It also points out many errors in the Prosperity Gospel movement. Here are a few...
“Little god” theology. The idea that all believers are “little gods” based upon a false understanding of the image of God in man.
“Jesus Is Only a Spirit-filled Man” theology. The idea that Jesus laid aside all of his deity at the incarnation and did everything as a Spirit-filled man only. They don't believe Jesus was fully God while He was here on earth! Insane!!!!
“God doesn’t want you to be sick or poor” theology. Barf!
“Ecumenism.” The bring to light the idea of the false unity with preachers of a false gospel, most known as Roman Catholicism. There are so many popular Christian churches that have partnered with Catholicism, saying our beliefs are mainly the same...

The videography work is absolutely top-shelf. It's not going to bore you or annoy you and doesn't have the feel of a "low budget" film.  It's wonderfully done! I can't go into any more detail, so I'll just say this:  If you have extra time, consider turning off all the other secular shows for about two hours and watch this Christian documentary instead. It will be such a valuable use of your time! I can't think of another film more fruitful or edifying than this one! Don't miss out!


American Gospel - The Best Movie On Netflix!

In Revelation 3, Jesus criticizes a church for being full of believers who were neither hot nor cold. This is where the idea of a "lukewarm Christian" originates. In Revelation 3:16, Jesus basically said that he prefers hot coffee and cold brew, but if it's room temperature, he wants to spit it out of his mouth.  

And before you think you're exempt from being lukewarm, just know that Christians who attend churches and accept the gospel can still be considered lukewarm when they are not truly committed to Jesus and not actively involved in his work...

Think about this illustration: Let's say you receive a million dollars as well as a free year of membership to a millionaire's club. But let's also be clear that wearing a tux or a classy evening gown is the only need to access the club and take advantage of everything it has to offer. Your first-night outfit consists of pants and a t-shirt. The guard out front says "No way! You can't enter dressed like that!"  

He answers, "I'm sorry but you must be properly dressed to attend the club."  

The Kingdom of Heaven is somewhat like this. You already have all you need to enter as a believer. But if you don’t adopt the values of the Kingdom, this doesn’t mean you don’t belong … it just means you cannot experience it.  

Jesus uses three parables in Matthew 25 to describe these types of Christians.  

The bridegroom's friends, the maidens, in Matthew 25:1–13, don't necessarily live in a way that anticipates him coming back anytime soon. Instead of considering how to fulfill their obligation to God, they are simply considering how to make things comfortable for themselves at the moment. They care about instant gratification, and that's pretty much it!  

The "goats" in Matthew 25:31–46 are shocked when Jesus rejects them since they believed they were serving him faithfully. However, they showed no interest in giving everything of themselves to God's broken people.  

At the time, these people truly thought they were living their lives the right way. But in fact, they were super lukewarm!   

The sobering aspect of this illustration and both of these parables is that there is no neutral ground. Your allegiance to Jesus is either present or it's not. Either you are a sheep or a goat. Either you're ready as his bridegroom or not. And that puts the ambivalent Christian in an extremely scary situation.  

We first encounter the term "lukewarm Christian" in the verse mentioned above in Revelation. Then in Revelation 3:14–22, John begins addressing the Laodicean church. This church was having serious trouble. Most had completely given up on their faith, and they were really dependent on their own abilities to get by. They were the definition of lukewarm.  

The iconic scene of Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20 is all based on the outcome of Christians straying from God rather than a warning to unbelievers. Here's what it says "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  The book of Revelation discusses how it's possible for believers to stray from Jesus and begin depending on things other than God. As a result, Jesus is pushed to the side and left to stand on the other side of the door. This verse depicts Jesus as knocking on the door of a Christian's heart, asking to truly enter this time and make His home with them.

Friend, he longs to be close to us. And it's about time we let Him in.  

We need to stop, once and for all, being lukewarm.   

I mean just think about it... Is there anything more cooling on a hot day than a cold beverage? After spending time in the sun on a hot day, a cold beverage tastes so much nicer. Contrast that with a water bottle that was left outside in the sun while you were playing basketball. And that's the only drink in sight, and you're parched. Yuck!  

That is the ideal portrayal of a follower of Jesus to people around them. We ought to be reinvigorating, healing, and sustaining. The whole world is thirsty, yet all they can frequently find is a bottle of lukewarm water that has been sitting in the sun all day. Yet, God calls us to be a cool beverage on a hot day.

