Be Careful What You Normalize

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Not everything that becomes common is harmless. Sometimes, the greatest danger is not what shocks you; it’s what slowly becomes normal to you. The reality is what you normalize, you stop questioning. What you stop questioning, you eventually accept. And what you accept begins to shape your life.

The Bible says in Romans 12:2,
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Conforming doesn’t happen all at once.
It’s gradual and subtle. It happens through repeated exposure to what you hear, what you watch, what people around you tolerate, and what you allow without resistance.

At first, something may feel wrong.
You notice it. You feel convicted.
Over time however, if you keep entertaining it, that conviction starts to fade. What once bothered you, no longer does. That’s the danger of normalization.

You begin to:
Laugh at things you once avoided, agree with things you once questioned, and participate in things you once resisted. It’s not because you made a conscious decision to change but because you stopped guarding your standards.

The truth is the world will always try to redefine what is acceptable. What God calls sin, culture may celebrate and what God calls truth, culture may reject. So if you’re not careful, you’ll slowly adjust your beliefs to fit what’s around you instead of standing on what God has said.

That’s why you must stay alert.

Guard what you allow to become normal in your life because not everything popular is right. Not everything accepted is approved by God, and not everything that “everyone is doing” is something you should be comfortable with.

This doesn’t mean living in fear or isolating yourself. It means being aware.
It means checking your heart regularly.
It means asking yourself honest questions:

“Has something shifted in me?”
“Have I become comfortable with what I once resisted?”
“Am I still aligned with God’s truth, or just adapting to my environment?”

Spiritual drift rarely feels dramatic.
It feels natural. That’s what makes it dangerous.
Here is the great news – You don’t have to drift.

You can stay grounded by: Staying in the Word, keeping your convictions strong,
surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to stay aligned, and being willing to step back from anything that weakens your walk

Normal is not always right.
As a believer, your standard isn’t what’s common; it’s what’s true. So be careful what you normalize because what becomes normal to you today will shape who you become tomorrow.

Stay aware. Stay grounded. Stay aligned with purpose.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

Alone, But Not Lonely

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Photo by Şahin Doğdu

There are moments in life when you find yourself alone….no noise, no crowd, no constant interaction. And for many, that quickly turns into a feeling of loneliness. But Scripture reminds us of a powerful truth from the very beginning: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). That means even in your most isolated moments, you are never truly alone.

The difference between being alone and being lonely is not found in your surroundings; it is found in your awareness of God’s presence. Loneliness whispers, “No one is here.” But faith responds, “God is here.” And that changes everything.

David understood this deeply. In Psalm 23:4, he writes, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me.” Notice he doesn’t say God removed the valley. He says God was with him in it. The presence of God did not eliminate the situation, but it removed the feeling of abandonment.

Many of us struggle in quiet moments because we are not used to stillness. We fill our lives with noise, distractions, and constant activity. But Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is not emptiness. It is an opportunity to become aware of who God is and where He is – right there with you.

Sometimes, God allows seasons of solitude not to isolate us, but to draw us closer. When other voices fade, His voice becomes clearer. When distractions are removed, His presence becomes more real. What we often try to escape is sometimes the very place where God wants to meet us.

Even Jesus Himself stepped away to be alone. In Luke 5:16, we are told, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Those moments were not filled with loneliness; they were filled with connection. If anything, they were where strength was renewed and purpose was clarified.

This reveals something important: being alone is not a weakness; it can be a spiritual discipline. It is in those quiet spaces that we begin to see that our peace does not come from people, but from God. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

The more your heart becomes anchored in God’s presence, the less dependent you become on external noise to feel complete. You begin to experience a peace that remains, even when everything around you is quiet. You begin to understand that fullness is not about being surrounded; it is about being connected.

So if you find yourself alone today, do not be quick to label it as loneliness. Instead, see it as an invitation to be still, to draw near and to discover that God has been with you all along.

Remember, you are not forgotten, not forsaken, and certainly not alone. In the quiet, God is present. And in His presence, you will find a peace that fills every empty space.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

Remember Lot’s Wife

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Photo by Castorly Stock

There are moments in Scripture that are so brief, yet so powerful, they stay with you long after you’ve read them. One of those moments is found in just three simple words: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32, KJV).

That’s it. No long explanation. No detailed breakdown. Just a direct and weighty reminder from the Lord Jesus Himself. And yet, behind those three words is a lesson that still speaks deeply into our lives today.

