https://forum.holyculture.net/ Posts from Holyculture.net en Thu, 21 May 2026 05:35:13 GMT vBulletin 1 https://forum.holyculture.net/images/styles/grayfolio/misc/rss.png https://forum.holyculture.net/ https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70754-Day-14-Showing-Up-When-You-Don’t-Feel-Like-It&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 21:01:03 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/Devotional-covers-4-1024x427.jpg Have you ever had one of those days where you know what you’re... Have you ever had one of those days where you know what you’re supposed to do… but you just don’t feel like doing it?
You know you should pray…
you know what you’re going through… but you just don’t feel like it.
You know you should open your Bible and fill yourself up with the Word…
but you just don’t feel like it.
You know you’re called to be disciplined and to remain faithful…
but everything in you is like, “I just don’t have it in me… I’ll do it later.”
Yeah… one of those days.
And if that’s you right now… I see you.
Those days happen.
Life gets full.
Your schedule fills up.
Your body gets tired.
Your mind gets overwhelmed.
There’s so much coming at you—responsibilities, relationships, changes, distractions, even the noise of the world. Some days it’s just… a lot.
But scripture reminds us like this in the book of Galatians, chapter 6, verse 9:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
God already knew there would be days like this.
Days where you feel tired.
Days where you feel like stopping.
Days where you feel like you just don’t have it in you.
And He lovingly reminds us—don’t give up.
Not because He’s demanding something from you…
but because He knows what’s on the other side of your consistency.
And Jesus brings it even closer to us in the book of Luke, chapter 9, verse 23, like this:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Daily.
That means some days it’s going to feel easy…
and some days it’s not.
But both days matter.
And here’s what I really want you to hold onto—
It’s okay that you feel this way.
Those emotions aren’t here to push you away from God…
They’re here to pull you closer to Him.
They’re signals that say, “Pause. Realign. Come back.”
So at the very moment you realize, “I don’t feel like it…”
That’s your moment to talk to God.
“God, I don’t feel like praying today… but I really need You right now, be with me.”
“God, I am so low on energy at this moment… God fill me with Your power.”
“God, I can’t find the strength I need….Lord carry me through this”
That is showing up.
That is faith.
You don’t have to fake it.
You don’t have to force it.
You just have to bring it to Him.
And sometimes, showing up looks small.
It looks like:
a short prayer instead of a long one
one verse instead of a full chapter
a quiet moment of “God, I’m here”
And that counts.
Because God meets you right there.
Not in perfection…
but in presence.
So during this Reset, let’s normalize this:
You’re going to have days where you don’t feel like it.
And instead of beating yourself up…
you remind yourself:
“I’m still showing up. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s not perfect.”
Because every time you choose God in those moments…
You build trust with God.
You build strength in yourself.
You grow in ways you don’t even realize yet.
So here’s your move today:
“I’m choosing God—even in this moment, just as I am.”
And if today didn’t go how you planned?
That’s okay.
Tomorrow is a new day.
And God will be right there… ready for you again.
Because the life you’re praying for…
is built in these moments.
Not just when you feel strong…
but when you choose Him anyway.
Reflection Questions
Take a second and ask yourself:

• What’s one small way I can show up for God today, right where I am, even if it is far from perfect?Eph. 4:29
• And if I don’t feel like it, am I willing to ask Him for the strength to try?

Prayer
God, thank You for loving me even on the days I don’t feel my best. Thank You for meeting me right where I am, not where I think I should be. Give me the strength to show up, even in small ways. Help me not to give up on my walk with You, and remind me that I don’t have to be perfect to be present. Strengthen my faith, guide my steps, and draw me closer to You every single day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: Dice Gamble


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70754-Day-14-Showing-Up-When-You-Don’t-Feel-Like-It https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70753-Day-13-Why-Obedience-Brings-Peace-and-Clarity&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 20:40:30 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/Devotional-covers-3-1024x427.jpg There is a kind of unrest we learn to live with, even when we do... There is a kind of unrest we learn to live with, even when we do not have language for it. It sits under everything we do, quiet but persistent, and over time, we stop noticing how much it influences the way we think, speak, and move through our days.
We often try to trace it back to something obvious, something large enough to explain it. Yet peace is rarely taken away in one clear, explosive moment; It thins out slowly in the places we do not bring into the light. We know the things we have set aside in disobedience, because even when no one else sees it, we feel it in us.
We tend to treat peace as something that depends on circumstances, but Scripture suggests peace is tied to alignment with God. This holds even when life does not.
In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” He does not place this peace at the end of resolved problems or improved circumstances. He speaks of a peace that holds steady underneath us regardless of what is happening on the surface. And still, the life He calls us into is a life of following Him closely. We find it difficult to hold onto His peace while resisting what He is asking of us, because His peace and His leading are not meant to be separated.
This is often why we can feel unsettled even when everything around us appears fine. The tension is usually from the distance between what we already know God is asking of us and what we have delayed. That distance does something to us internally. It shows up as pressure, restlessness, and a mind that cannot quite settle. And we begin to recognize that what we are feeling is that gap speaking back to us.
We do not obey to earn God’s love. His love has already been given, long before we had anything to offer. But obedience brings us into agreement with Him, and that agreement is where peace begins to take root again. In Psalm 32:8, we hear these words: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” There is nothing unclear about God’s desire to lead us. More often, what we are asking for in terms of clarity is already present, waiting for us to respond to what has been made known.
There is a kind of freedom that begins to form when we stop resisting what we already know. It is not the freedom to do whatever we want, which eventually leaves us tired and divided within ourselves. It is the freedom of being aligned with the One who made us, where life starts to feel less like something we are constantly managing and more like something we are being led through. In that place, the internal strain begins to loosen because we are no longer working against the direction we are meant to follow.
And so, if there is something we already know God has been placing before us, something we have kept delaying even though it is clear, we do not need more information before we respond. The peace we keep looking for is often waiting on the other side of that step we have already understood but have not yet taken.
Reflection Questions

• What is the one thing God has been asking you to do that you have been putting off, and what would it cost you to obey Him today?
• Where in your life have you been searching for peace through changing your circumstances when God has been offering it through alignment with Him?