You may be curious to know where you're at spiritually. And I don't blame you. It's extremely important to know. It really is a matter of life and death. Let's find out if your spiritual state is contributing to this lukewarm epidemic spreading like wildfire...  

The following are typical indications that you may be a lukewarm Christian:

On Sundays, you act differently than you do the rest of the week.

You have more friends who are atheists than Christians.

You have friends that are unaware that you are a Christian.

You speak indecently without any remorse.

You hardly ever, if ever, read the Bible.

If you pray at all, it's not often. Maybe it's when you need something.

You rarely, if ever, discuss their faith.

You only turn to God during difficult times.

Instead of worrying about what God would think of you, you are more concerned with what people would think of you.

Do you relate to any of these? If so... What do you do with this information? How does one go from being a lukewarm Christian to becoming an "on fire" and "hot" Christian?

There are many things I can tell you to do. Many things that I mention in my book, Ignited. Ignited is literally a guide on how to get on fire, and stay on fire for God, long-term. We even have a workbook, The Ignited Workbook, to work through that is packed with scripture studies, journal prompts, verse memorization, and so much more. You can find the Ignited book here. You can find The Ignited Workbook here! But what can you do right now? One of the biggest things you can do right now to counteract your lukewarmness is...

I'm talking about leading a life of constant confession.  I'm talking about learning to be completely transparent with God in prayer.

He will not heal what we are not willing to disclose. If we say that we are sinless, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us, according to 1 John 1:8–9. If we repent and confess our sins to him, he is true and righteous and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

If you confess your sins to God and put your faith in Jesus Christ's steadfast forgiveness and cleansing, you will only be able to transform from a lukewarm Christian to an "on fire" Christian.  

You may say, "But I always relapse into the same sin. I don't want to just keep confessing it over and over again."  

But that's exactly what you need to do. Go and confess it.  Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes so you can recognize the recurring patterns of behavior that lead you to sin.   

And if you trip and fall once more? Confess again. Continue to become closer to Christ by confession until the power of Christ at work in you causes the enemy's grip to be released from your life. Seriously - One of your only hopes of escaping lukewarmness is to be sincere and consistently repent!  

You don't want to make Jesus sick when He looks at you. And the first step to that is cultivating a repentant lifestyle. If you are steadfast with this, you will undoubtedly become on fire for Jesus again.   

And please know this... A fire for God is not based on your emotions. In Ignited, we redefine what a true fire for God is. Emotions are the language of our hearts. Faith is the language of God. A fire for God is fully dependent on your faith. Not your emotions.

You see... Lukewarm Christians do not blatantly reject Jesus, but they do not blatantly live for Him as well. They rely on their feelings and stay in this middle ground, playing it safe. They merely do the bare minimum and remain passive Christians. They do not actively preach the Gospel and win people back to God.

There is such good news about Jesus and lukewarm Christians. Jesus won't let you stay in your lukewarm condition because you were lovingly bought at such a great bloody price on the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary and because your loving Father in heaven sealed you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will step in if you decide to stay in your lukewarm state. And maybe he's doing that right now since you were led to read this article.   

Jon Bloom summarizes the salve to a lukewarm spirit by way of a moving prayer. Make it yours today:

Merciful Father, make me hot! Whatever it takes, whatever it costs me, give me the Spirit-salve for my heart-eyes (Revelation 3:18) so that I may see what is Real, believe what is True, treasure what is Valuable, and forsake what is worthless.

Restore our fire for you, God! Begin with daily repentance and make your way back into His loving arms.

In Revelation 3, Jesus criticizes a church for being full of believers who were neither hot nor cold. This is where the idea of a "lukewarm Christian" originates. In Revelation 3:16, Jesus basically said that he prefers hot coffee and cold brew, but if it's room temperature, he wants to spit it out of his mouth.  

And before you think you're exempt from being lukewarm, just know that Christians who attend churches and accept the gospel can still be considered lukewarm when they are not truly committed to Jesus and not actively involved in his work...

Yikes!  

Think about this illustration: Let's say you receive a million dollars as well as a free year of membership to a millionaire's club. But let's also be clear that wearing a tux or a classy evening gown is the only need to access the club and take advantage of everything it has to offer. Your first-night outfit consists of pants and a t-shirt. The guard out front says "No way! You can't enter dressed like that!"  

