Most of us have heard the name Judas our entire lives and felt the same thing. A quiet disgust. A reflexive association with betrayal, with greed, with the worst kind of disloyalty. Parents do not name their children Judas. It has become a word we use to describe someone who smiles to your face and sells you out behind your back.

But here is what I recently sat with, and I have not been able to shake it since. Judas means praise.

There is something I have been sitting with lately, and I believe it needs to be said.

Almost every conversation I have had recently has circled back to the same quiet ache — deep, profound loneliness. Not the kind that comes from being physically alone, but the kind that settles in even when you are surrounded by people. The kind that whispers nobody really sees me.

And I have been asking myself — how is this possible? We live in a world where we can connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time. We have more access to each other than any generation before us. And yet people are lonelier than ever.

Spiritual Abuse Is One of the Hardest Wounds to Heal From — and There's a Reason for That.

It doesn't just hurt your feelings. It fractures something sacred inside you.

When you follow a spiritual leader, you don't just give them your time — you give them your trust. You open the most vulnerable parts of yourself and say, I believe you are safe. I believe God sent you. I believe this is worth everything.

Discernment is often misunderstood. Many people associate it with constantly scanning for what’s wrong, looking for hidden motives, spotting darkness, or identifying spiritual issues in every situation. But true discernment is not rooted in suspicion or criticism. It is rooted in clarity, truth, and partnership with heaven.

Discernment is not about finding darkness. It’s about partnering with heaven so that when darkness is discovered, it loses its influence.

There is a sound being released in this hour. It is a clarion call that cuts through the noise, the distractions, and the routines we have grown comfortable with. It is not faint and it is not passive. It is clear, compelling, and deeply personal.

It is the call back to our first love.

Here’s something that has been highlighted to me about the life of Jesus this past week:

He knew who would betray Him, Judas.
He knew who would deny Him, Peter.
And yet, He still drew them close.

This reality challenges the way we often approach relationships, especially when it comes to pain, disappointment, and discernment. Jesus didn’t love from a place of fear or self-protection. He loved from a place of identity.

There is a battle that often goes unseen, yet it shapes the course of our lives more than we realize. It is the battle for identity.

If the enemy can convince you that you are not who God says you are, he does not have to destroy you. He only needs to delay you. He only needs to keep you questioning, doubting, shrinking back, or striving to become something you already are. In that delay, purpose is postponed, obedience is hindered, and freedom feels just out of reach.

I had to see it with my own eyes.

The thing about deception is… you don’t know you’re deceived when you’re in it. But the Word of God tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and He will lead us into all truth (John 16:13). That’s a promise, but it’s also an invitation.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where we’ve embraced lies, errors in thinking, or unhealthy alignments, He will show us. Sometimes the revelation is immediate, but other times it takes a while for our eyes and hearts to fully see.

There’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately—something I believe needs to be preached more, especially in the times we’re living in right now.

The Kingdom of God is not like the kingdom of this world.

And yet, somewhere along the way, we’ve allowed a mixture. We’ve compromised. We’ve tried to live with one foot in God’s Kingdom and one foot in the world, and the result is a diluted version of what Jesus actually calls us to.

Today, I would like to share some fresh perspective on seasons of transition. As I look back, I can trace the beginnings of my own transition to 2019. I felt a stirring deep within me, a sense that something significant was on the horizon, but I had no idea what it would be. Then came 2020, a year that forced all of us into a collective transition. It was a time of upheaval and uncertainty, and while the world was grappling with change, I sensed that my personal journey was just beginning.

Life is full of trials. Some days, the storm rages so fiercely that we feel like we are drowning in the waves of uncertainty and fear. But as followers of Christ, we have a promise that stands firm: we can rest in God, no matter what we are facing.

The Invitation to Rest

God is dealing with the fear of man in so many people right now (myself included). I would have never thought that I might be dealing with the fear of man. I see myself as strong, confident and secure in my identity with God. God started putting His finger on this with me in July 2024. Once He started to point it out, there was no way of getting around what I was seeing in myself.

Fear of failure, fear of making a mistake, fear of rejection, fear of what others will think. All of these fears are what keeps us back from the increase. 

Let's face it, no one wants to make a mistake or purposefully sets out to fail. Personally, I hate making mistakes. The thought of doing something wrong literally leaves a knot in my stomach.

Some of you have been paralyzed by the fear of man. What others think about you has held you back from being able to break the barriers that you so desperately want to break free from.  All of the “I am not good enough” and comparisons has robbed you of your identity.

God gave me a picture of women who, from the very depths of their soul, were crying out for breakthrough but didn't know why the grip of fear was so tight on them. They could never seem to get free from the fear of rejection.

I had this dream a few days ago and would like to share it with you:

There was a line of women coming up to me and telling me how good I smelled. They were asking me what I was wearing because they wanted to smell like me. I was explaining to them that I wear a vanilla perfume mixed with other spices. All of the sudden, there was the awareness that the King was coming. He was about to enter the space we were at and thousands of women realized they were not ready for His. Arrival.

I had a dream a few weeks ago. I think this may encourage a few of you that read this!

In the dream, I was riding in a car with my pastors and their daughter. The car was tight and compact. Because there was not much room, I couldn't take my large Louis Vuitton bag. I had to take my small crossover bag to make room so we could get to where we were going. 

The Lord has shown me this dream isn't JUST for ME but for others as well.

In the book of Nehemiah, we find a powerful story of perseverance, faith, and determination in the face of opposition. Nehemiah, a servant of God, was tasked with the monumental challenge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed. Throughout his journey, Nehemiah faced numerous obstacles and opposition from those who sought to hinder his progress. In Nehemiah 6:1-9, we see how Nehemiah handled these challenges with unwavering faith and determination.

A few nights ago, I had a dream where someone was removed from their position of office. When that person was removed, things began to change and doors of opportunity began to open up.

I don't believe this person represents an actual person. I believe it represents a mindset of a lack mentality as well as limits placed by man.