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that Your peace is not dependent on my circumstances. Forgive me for the times I have searched for peace in everything except obedience to You. Show me the one thing You have been asking me to do, the one I have been quietly negotiating with for too long. Give me the courage to obey, the humility to trust Your direction even when I do not understand it, and the patience to walk it out with You. Replace the unrest in me with Your peace, the confusion with Your clarity, and the internal conflict with the freedom that only comes from being aligned with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: Elikem


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70753-Day-13-Why-Obedience-Brings-Peace-and-Clarity https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70752-Day-12-Trusting-God’s-Timing&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 17:50:01 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/Devotional-covers-2-1024x427.jpg Few things test our faith like waiting. We can believe God for the... Few things test our faith like waiting. We can believe God for the big, dramatic rescue and still come undone over the slowness of an ordinary delay, because waiting has a way of making us feel like nothing is happening. If this sounds like you, asking God why the answer is taking so long, today’s devotional was written with you in mind.
There is a time in the Psalms where David, a man after God’s own heart, writes from the middle of his own waiting. “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). Read quickly, it sounds like a tidy resolution. Read slowly, that word “waited” carries the weight of everything David felt before the turning came. He did not write that line from the comfort of an answered prayer alone. He wrote it from the long stretch beforehand, when all he had was the waiting itself and the choice to keep trusting through it.
The thing most of us misunderstand about God’s timing is that we treat the wait as wasted time. But God does some of His deepest work in us during the very seasons that feel the most empty. The growth He is after happens in the patience we are forced to develop and in the trust that has to grow roots when there is nothing visible to hold onto. Isaiah puts it plainly when he writes, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). The renewal is promised to the ones who hope, which means it is promised to the ones still waiting.
We live in a world that has trained us to expect everything quickly. And somewhere along the way, we started expecting God to move at the speed of our impatience too. But He has never been in a hurry, and His unwillingness to rush is not Him ignoring you. It is Him refusing to give you something half-formed when He is preparing something complete. A farmer does not dig up the seed to check on it every morning, because he understands that growth underground is still growth. Your season of waiting is the soil, and God has not forgotten what He planted in it.
There is also a mercy in His timing that we usually only recognise in hindsight. How many of the things you once begged God for would have wrecked you if He had handed them over when you wanted them? How many doors that felt closed at the worst possible time turned out to be Him protecting you from something you could not yet see? When you cannot trace His hand, you can still trust His heart, because the God who has been faithful to you in every season you have already walked through is the same God writing this one.
So if you are in a stretch where the answers are unfolding more slowly than you would like, take a breath today and loosen your grip on the timeline. Your job in the waiting is not to force the harvest. It is to stay faithful in the soil, to keep showing up, to keep trusting, and to let God do the slow and certain work He is doing in you while you wait for the work He is doing around you.
Reflection Questions

• What am I currently waiting on God for, and how have I been handling the delay?
• What might God be growing in me during this season of waiting that I would have missed if the answer had come right away?

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess that waiting is hard for me. Forgive me for the times I have mistaken Your timing for Your absence, and for the moments I have tried to force what only You can bring to pass. Teach me to trust You in the waiting, to believe that You are working even when I cannot see it. Help me loosen my grip on my own timeline and rest in Yours. Grow the things in me that only this season can grow, and give me the patience to stay faithful in the soil while You do what only You can do. I trust Your heart, even when I cannot trace Your hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: Patrick Barnes


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70752-Day-12-Trusting-God’s-Timing https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70751-TikTok-For-Artists-An-Easy-How-To-Guide-For-2026&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Are you missing out on TikTok for Artists? SQ Magazine (https://sqmagazine.co.uk/tiktok-music-statistics/) reported this week that 84% of songs that... Are you missing out on TikTok for Artists?
SQ Magazine reported this week that 84% of songs that entered Billboard’s Global 200 in 2024 went viral on TikTok first, and that 6 million tracks were saved in 2025.
For indie artists like yourself, these are life-changing, ministry-amplifying numbers.
Now I know you may be thinking, ” Geese, another platform to add to my to-do list?” But hear me out, if you aim at nothing, you will hit every time. And when it comes to making music for the kingdom, we gotta aim high fam. Every. Single. Time.
TikTok now offers a dedicated set of tools built specifically for musicians, and most independent artists either don’t know they exist or haven’t taken the few steps needed to unlock them! But we’ve put together an easy how-to guide to navigating TikTok for Artists in the hope that we will see your name on that Billboard.
Let’s get to it.
Why a Christian Artist Should Care About the Artist Tools

