LIFE ON MISSION Podcast with TANNER KLEIN

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. My name Tanner Klein.Welcome to our 3rd post on Redemptive Entrepreneurship!First, we published the introduction to REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, the beautiful and countercultural call to build ventures that reflect the sacrificial love of Jesus in a broken world. (It’s linked here).We covered: * What is Redemption? * What exactly is Redemptive Entrepreneurship?* What Makes It Redemptive? Three Marks: Motives, Methods, & Outcomes* Why This Matters Right Now* What does Redemptive Entrepreneurship look like in real life?I shared why I am writing this series and we prayed together.Second, we published a post called, EXPLOITATIVE vs. ETHICAL vs. REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: The Three Ways We Build. (It’s linked here.)If we want to build with Christ, we need to understand the three ways in which we can choose to lead and create. And the way we choose determines the culture we shape, the people we impact, and the story our work tells about the God we serve.As the title suggests, we broke down and uncovered:* The EXPLOITATIVE Way,* The ETHICAL Way, &* The REDEMPTIVE Way,* Why this matters for Kingdom Builders like You and Me Today, and we asked,* Which Way Are You Building?These were a labor of love. Feel free to listen or read one or both of these podcast-posts as this post is building on those two.Now, before we jump in, here’s one key point I want to highlight yet again:God can make an eternally significant impact on other eternal souls through us, and He does! God be praised! That is an amazing and awe-inspiring reality. Lead us and shape us, Lord our God!Now, let’s talk about…CULTIVATING THE HEART OF A REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSurrender, Faith in Action, and the Fear of the LordRedemptive entrepreneurship isn’t first about what we build.It is ultimately about who we are becoming.That is a real question we need to consider: Who we are becoming?Are we becoming more and more like Christ, bit by bit, day by day, over time?Or, are we becoming more like something or someone else—like our idol, or like an influencer, or like the world—bit by bit, day by day, over time?Our world, especially the business world, likes to celebrate strategy, speed, and scale.But the Kingdom of God celebrates something much quieter… and much stronger:A surrendered heart.A faith-filled life.A set apart fear of the Lord.This is a look into the countercultural inner life of a redemptive entrepreneur.This is the soil where Christlike leadership grows.In John 15:5, we see that Jesus said:“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”If that’s true—and it is—then redemptive work begins not with ambition, but with abiding.Not with control, but with surrender to the Good Shepherd’s good leadership.Let’s go a bit deeper.1. SURRENDER: LETTING JESUS LEADSurrender is not passivity.It is not laziness.It is not “waiting around.”Surrender is active trust.It is choosing God’s way over my way—again and again.Jesus modeled this perfectly. Before bearing the weight of our sins on the cross, in Luke 22:42, He humbled prayed to the Father:“Not my will, but yours, be done.”Jesus modeled whole-life surrender to the Father’s will. Thank You, God! What an example. What a price was paid for our redemption.Put simply:Surrender is saying “yes” to God before you know the outcome. It is evidence of true faith and deep trust.What does surrender look like in everyday entrepreneurship?* If God says pause, then we slow down and wait on Him, even when there’s momentum and desire to keep going.* If God convicts us about an opportunity, then we prayerfully reconsider and course-correct, even if it costs us.* If God closes a door, then we let it close, without seeking to force it open or manipulate a better outcome. By faith, we keep moving forward, trusting God will provide and open the right door.* If God calls us to generosity—when He does—then we give by faith, even when it feels risky or isn’t timely.Surrender is not “letting go and letting God” in a vague sense.It’s obeying Him intentionally.It’s saying:“Jesus, You lead. I’ll follow.”This alone sets redemptive builders apart.2. FAITH IN ACTION: BUILDING WITH GOD, NOT JUST FOR GODThe world says:“If you want something done right, do it yourself.”But as we referenced earlier, Jesus says this in John 15:5:“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”Ultimately, this is the reality. Faith isn’t just internal belief that remains stagnant the heart or mind.Faith is belief that moves. Belief that acts. Belief that builds differently—because it trusts God fully.James puts it plainly in James 2:17:“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”Faith-filled entrepreneurship is practical, not just theoretical.What does faith in action look like?* If God leads me to start small, then I don’t despise the day of small beginnings (see Zechariah 4:10).* Because God asks for integrity, I choose to speak and deal honestly—even if I lose an opportunity.* If God nudges me toward someone on my team, then I stop to reach out and care as He leads me—even when deadlines loom.* If God moves me to step forward by faith, then I take the next step—even when I can’t see step ten.In short:Faith in action means I obey God now by faith, trusting Him with what’s to come.Faith moves.Faith builds.Faith risks.Faith obeys.Faith follows Jesus into the unknown, because His leadership and lordship are proven and faithful. His love is steadfast. His grace is sufficient. He goes before us. He is our rear Guard and Protector. As it says in Psalm 23, the Lord is our Shepherd who walks with us all our days. We have nothing to fear:“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”Hallelujah!When we fear God, we have nothing and no one else to fear. Why? Because His perfect love casts out fear.In 1 John 4:18, it says,There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.Let’s talk about…3. THE FEAR OF THE LORD: THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM & SO MUCH MOREThis is the secret ingredient of a redemptive entrepreneur.The fear of the Lord is the right starting point.In Proverbs 9:10, it says,“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”Not fear of failure.Not fear of investors.Not fear of missing out.Not fear of competition.The fear of the Lord.I wrote all about this in two of my previous posts in a series called, “What is the Fear of the LORD?” The second post is called, “What is The Fear of the LORD? Hating Evil and Loving What’s Good: Sharing God’s Heart, Realigned Desires, Holy Confidence, Beauty, & Jesus the Perfect Embodiment.” Both are linked here. Here’s a glimpse of those posts:“The fear of the LORD is a set apart, reverent awe of God’s majesty, holiness, justice, and power, combined with a deep love, honor, and submission to Him as Lord and Father.It is not a cringing fear or panic that drives us away from God.It’s a holy fear paired with a humble recognition of who the living God is that draws us nearer to Him in relationship and inspires genuine trust, worship, & faith-filled obedience.(If you’re reading this you can see the linked verses attached.)The fear of the Lord involves* hating evil (Prov. 8:13),* delighting in God’s commands (Ps. 112:1),* turning from sin (Prov. 16:6), and* wholeheartedly loving God, serving Him, & walking in His ways (Deut. 10:12-13).It produces:* wisdom & insight (Prov. 9:10),* life & satisfaction (Prov. 19:23),* strong confidence & security (Prov. 14:26),* humility (Prov. 15:33),* friendship with God (Ps. 25:14), and* ultimately leads to eternal blessing and refuge (Ps. 34:7-10; Prov. 14:27).The fear of the Lord is the proper response to His glory—a trembling joy, a submitted heart, a posture of trust, and a commitment to walk with God & live for His glory and good purposes.”This means:* We care more about God’s opinion than everyone else’s.* We value obedience more than seemingly good opportunities.* We measure success by faithfulness, not by visibility or immediate results.What does fear of the LORD look like practically?* Even if a decision seems good and “strategic,” I still submit the decision to Him and ask, “Lord, does this honor You?”* Though the world praises speed, I still choose God’s timing—even if it requires waiting or seems slower.* When I’m tempted to cut corners, I refuse—because Jesus is with me, and that’s enough; He will give me the grace to pursue excellence with His help.* Though culture celebrates self-promotion, I choose Christ-exaltation instead.Put simply:The fear of the Lord keeps me grounded and aware of God’s greatness and my dependence on Him, so Jesus can be central in and through my life.It keeps our motives clean.It keeps our heart tender.It keeps us set apart as a living sacrifice before God.This is the heart posture that produces redemptive work and collaboration with Christ.Pair The Three Together & You Get A Kingdom BlueprintSurrender+Faith in Action+The Fear of the Lord= An impactful living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.This is how Jesus lived.This is how the apostles lived.This is how the redemptive entrepreneur must live.* Surrender helps al