To really understand it, you have to go back to Genesis chapter 19. God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, but in His mercy, He chose to rescue Lot and his family. The instruction given to them was clear and urgent: escape for your life and do not look back. It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t confusing. It was simply a call to trust and obey.

They began moving forward, leaving behind a city marked for destruction and stepping toward safety. But somewhere along that journey, something happened. The Bible tells us that Lot’s wife looked back, and in that moment, everything changed. She became a pillar of salt.

It seems like such a small action, just a glance, but it revealed something much deeper. Her heart was still tied to what she was leaving behind. And if we’re honest, that hits close to home.

How often does God bring us out of something, maybe a habit, a mindset, a relationship, or even a season of life, but part of us still lingers there? On the outside, we may be moving forward, doing all the right things, taking the right steps. Internally however, there’s still a pull backward. There’s still a longing for what God already told us to leave behind.

That’s what makes the words of the Lord Jesus so powerful. “Remember Lot’s wife” is not just about her; it’s about us. It’s a warning that you can be on your way out and still lose everything if your heart hasn’t fully let go. You can be walking forward physically, but spiritually and emotionally, still stuck in yesterday.

The truth is, you cannot fully embrace what God has ahead while holding on to what He has already called you out of. Forward requires surrender. It requires trust. It requires a willingness to release what feels familiar, even when it’s uncomfortable to do so. Because familiar doesn’t always mean right, and comfortable doesn’t always mean God’s best.

Sometimes we hold on because it’s what we know. Sometimes we look back because it once felt good, or safe, or meaningful. But if God is calling you forward, then what’s ahead is always greater than what’s behind. Always.

So maybe today is a moment to pause and reflect. Is there something you’re still looking back at? Something God has already told you to release? Something that is quietly pulling your heart away from where He is leading you?

“Remember Lot’s wife” is really about direction. It’s about choosing to trust God enough to keep moving forward without turning back. It’s about believing that what He has prepared for you is worth letting go of everything behind you.

So choose forward today. Choose trust. Choose obedience. Because where God is leading you will always be greater than anything you’ve left behind.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

Noted!

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Photo by cottonbro studio

Someone told me something recently, and it stuck with me more than I expected: “One response I can’t stand is when someone just says ‘noted.”

The fact is I completely understand!

Depending on how it’s used, “noted” can feel a little cold or a little distant…like, “I heard you… but I’m not really moved.” It ends the conversation without really engaging it. No emotion, no follow-up – just acknowledgment.

But as simple as that sounds, it made me stop and think.

How often do we give God that same kind of response?

There’s a powerful reminder in James 1:22 (KJV):

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

When you really sit with that, it hits differently. Because it means it’s possible to hear truth, receive instruction, even feel that moment of conviction, and still walk away unchanged.

Almost like saying, “Noted, Lord.”

We read the Word. We hear the message. We feel that quiet nudge in our spirit telling us to forgive, to let go, to step out, to trust Him more. And in that moment, we recognize it. We understand it. We might even agree with it.

But then, we don’t act.

We acknowledge it, but we don’t apply it.

And without realizing it, our response becomes passive instead of transformative.

Scripture reinforces this again in Matthew 7:21 (KJV):

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

It’s not just about what we say or what we hear; it’s about what we do.

And again in  Luke 11:28 (KJV):

“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

God isn’t speaking just to be acknowledged. He’s speaking to be followed.

There’s a difference between hearing and obeying, between knowing and surrendering. And somewhere along the way, it’s easy to settle into a place where we’re constantly receiving, but not fully responding.

We become informed, but not transformed.

And maybe that’s something we all need to pause and reflect on.

Because real faith isn’t just about what we hear; it’s about what we do with what we hear. It’s about allowing God’s Word to move beyond our ears and into our actions, our decisions, our daily lives.

When God speaks, the response He’s looking for is surrender.

Not “noted”… but “yes, Lord.”

Yes, I’ll trust You even when it’s uncomfortable.
Yes, I’ll obey even when it’s inconvenient.
Yes, I’ll let this change me, stretch me, and grow me.

That kind of response requires something deeper. It requires humility. It requires faith. It requires a willingness to move, not just mentally agree.

So maybe today is a quiet check-in moment.

Have I been hearing God… but not really responding?
Have I been acknowledging truth… but avoiding action?
Have I been saying “noted” in ways I didn’t even realize?

Because God is always speaking through His Word, through conviction, through moments we can’t ignore. The question is never whether He is speaking. The question is always how we respond.