It’s worth being clear about what’s at stake before getting into the steps. TikTok is where songs break now. A track can sit quietly on streaming services for months and then suddenly find an audience because someone used it in a video about their faith journey, a baptism, a hard season, or simply a moment of gratitude. That kind of organic spread is exactly the sort of thing Christian artists have always hoped for: the music traveling person to person, carried by real stories.
The artist tools matter because they turn that random chance into something you can actually steward. They give your music an official home on the platform, they verify that you really are who you say you are, and they hand you data about who is listening and how. For an independent artist with no label and no marketing budget, that’s the difference between guessing and knowing.
There are two related but distinct things to understand. The first is a TikTok Artist Account, which is a certified status on your TikTok profile. The second is TikTok for Artists, an analytics and insights platform that sits on top of that account. You need the first before you can use the second.
What You Need Before You Start

Before you can claim anything, your music has to actually be on TikTok. This is the step many artists skip. TikTok pulls your artist name, track titles, and artwork from the audio library, and that library is fed by digital distributors.
So the prerequisite is simple: you need to have released music through a distributor such as DistroKid, Symphonic, or another service, and you need to have opted into TikTok delivery when you uploaded it. If you released music but never selected TikTok as a destination, most distributors let you go back and add it retroactively from the release’s page in your dashboard. There is no follower count or engagement minimum required. You don’t need to be popular. You just need to be verifiably the artist behind the music.
It’s wise to get your music delivered and searchable a few weeks before you plan any promotional push, so that everything is in place before you start drawing attention to it.
How Do I Claim My Artist Profile on TikTok

Claiming your artist profile is the certification step, and it converts your ordinary TikTok account into an official Artist Account.
You’ll need to do this on a mobile device, as it can’t be completed on desktop. Go to TikTok’s Artist Certification page and select Apply Now. You’ll land on a screen that invites you to find your artist profile in TikTok’s music library. Enter your artist name exactly as it appears on streaming services and search. When your profile appears, with your photo and music attached, select it.
TikTok will then ask you to prove your identity. Rather than selfies or ID cards, you verify by showing you control the artist’s official presence elsewhere. That means logging into Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, or your digital distributor, and submitting screenshots that clearly show your artist name along with your album or track titles. TikTok reviews the submission and, once satisfied, switches your account to a certified Artist Account.
If you distribute through DistroKid, there’s a faster path. Because of a partnership between the two companies, DistroKid members can apply for an Artist Account directly from the DistroKid dashboard, and approval that normally takes weeks can come through in as little as a few hours.
Once you’re approved, take a moment to set things up well. TikTok generally wants you to add several songs to your Music Tab, after which the word “Artist” appears beneath your name alongside an official checkmark. Your tracks then live in a dedicated Music Tab on your profile, and any new releases your distributor delivers will be added there automatically. Other features unlock too: By Artist lets you pin a favorite video to the top of a discovery page, New Release lets you spotlight an upcoming track for up to 14 days before release and 30 days after, and Behind the Song gives you a format for telling the story behind a track. For a Christian artist, that “Behind the Song” feature is a gift: it’s a natural, built-in place to share the testimony, the Scripture, or the season of life that birthed the song.
How Do I Get TikTok for Artists

Once you hold a certified Artist Account, you can access TikTok for Artists, the analytics platform TikTok launched globally in June 2025 as an all-in-one music insights hub.
Getting in is straightforward. Go to artists.tiktok.com and click Get Started. Choose Continue with TikTok to join as an artist, then log into your TikTok account. You’ll be asked to accept a request to link your account with a TikTok Business Account, and click Continue. This step sounds alarming but isn’t: it’s only there to enable analytics access, and it does not convert your profile into a business account. Once that’s done, you’re inside the platform and your data dashboard opens up.
If you work with anyone — a manager, a media volunteer at your church, a producer — you can invite them. Go to Manage team, click view, then invite members, and enter their email addresses. They’ll receive an invitation to access the account, so the people helping you can see the same numbers you do.
Making the Insights Work for Your Ministry

The dashboards update daily and show you several things worth paying attention to. Song performance tells you how many views your tracks are getting and how many videos are using each one. Post performance breaks down views, likes, comments, shares, and how often people watch your videos all the way through. Follower insights show you the self-declared age, gender, and language of the people following you.
For an independent Christian artist, this data answers practical questions. Which of your songs are people actually reaching for when they tell their own stories? That song deserves more attention and maybe a “Behind the Song” video. What time and what kind of content earns full watch-throughs? Lean into it. Who is your audience, and are they who you expected? You may find your music is connecting with a younger crowd or a different region entirely, which can reshape where you tour, what you write next, and how you speak to people.
There’s also a Pre-Release tool, which lets you build a campaign for an upcoming album or EP and gives fans a way to pre-save it directly to Spotify or Apple Music so it’s waiting for them on release day.
A Final Word on Stewardship

These tools are powerful, but they’re still just tools. The data will tell you what’s working; it won’t tell you what’s true or what’s worth saying. The temptation on any platform built around metrics is to start chasing numbers and “selling at” people, which audiences sense immediately and tune out just as fast. Lead with genuine content, real stories, honest conversation with the people who follow you, and let the songs do their quiet work. Used with wisdom, TikTok for Artists can take your music further than you could carry it alone, and put a word of hope in front of people you’ll never meet this side of heaven.


