How to Keep Faith During Perilous Times

 by Gregory A. Johnson

We are living in perilous times. Inflation is on the rise, making it harder on those already financially challenged. The frequency and severity of natural disasters are increasing rapidly. Years into the Covid pandemic, hundreds of people still die of the disease every day. 

We are at the brink of World War III with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Maybe the invasion of Ukraine and the killings of innocent civilians, including children, indicate WW III has already started. It is hard to see how this ruthless attack on innocent people ends well. Our prayers are with the people of Ukraine. 

Adding all this to the struggles you are going through can make it hard to keep the faith that brings supernatural life and hope.

Jesus said it would be like this in the last days, which began at his crucifixion and has escalated to our day. Jesus warned that in these days, some faithful followers — “if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24 ESV) — will fall away.

How do we keep the faith that brings us supernatural life and hope in these perilous times? Consider Jesus. God’s word to us today is “…consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.” (Hebrews 3:1 ESV).

Getting through Trials and Afflictions

by Gregory A. Johnson

As we follow Christ, there will be many times when our journey will take us through trials and afflictions that test our faith. During these times, we need to cry out to God with a simple prayer: "Father God, help me through this. I don't know what else to do but to wait for you and your help."

There are times in my walk with Jesus, I pray that prayer, and I still have worry and anxiety. I've learned to recognize that these fears are the fruit of the sin of unbelief, and so now, I quickly repent and ask the Lord to forgive me and to renew my trust in him.

The best thing we can do in our times of trial and affliction is to ask the Lord for help, and then wait on him to help us. You can rest assured that help will come, but you must know that it will come in his time and in his way.

How to Live Free From Fear

by Gregory A. Johnson

Many in our day live in total control of their lives but when something is shaken, their confidence quickly turns to fear. Jesus describes the day in which we live. He says, "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26 ESV).

What are we to do? We are to look to Jesus. The night before Christ died on the cross for our sins, he showed us how to live free from fear. He was facing a horrendous death by crucifixion. The next day he would be tortured to death. What does he do? He goes to a garden to pray. Jesus prays, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 ESV).

In the last hours before the cross, Jesus prays, releasing his will over to the Father. Christ faced the cross without fear, placing his life in God’s care, trusting God for the resurrection to come.

The next day, tortured and hanging nailed to the cross, Jesus gives his life for the sins of the world. “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46 ESV).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

by Gregory A. Johnson

In response to the Coronavirus COVID-19, I encourage you to:

Follow the advice and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and your local government and healthcare agency. 

Pray and stay in God’s Word. This is where you will find peace, comfort, and healing. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read the Psalms.

Submit your prayer requests at LovingGodFellowship.org. We pray for every request that is submitted there, trusting God to meet needs, according to his will and his Word, working undeniable miracles in ways that will bring Him glory.

Love others as Jesus has loved us, being light in the midst of darkness.

I feel led by the Spirit to remind you of these three verses in God’s Word, the Bible:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).”

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5 ASV).”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (Jesus, John 14:27 ESV).”

How to Guard Your Mouth Even on Social Media

By Gregory A. Johnson

#GuardYourMouthEvenOnSocialMedia

We are living in strange times. People not only say terrible things, but they also post awful things on social media, attacking others. Attacking others is not Christ-following.

Cursing has become commonplace in the post-Christian culture that we live in, even with people in the Christian faith. I’m shocked at what people say and post on social media.

Under the unction of the Spirit, I feel led to remind you that there is a day coming when each person will give account for every word.

Don’t take my word for it; take Jesus’ word. Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36 ESV).”

This should be sobering to us all.

The One Reason Why You Made It Through the Night

by Gregory A. Johnson

Life is full of difficulties and it can be very challenging at times. Stress, panic, and fear threaten to destroy minds and bodies as people struggle to make it from day to day. Please know today that the Lord knows your struggles and he is not far away.

The Lord sees all your life difficulties and he knows your every crisis. He not only knows, but he also cares. He does not want you to panic or get ahead of him. He simply desires that you pray and wait on him. You can rest assured that his help is coming because he loves you deeply.

Evil Does Not Win

by Gregory A. Johnson

We are reminded daily of how evil destroys lives. As a result, many live in fear instead of faith. Fear says that evil wins. Faith knows that evil never wins.

Please know today that if you have fear in your life, it is not of God. God does not want you to live in fear. Evil wants you to live in fear.

Fear comes when our focus is no longer on Jesus and following him. When a person is living in fear, they lose sight that the best in their life is yet to come.