Hey friends, join me in praying for the beautiful nation and people of France, for our neighbors.Our Father in heaven,Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.We come before You in reverence and joy during this set apart season of Christmas.We lift our eyes to You, Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh,the promised Messiah.Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, Mighty God.You are the reason this season is worth celebrating.You alone are the meek King who came not with armies but in lowly humility,not in a palace, but in a dirty manger,not to be served, but to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for many.There is no one like You, Lord, and no one besides you.You are worthy of all our honor, worship, gratitude, and praise, Immanuel—God with us.You stepped into our world of darkness, sin, and sorrow,not to condemn the world, but to save it.Thank You, Lord. You came full of grace and truth.You came for the broken, the weary, the proud, and the poor alike.You came for all.Father, thank You.Lord our God, today we lift up the nation of France—its people, its families, its cities, its villages, its history, and its future—and we submit this nation before You, the rightful King of kings and Lord over the nations.We pray that this Christmas, France would once again behold her King.Father, where hearts have grown cold, awaken love, awe, and wonder.Where faith has faded into tradition or been buried beneath cultural noise,reveal the hidden glory of Christmas—that the Savior of the world has come,and He comes not to those who think they deserve Him,but to those who know they need Him.Lord Jesus, reign in France.You alone are the trustworthy Leader we can hope in. You rule not by force, but by love.Not through domination, but through transformation.Not through external religious behavior, but through new hearts.Hallelujah! Be exalted this Christmas season. Be the center of it all.Father, we pray for families across France.May tables be filled with food,homes filled with warmth,and hearts filled with Your grace, that Your grace may be shared from one soul to another.Where relationships have been fractured, bring reconciliation and peace.Where words have been left unsaid, bring humility, gracious communication, and forgiveness.Where distance and pride have separated loved ones, may Your mercy and kindness draw them to repentance.We pray too for prodigals—sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,friends and neighbors—who have wandered far from home, far from truth, and far from hope.This Christmas, may they hear the gentle voice of the Father calling,see the light of the house still shining,and know they are welcomed—not with shame, but with open arms.Lord, may homes become places of hospitality and worship.May meals turn into savored moments of gratitude.May conversations become meaningful and turn toward the truth.May the name of Jesus be spoken with reverence and joy.May Christmas not be reduced to consumption,but restored as a celebration of salvation.Lord Jesus, You are so much more than just a baby in a manger portrayed in a nativity scene—You are the true King of kings and sovereign Lord of lords.You rule and reign in justice, with perfect judgement and grace.And yet, You came to the world, to us, in awe-inspiring humility. You have shown us that true glory comes through surrender,true freedom through repentance,and true life through Your grace.Father, we pray for those in France who feel forgotten, lonely, or unseen—the elderly, the poor, refugees, single parents, prisoners, the grieving, and the weary.May they encounter the living God who draws near to those who draw near to Him,the Savior who experientially knows suffering,the true Light of the world that darkness cannot overcome,the Lord who is near to the brokenhearted, who saves those who are crushed in spirit.Spirit of Truth, open eyes to see that Christmas is not about what we bring,but about what God has given us in Christ Jesus our Savior.May France rediscover that hope is not an idea—it is an ever-present reality that comes from a Person—the Source Himself.May France rediscover that joy is not found in circumstances, but in Christ, and that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the fruit of God’s presence with us.Lord, raise up witnesses—quiet, faithful, joyful followers of Jesus—who reflect Your humility, Your compassion, and Your truth.Let churches be places of real hospitality, grace, and Gospel clarity.May the Body of Christ and those outside looking in see that the church is not a club for those who are good but more like a hospital for the sick.May Your sons and daughters live faith- and love-filled lives that make the transformative Good News of Jesus truly believable.Cultivate in us a faith-filled, Christ-centered, God-fearing perspective.And above all, this Christmas,may Jesus Christ be exalted—in homes, in hearts, in conversations, in worship.May France remember that her deepest hope is not behind her in history,or ahead of her in human progress,but present with her in Immanuel.Creator God, we commit France into Your loving hands.We know You are not finished.We trust Your grace is still at work.It is clear: Your Kingdom is still advancing.We pray all of this with faith, with hope, and with joy,in the holy and victorious name of Jesus Christ,our Savior, our King, and our God-with-us.In the mighty, beautiful, all-powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray,Amen, amen, and amen!Friends, thanks for joining me, joining us, in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I hope you have a truly joy-filled Christmas with Christ.LIFE ON MISSION with TANNER KLEIN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.🇫🇷 UNE PRIÈRE DE NOËL POUR LA FRANCE 🇫🇷Contemple ton Roi humble, la véritable raison de cette saison de NoëlChers amis, joignez-vous à moi pour prier pour la belle nation et le peuple de France, pour nos voisins.Notre Père qui es aux cieux,Saint, saint, saint es-Tu, Seigneur Dieu Tout-Puissant — Père, Fils et Saint-Esprit.Nous nous approchons de Toi avec révérence et joie durant cette saison mise à part de Noël.Nous levons les yeux vers Toi, Jésus-Christ, la Parole éternelle faite chair,le Messie promis.Merveilleux Conseiller, Prince de la Paix, Père éternel, Dieu puissant.Tu es la raison pour laquelle cette saison mérite d’être célébrée.Toi seul es le Roi humble, venu non avec des armées mais dans une profonde humilité,non dans un palais, mais dans une mangeoire sale,non pour être servi, mais pour servir et donner Ta vie en rançon pour la multitude.Il n’y a personne comme Toi, Seigneur,et il n’y a personne en dehors de Toi.Tu es digne de tout honneur, de toute adoration, de toute reconnaissance et de toute louange,Emmanuel — Dieu avec nous.Tu es entré dans notre monde de ténèbres, de péché et de souffrance,non pour condamner le monde, mais pour le sauver.Merci, Seigneur.Tu es venu plein de grâce et de vérité.Tu es venu pour les brisés, les fatigués, les orgueilleux et les pauvres.Tu es venu pour tous.Père, merci.Seigneur notre Dieu, aujourd’hui nous Te confions la nation de France — son peuple, ses familles, ses villes, ses villages, son histoire et son avenir — et nous soumettons cette nation devant Toi, le Roi des rois et le Seigneur souverain des nations.Nous prions qu’en ce Noël, la France contemple à nouveau son Roi.Père, là où les cœurs se sont refroidis, réveille l’amour, l’émerveillement et la crainte respectueuse.Là où la foi s’est réduite à une tradition ou a été ensevelie sous le bruit culturel,révèle la gloire cachée de Noël : le Sauveur du monde est venu,et Il ne vient pas vers ceux qui pensent Le mériter,mais vers ceux qui savent