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70751-TikTok-For-Artists-An-Easy-How-To-Guide-For-2026 https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70750-Day-11-Choosing-God-Daily&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 11:30:03 GMT Choosing God daily is such a gift.
It’s a real partnership. It’s waking up and agreeing with God—“Thank You for today. Let’s walk this out together.”
But let’s be honest… Most days don’t start like that.
Most days, we wake up already moving.
We’re in get-it-done mode.
Checking lists. Handling life. Solving problems.
And before we even realize it, the day has started… and we haven’t chosen God yet.
Not because we don’t love Him.
But because life got loud.
And in that noise, it becomes easy to treat God like a moment… instead of a daily decision.
But Jesus gives us a clear expectation of what this walk is supposed to look like.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
That word “daily” matters.
Because following God isn’t just a decision—it’s a rhythm.
It’s a repeated yes.
It’s choosing Him over and over again, all throughout your day.
Another Scripture that helps us understand this rhythm even deeper is this:
“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
Notice—daily.
God is showing us that everything we need is given daily. And in that same flow, we’re invited to come to Him daily. To reconnect. To realign. To receive.
So let’s keep it real—consistency can be hard.
Life gets busy.
You’ve got family, business, ministry.
You get tired.
Your schedule fills up.
Your mind is everywhere.
And before you know it, choosing God becomes something you intended to do… but didn’t actually do.
And it doesn’t happen all at once.
One missed day turns into two.
Two turns into a week.
Now you feel off… disconnected… maybe even a little distant.
And you’re thinking, “How do I get back?”
Here’s the truth—choosing God daily isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about being intentional.
It’s deciding, “No matter what today looks like, I’m making space for God in it.”
And it doesn’t have to be complicated.
It can look like taking a few minutes to pray before your day starts.
Opening your Bible—even if it’s just one verse.
Pausing and saying, “Lord, I’m here. Realign my thoughts with You.”
Talking to God like someone you trust—because you can trust Him in every moment.
Those small, consistent choices build something strong.
They build relationship.
They build trust.
They build faith.
Day by day.
Choice by choice.
And yes—some days you’re going to feel it.
Other days, you won’t.
But this is where growth happens.
Because you’re not choosing God based on how you feel…
you’re choosing Him based on who He is.
And who He is hasn’t changed.
God is present.
God is available.
God is ready to meet you.
You just have to choose Him.
So here’s your move today:
“I’m choosing You, God—on purpose, right now, no matter how I feel. And I’m choosing You all day.”
Not perfectly.
Not for show.
But consistently.
Because a daily choice to choose God becomes a steady, God-filled life.
And a steady, God-filled life builds strong faith.
So take a moment and ask yourself—what is getting in the way of me choosing God daily? And what is one simple, realistic habit I can start today to help me stay consistent?
Reflection Questions

• What tends to crowd out your time with God on your busiest days, and how different would your day look if you put Him on top of your list of priorities?
• What is one simple, realistic way you can make way for God tomorrow, even if it turns out to be one of your busiest days?

Prayer.
God, thank You for choosing me every single day. Thank You for being present, available, and faithful even when I’m not. Help me build consistency in my walk with You. Teach me how to choose You daily—not out of pressure, but out of love. Give me the discipline to make space for You in my life, no matter how busy things get. Strengthen my commitment and draw me closer to You, one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: DICE Gamble


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70750-Day-11-Choosing-God-Daily https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70749-Overwhelmed-Mom-The-6-Names-of-God-You-Can-Call-Upon-TODAY&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 10:40:28 GMT There’s a tension in the way motherhood is viewed. In some spaces, it’s elevated almost beyond the reach of even the most robust Pinterest board. In... There’s a tension in the way motherhood is viewed. In some spaces, it’s elevated almost beyond the reach of even the most robust Pinterest board. In this corner, it’s seen as something to optimize and get exactly right. In the other corner, it’s questioned, dismissed, mocked, and framed as a loss of identity or a narrowing of life’s opportunities. Most of us land somewhere in between: we feel the eternal impact of this calling and the difficulties of the day-to-day. We love our children fiercely and struggle against being stretched at the same time.
For me, motherhood was long-anticipated, so it hasn’t felt like a loss of identity so much as a confrontation with it. Motherhood’s demands have a way of revealing good things—like my creativity, gentleness, and seemingly bottomless affection—as well as how quickly I run out of patience, rely on my own strength, and come to the end of myself in the overwhelm of very ordinary moments. The constant interruptions, repetition, and constant need far too often expose my lack.
That’s the part we don’t always know what to do with. We tend to treat our lack like a flaw, something to fix or manage. But I’m not so sure lack was ever meant to be eliminated. I’ve started to see it as a purposeful part of how God designed us. If we never came to the end of our own resources, we wouldn’t reach beyond ourselves for Him.
And reaching is where something dramatic shifts.
God always calls us into places that feel beyond what we can handle on our own. My rule of thumb is that if it’s not impossible, it’s probably not from God. And motherhood on our own, without the Holy Spirit, is impossible. There are days when what’s required is more than I have. And, if I’m honest, some of those days also come with perimenopause, unexpected hot flashes, and a memory that feels like it left the building. In the overwhelm, I can feel the pull to try harder, manage better, and hold everything together. But striving never seems to produce what I need.
The one discipline that I can reliably reach for is learning to pause in the middle of those moments and acknowledge what’s true: I don’t have what this requires. And then to ask God if He will extend himself to me because I know he does.
There have been many moments where I’ve had to stop right in the middle to ask—often out loud, in front of my kids—for God to intervene. A child needing extra attention, while I’ve got to remember how to do fractions with another child. Standing in the kitchen, trying to recall what I was doing while someone repeats a question I didn’t fully hear. Or hiding in the bathroom for a moment of peace, only to see little hands appear under the door. I can either raise my voice and let off the building steam or reach for internal steadiness that’s always there when I ask for help.
When I feel alone in the weight of everything, he is Jehovah Shammah, the God who is there. I am not mothering by myself, even when it feels like it.
When I am short, impatient, or aware of my own failure, He is Jehovah Tzidkenu, my righteousness. I am not defined by how well I held it together that day. I am covered.
When I see the gaps in me that I wish weren’t there, he is Jehovah M’Kaddesh, the God sanctifies me, forming me slowly, faithfully into someone who reflects him.
When I am lying in bed and recall the failures, he is Jehovah Khabodi, the lifter of my head. He restores what shame tries to press down.
When I don’t have the strength to respond one more time with patience and gentleness, He shows up as Jehovah ‘Uzzi, his own strength flowing through me.
When I feel stretched thin, like there isn’t enough of me to go around, He is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. Out of his abundance, He is my sufficiency.
When I worry about provision, about what my children need now and in the future, He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who sees and provides. Nothing is outside his watchful care.
And when I feel weighed down by responsibility and the imperative not to get this wrong, He reminds me that He is the Good Shepherd. He is guiding and protecting my children even more faithfully than I ever could because they were his first, before they were mine.
These are not abstract ideas; they are what I come back to, again and again, in the middle of ordinary life. And as I reach for him when I need him, trust is built. When we reach for him repeatedly and find that He is always there, we begin to build a new reality. Faith solidifies from hoping something is true to standing on something you’ve already tested. It becomes substantial:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.—Hebrews 11:1
Motherhood with all its hidden and ordinary moments—the kind no one applauds and few even notice—becomes a place where that kind of faith is formed. It’s shaped in the middle of ordinary days, full of small interruptions that seem insignificant but somehow aren’t, while we rewarm our tea or coffee yet again and turn toward him yet again. It’s the choice to reach instead of strive.
Somewhere in that process, our identity is reshaped. We begin to understand ourselves not by how well we’re handling everything, but by how consistently we return to the God who meets us in the middle of it.
The conversation around motherhood will probably continue to shift and pull in different directions, but I’ve found that motherhood hasn’t taken or limited my identity. It’s been one of the clearest places where God has revealed both who I am and who He is.
I’m still learning. Still reaching beyond my lack more often than I would prefer (and sometimes multiple times before noon), but meets me there, and over time, that has become something I can stand on. Maybe this is what “godly motherhood” looks like: not getting everything right, but knowing where to turn when we don’t…and finding him there.