The next time evil comes knocking and fear starts to take over your thoughts, stop it. Just, stop it. Refuse to go there. Instead of giving it any energy, thank God for all he has done for you, all he is doing for you, and all he will do for you. You are his child created in his image, and he loves you.

How to Get a Second Chance in Life

by Gregory A. Johnson

Jesus walked this earth, seeking to save the lost and ministering to people at their point of need. One evening, a religionist came to Jesus. His name was Nicodemus. He had heard Jesus teach and witnessed the miracles of Jesus. No doubt, the Spirit of God is drawing this man to Jesus. Nicodemus tells Jesus, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"

Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:2-5 NLT)."

Nicodemus knew, and we also know, that a physical re-birth is impossible. The good news that Jesus came to tell us is that we can begin life all over again. We can have a new starting point, a second chance. This is called the new birth. We can be born of God. Each true follower of Jesus is “born of water and the Spirit.”

Why Do We Need God?

by Gregory A. Johnson

We need God. A list of reasons why we need Him would be endless—taking more than a lifetime to compile. Please allow me to share a few reasons with you that are close to my heart:

• God covers us with amazing grace.
• God surrounds us with supernatural peace.
• God lets us know unconditional love. His love for us is not based on what we do or don’t do. His love for us was completed at the cross of Christ. It seems so simple, yet beyond our comprehension.
• God gives us a supreme gift of love that enables us to love those that we could never love before.
• God brings correction when we are wrong.
• God gives us more than one chance.
• God sees value in us.
• God never gives up on us.
• God allows us to dump all of our cares and anxieties on Him, granting us the privilege of communicating with Him in prayer.
• God gives us hope.

Three Choices That Will Start Your Day off Right Every Day

by Gregory A. Johnson

Each one of us has to make lots of choices today and every day. Those choices impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

If you struggle with knowing how to keep your life on the right path, here are three choices you can make every morning that will start your day off right:

1. Choose to trust God, knowing that He loves you and that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less than He already does. His love for you is complete.
2. Choose to rejoice in the Lord because Jesus rescues you on a daily basis.
3. Choose to praise the Lord for His goodness toward you.

Beloved, make those three choices daily to start your day off right, and you will see your life will unfold as it is meant to, according to His perfect will for you.

Scripture:
“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6, NLT).

Prayer:
Father, today I choose to trust in your love for me. I choose to praise you throughout the day for your goodness toward me, knowing that you will reveal it to me many times over. I choose to rejoice in my salvation because Jesus rescues me moment by moment. Thank you for drawing me to Him. Please drive me by your Holy Spirit today to make the right choices based on your Word. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

(The above is excerpted from the book, Be Encouraged: A Daily Devotional, Volume 1 by Pastor Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved.)

Know that you are loved,
gaj

How to Ignite and Fuel a Justice Revival in Our Day

by Gregory A. Johnson

We can read the book of Acts in the Bible and see that the early church was a powerful church. The message of Christ was proclaimed throughout the land with signs and wonders following the preaching of Christ. People were ministered to in the communities at their point of need. The ministry of Christ continued in the power of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a justice revival driven by faith. The Kingdom was enlarged. 

The early church was a praying church. The Apostle Paul placed emphasis on prayer in his teachings to the church. His teachings on prayer encouraged early followers of Christ to:

Why You Should Never Stop Asking

By Gregory A. Johnson


When my daughter was young, she kept asking me for the same thing over and over again—she wanted a cat. I kept putting her off, but she never gave up. Every year for Christmas, she would ask for a cat. As a ten-year-old, she must have thought that she would never get what she was asking her father for, but she never wavered. Believe me; she was persistent with her asking!

As I was leaving my office one evening, I noticed a sign across the street at the veterinarian’s office. It read, “Kittens for adoption.” It was the first time I had noticed a sign there. As I read the sign, immediately my daughter’s persistent request for a cat came to my mind. I decided I would surprise my daughter that evening with a little kitten. I walked over to the veterinarian’s office and adopted a little calico kitten for my daughter. I took Princess home that evening and gave her to my daughter. Kelsey Ann was so surprised and filled with joy.

How Prayer Will Increase Your Faith, Love, and Praise

by Gregory A. Johnson

One of the benefits of being a praying person is being able to look back over your life and see the answers to prayer that God has brought. If you pray, you know what I’m talking about. Reflecting on God’s goodness in answering prayer increases not only our faith, but also our love for the LORD. Out of our increased faith and love comes praise from the heart that articulates through our lips.