qu’ils ont besoin de Lui.Seigneur Jésus, règne en France.Toi seul es le dirigeant digne de notre espérance.Tu ne règnes pas par la force, mais par l’amour.Pas par la domination, mais par la transformation.Pas par une religion extérieure, mais par des cœurs nouveaux.Alléluia ! Sois exalté en cette saison de Noël.Sois au centre de tout.Père, nous prions pour les familles à travers la France.Que les tables soient remplies de nourriture,les foyers remplis de chaleur,et les cœurs remplis de Ta grâce, afin qu’elle soit partagée d’une âme à l’autre.Là où les relations ont été brisées, apporte la réconciliation et la paix.Là où des paroles sont restées inexprimées, apporte l’humilité, une communication pleine de grâce et le pardon.Là où la distance et l’orgueil ont séparé des êtres chers, que Ta miséricorde et Ta bonté les conduisent à la repentance.Nous prions aussi pour les prodigues — fils et filles, frères et sœurs, amis et voisins — qui se sont éloignés de la maison, de la vérité et de l’espérance.En ce Noël, qu’ils entendent la douce voix du Père qui appelle,qu’ils voient la lumière de la maison toujours allumée,et qu’ils sachent qu’ils sont accueillis — non avec la honte, mais à bras ouverts.Seigneur, que les foyers deviennent des lieux d’hospitalité et d’adoration.Que les repas deviennent des moments savourés de reconnaissance.Que les conversations deviennent profondes et tournées vers la vérité.Que le nom de Jésus soit prononcé avec révérence et joie.Que Noël ne soit pas réduit à la consommation,mais restauré comme une célébration du salut.Seigneur Jésus, Tu es bien plus qu’un bébé dans une crèche —Tu es le véritable Roi des rois et le Seigneur souverain des seigneurs.Tu règnes avec justice, avec un jugement parfait et avec grâce.Et pourtant, Tu es venu dans le monde, vers nous, dans une humilité saisissante.Tu nous as montré que la vraie gloire passe par l’abandon,la vraie liberté par la repentance,et la vraie vie par Ta grâce.Père, nous prions pour ceux en France qui se sentent oubliés, seuls ou invisibles —les personnes âgées, les pauvres, les réfugiés, les parents isolés, les prisonniers, les endeuillés et les épuisés.Qu’ils rencontrent le Dieu vivant qui s’approche de ceux qui s’approche

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with JESUS. I mentioned in our last brief introduction post (linked here), that radical faithfulness is something that’s been on my heart and mind a lot over the past months and even years.Relative to His own 1st century culture and to our own cultures today, the way Jesus walked, talked, and lived is completely radical and countercultural, yet also full of grace, truth, and love.I shared that the Lord has answered my prayers and given me a simple framework, or way of practically approaching this life of radical faithfulness that I know our God desires. This is the kind of life I want to live with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.This post was a labor of love and I am excited to share it! I’m trusting the Lord has beautiful things in store for us. But first…A Crucial DisclaimerIt is worth noting that no amount of obedience or trust-in-action or faithfulness will be achieved in our flesh or our striving or our own willpower or any other ulterior motive apart from the saving power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in those who anchor their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Period.Nothing in our human nature longs to please God with surrender, obedience, trust, and faithfulness over the long run. Absolutely not.But once faith in Jesus enters the picture, alongside the Spirit of God, then everything begins to change. The beautiful and life-long process of sanctification begins. We may resist it, many times, and it may be painful for our pride, ego, and selfish habits and ways. Nevertheless, in His great love for us and through the Holy Spirit now living within us who believe in Jesus, our faithful God continues to shape us into the likeness of Jesus, more and more, day by day, and even more so as we welcome His edification, correction, and new way for us that leads to abundant life in Christ.That is very good news. That is amazing news. Our God is far more committed to us than we can possibly fathom.Again, no amount of obedience or trust-in-action or faithfulness will be achieved in our flesh or our striving or our own willpower or any other ulterior motive apart from the saving power of God. Instead, simple obedience and trust-in-action over time are the fruit of the Holy Spirit powerfully working in those who anchor their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These are evidence of abiding in Christ and of a real relationship with God.Hallelujah! All glory to our awesome God who is working in and through us both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).Now, let’s break down this equation…If Radical Faithfulness = Simple Obedience + Trust-in-Action, in the little things, sustained over time, with God, then…What Is Simple Obedience?Simple obedience is saying “yes” to God, even if the instruction or command seems significant or small.This is what disciples, or apprentices do. They observe the master, listen, and respond, doing as the master does.There is nothing complex about it. Children do this all the time. Even more than doing what a parent says, children tend to do what they see their parents doing.We too, who believe in Christ, have become children of God, helped by the Holy Spirit.When we look at John 14:15-17, we find that Jesus says this to His disciples:“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”In verses 23-27, Jesus continues, saying,“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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.”To simply obey Jesus and to keep His words is to express our love for God. It is the way we outwardly express our internal love for our Lord Jesus.Not only that, this kind of response to God is not the result of our hard work or willpower, it is evidence of the power of the Spirit of God within us, refining our desires and transforming us from the inside out.Our “yes” to God is enabled and helped by the Helper Himself.And just as faith is evidence of real hope and conviction (see Hebrews 11:1), simple obedience is evidence of real love for God.It is responsive, humble, immediate, and childlike.God doesn’t ask us to fully understand all that He asks, He asks us to simply trust Him enough to obey by faith.What the Psalmist declares in Psalm 119:105 is true,:“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”God’s Word illuminates the path in front of our feet—our next step, not the next decade.If we had all the answers, there would be no need for faith or trust, but our God desires genuine faith and love, so we are given a choice: Love God or love anything or anyone else.By God’s grace, we are given opportunities galore to either express our love to God by keeping His Word or choose something or someone else in place of God as we go our own way.Simple obedience is taking that next step in faith, keenly aware that the Lord our God is with us and God’s Spirit, our Helper, is in us, empowering our every step forward down His path of eternal and abundant life.And, it’s good and worth remembering that our God’s love is steadfast, not based on our performance, and His grace for us is sufficient.If Radical Faithfulness = Simple Obedience + Trust-in-Action, in the little things, sustained over time, with God, then…What Is Trust-in-Action?Trust-in-action is faith expressed through movement, decisions, and habits.It is belief embodied.In the New Testament book of James 2:18, James himself famously wrote,“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”Simply put, our choices reveal our true beliefs and internal attitudes.Our internal trust in God becomes externally visible and proven through our:* decision-making,* perseverance,* obedience amid uncertainty, and* faithfulness when we don’t know the outcome.So, what does trust-in-action look like?Trust-in-action looks like Noah building the ark for decades before it ever rained.It looks like Abraham leaving the life and world he knew without answers, and walking by faith to a land he didn’t know.It looks like Mary the mother of Jesus responding to the angel sent by God after he told her that she, a virgin, would give birth to the Son of God, saying “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” - Luke 1:38It looks like Peter stepping out