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70749-Overwhelmed-Mom-The-6-Names-of-God-You-Can-Call-Upon-TODAY https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70748-5-Letter-Framework-To-Stop-You-From-Snapping-At-Your-Team&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 10:20:03 GMT You got promoted because you’re sharp. You hit your numbers. You delivered. So they handed you a team.

Now most days feel like reacting instead of leading. Someone questions you in a meeting and you snap. A project goes sideways and you shut down. You go home drained because the whole day was firefighting, and if you’re honest, it feels like everything around you is in control, not you.
Here’s what you need to hear: that’s not a character flaw. That’s biology.
When your brain detects a threat, real or perceived, your amygdala floods you with adrenaline and cortisol in milliseconds. Faster than your thinking brain can catch up. Your first reaction isn’t leadership. It’s survival.
But leadership shows up in what you do next. The best leaders don’t eliminate that surge. They learn to pause inside of it.
That’s where the P.A.U.S.E. framework comes in. A simple tool you can use in your next hard meeting to interrupt the reaction long enough to choose your response. Because anyone can react in a second. Leaders build trust through the pattern they create after the moment.
You don’t control every situation. You always control your response.
That’s where your leadership lives. Start there.


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70748-5-Letter-Framework-To-Stop-You-From-Snapping-At-Your-Team https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70747-Day-10-The-Day-After-Day-21&goto=newpost Wed, 20 May 2026 08:30:16 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/Day-10--1024x427.png Every challenge eventually has to answer one question: What happens when the... Every challenge eventually has to answer one question: What happens when the challenge is over?
You can finish strong, post the celebration picture, get the encouragement from your community, and still find yourself, three weeks later, exactly where you started, because nothing in your life was actually built to outlast the structure that carried you. This is the thing we want to talk about on Day 10, because the work you are putting in right now is too valuable to let it dissolve the moment Day 22 rolls around.
The truth is that consistency is not a feeling you arrive at, but something you build the same way you build anything else, one ordinary decision at a time.
In Luke 16:10, Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
While He is talking about money in that passage, the principle reaches into every facet of our lives. The way you handle the small things is the way you will eventually handle the big things, and God is not waiting for you to make some massive public sacrifice before He starts building anything significant through you; He builds you even in the most mundane moments.
The Reset gives you a structure to lean on while your own muscles of discipline are still developing. But, admittedly, it gets hard after Day 21, when the structure goes away and you are left alone with what you have actually built. That can be a beautiful moment if you have done the inner work, or it can be a discouraging one if you have been relying on the community to do it for you. The good news is you still have time to make sure it is the first one.
So how do you carry this forward? A few honest principles.

• Decide, while you are still in the middle of this, what your non-negotiable is going to be on the other side of it. One single discipline you will protect no matter what your schedule throws at you next month, because staying consistent after a challenge narrows your focus.
• Stay in community. The group, friend, accountability partner, or small church gathering that has been carrying you through this challenge needs to remain in your life after it ends, because consistency dies fastest in isolation. Find your people and keep them close.
• Make peace with the fact that you will fall off sometimes, and the goal is not perfection but speed of return. The version of you who walks closely with God for the long haul is the one who gets back up the next morning when they miss a day without making it a whole production.