You reply, "But I'm a millionaire!"  

He answers, "I'm sorry but you must be properly dressed to attend the club."  

The Kingdom of Heaven is somewhat like this. You already have all you need to enter as a believer. But if you don’t adopt the values of the Kingdom, this doesn’t mean you don’t belong … it just means you cannot experience it.  

Jesus uses three parables in Matthew 25 to describe these types of Christians.  

The bridegroom's friends, the maidens, in Matthew 25:1–13, don't necessarily live in a way that anticipates him coming back anytime soon. Instead of considering how to fulfill their obligation to God, they are simply considering how to make things comfortable for themselves at the moment. They care about instant gratification, and that's pretty much it!  

The "goats" in Matthew 25:31–46 are shocked when Jesus rejects them since they believed they were serving him faithfully. However, they showed no interest in giving everything of themselves to God's broken people.  

At the time, these people truly thought they were living their lives the right way. But in fact, they were super lukewarm!   

The sobering aspect of this illustration and both of these parables is that there is no neutral ground. Your allegiance to Jesus is either present or it's not. Either you are a sheep or a goat. Either you're ready as his bridegroom or not. And that puts the ambivalent Christian in an extremely scary situation.  

We first encounter the term "lukewarm Christian" in the verse mentioned above in Revelation. Then in Revelation 3:14–22, John begins addressing the Laodicean church. This church was having serious trouble. Most had completely given up on their faith, and they were really dependent on their own abilities to get by. They were the definition of lukewarm.  

The iconic scene of Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20 is all based on the outcome of Christians straying from God rather than a warning to unbelievers. Here's what it says "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  The book of Revelation discusses how it's possible for believers to stray from Jesus and begin depending on things other than God. As a result, Jesus is pushed to the side and left to stand on the other side of the door. This verse depicts Jesus as knocking on the door of a Christian's heart, asking to truly enter this time and make His home with them.

Friend, he longs to be close to us. And it's about time we let Him in.  

We need to stop, once and for all, being lukewarm.   

I mean just think about it... Is there anything more cooling on a hot day than a cold beverage? After spending time in the sun on a hot day, a cold beverage tastes so much nicer. Contrast that with a water bottle that was left outside in the sun while you were playing basketball. And that's the only drink in sight, and you're parched. Yuck!  

That is the ideal portrayal of a follower of Jesus to people around them. We ought to be reinvigorating, healing, and sustaining. The whole world is thirsty, yet all they can frequently find is a bottle of lukewarm water that has been sitting in the sun all day. Yet, God calls us to be a cool beverage on a hot day.

You may be curious to know where you're at spiritually. And I don't blame you. It's extremely important to know. It really is a matter of life and death. Let's find out if your spiritual state is contributing to this lukewarm epidemic spreading like wildfire...  

The following are typical indications that you may be a lukewarm Christian:
On Sundays, you act differently than you do the rest of the week.
You have more friends who are atheists than Christians.
You have friends that are unaware that you are a Christian.
You speak indecently without any remorse.
You hardly ever, if ever, read the Bible.
If you pray at all, it's not often. Maybe it's when you need something.
You appear more worldly than godly.
You rarely, if ever, discuss their faith.
You rationalize sins in your life.
You only turn to God during difficult times.
Instead of worrying about what God would think of you, you are more concerned with what people would think of you.

Do you relate to any of these? If so... What do you do with this information? How does one go from being a lukewarm Christian to becoming an "on fire" and "hot" Christian?

There are many things I can tell you to do. Many things that I mention in my book, Ignited. Ignited is literally a guide on how to get on fire, and stay on fire for God, long-term. We even have a workbook, The Ignited Workbook, to work through that is packed with scripture studies, journal prompts, verse memorization, and so much more. You can find the Ignited book here. You can find The Ignited Workbook here! But what can you do right now? One of the biggest things you can do right now to counteract your lukewarmness is...

Make repentance a habit.  

I'm talking about leading a life of constant confession.  I'm talking about learning to be completely transparent with God in prayer.

He will not heal what we are not willing to disclose. If we say that we are sinless, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us, according to 1 John 1:8–9. If we repent and confess our sins to him, he is true and righteous and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

If you confess your sins to God and put your faith in Jesus Christ's steadfast forgiveness and cleansing, you will only be able to transform from a lukewarm Christian to an "on fire" Christian.  