of the boat to meet Jesus walking on the water.Trust-in-action is the daily posture of a heart surrendered to God, ready and willing to step forward in faith.If Radical Faithfulness = Simple Obedience + Trust-in-Action, in the little things, sustained over time, with God, then…Why do the Little Things Matter?The Kingdom of God is built on faithfulness in little things.In Luke 16:10, Jesus teaches:“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”It’s in the little, unseen, seemingly insignificant things that our character is forged.Small choices to obey and trust God shape spiritual muscles.The quiet, hidden “yes” to God in faith helps to form deep roots that sustain great callings and acts of faith later on.David’s courage before Goliath began with fighting lions and bears to protect his flock in hidden fields when no one was looking.Joseph’s wisdom in the palace grew from humility and faithfulness while in a pit and in prison.Daniel’s resolve before the king and peace in the lions’ den was formed through years of disciplined prayer behind closed doors and close intimacy with God.Lasting impact in the Kingdom stems from the soil of small, steady obedience and trust-in-action over time.If Radical Faithfulness = Simple Obedience + Trust-in-Action, in the little things, sustained over time, with God, then…Why Must Faithfulness Be Sustained Over Time?Radical faithfulness is not a single act, it is a lifestyle.It is obedience rooted in trust that endures, abides, and continues.In Galatians 6:9, Paul exhorts us:“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”Time and trials test the sincerity of our devotion.And contrary to the belief that all suffering is the worst and to be avoided at all costs, Spirit-empowered perseverance through suffering actually matures us in Christlike character.In Romans 5:1-5 it powerfully says,“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”In Hebrews 12:1-3, it says,“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured from sinners

Radical faithfulness is something that’s been on my heart and mind a lot over the past months and even years. Relative to His own 1st century culture and to our own cultures today, the way Jesus walked, talked, and lived is completely radical and countercultural, yet also full of grace, truth, and love.As you read and recall the way, truth, and life of Jesus of Nazareth, you might wonder…* What does it mean to be faithful to God as Jesus was?* Is that even possible? If so, how can we be faithful to our Father, like Jesus?* What does this kind of set apart, stand out faithfulness actually look like?As I have been seeking the Lord through His Word and prayer, He has answered and helped me with a simple framework, or way of practically approaching this life of radical faithfulness that I know our God desires. This is the kind of life I want to live.Radical faithfulness is NOT about being perfect or a hero or legalistic or busy or living without struggles. It is not about instant results or self-sufficiency or comparison or being loud or flashy or impressive. In short, radical faithfulness is NOT a number of things. We’ll get to those later.Radical faithfulness consists of simple obedience and trust-in-action in the little things, sustained over time with Jesus—in the presence and power of God.It is the consistent, quiet “yes” to God that leads to faith-in-action and accumulates into a life that bears much fruit and glorifies the Lord.Based on the Scriptures, it is clear that this is what the Lord desires.This is what He empowers.This is what He delights in, loves, and blesses.And this is the life I want to live—in Christ, through Christ, and with Christ—walking in step with the Spirit as a child of God, seeking the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus with joy, reverence, and wholehearted devotion.Just to make sure we’re on the same page…here is theWHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, & WHY of RADICAL FAITHFULNESSWHO? You and me, alongside God’s Spirit, helping and empowering those who trust in Jesus.WHAT? We simply obey God and act in trust with the little things He entrusts to us.WHERE? With God, in His presence and power, wherever He leads us.WHEN? Over time, over the long run.WHY? Because the Lord our Savior and King is worthy of our radical faithfulness.Radical Faithfulness = Simple Obedience + Trust-in-Actionin the little things, sustained over time,with God.Stay tuned for our next podcast-post, because we’re planning to break down this equation piece by piece and answer:* What Is Simple Obedience?* What Is Trust-in-Action?* Why the Little Things Matter* Why Faithfulness Must Be Sustained Over TimeWe also plan to share on:* What Radical Faithfulness Is Not* Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Radical Faithfulness* Biblical Testimonies of Radical Faithfulness* Other Voices of WisdomAnd of course, we will pray together.Until we meet again, may the Lord our God bless you to simply obey His Word and voice and to put your trust-in-action in the little things, today, tomorrow, and over the long run.I ask and pray for you in the name of Jesus my Lord, Amen.Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with JESUS. Qu’est-ce que la FIDÉLITÉ RADICALE ?Et comment VIVRE DES VIES comme JÉSUS, AVEC JÉSUS ? — Une IntroductionObéissance simple & confiance mise en action dans les petites choses, soutenues dans le temps, avec DieuLa fidélité radicale est quelque chose qui habite mon cœur et mes pensées depuis des mois et même des années.Par rapport à la culture du 1er siècle de Jésus, et par rapport à nos cultures d’aujourd’hui, la manière dont Jésus marchait, parlait et vivait est totalement radicale et contre-culturelle—tout en étant pleine de grâce, de vérité et d’amour.En lisant et en te rappelant la voie, la vérité et la vie de Jésus de Nazareth, tu pourrais te demander…* Que signifie être fidèle à Dieu comme Jésus l’était ?* Est-ce même possible ? Si oui, comment pouvons-nous être fidèles à notre Père comme Jésus l’est ?* À quoi ressemble réellement ce type de fidélité mise à part, distincte, remarquable ?Alors que je cherchais le Seigneur dans Sa Parole et la prière, Il m’a répondu et aidé à travers un cadre simple—une manière pratique d’aborder cette vie de fidélité radicale que je sais que notre Dieu désire.C’est le genre de vie que je veux vivre.La fidélité radicale n’est PAS une question d’être parfait, d’être un héros, d’être légaliste, d’être occupé, ou de vivre sans luttes.Elle n’a rien à voir avec des résultats instantanés, l’auto-suffisance, la comparaison, ou être voyant, bruyant, ou impressionnant.En bref, la fidélité radicale n’est PAS un tas de choses. Nous y reviendrons plus tard.La fidélité radicale consiste en une obéissance simple et en une confiance mise en action dans les petites choses, soutenues dans le temps avec Jésus—dans la présence et la puissance de Dieu.C’est le « oui » constant et silencieux à Dieu qui conduit à la foi en action et s’accumule en une vie qui porte beaucoup de fruit et glorifie le Seigneur.D’après les Écritures, il est clair que c’est ce que le Seigneur désire.C’est ce qu’Il rend possible.C’est ce qu’Il aime, ce qui Lui plaît, et ce qu’Il bénit.Et c’est la vie que je veux vivre—en Christ, par Christ, et avec Christ—marchant selon l’Esprit comme un enfant de Dieu, cherchant la voie, la vérité et la vie de Jésus avec joie, révérence, et une dévotion de tout cœur.Pour nous assurer que nous sommes sur la même longueur d’onde… voici leQUI, QUOI, QUAND, OÙ & POURQUOI de la FIDÉLITÉ RADICALEQUI ? Toi et moi, avec l’aide de l’Esprit de Dieu, qui soutient et rend capables ceux qui mettent leur confiance en Jésus.QUOI ? Nous obéissons simplement à Dieu et agissons dans la confiance avec les petites choses qu’Il nous confie.OÙ ? Avec Dieu, dans Sa présence et Sa puissance, là où Il nous conduit.QUAND ? Dans la durée, sur le long terme.POURQUOI ? Parce que le Seigneur, notre Sauveur et Roi, est digne de notre fidélité radicale.Fidélité radicale = obéissance simple + confiance mise en actiondans les petites choses, soutenues dans le temps, avec Dieu.Reste à l’écoute pour notre prochain podcast-post, car nous prévoyons de décortiquer cette équation point par point et de répondre :* Qu’est-ce que l’obéissance simple ?* Qu’est-ce que la confiance mise en action ?* Pourquoi les petites choses comptent* Pourquoi la fidélité doit être soutenue dans le tempsNous prévoyons également de partager sur :* Ce que la fidélité radicale n’est pas* Jésus : l’exemple ultime de la fidélité radicale* Témoignages bibliques de fidélité radicale* D’autres voix de sagesseEt bien sûr, nous prierons ensemble.Jusqu’à ce que nous nous retrouvions, que le Seigneur notre Dieu te bénisse afin que tu obéisses simplement à Sa Parole et à Sa voix, et que tu mettes ta confiance-en-action dans les petites choses—aujourd’hui, demain, et sur la durée.Je le demande et je prie pour toi au nom de Jésus, mon Seigneur. Amen.Merci de m’avoir rejoint dans cette VIE EN MISSION avec JÉSUS. Get full access to LIFE ON MISSION with TANNER KLEIN at lifeonmissiontannerklein.substack.com/subscribe