God is not finished with what He has in store for you. The Reset is the start of something, not the whole of it, and the choice you make about Day 22 will influence the rest of your year.
Choose wisely, narrow your focus, stay in community, and trust the God who has been faithful to you so far to keep being faithful when the structure is gone.
Take a Pause
Spend a few quiet minutes with the verses below as part of your morning time with God today. Read them slowly, more than once if you can, and ask Him to show you what He is saying through them.
Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 — “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Philippians 1:6 — “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
These three verses tell the same story from three perspectives. One promises a harvest for the people who refuse to give up, one calls us to run the long race rather than sprint a short one, and one reminds us that the work God started in us is His to finish, not ours to white-knuckle. Keep this in mind as we enter into the second half of this Reset.
Reflection Questions

• What is the one non-negotiable habit you are committing to carry past Day 21, and what would it cost you to let it go?
• Who are the people you need to stay close to after this challenge ends, and have you told them that yet?

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the work You have been doing in me these past ten days. Thank You for the small disciplines I have built, the prayers I have prayed, the moments I have chosen You over my comfort. I ask You now to help me carry this forward. Show me the one thing I am meant to hold onto past this challenge, the discipline that is meant to stay with me for the long haul. Give me wisdom to narrow my focus, courage to stay in community, and grace for the days I fall short. Build something in me that lasts longer than 21 days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: Elikem


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70747-Day-10-The-Day-After-Day-21 https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70746-Relationships-Viral-Clips-amp-Humble-Opinions&goto=newpost Tue, 19 May 2026 15:50:00 GMT This episode of *Fresh Leftovers* brought everything listeners love about the show: honest conversation, hilarious side stories, faith-based... This episode of Fresh Leftovers brought everything listeners love about the show: honest conversation, hilarious side stories, faith-based perspective, and a few moments that made everybody pause and think. Legacy the Prince Lee, DJ B4E, and the crew kept the energy high from the start, opening with B4E’s return from the NAB conference in Las Vegas. His stories about broadcast gear, expensive robotic cameras, and feeling like a superstar walking through the airport set the tone for a fun and relatable episode.

The conversation quickly shifted into heavier topics, including spiritual manipulation, church accountability, and the responsibility of leaders. The crew reacted strongly to a clip involving a pastor telling a woman to sell her house and bring him money. Their discussion challenged listeners to think carefully about prophecy, financial pressure, and the danger of building unhealthy dependence on spiritual leaders.
Another standout moment came during the “Soul Food” conversation about appreciation in relationships. After hearing a story about a young woman whose boyfriend cared for her through two brain surgeries, the crew unpacked what real love looks like beyond dates and surface-level romance. They reminded listeners that love often shows up through sacrifice, service, consistency, and care when life gets difficult.
Of course, the episode still had plenty of laughs, from basketball trash talk to marriage stories and debates about folding clothes the “right” way. DJ B4E’s “Humble Opinion” segment also highlighted new music, including tracks from Mike Teezy and Bizzle, Chris Elijah featuring Luke G, and 2018 Worship.
Overall, this episode balanced humor, culture, faith, music, and accountability in true Fresh Leftovers fashion. It was funny, thoughtful, and full of the kind of conversations that stick with you after the show ends.


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70746-Relationships-Viral-Clips-amp-Humble-Opinions https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70745-Day-9-Small-Habits-that-Change-Everything&goto=newpost Tue, 19 May 2026 06:40:36 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/Day-9-1-2-1024x427.png *Small habits that change everything* What are some of the things you do to... Small habits that change everything
What are some of the things you do to start your day? Some people wake up and get refreshed. Some people need a little bit more time before they can do anything. You’re probably wondering “where is Q going with this”? Don’t worry, I’ll explain. Whether you know it or not, everybody has habits that they do every day. Daily routines that we’ve molded into our everyday process.
However, those habits didn’t form out of nowhere. You established them. Small things you’ve done throughout your day with repetition.
What started off as a small action became part of your daily routine. What if we had that same mindset for God?
What if we had small habits based around being obedient to him?
What would that look like to you? It could look like prayer before you start and end your day. It could look like reading a verse or a chapter in the bible a day.
A small habit you can add to your life is prayer. The beauty of it is, you can pray at any point in time, when you wake up, before you leave, whenever. It can be a small habit that changes things in your life. The bible says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). As Christians we are tasked with being obedient and sometimes that can be a challenge. However, through discipline and perseverance, we will reap what we have sewn.
Transformation begins with a change in thinking, not just behavior. Our mindset needs to be aligned with the change we want to see in our lives. Small habits can change into a more structured routine.
You can go from praying twice a week to praying twice a day though habit building. The bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (Thessalonians 5:16-18).
We were instructed to pray continually. The same discipline we apply for prayer can be applied into studying the scriptures as well.
The bible says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”(2 Timothy 2:15).
The word tells us to be ready; there’s no better way to be equipped than by building a habit of reading the word.
Reading the word and prayer are small habits that can lead to big changes in your walk. It’s a routine that is achievable through repetition and being intentional.
Reflections

• What is one small habit you could start practising today that, repeated daily, would draw you closer to God a month from now?
• What is a habit you have been keeping that is subtly pulling you away from Him, and what would it take to interrupt it this week?