If you are a person of prayer, take a moment now and reflect on the answers to prayer that the LORD has brought to you. If you are not a person of prayer, there is no better time than now to begin making prayer a part of your life. Get a spiral notebook to use as a prayer journal. Make a list in the notebook of all the prayer requests that you are going to pray about and trust the LORD to answer. In the left-hand margin, put the date of when you first write the prayer request in your journal. Take time every day to enter your place of prayer with your prayer journal in hand. Pray over each request daily until you feel the Holy Spirit directing you on to the next request. In God’s timing and in God’s ways, you will begin to receive answers to your prayers. As you do, take a highlighter and highlight each prayer request that the LORD has answered. Write the date in the right-hand margin of when the LORD answered the prayer.

Why Does God Not Answer My Prayers?

by Gregory A. Johnson

Being in the ministry for many years, my wife and I have heard the same question over and over again. So many ask, “Why does God not answer my prayers?” They say, “I call out to Him in my time of need, but it’s like He is not even there.”

Please know that we must call on the Lord in truth, which means praying while expecting His promises for you as declared in His Word. It’s not praying for what you want; it’s praying for the promises that God has given you in His Word. So many today call on the Lord in their times of trouble, but they do not know the Word; they do not obey the Word. They ask things of the Lord that are not even in line with His Word. As we learn the Word and obey it, we can call on the Lord in truth.

Nothing Is Impossible with God

by Gregory A. Johnson

We are trained throughout life to reason things out. We are taught human reasoning skills throughout our education, and the training continues into the workplace. Human reasoning or logic is not bad unless we apply it to God and His Word. Human reasoning is the opposite of faith. Faith is placing our total trust in God and His Word’s application to our life and impossible situations.

Faith comes and increases by the Word of God. The more of God’s Word that we believe and obey, the more faith grows in us. God speaks His Word to us through the Bible and often confirms it through prayer and through other people. The Word that God impresses on our heart through prayer or the Word spoken through others will never be in conflict with God’s written Word. The more of His written Word that we learn, understand, and obey, the more we are able to discern and identify the many voices that we hear today. Everything should line up with and be in agreement with God’s written Word. As we learn and obey God’s Word, faith grows in us.

Mary gave herself to God in total trust. Gabriel continues with his message from God for Mary:  "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.'

"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:35-38 ESV).

Even though Mary could not comprehend what was being told to her, she submitted herself to God’s Word. She could not figure out how it all was going to come about, but she allowed faith to rise above human reasoning; she trusted God and His Word. God fulfilled His Word and accomplished the impossible in Mary’s life. Through her, baby Jesus was birthed—God came into our world.

Beloved, this speaks to us today. God will do the impossible in us and through us as we allow faith to rise above human reasoning. No matter what the circumstances may be, as we place our total trust in God and His Word, He will work in our seemingly impossible situations. Absolutely nothing is impossible with God.

Will you stop trying to figure it all out and just place your total trust in God and His Word today? He desires to utilize your life for His glory. Your sphere of influence, friends, family, and all those around you will see you place your trust in God and His Word, and many will witness God doing impossible things in your life.

Excerpted from the book, The Characters of Christmas: God at Work in Our Lives by Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © by Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved. 

Thanksgiving: A Time of Reflection

by Gregory A. Johnson


My favorite time of the year is Thanksgiving. I cannot think of much I don’t like about it.

I like turkey and all the trimmings. Pumpkin pie ranks in the upper echelon of pies I am most fond of, with a mound of whipped cream in the shape and enormity of snow-capped Mount Hood decorating the top of my slice.

I have precious memories of times I spent with Dad in the woods during this time of the year, allowing his love and respect for God’s creation to be deposited in my intellect, becoming a part of my heart and soul.

I can still smell the goodness of aromas I experienced as a child, coming from mom’s kitchen, as I waited anxiously to gorge on oyster dressing, fresh cranberries, and sweet potatoes, along with a fat turkey leg that was always reserved for me.

Yes, I love Thanksgiving. I always have. I always will.

Although Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for everything that God has so graciously provided, enjoying it has no relation to the abundance of what we have or what we lack. I can remember many times during our years of pastoring small churches in impoverished parts of Appalachia, that Becky and I didn’t know where our next meal was coming from or how we were going to pay the bills, but I still had everything that I was thankful for: my wife, my children, family, friends, a roof over our heads, and most importantly, God.