Lord God Almighty,I come before Your throne of grace in the name of Jesus to lift up every precious person listening or reading right now. Thank You for drawing us near to Yourself and thank You for drawing near to us.Lord, You are awesome. I come before You with humility and awe, knowing You are God and I am not. I depend on You completely. Thank You for inviting us to come boldly before Your throne of grace. What a mind-blowing and awe-inspiring gift.Thank You for Your love. Your love is not distant, or fragile, or conditional—it’s steadfast, unchanging, and so personal.Father, I ask that You fortify the faith of every soul reading this post or listening to this podcast. Strengthen and satisfy the spiritual hunger in their hearts with Your Word today, and every day to come.Where there has been fear, I ask that you replace it with Your perfect love, Lord.Where there has been insecurity, speak Your unshakeable truth.Where there has been anxiety, breathe Your peace that surpasses all understanding.Where their faith has felt compromised or weakened by the weight of this world or just the weight of everyday life, in Your mercy, renew them, restore them, and lift their eyes to Jesus once again, even now.Lord, we look to You. Remove every lie that has whispered, “You are alone,” or “You are not enough,” or “You don’t have what it takes.” Silence every voice of condemnation, and let the voice of Your Holy Spirit be heard clearly as you speak Your life-giving truth: “You are Mine. You are loved. You are chosen. You are redeemed.” Lord, let Your truth take root deep within us. Anchor our identity in Christ alone.I pray that You give them renewed perspective—to see their life, their story, and their future through the lens of eternity. Open their spiritual eyes to behold Your beauty, Your faithfulness, and the power of Your presence today. Let them see every challenge as an opportunity for Your light to shine. Open our eyes to see every trial as an invitation to welcome Jesus’ nearness, leadership and lordship.Father, strengthen their resolve to stand firm in the faith. Fill them with fresh joy—real joy, unshakeable joy—that comes not from circumstances, but from abiding in You, Lord our God. In Your presence is fullness of joy. May courage rise in their hearts right now. May hope be revived. May bold obedience replace hesitation and inaction. Let worship replace worry. Let the fear of the Lord—not the fear of man—inspire decisions, thoughts, and desires.Father, let Your Holy Spirit empower your sons and daughters to walk in the freedom that Jesus purchased for them. Free them from every old pattern that keeps them from running the race You have set before them with joy and endurance. Surround them with Your peace, cover them with Your protection, and saturate them with Your presence. Let them know, right now, in the depths of their being, that their identity and value are secure in Christ. Open their hearts to know that they are held, they are seen, and they are perfectly loved by You, Lord our God.Faithful Father, build our faith today be stronger than it was yesterday. May our hope this week be deeper than it was last week. And may our confidence be rooted not in ourselves, but in Christ—our Rock, our Redeemer, our Savior, and our King who’s coming soon.And Father, for anyone who feels distant from You, draw them close. For anyone who feels broken, bring healing. For anyone who feels lost, lead them home in Jesus’ name. Let Your light expose and expel darkness. I pray in the name of Jesus, that Your truth and proven love would destroy every stronghold and foothold of sin and addiction.Thank You, Father, Almighty God! Thank You Lord for the work You are doing right now. Thank You for the victory You’ve already won. Thank You for the abundant life You freely give to all who trust in You and who follow the way of Jesus. Lord our God, we bless Your holy name. We honor You as King, Savior, and Lord. We exalt You, Worthy One. You alone are worthy of all glory, honor, thanksgiving, and praise.In the mighty, beautiful, all-powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray,Amen.🇫🇷 Ma prière de 5 minutes pour toi : Pour une FOI FORTIFIÉE et une PERSPECTIVE RENOUVELÉEUne bonne interruptionDieu Tout-Puissant,Je viens devant Ton trône de grâce au nom de Jésus pour Te présenter chaque personne précieuse qui lit ou écoute en ce moment. Merci de nous attirer près de Toi, et merci de t’approcher de nous.Seigneur, Tu es merveilleux. Je viens devant Toi avec humilité et crainte respectueuse, sachant que Tu es Dieu et que je ne le suis pas. Je dépends entièrement de Toi. Merci de nous inviter à venir avec assurance devant Ton trône de grâce. Quel don incroyable et rempli d’émerveillement.Merci pour Ton amour. Ton amour n’est ni lointain, ni fragile, ni conditionnel—il est ferme, immuable, et profondément personnel.Père, je Te demande de fortifier la foi de chaque âme qui lit ce message ou écoute ce podcast. Fortifie et rassasie la faim spirituelle dans leurs cœurs par Ta Parole aujourd’hui, et chaque jour à venir.Là où il y a eu de la peur, je Te demande de la remplacer par Ton amour parfait, Seigneur.Là où il y a eu de l’insécurité, parle Ta vérité inébranlable.Là où il y a eu de l’anxiété, souffle Ta paix qui surpasse toute intelligence.Là où leur foi s’est sentie compromise ou affaiblie par le poids de ce monde ou simplement par le poids de la vie quotidienne, dans Ta miséricorde, renouvelle-les, restaure-les, et relève leurs regards vers Jésus une fois de plus, même maintenant.Seigneur, nous regardons à Toi.Ôte tout mensonge qui a chuchoté : « Tu es seul », ou « Tu n’es pas à la hauteur », ou « Tu n’as pas ce qu’il faut ».Fais taire toute voix de condamnation, et que la voix de Ton Saint-Esprit soit entendue clairement alors que Tu parles Ta vérité vivifiante :« Tu es à Moi. Tu es aimé. Tu es choisi. Tu es racheté. »Seigneur, que Ta vérité s’enracine profondément en nous.Ancre notre identité en Christ seul.Je prie que Tu leur donnes une perspective renouvelée—pour voir leur vie, leur histoire et leur avenir à travers la lentille de l’éternité. Ouvre leurs yeux spirituels pour contempler Ta beauté, Ta fidélité, et la puissance de Ta présence aujourd’hui.Qu’ils voient chaque défi comme une occasion pour Ta lumière de briller.Ouvre nos yeux pour voir chaque épreuve comme une invitation à accueillir la proximité, la direction et la seigneurie de Jésus.Père, fortifie leur détermination à demeurer fermes dans la foi.Remplis-les d’une joie nouvelle—une joie réelle, inébranlable—qui ne vient pas des circonstances, mais du fait d’habiter en Toi, Seigneur notre Dieu. En Ta présence se trouve la plénitude de la joie.Que le courage s’élève dans leurs cœurs maintenant.Que l’espérance revive.Que l’obéissance audacieuse remplace l’hésitation et l’inaction.Que l’adoration remplace l’inquiétude.Que la crainte de l’Éternel—et non la crainte des hommes—inspire leurs décisions, leurs pensées et leurs désirs.Père, que Ton Saint-Esprit donne puissance à Tes fils et Tes filles pour marcher dans la liberté que Jésus a acquise pour eux.Libère-les de tout ancien schéma qui les empêche de courir la course que Tu as mise devant eux, avec joie et persévérance. Entoure-les de Ta paix, couvre-les de Ta protection, et imprègne-les de Ta présence. Fais-leur savoir, maintenant, au plus profond d’eux-mêmes, que leur identité et leur valeur sont en sécurité en Christ. Ouvre leurs cœurs pour qu’ils sachent qu’ils sont tenus, qu’ils sont vus, et qu’ils sont parfaitement aimés de Toi, Seigneur notre Dieu.Père fidèle, fais que notre foi aujourd’hui soit plus forte qu’hier.Que notre espérance cette semaine soit plus profonde que la semaine dernière.Et que notre confiance soit enracinée non en nous-mêmes, mais en Christ—notre Rocher, notre Rédempteur, notre Sauveur et notre Roi qui revient bientôt.Et Père, pour toute personne qui se sent loin de Toi, rapproche-la.Pour toute personne qui se sent brisée, apporte la guérison.Pour toute personne qui se sent perdue, ramène-la à la maison au nom de Jésus.Que Ta lumière expose et chasse les ténèbres.Je prie, au nom de Jésus, que Ta vérité et Ton amour éprouvé détruisent toute forteresse et tout point d’appui du péché ou de l’addiction.Merci, Père, Dieu Tout-Puissant !Merci Seigneur pour l’œuvre que Tu accomplis en ce moment.Merci pour la victoire que Tu as déjà remportée.Merci pour la vie abondante que Tu donnes gratuitement à tous ceux qui mettent leur confiance en Toi et qui suivent la voie de Jésus.Seigneur notre Dieu, nous bénissons Ton saint nom.Nous T’honorons comme Roi, Sauveur et Seigneur.Nous T’exaltons, Toi le Digne.Toi seul es digne de toute gloire, de tout honneur, de toute reconnaissance et de toute louange.Dans le nom puissant, magnifique et tout-puissant de Jésus-Christ nous prions,Amen. Get full access to LIFE ON MISSION with TANNER KLEIN at lifeonmissiontannerklein.