Devotional Written By: Q-Flo


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70745-Day-9-Small-Habits-that-Change-Everything https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70744-Day-8-Finding-Rest-In-God’s-Presence&goto=newpost Mon, 18 May 2026 08:20:30 GMT Rest is an important part of life. Now we must go to work to pay bills, save for our retirement, fix things around the house, go food shopping, go to... Rest is an important part of life. Now we must go to work to pay bills, save for our retirement, fix things around the house, go food shopping, go to school, exercise…. so forth and so on. Basically, what I’m saying is that we all have to move in one way or another every day. For some of us it seems that we are constantly moving from one task to the next with no time to stop…. Or…. rest. Just ask any successful CEO or small business owner or someone you consider to be an amazing parent and they will tell you that it seems that their days just blend into one another. I get it. I think we all do.
But one thing that God considers extremely important is REST. Think about it. The creator of everything that we see…. the skies, clouds, animals, trees…. even us as humans, RESTED. He created the world that we live in today, then rested, then looked at His creation and said it was good (Genesis 1-31).
But sometimes the ups and downs of life disturb our rest. Those ups and downs sometimes make us anxiety and have us to worry. That fact makes it hard to rest most of the time. But God knows this and understands it all. He tells us not to worry because these “ups and downs” are going to be a constant (Matthew 6:34) He also lets us know that we will have trouble in our lifetime (John 16:33).
But it is in these times that REST becomes vital in our lives. But not just any rest, the kind of rest that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can give us. Jesus himself guarantees it (Matthew 11:28)!!!!! But not only will He give us rest in times of trouble but ultimately as believers, we can find our peace in knowing that one day will be with Him for eternity (Psalms 62:1)
So, the next time life knocks on your door to brings you worry, anxiety and fear….. take a step back, take a deep breath, be still and say this prayer:
Father, I know that trouble will come
And that’s okay
Because I know that your peace will surround me
And in that peace
Grant me the kind of rest that only you can give
Amen
Today’s Reflections:
How can you make more room for God’s presence in your life?
What are the things in your life that take away time in God’s presence?
Devotional Written By: ToddEph. 4:29Thompson


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70744-Day-8-Finding-Rest-In-God’s-Presence https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70743-Day-8-Finding-Rest-In-God’s-Presence&goto=newpost Mon, 18 May 2026 08:10:26 GMT Rest is an important part of life. Now we must go to work to pay bills, save for our retirement, fix things around the house, go food shopping, go to... Rest is an important part of life. Now we must go to work to pay bills, save for our retirement, fix things around the house, go food shopping, go to school, exercise…. so forth and so on. Basically, what I’m saying is that we all have to move in one way or another every day. For some of us it seems that we are constantly moving from one task to the next with no time to stop…. Or…. rest. Just ask any successful CEO or small business owner or someone you consider to be an amazing parent and they will tell you that it seems that their days just blend into one another. I get it. I think we all do.
But one thing that God considers extremely important is REST. Think about it. The creator of everything that we see…. the skies, clouds, animals, trees…. even us as humans, RESTED. He created the world that we live in today, then rested, then looked at His creation and said it was good (Genesis 1-31).
But sometimes the ups and downs of life disturb our rest. Those ups and downs sometimes make us anxiety and have us to worry. That fact makes it hard to rest most of the time. But God knows this and understands it all. He tells us not to worry because these “ups and downs” are going to be a constant (Matthew 6:34) He also lets us know that we will have trouble in our lifetime (John 16:33).
But it is in these times that REST becomes vital in our lives. But not just any rest, the kind of rest that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can give us. Jesus himself guarantees it (Matthew 11:28)!!!!! But not only will He give us rest in times of trouble but ultimately as believers, we can find our peace in knowing that one day will be with Him for eternity (Psalms 62:1)
So, the next time life knocks on your door to brings you worry, anxiety and fear….. take a step back, take a deep breath, be still and say this prayer:
Father, I know that trouble will come
And that’s okay
Because I know that your peace will surround me
And in that peace
Grant me the kind of rest that only you can give
Amen
Today’s Reflections:
How can you make more room for God’s presence in your life?
What are the things in your life that take away time in God’s presence?
Devotional Written By: ToddEph. 4:29Thompson


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70743-Day-8-Finding-Rest-In-God’s-Presence https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70742-Weight-or-Wait-Voting-Show-May-19-2026&goto=newpost Sun, 17 May 2026 12:01:43 GMT Vote with integrity, one vote per user 1. ... Vote with integrity, one vote per user



1.






"How To Kill A Christian Rapper" - Nak Daniels





2.






"Bible Baddie" - Jay Bizzze





3.






"Myself" - Trell Brooks





4.






"Steppin" - 13TH Disciple ft Prophocey





5.






"OTW" - Kaden Jordan





6.






"How I'm Living" - Steven Perez x Madigan





7.






"Court Vision" - B Cooper





8.






"The Saga Continues" - Xoul City





9.






"Saints or Sinners"- Yahrielle





10.






