When we hear these truths, believe them and live based on them, we have a firm foundation for our lives.

Knowing Jesus sets us free from lies and insecurities. Knowing Jesus sets us free from the opinions of others. Knowing Jesus gives us a secure identity.

There is a new level that God is calling us all to but only those who have built spiritual strength and are standing firm, will be able to access this level and in the coming days, we will be looking at some of the tools that our master has set out for us.

The human heart longs for acceptance, significance, to be loved and known. All around us, we see the lengths people will go to in order to satisfy these longings. Whether it's searching for acceptance in relationships, ambitiously climbing a career ladder in the hopes of being perceived as significant, or promoting the highlight reels of our lives on social media. There are countless ways that we try to satisfy our deepest longings.

So the challenge is, what are the idols in our lives? Maybe take some time now to ask God to highlight some idols that you have in your life. Then spend some time repenting, saying sorry that they have taken His place. Then ask Him what you should do differently. It might be that you are spending lots of your free time on entertainment and He stirs you to cancel your Netflix and Disney+ accounts. It could be you have seen yourself being reliant on the money in your bank account and maybe God leads you to give some away. Or it could be that you are not spending time with Him each day so that you can have slightly longer in bed. Try setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier and ensure you read the Bible and pray each day.

It's easy to get caught up in the distractions and demands of this world, which can overshadow the things that truly matter. The busyness of life often pulls us away from prioritizing quality time with the Lord, making it challenging to stay grounded in what is most important. Yet, it's in those quiet, intentional moments with God that we find true peace, direction, and fulfilment. By consciously setting aside time to connect with Him, we realign our focus and ensure that the temporary attractions of this world don't lead us away from the eternal and life-giving relationship we have with Him.

he act of consecration is normally in two parts. The first is a loving, merciful and favourable act of God, where He does the initial consecration and a great example of this is in Jeremiah 1:4-5, "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.'" This aspect is also seen in this passage in (V11), where Hezekiah admonishes the children of Israel, "My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense." (This follows the Miriam-Webster Dictionary definition & my mum's example of being set apart.)

God wants us to live pure, holy lives with his help. Even when we mess up, there is grace and forgiveness. He can restore to us the joy of our salvation (verse 12). He can create in us a pure heart.

Praise God for his unfailing love! Praise God for his mercy! Praise God that he creates in us pure hearts once again!

God is Holy. Although not explicitly stated in Leviticus 16, it is a clear statement of God’s character in the book of Leviticus. In fact, it is a clear statement of God’s character in the whole Bible. God. Is. Holy. Read it again and re-read it. We see this theme from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Revelation where the living creatures cry 'Holy, holy, Holy' (Revelation 4:8).

The command to "consecrate yourselves" is essential to the Israelites' preparation for witnessing God's miraculous acts. To consecrate means to set apart, to make holy, and to dedicate oneself to God. This act of consecration involves a deliberate, intentional decision. It is not a casual or superficial act but a profound commitment to purify oneself and draw closer to God.

A great number of people today say they love Jesus but hate the church. They’re disillusioned or hurt. Certainly, hurtful things happen in any community, but especially in communities that prize relationship, or prize truth. And sadly in many of our churches, people are quite doctrinaire: they will fall out over doctrine rather than gathering around Jesus. Of course, there is truth or better interpretations of scripture and worse interpretations, but what really matters is that we gather around Jesus. And as we do that, we start to look like him.

The New Testament writers seem to have a vision of church that is glorious.

What will church be like?

How do we deal with the consequences of emotional wounds in church?