You may say, "But I always relapse into the same sin. I don't want to just keep confessing it over and over again."  

But that's exactly what you need to do. Go and confess it.  Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes so you can recognize the recurring patterns of behavior that lead you to sin.   

And if you trip and fall once more? Confess again. Continue to become closer to Christ by confession until the power of Christ at work in you causes the enemy's grip to be released from your life. Seriously - One of your only hopes of escaping lukewarmness is to be sincere and consistently repent!  

You don't want to make Jesus sick when He looks at you. And the first step to that is cultivating a repentant lifestyle. If you are steadfast with this, you will undoubtedly become on fire for Jesus again.   

And please know this... A fire for God is not based on your emotions. In Ignited, we redefine what a true fire for God is. Emotions are the language of our hearts. Faith is the language of God. A fire for God is fully dependent on your faith. Not your emotions.

You see... Lukewarm Christians do not blatantly reject Jesus, but they do not blatantly live for Him as well. They rely on their feelings and stay in this middle ground, playing it safe. They merely do the bare minimum and remain passive Christians. They do not actively preach the Gospel and win people back to God.

All of that, to say this:   

There is such good news about Jesus and lukewarm Christians. Jesus won't let you stay in your lukewarm condition because you were lovingly bought at such a great bloody price on the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary and because your loving Father in heaven sealed you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will step in if you decide to stay in your lukewarm state. And maybe he's doing that right now since you were led to read this article.   

Jon Bloom summarizes the salve to a lukewarm spirit by way of a moving prayer. Make it yours today:

Merciful Father, make me hot! Whatever it takes, whatever it costs me, give me the Spirit-salve for my heart-eyes (Revelation 3:18) so that I may see what is Real, believe what is True, treasure what is Valuable, and forsake what is worthless.

Restore our fire for you, God! Begin with daily repentance and make your way back into His loving arms.


Are You a Lukewarm Christian?

<h1>Welcome to Jonni Nicole Parsons' Community!</h1><p>Join our community to get access to exclusive content and more!</p>

Welcome to Jonni Nicole Parsons' Community

A Guided Journey To Pursuing A Faith On Fire For God


​In this workbook companion to Ignited, Jonni helps readers explore:

​• What we are getting wrong in our quest for a sustainable, passionate faith​

• Why Jesus is the only true path to the freedom and satisfaction we are craving​

• What a faith genuinely on fire for God can look like​

As you journey through this workbook, recognize that God might be bringing you into a new season. He wants to awaken a deep longing for Him within our hearts and souls in our everyday moments. We were never meant to be lukewarm, and The Ignited Workbook offers a fresh perspective on what it means to live a passionate life for Jesus.

Looking for guidance in your walk with Christ, your calling, or your next season? In this one-on-one video call, Jonni will walk alongside you in conversation rooted in faith, purpose, and encouragement. Whether you’re navigating a spiritual dry season, launching something new, or just craving intentional mentorship, this is your time to go deep.

Personalized conversation around your faith or purpose journey

A Fresh Approach To Getting And Staying On Fire For God

shares her past struggles of relying on passionate spiritual highs instead of a genuine and unfailing commitment to God.

redefines what it means to be "on fire" for God by showing how a sustaining faith throughout the ups and downs of life is stronger than a faith fueled by emotion.

uses Scripture and her life experience to speak to young women who are feeling empty, lost, confused, and misunderstood.

confides in readers that she wrestled with feelings of shame and condemnation but shares how she overcame those negative emotions and others can too.

explains how seriously pursuing God is often met with spiritual resistance, then shares strategies to combat the enemy’s attacks.

Start your mornings grounded in God with Jonni’s go-to tools for a focused, faith-filled routine. Designed to help you build a rhythm of intimacy with God, this bundle offers digital resources you can return to daily.

Morning devotional PDF (Jonni’s personal structure + Scripture prompts)

Aesthetic screensavers with Scripture + affirmations

Bring Jonni into your living room or church via Zoom for a live group session that ignites hearts and deepens faith. Perfect for Bible studies, small groups, and women’s ministries. She’ll share a message, lead reflection, and open up space for interactive Q&A tailored to your group’s needs.

60-minute live session with Jonni via Zoom

Custom talk centered on spiritual fire + purpose

Great for groups of up to 25 participants.

Author. Speaker. Blogger. Business Owner.

Let's Fall More In Love With Jesus, Together.