God has always been faithful, both in the lean times and in the times of abundance. When my dreams were shattered, he was there to pick up the pieces. When I didn’t want to live, he was there to breathe his life and purpose back into my being, helping me pick myself up, and giving me hope in the prison of despair that held me captive. Tattered and torn, I would recover, time and time again, experiencing his resurrection power, receiving healing and life.

As I have matured in age and in my relationship with the Lord, I have grown fond of realizing thanksgiving more frequently than annually. More and more, it has become a part of daily life instead of an observed holiday.

God’s word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV).

We live in a world where prayer time has been filled with a wish list, asking God for what we want instead of thanking him for what he has done, is doing, and will do, according to his word. When we are self-focused and only come to God with a wish list, our hearts and minds grow troubled with all the problems represented by what is on our list. When we are God-focused and come to him, giving thanks for what he has done and what he will do, our problems become small, and our faith is enlarged. Absorbing his peace, we are refreshed, renewed, and revived, with hearts and minds protected.

Beloved, I’m thankful for you. I’m thankful for God. I’m thankful that he is healing you, providing for you, protecting you, and saving you from this world.

I pray that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, both now and always.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

Surviving the Storms of Life

by Gregory A. Johnson



Under dark skies with the wind blowing wildly, causing the waves to be hurricane-like in size and strength, they were all together in the boat. Their pulses raced with anxiety. 

Fear was on the verge of overpowering and overwhelming them as they frantically tried steering the vessel through the madness and the fierceness of the raging sea. They would row in one direction only to have to row in the other direction as the unrelenting, powerful winds were swirling all about them. 

The spray of the sea was stinging their eyes, and the waves were lapping up over the sides of the boat. The boat was taking on water, and the question of survival was racing through their minds. It was the storm of a lifetime, and they could not rely on any past experiences or self-ability to get them through it.

Jesus came to them in the darkest, most alarming hour of their storm, and he came in a surprising way—walking on top of the rough sea. As Jesus got close to the boat, the disciples were frightened. Jesus said to them, “‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:20-21 ESV).

The account of Jesus walking on the water in the Gospels reveal the actions of Jesus that will help us as we trust him during our storms of life (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21).

• Jesus was not threatened or alarmed by the storm.

• Jesus was watching out for his followers even when they did not realize it.

• Jesus rose above the storm and became prominent in the midst of it.

• Jesus gave his followers comfort.

• Jesus brought his followers safely through the storm.

Trust God Even if You Feel Forsaken

by Gregory A. Johnson

Have you ever felt forsaken, finding yourself isolated, desolated, and deserted? You surround your life with people, even church people, yet it’s as if everyone has left you—even God. You pray, but your prayers go unanswered. The heavens are like solid brass, bouncing your words back to you as you cry out for help in your desperation.

Please know that it is not wrong to have these feelings. You can have a heart for God, seeking to serve him with everything you have, and still, have these feelings. The Bible tells us that King David was a man after God's own heart. He delighted in the LORD, but there were times when he felt forsaken.

Prayer, Faith, and the LORD's Fast

by Gregory A. Johnson




Some people think that faith is believing that God will do what you want him to do—if you pray and believe, God will act in the way you want him to act on behalf of your situation or circumstance. They have been taught that if you mix some fasting with praying and believing, you can really get God’s attention, and he will do more of what you want him to do.

With this type of thinking, glory is given to the individual who can supposedly move God into action. A true move of God will be in such a way that only God receives the glory.

Faith is believing that God will keep his word, doing what is right because he is in control and loves his children. It is in prayer where we receive more of his grace and mercy in our time of need as we release all of our worries and anxieties to him. Our human nature tries to hold on to them, but his nature is to take them all if we just release them to him.

The Greatest Characteristic of a Christ-follower

by Gregory A. Johnson

The Christ-follower walks in faith, hope, and love.

Christ-followers have faith in the One they follow. They trust Jesus with their present and their future. They even trust Jesus with their finances, realizing that they are blessed so that they can bless others.

The hope of the Christ-follower is different from the hope of those who don’t follow Christ. The hope of a Christ-follower is surrounded in expectation, while the hope of others is surrounded in wishful thinking. Christ’s followers fully expect the LORD to keep His promises because they serve Him with total abandonment.

The love of Christ’s followers is a supernatural gift that is given to them by the Holy Spirit. With this supernatural gift, they are able to love not only the lovable but also the unlovable. They love as Christ has loved them.