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. My name Tanner Klein.In our last post (linked here), we introduced REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, the beautiful and countercultural call to build ventures that reflect the sacrificial love of Jesus in a broken world.We covered: * What is Redemption? * What exactly is Redemptive Entrepreneurship?* What Makes It Redemptive? Three Marks: Motives, Methods, & Outcomes* Why This Matters Right Now* What does Redemptive Entrepreneurship look like in real life?I shared why I am writing this series and we prayed together.Here’s one key point I want to highlight again:God can make an eternally significant impact on other eternal souls through us, and He does! That is absolutely amazing. So, we’re pressing on in faith together. Today, we’re going a bit deeper.THE THREE WAYS WE BUILD: Exploitative, Ethical, and Redemptive EntrepreneurshipIf we want to build with Christ, we need to understand the three ways in which we can choose to lead and create.I mentioned Praxis in my introduction to REDEMPTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Praxis is an inspiring NYC-based organization advancing redemptive entrepreneurship.Attached below a powerful graphic our friends at Praxis call “The Redemptive Frame.”It overlays the three ways to build (Exploitative, Ethical, Redemptive) with the three dimensions of building (Strategy, Operations, Leadership).Praxis lays out Strategy as What we build, Operations as How we build, and Leadership as Why we build.Within the center of the circle is the most common and worldly way to build: The Exploitative way. It’s characterized by Living for Self, Using People, and Leveraging Culture.Surrounding the exploitative circle is the much less common and improved way to build: The Ethical way.It’s characterized by Improving Yourself, Respecting People, and Advancing Culture.The outer circle surrounding the ethical circle is the rare, radical, and Christlike way to build: The Redemptive way. It’s characterized by Dying to Self, Blessing People, and Renewing Culture.I believe that every entrepreneur, leader, creative, founder, and builder is operating out of one of these three ways to build—whether we realize it or not.And the way we choose determines the culture we shape, the people we impact, and the story our work tells about the God we serve.1. THE EXPLOITATIVE WAYHow much can I get out of this?Praxis puts it this way:”Take all you can get.””I win, you lose.””Win and control.”This is the default mode of a fallen world.Exploitative entrepreneurship uses:* People,* Power,* Resources,* Relationships, &* Systems,…for personal gain.It asks:“How can this benefit me the most?”It is often characterized by the aforementioned “I win, you lose” mentality.Even if it harms others.Even if it destroys trust.Even if it costs someone else their dignity.Put simply: exploitative builders take more than they give.What this looks like in real life:* If profit becomes the primary goal, then people become tools.* If cutting corners improves margins, then integrity becomes negotiable.* If someone on the team is struggling, then their weakness becomes a liability, not an opportunity to communicate, care, and grow together.* If growth demands more pressure, then burnout becomes normal.In short:Exploitation prioritizes self at the expense of others.This way of building may succeed for a moment, but it takes far more than it gives and fights against God’s good design.It is often motivated by fear of lack and scarcity.It opposes the way of the Kingdom of God.It opposes what Jesus said, how He lived, and what He stood for.2. THE ETHICAL WAYHow do I do good and avoid harm?Praxis puts it this way:”Do things right.””I win, you win.””Be good and do good.”Ethical entrepreneurship is a step in the right direction.It’s not sacrificial, but it is more responsible.It tries to “do business right” without necessarily aiming for transformation.Its core question is:“Am I operating fairly and honestly?”This is good. It is a notable improvement.But it is not yet redemptive.What this looks like in real life:* If I pay fair wages and treat people well, then my conscience is clear.* If I avoid harmful practices, then I can feel good about my company and efforts being “ethical.”* If someone is hurting, then I’d like show empathy, but not at a cost to myself or the company.* If generosity fits the budget or we have excess, then we can give.Put simply:Ethical builders avoid causing harm, but they rarely go out of their way to bring restoration. While ethical entrepreneurship helps, redemptive entrepreneurship restores.The Ethical way seeks after the absence of injustice.Meanwhile, the Redemptive way is characterized by self-giving love motivating transformational action.3. THE REDEMPTIVE WAYHow can I sacrificially bless others, even though it costs me?Praxis puts it this way:”Creative restoration through sacrifice.””I sacrifice, we win.””Love and serve.”This is the way of Jesus.The way of the cross.The way of the Kingdom.Redemptive entrepreneurship is not just “doing no harm.”It is doing lasting good—God-glorifying, sacrificial, people-blessing good.It asks:“What reflects Christ here?”“How can I participate in God’s work of renewal?”“How can I show love, even if it slows me down, even when it costs me something?”What this looks like in real life:* If paying employees generously cuts into our profits, then we trust God to provide as we honor those we’ve been entrusted to lead and steward well.* If someone on the team is struggling, then we slow down to show compassion and meet them where they’re at rather than speed up their suffering with fear-based pressure.* If an opportunity is “strategic” but misaligned with Christ’s heart, then we walk away without fear of missing out.* If God asks me to give more, serve more, or surrender more, then obedience becomes the win.In other words:Redemption is costly love in action.This kind of entrepreneurship mirrors the self-giving way of Jesus and the Gospel itself.Put simply:Exploitative action takes.Ethical action avoids harm.Redemptive action gives.Why this matters for Kingdom Builders like You and Me TodayYou and I are not just building businesses or projects or ministries…We are revealing a King and a Kingdom.Our actions speak for themselves.Our decisions preach something.Our culture preaches something.How we use the limited time we’re given preaches something.This is why we must take up Christ’s invitation to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him—to be disciples of our Master and Good Shepherd, Jesus. And whether we like it or acknowledge it, the world is watching. You and I are either witnesses of Christ and His Kingdom, or we are witnesses of something or someone else.We are either representatives of His way, truth, and life, or we are representing something or someone else.From what we say and how we say it to what we do and how we spent our time, we either represent Christ well or we don’t or we blend in to the ways of the world.These are some real reasons behind why we must choose to prioritize life with Jesus: * sitting at His feet and treasuring His presence, * following His way that leads to life, * absorbing and applying His truth, * learning from His rhythms and words, * observing who He is, how He listens and speaks, how He serves and gives freely, how He engages with and impacts others, how He loves though it costs Him, and