And the beauty of it is this: every moment is a new opportunity to respond differently.

To move from acknowledgment to action.
From hearing to doing.
From passive faith to active obedience.

So the next time God nudges your heart, challenges you, or calls you higher… don’t let your response stop at “noted.”

Let it become something that moves you.

Something that changes you.

Something that draws you closer to the Lord.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

Overcome by God’s Goodness: Mary’s Worship

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Photo by Luis Quintero

Have you ever been so touched by God’s presence that words just don’t seem enough?

That’s exactly what happened to Mary when she realized she had been chosen to carry Jesus. Imagine for a moment: a young woman, living a quiet life in a small town, and suddenly an angel tells her she will bear the Son of God.

Overwhelming doesn’t even begin to cover it.

And what did Mary do? She didn’t panic. She didn’t demand explanations. She didn’t try to run away. Instead, her heart overflowed with awe and gratitude. She said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46 – 47).

Right there, in that moment, she was overcome by God’s favor, overcome in such a way that words themselves felt too small, so she poured them out in worship.

Mary’s joy wasn’t just personal; it was about God’s work in the world. She recognized God’s greatness in every area of life. She continued, “He has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49).

Can you feel the wonder in that statement? It’s not just gratitude; it’s awe at being part of God’s unfolding plan. She saw that God lifts the humble, fills the hungry with good things, and scatters the proud (Luke 1:52-53).

In her words, we see someone fully aware of God’s power and mercy, and she responds with the kind of worship that can’t be contained.

There’s a lesson here for all of us.

Being overcome by God’s goodness isn’t about having extraordinary circumstances or a perfect life. It’s about perspective. It’s about pausing long enough to notice His faithfulness, to let His presence wash over you, and to allow gratitude to flow freely.

Sometimes that gratitude overflows in tears. Sometimes it flows in worship, in song, in prayer, or in quiet whispers under your breath. And that’s okay; those moments are sacred.

Mary’s story also shows the power of humility. She didn’t take credit for what was happening. She acknowledged that it was God’s favor and power, not her own, that made the miracle possible. Her reaction invites us to approach God with awe, letting our hearts be filled with wonder, gratitude, and praise.

So today, take a moment to pause. Reflect on the ways God has shown His goodness in your life – big or small. Let yourself be touched by His faithfulness. Don’t be afraid of tears; they are often the language of a heart overwhelmed by His love. When your heart is full, let it spill out in worship, just as Mary’s did.

Mary’s story reminds us that being overcome by God is a sacred gift; a moment when gratitude becomes worship, and worship becomes a deeply personal encounter with the Creator who delights in showing His goodness to His children.

Let that be your experience today. Let your soul rejoice, and let your spirit be lifted by the God who is mighty, loving, and faithful beyond measure.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

The God Who Fights for You

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Photo by Maria Pop

Have you ever had one of those moments where everything just feels bigger than you?

You feel like the situation is too heavy, the pressure is too much, and no matter how you try to process it, you just can’t seem to get ahead of it?

Yeah … many of us have been there, and it’s in those exact moments that we need to be reminded of something simple, but powerful.

Psalm 24 opens with this bold statement:
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…”

Now don’t rush past that …. Sit with it for a second.

The earth is the Lord’s … meaning everything we see, everything we’re dealing with, everything that feels out of place or out of control, it all belongs to Him.

So that situation stressing you out?
God isn’t surprised by it.

That challenge you didn’t see coming? God isn’t scrambling to figure it out.

That thing keeping you up at night?
It’s still under His authority.

I think sometimes we forget that.

We believe in God, yes, but we quietly start handling life as if it all depends on us. We act like He’s watching, but not really stepping in.

But then the psalmist asks a question that kind of pulls us back into alignment:

“Who is this King of glory?”

I love that question, because it makes you pause and really think.

Who is God to you?

Is He just someone you pray to when things go wrong? Or is He truly the One you trust to handle what you can’t?

Because the answer comes right after:

“The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

Not weak.
Not distant.
Not uncertain.
Strong, mighty and victorious.

And here’s where it gets real…

Some of you are in a battle right now.
Maybe it’s not visible to everyone else. Maybe it’s internal. Maybe it’s emotional. Maybe it’s something you’ve been carrying quietly for a while, but it’s real and it’s heavy.

But here’s the encouragement today-

You’re not fighting alone.