"With Me"- Joshua Roulhac




















ResultsVote




Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70742-Weight-or-Wait-Voting-Show-May-19-2026 https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70741-Day-7-HELP!-I-DON’T-HAVE-CONTROL!!!&goto=newpost Sun, 17 May 2026 08:10:05 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/7-1024x427.png Hey yall! Have you ever been or are you in a space now where you’re losing control?... Hey yall! Have you ever been or are you in a space now where you’re losing control? Losing control of friends, family, relationships, etc? If you’re in that space now or have been there before, great! If you haven’t experienced this before, buckle your seatbelts!
Most of us know Proverbs 3:5-6 where it says Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.^[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Naturally whether you are a believer or not, the places where you’ve put yourself without the Lord’s permission could start out smooth but end up shaky. Likewise, the spaces where God has sent you could start out smooth but because of pride and underlying motives it could end up shaky. Even the places where God has sent you and all is going well with no ulterior motive could still end up being shaky! What is the message in all three of the instances? I’ll tell you. GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!!!
In the instance where you’re in the space God never told you to go, He’s trying to get your attention to gain control of your life! God knows what’s best for us even though we can have our lives already planned out. As long as you have breath in your lungs the Lord will always reach out through people and situations to gain control of your life. You may look at it as a setback but a wise man once said God will bring you to the bottom just for you to realize that He’s the rock at the bottom! A huge part of dying to self is stripping you of you and fully surrendering to His will and way for your life.
In the space where God sent you but things are off because of pride and underlying motives, God wants you to return to Him! You may have started off right but you’ve now lost sight of who sent you because of what you’ve been able to attain. We have to realize the things we are able to attain are only because of God and gifts are given without repentance! In this case you can find yourself in a spiral without God’s control. We have to realize in itself that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and without that fruit we are going rouge without realizing it! Based on life’s many experiences and God’s word I’ve came to understand the only thing that matters is what you do for God. Give God your full control so you can be fully effective for Him!
In those spaces where the Lord sent you and all is well with no pride or motive in sight, when things start to shake just know God is about to shift you! Don’t get used to the familiar or what you currently know. God wants to use you EXACTLY how he sees fit! Let’s look at 2 Timothy 2:21 which references how we are just vessels to be used by God. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. When we view ourselves in this matter we know that He is the potter and we are the clay. Wherever He wants us to go we will go! Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from HIs purpose and plan!
Today’s Reflection Questions:

• What does it look like/how does it feel when I’m losing control.
• How willing am I to give the Lord full control of my life.Eph. 4:29

Devotional Written By: PATRICK BARNESEph. 4:29


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70741-Day-7-HELP!-I-DON’T-HAVE-CONTROL!!! https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70740-Day-6-The-Better-Part&goto=newpost Sat, 16 May 2026 08:10:00 GMT Image: https://holyculture.net/wp-content/uploads/day-6-1-1024x427.png One of the most quietly devastating scenes in the Gospels takes place over a... One of the most quietly devastating scenes in the Gospels takes place over a meal. In Luke 10, Jesus arrives in a village and is welcomed into the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Mary sits at His feet and listens to what He is saying. Martha, the Bible tells us, was “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made,” and eventually her frustration boils over. She comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Her anger lands in a striking place when you stop to look at it. She has skipped over herself for being frazzled, skipped over the meal that needs preparing, and aimed the whole thing at Mary for sitting still and at Jesus for allowing it. There is something painfully familiar about that for anyone who has lived a busy life. When we are running on empty, the people who seem to have peace become irritating to us, and even the One we are running for can feel like He is taking a side we did not expect Him to take.
Jesus’ response is gentle, but it cuts to the bone: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Notice what He does not say. He does not tell Martha that the meal does not matter, or that she should put down the work, or that her serving is wrong. He simply tells her that she has been so consumed with the many things that she has missed the one thing, and that the one thing is to be with Him. The work of her hands was good; the trouble was that she had let it become bigger than the One she was serving.
If you are reading this in a season where life feels like it is moving faster than you can catch up to, this is the question Jesus is asking you today. The things on your list are probably important, and that is not the question. The question is whether your busyness has quietly become the thing keeping you from Him, when serving Him was the whole point of the busyness in the first place.
The good news is that He is sitting in the room, hoping you will come and sit with Him. There is no folded-arm impatience in His face, only an open seat at His feet. The presence of God is not something you earn by first getting your life in order; it is offered to you in the middle of the mess, if you will stop long enough to receive it. That is what Mary chose, and that is what Jesus said could never be taken from her.
So how do we choose the better part when the laundry is piling up and the inbox is full? Three small habits make a real difference.
First, anchor your day before the day takes you. The minutes between waking up and reaching for your phone are where God’s voice has the clearest path to your heart, before the noise of the day begins negotiating for your attention. Even five minutes is enough to set the tone of the hours that follow.
Second, name your one thing. Martha was undone by the many things, and we are too. Pick the single non-negotiable you will not let your week steal from you, whether it is one chapter of scripture, one worship song on the way to work, or ten minutes of prayer before bed. Guard it like Mary guarded her seat at His feet.
Third, talk to Him in the gaps. The walks between meetings, the time waiting in line, the drive home, all of it is space He can fill if you invite Him into it. What you need to walk closely with God in a busy season is a willing heart and a few minutes at a time.
Busy seasons are the very ones in which God most wants you to lean in. The same Jesus who told Martha there was only one thing needed is the One sitting with you in your kitchen this week, waiting for you to come and choose the better part.
Reflection Questions

What are the “many things” that have been pulling your attention away from the one thing that matters most?
What does it look like for you, this week, to choose what Mary chose?
Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess that I have let the busyness of life pull me away from the stillness of being with You. Forgive me for the moments I have served You without sitting with You, for the days I have done much and missed Your face entirely. Teach me to choose the better part. Help me anchor my mornings in You, to guard a non-negotiable space for Your presence, and to speak to You in the small spaces I have been overlooking. When my heart starts to spin like Martha’s, draw me back to Your feet. Let my work flow out of time spent with You, and never replace it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional Written By: Elikem
Click HERE to share your reflection in today’s post in the Reset Accountability Group.


Click here to view the article. ]]> Holyculture.net trig https://forum.holyculture.net/showthread.php?70740-Day-6-The-Better-Part