even how He rests. The more we seek Jesus, the more we find Him. The more we embrace who God is, the more we understand and embrace our identify in Christ, andthe more we enjoy abundant life with our Lord and become more like Him— more and more, day by day.Have you heard it said that we become like the people we spend the most time with?The more we spend our time surrounded by a certain person or group of people, the more we tend to dress, speak, and live like them.This is true of our relationship with the living God.Have you considered that you and I become more like what or who we behold? For example, the more you and I fix our attention on anger- or fear-driven news, posts, videos, and reels, the more impulsive, anxious, and frustrated we can become.Likewise, the more we behold the way, truth, and life of Christ, the more we understand, experience, and share His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.This is a powerful reality.This helps to explain why God designed us to run the race He has set before us with endurance as we keep our eyes on the Prize, that is, on Jesus. Let’s see this for ourselves in Hebrews 12:1-3. It says,“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, *looking to Jesus*, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”Hallelujah! All glory to God!So, the more we spend time with the Lord, the more we become like Him. And the more we behold the Lord Jesus—His way, truth, and life—the more we experience and enjoy more abundant life with Him.That’s awesome news.So, what does this have to do with the ways we build?The question is not:“Am I building something impressive?”The question is:Am I building faithfully with Christ?It seems that our world measures success by immediate, often short-term results, while the Kingdom of God measures success by faithfulness and obedience motivated by love for and trust in the Lord.That should lead us to at least wonder…What is success? And who decides what results are successful?According to our world, success is decided by whatever you or other people consider is successful or not. In other words, we can strive to

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. My name Tanner Klein.For the longest time I’ve been inspired by the integration of faith and work. I love business as mission (BAM), business for transformation (B4T), faith-driven entrepreneurs, reaching the unreached by way of local business or investment in an otherwise inaccessible community, ministries engaging in the marketplace, and the like.There is so much opportunity to use the gifts, time, talents, and resources God has given us to glorify Him while making a real and lasting impact in other peoples’ lives, across families, communities, and nations alike. That is amazing. God can make an eternally significant impact on other eternal souls through us, and He does! Few topics get me more fired up. Our lives have so much meaning. Today has so much purpose.Understandably, I’ve embraced living on mission abroad for the sake of Christ. And here’s something I’ve witnessed from the US to Singapore to Europe to New Zealand and beyond. When I look at the landscape of business, ministry, creativity, and culture today, I see something extraordinary:God is raising up men and women who want to build with Him, not just for Him.He’s stirring a generation of entrepreneurs who aren’t driven by worldly success, who aren’t chasing influence, who aren’t satisfied with business-as-usual, and who aren’t settling for a compartmentalized faith that gets picked up on Sunday and left at home on Monday.These are people who want to create with Jesus, serve like Jesus, and love the world the way Jesus loves the world.People who want to solve real problems without losing their souls.People who want to build ventures that express the heart of God.This reflects the heart of Redemptive Entrepreneurship.Not exploitative entrepreneurship.Not simply social entrepreneurship.Not just ethical entrepreneurship.Redemptive Entrepreneurship is about joining God in His ongoing work of renewal—right where we are—building, leading, serving, and creating. And through the years, this kind of entrepreneurship reflecting the ways of Jesus and His Kingdom has captivated my attention and inspired me greatly in my own business, missional, and entrepreneurial efforts. I’m excited to explore this more with you all.Let’s start with a question…What is Redemption? The New Testament Greek word for redemption, ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrōsis), is a compound word, literally translated as, “from ransom.” It means “to redeem one by paying the price” or “to let one go free on receiving the price” (Blue Letter Bible). It’s another word for deliverance.Redemption is costly. It involves sacrifice. It’s the way of the cross.It’s the way of Christ.Ephesians 1:7 says this about our redemption that we have through Christ’s blood, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”Jesus took upon Himself the penalty for our sins, that is God’s wrath and righteous judgement, and He willingly laid down His life for us. Jesus died in our place. He overcame sin, death, and the grave, and He rose again so that we may live redeemed lives through Christ in close communion with our Creator.And because of this, we now get to embrace Christ’s resurrection life. We get to learn and walk in Jesus’ way, truth, and life.We get to collaborate and partner with Christ our Lord as active participants in God’s grand plan of redemption, here and now, and beyond, reaching every tribe, tongue, and nation for the sake of Christ and the glory of God. So what exactly is Redemptive Entrepreneurship?Put simply, in my words:Redemptive Entrepreneurship is building ventures that model the sacrificial love of Jesus in a broken world—restoring people, systems, and culture so that they better reflect God’s Kingdom.If exploitive entrepreneurship says, “How much can I get out of people?”And ethical entrepreneurship says, “How can I avoid harming people?”Then redemptive entrepreneurship says:“How can I bless people—even when it costs me—because that’s what Jesus did for me?”Allow me to introduce you to Praxis, a NYC-based organization advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. Here’s how they break down the two parts of redemptive entrepreneurship:REDEMPTIVE - “following the pattern of creative restoration through sacrifice in our life and work.”ENTREPRENEURSHIP - “directing our agency and resources toward organizational creation, innovation, and risk.”According to our faith-filled brothers and sisters at Praxis, “Redemptive entrepreneurship islove in organizational action:following the pattern ofcreative restoration through sacrifice,integrated across leadership, strategy, and operationsin venture creation, innovation, and funding.”That is beautiful to me. The heart behind it. The love in action. The pattern of creative restoration through sacrifice. Bringing unity between the why, what, and how behind all that a team or organization does. I am convinced this deeply pleases God. This is like a delicious, sweet smelling aroma before His throne. I love it.Before I get carried away, next question…What Makes It Redemptive? Three Marks: Motives, Methods, & OutcomesHere’s what I mean.1. Motives: We build from love, not from ego.Entrepreneurship can easily become about proving something, achieving something, or accumulating something.But redemptive entrepreneurship starts with surrender. For example,“Lord, this is Yours. Lead me.”This might look like:* Saying “no” to a shortcut or partnership that compromises integrity—even if it would accelerate growth.* Choosing transparency over image.* Making decisions in prayer, not out of pressure.* Taking action in faith, not in fear.* Dying to self and denying self for the sake of Christ.In short: my submission to the Lord’s leadership sets the entire direction of my work.We are meant to be motivated by God’s love, building and partnering with God to both bring Him glory and bless people made in His image.In doing so, we both play an active role in God’s plan to renew and redeem culture.2. Methods: We co-create in ways that dignify people, not use them.Redemptive entrepreneurship is deeply relational.We don’t just build products, we invest in and seek to bless eternal souls.We don’t just scale, we steward and shepherd.For example:* If someone on my team is struggling, I slow down and help instead of squeezing more out of them.