The same God who created everything,
the same God who established the world and the same God who has never lost a battle is the One standing with you. He is not watching from a distance or waiting for you to figure it out. He’s in it with you.

And when you really start to see God that way, something shifts.

You stop panicking so quickly.
You stop feeling like everything is on your shoulders.
You start breathing a little easier not because the situation instantly disappears, but because you remember who’s in control.

So maybe today, instead of replaying the problem over and over in your mind,
Pause. Remind yourself:

“The Lord is strong and mighty…mighty in battle.”

Let that settle because your situation hasn’t caught God off guard.

And the King of glory?

He’s not just powerful.
He’s present.
And He’s fighting for you.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew| Steps of Purpose

Let’s Talk About Job: When Everything Changes but Faith Remains

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Have you ever had a conversation with someone that immediately reminded you of something you read in the Bible?

That happened to me this week. As I was talking with someone, I couldn’t help but think about a very powerful conversation that took place many years ago…in heaven.

That conversation led to life changing moments for a man of God named Job.
From Job’s perspective, life was simply falling apart.

One day, everything changed. His wealth was gone. His children were gone. His health was attacked. What once felt stable suddenly became unbearable. And like many of us would, Job was left trying to make sense of something that made no sense at all.

But what if, just for a moment, you could step beyond what Job saw, and hear what was happening in heaven?

Imagine standing there quiet, unseen as the conversation begins.

The sons of God present themselves before the Lord… and Satan is there among them. (Job 1:6, KJV)

This is not a casual moment. This is not a small exchange.

And then….God speaks.

Not about kings. Not about warriors. Not about the most powerful people on earth.

He speaks directly to Satan, and mentions a man named Job.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job ….?” (Job 1:8, KJV)

There’s something weighty in that. Something deeply personal. Out of everyone in the world, God points to him. Not because Job is perfect, but because his heart is steady. His devotion is real. His faith isn’t shallow.

And then the tension rises.

Satan responds … sharp, accusing, dismissive:

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” (Job 1:9, KJV)

In other words… Is his faith truly genuine? Or is it just built on the blessings You’ve given him?

And suddenly, it doesn’t feel distant anymore.

Because if we’re honest, that question reaches us too.

Would we still worship if things changed?
Would we still trust if the blessings were stripped away?
Would our faith remain, or would it falter?

And before we can fully process the weight of that question, the challenge is made:

“But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:11, KJV)

And God answers…A boundary is set, but the test is allowed.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand…” (Job 1:12, KJV)

And just like that, everything on earth is about to shift.

Let’s not forget that Job doesn’t hear this conversation.

He doesn’t know God spoke of him with honor.
He doesn’t know his name was lifted up in heaven.
He doesn’t know that his faith is about to be tested.

All he experiences is the loss.

And maybe that’s what makes this so personal.

Because there are moments in our lives where things fall apart, and we have no idea why.

We don’t hear the conversation.
We don’t see the full picture.
We just feel the weight of what’s happening.

Yet in the middle of it all, Job makes a choice that still echoes today:

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21, KJV)

That’s not denial. That’s not pretending it didn’t hurt. That’s faith choosing to stand when everything else is falling.

And maybe that’s the message for you today.

Silence does not mean absence.

God is still present. God is still aware. And just like in Job’s story, there may be more happening than what you can see.

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough – God trusts people with trials not to break them, but to reveal something through them.

Your endurance speaks. Your faith speaks. Even your decision to keep going, when it would be easier to give up, speaks louder than you realize.

Yes, the process may be painful but it is never pointless.

At the end of Job’s journey, something shifted. Yes, there was restoration. Yes, there was blessing. But more importantly, there was revelation.

“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” (Job 42:5, KJV)

Job didn’t just know about God anymore; he experienced Him in a deeper way.

So if you’re in a season where life feels uncertain, hold on.

Your story is not over. Your faith is not wasted. And your struggle is not unseen.

What you’re walking through may be heavy, but it’s also meaningful.

Even when you don’t understand the process, Stay rooted. Stay faithful.

God is in control!

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

God Is Preparing What You Cannot Yet Comprehend

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There is a truth in Scripture that doesn’t just encourage; it shakes you out of doubt if you really receive it:

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, KJV)

This isn’t poetic language. It is a divine reality. It means your current perspective is incomplete. It means your situation is not the full story. It means what God is preparing for you exists on a level your mind has not yet reached.

And that changes everything.

Many of us are discouraged, not because God isn’t working, but because we are judging our future through what we can currently see.

We look at the delay, and assume denial.
We look at the struggle and assume defeat.
We look at the closed doors, and assume the end.

But what if what’s ahead of you is so significant, so intentional, so perfectly orchestrated that God had to keep it hidden until the right moment?

What if the reason you haven’t seen it is because it cannot be explained at your current level of understanding?

Let that sit with you for a moment.

God is not preparing something average for your life. He is not writing an ordinary story. He is not limited by your environment, your past, your resources, or your timeline.

He is God!

While you are waiting, He is building.
While you are praying, He is aligning.
While you are questioning, He is confirming things in the unseen.

There are doors with your name on them that no one else can walk through. There are blessings assigned to your life that cannot be intercepted. There are moments already scheduled in your future that will make everything you went through make sense.

This is why you cannot afford to give up now.

You’re too close to something you cannot yet see.

And here’s what makes this even more powerful – the promise is not based on your perfection.

It is based on your relationship.
“For them that love Him.”

That means if your heart is toward God, even in your weakness, even in your questions, even in your imperfect walk, you are still positioned for what He has prepared.

So don’t reduce your future to your current reality. Don’t shrink your expectations to match your circumstances. Don’t let what hasn’t happened yet convince you that nothing is happening.

The Almighty God  is working on your behalf.

God is not slow.
God is not late.
God is not unsure.
He is intentional.

One day, what you could not see, you will step into.
What you could not hear will become your testimony.
What you could not imagine will become your reality.

And when it happens, you will understand why it had to unfold the way it did.

So stand firm

Trust deeper.
Believe stronger.
Hold your faith with conviction.

…because what God has prepared for you is not just good.

It is beyond anything you could have ever conceived.

Before I end today’s post, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to each and every one of my subscribers. Hitting 100 subscribers is such a meaningful milestone, and I’m truly grateful for your support, encouragement, and faith in this journey. Your presence here inspires me to keep going, to keep writing, sharing, and creating content that uplifts, encourages, and points us all closer to God’s purpose. I’m excited for what’s ahead. If the Lord tarries and we reach 150 subscribers, the plan is to publish a collection of my posts as a special book of inspiration and encouragement for you, so we can keep this journey growing together. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to keep encouraging, inspiring, and walking this path with all of you.

May the Lord richly bless you.

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

✨ When You Really Think About God… It Just Hits You

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Photo by Angele  J

I don’t know if you’ve ever had one of those quiet moments…where you’re not rushing, not distracted, just thinking … and then suddenly something about God hits you.

Not in a loud, dramatic way. But deep.

The kind of moment where you just sit there and say, “Wow… God, You’re something else.”

I had one of those moments recently, and one thought wouldn’t leave my mind:

The Lord Jesus chose His own mother.

Out of every woman who could have lived… He chose Mary.

Luke 1:28 says “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

And I just sat there thinking…the Lord didn’t enter this world randomly. He didn’t leave something that important to chance. He chose, He planned, and He was intentional.

And then the thought came to me…

If God is that intentional about how He came into the world, what makes me think He’s not intentional about my life?

Then I started thinking about something else – something a little more personal.

God knows everything about me yet, He still stays.

That one is hard to fully take in.

Because it’s one thing for people to love you when they don’t know everything. But God? He knows it all.

The thoughts you don’t say out loud.
The struggles you try to hide.

And still, He doesn’t walk away.

“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me” (Psalm 139:1, KJV).

And yet He stays.

That’s not normal love. That’s something deeper. A love that isn’t shaken by my inconsistency.

And here’s something that honestly overwhelms me when I think about it:

God is everywhere… at the same time.

There is no place where He is not.

David wrote, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7, KJV).

But here’s what really hit me…

Imagine going to God in prayer, pouring your heart out… and He says,
“My son, just hold on a moment… I’ll get back to you. I have to go comfort someone else right now.”

We would understand that as humans, right? Because that’s how we function – we can only be in one place at a time.

But God doesn’t do that. He never puts you on hold. He never says, “Wait, I’m busy with someone else.”

At the very same moment you’re praying,  He is fully present with you.

Listening.
Caring.
Responding.

And at that exact same time, He’s comforting someone across the world, maybe in Australia, Malaysia or China or Japan or even Laudat or Timbuktu answering another prayer, strengthening another heart, and somehow, He is just as present there as He is with you.

That’s beyond human understanding.

And somehow, even with all of that, He still listens when you pray as if you’re the only one talking.

And this brings me to something that takes my breath away:

God is all-powerful and all-knowing.

Nothing surprises Him. Nothing escapes His attention.

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5, KJV).

He sees the beginning and the end, the hidden motives, the secret struggles, and the victories we haven’t even imagined.
And yet, with all that power and knowledge, He bends down to listen to your prayers, to walk with you, to care about the smallest details of your life.
It’s mind-blowing when you really let that sink in.

There are times I’ve felt like God was holding back from me, like things weren’t happening when they should or doors weren’t opening fast enough. Maybe I felt I was doing the right things, but not seeing the results.

But then this verse keeps coming back:

“No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, KJV).

And I’ve had to wrestle with that.

Because if that’s true, then maybe God isn’t holding out on me.

Maybe He’s protecting me.
Maybe He’s preparing me.
Maybe He’s working on things I can’t see yet.

And I’m learning, slowly, that His timing isn’t random; it’s right.

Another thing that humbles me?

How many times I go without asking God for things, yet wonder why I feel empty in certain areas.

The Word says, “Ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2, KJV).

That one feels personal.

Because God isn’t saying, “Figure it out on your own.”

He’s saying, “Come talk to Me.”

Not just when things fall apart.
Not just when I’m desperate.
But in the ordinary moments too.

And I’m realizing that prayer isn’t just about getting answers. It’s about staying connected.

And maybe this is the one that brings it all together for me:

Even when I don’t see it… God is still working.

There have been seasons where nothing made sense. I am referring to seasons where prayers felt like they were just… floating. There are moments I questioned if anything was really changing.

But looking back now, I can see it; God was moving the whole time.

“All things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28, KJV).

Not just the good moments.
Even the confusing ones.
Even the painful ones.

Even the delays I didn’t understand.

And here’s one more thing that’s been sitting with me lately, something I read somewhere…

God is not in a hurry… but He’s never late.

That part stretches me.

Because I like quick answers. I like clear direction. I like knowing what’s next.

But God works with a bigger picture in mind.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV).

What does that mean? Well, here is how I see it: There’s a timing to your life that God understands better than you do.

So here’s where I land with all of this…

God is more intentional than I realize.
He is more patient than I deserve.
He is more present than I feel sometimes.

And somehow, in the middle of running the world, He still pays attention to me. He still pays attention to you…Yes – You!

The reality of this should make one pause and quietly say…

“Wow, Oh Lord thank You.”

Just some food for thought for your day!

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose

Contagious, But Not What You Think

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Photo by Edward Jenner

You don’t have to be a doctor to understand how contagious viruses like the flu can be. One person coughs, another gets too close, and before long, it spreads through homes, workplaces, and entire communities.

It doesn’t need permission. It doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. It simply transfers from one person to another. That’s the nature of something contagious; it moves.

Today however, I am not going to talk to you about medicine, washing hands and using face masks…I think we heard enough about this during COVID.

Here is some Food For Thought!

What if we stopped for a moment and asked ourselves a different question:
What else is contagious? Well, I have a few answers to that question:
Attitudes can be contagious.
Words can be contagious.
Energy can be contagious.

Just like the flu can spread from one person to another, so can encouragement,kindness and hope.

You may not realize it, but every day you are “infecting” the people around you with something. The way you speak, the way you respond under pressure, the way you treat others – it all transfers.

A negative spirit can fill a room quickly. One complaint can turn into many. One bad attitude can shift the atmosphere.
The opposite is also true. One smile can lift someone’s day. One kind word can break someone out of discouragement.
One act of love can remind someone that they are not alone.

Even your faith, your quiet trust in God, can influence others more than you think. When people see you standing firm in difficult moments, choosing peace instead of panic, they notice. That kind of faith spreads.

The flu spreads without intention…well, maybe I should say with ill intent, but encouragement spreads with purpose.
So the question is not whether you are contagious, because you are.
The real question is: What are you spreading? Are you spreading fear or faith? Doubt or hope? Negativity or life?

You may never fully see the impact of your words and actions, but they travel further than you think. Long after a conversation ends, what you shared can stay with someone.

Today, choose to be intentionally contagious.
Let your words carry life.
Let your attitude reflect grace.
Let your faith be visible.

In a world where negativity spreads easily, someone has to spread something better…I am sure you agree!

Why not let that someone be you?

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” – Colossians 4:6 (KJV)

Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew | Steps of Purpose