* If a supplier is vulnerable, I honor them by paying fairly and on time, even if it narrows my margin and may be temporarily inconvenient.* If a customer is in need, I seek to serve them like Christ would, not merely as a transaction.In other words:How I build matters just as much as what I build.3. Outcomes: We aim for renewal, not simply success in the world’s eyes.Success in the Kingdom isn’t measured by numbers, but by trust-fueled obedience.Not by reach, but by faithfulness.Not by applause, but by fruit and Christlike character that represents what Jesus is like.This might look like:* Creating jobs that restore dignity, enhance skillsets, and pave new paths forward for the overlooked, misunderstood, and undervalued.* Building products that heal or protect rather than exploit.* Reinventing business models to build up and benefit vulnerable communities, not just key shareholders.* Giving away profits, time, or opportunities because generosity has become a default posture.This is counter-cultural.In short:Redemptive work brings renewal and life, just as the Spirit of God brings renewal and life in and through us.Why This Matters — Right NowWe live in a cultural moment where trust is low, anxiety is high, and people are hungry for something real.Businesses have influence, but the world doesn’t need more powerful companies.The world needs more Christlike leaders.It needs entrepreneurs who:* Fear God more than they fear failure.* Love people more than they love profit.* Walk in holiness more than they chase relevancy.* Live for eternal impact, not temporary approval.Entrepreneurs whose “success metrics” sound more like the Beatitudes than like Wall StreetThis is why Redemptive Entrepreneurship isn’t a trend. It’s ancient, yet new to many, and now it’s being brought back into the light.Redemptive Entrepreneurship a calling from the Lord.It’s a way of carrying the cross into the marketplace, where Jesus still intends to establish His Kingdom and let His will be done.Another question…What does Redemptive Entrepreneurship look like in real life?Here are a few practical examples:* If you’re starting something new, begin with prayer, not pitch decks.* If God convicts you about your motives, slow down and turn to God before you speed back up.* When you need to make a tough choice, pray, listen, seek counsel necessary (if necessary), and choose the option that honors Christ, not the option that is simply easier or more profitable.* When you’re creating a product, ask: “Does this bless people or burden them?”* If you’re managing a team, prioritize love and good stewardship over results.* If you’re growing, make generosity a habit, not the final step after success.Put simply:Live redemptively. Build redemptively. Serve and lead redemptively.Consistently.Quietly.Faithfully.This consistency will set you apart over time.I think that consistency is where redemptive impact takes root.Why am I writing this series?Because God is birthing something powerful in this generation.Because He is inviting us to see our work the way He sees it.Because God’s Kingdom is not confined to preachers on pulpits on Sunday mornings. God’s Kingdom is advancing in families, boardrooms, cafés, studios, workshops, and neighborhoods.Because entrepreneurship is a vehicle for discipleship.Because our new ventures and daily work can be collaborations with Christ.Because Jesus is Lord over every square inch of creation.And because…The world God loves is groaning for redemption, and we get to join Him in His work—entrepreneurs and otherwise.This series is my simple

Hey friends, thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION. I’m Tanner Klein. This one is going to be potent, I think.It’s a beautiful day to celebrate the truth, unpack some junk, and expose some darkness to the light.Here’s a quick introduction. In this series, we are aiming to honestly expose widespread false gospels to the light and truth of Christ, and contrast these with the true Good News of Jesus and the always advancing Kingdom of God.So far we’ve contrasted the Good News of Jesus with the false gospels of: WEALTH & COMFORT, SALVATION WITHOUT LORDSHIP, POPULARITY & INFLUENCE, POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, and LIFE WITHOUT SUFFERING. Spicy topics, I know. Before these we gave the Series Introduction, called Which Gospel Are You Living By? This came after we had a fun time diving into CULTURAL SAYINGS vs GOD’S TRUTH - Unpacking some Junk and Replacing it with Eternal Treasures. These are all linked here.* The FALSE GOSPEL of WEALTH & COMFORT* The FALSE GOSPEL of SALVATION WITHOUT LORDSHIP* The FALSE GOSPEL of LIFE WITHOUT SUFFERING* The FALSE GOSPEL of POLITICAL IDEOLOGY* The FALSE GOSPEL of POPULARITY & INFLUENCE* Which Gospel Are You Living By? The Series Introduction* CULTURAL SAYINGS vs GOD’S TRUTH The Series InspirationWhy this, now? Because the Lord really moved my heart with His desire to inspire real, lasting HOPE in us, especially in an age when so many lack real hope.So, I believe that God will restore HOPE in us as we turn our eyes toward Jesus and respond to the truth that sets us free.My prayer is that this series will refresh you with the best news ever and inspire lasting, contagious hope within you.Now, let’s start with the powerful truth shared in Colossians 3:3,“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”The Cultural Lie: “Be True to Yourself.”We live in the age of curated identity. In a world that preaches:* “Follow your heart.” * “Live your truth.”* “Express your authentic self.”* “You do you.”* “Only you can define who you are.”* “Don’t let anyone tell you who to be.”These sounds empowering, right? Like the ultimate form of freedom?But here’s the lie at the heart of it: “Your truest, most flourishing self is found apart from God’s design and authority.”It’s the False Gospel of Self-Expression and Identity Autonomy, the belief that freedom and fulfillment come by looking inward, instead of upward to our Creator.But the truth according to God’s Word is far more beautiful and far more freeing.You Were Made in God’s Image…to be Remade in ChristAccording to Scripture, we don’t discover and define our identity—we receive it.We are not self-made. We are created.For example, consider an artist, like a potter, and the work they create. A creation, such as a handcrafted bowl, doesn’t define its own purpose and value. Instead, the creator defines the purpose of the creation and can explain why he or she made it. Will the potter’s handcrafted bowl be used to hold scrap pieces of clay in the studio? Or will it be sold to a wealthy collector or used in a palace?God uses a similar analogy to help us understand who He is as our Creator and who we are as His creation.God is the Potter. We are the clay. That isn’t a bad thing. That is an amazing reality if you know and trust God’s proven character and perfect record of steadfast love toward us.This is the same Creator who sent His Son to die in our place so that we might live through Him, through Christ our Savior who didn’t stay in the tomb, but rose again and lives eternally.In Ephesians 2:8-10, we find that by His unmerited grace, God offers salvation to those who anchor their faith in Him. And we find that He doesn’t just see us as clay, but as His masterpiece, His workmanship, made new in Christ for good works that God prepared for us to do in advance.“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”From the beginning, at the start of creation, we find God’s original design for humanity. To be human is to be an image-bearer of God, made in the likeness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.In Genesis 1:26a, it says,“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’”We were made by God, for God, to reflect God. Not to define ourselves, but to be defined by Him—our Maker and Redeemer.And when sin shattered that image, Jesus came not so we could find ourselves, but so we could find ultimate satisfaction in Him, to adopt our true identity in Christ, and be made new and more fully who God designed us to become. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says,“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”This is not repression of identity. This is redemption. Our debts are paid for in full thanks to Jesus. Our sin is removed and our guilt is atoned for.We are new in Christ. The new has come.Now comes the difficult part: Actually living like this is true, like we are redeemed, new creations in Christ…like we are set apart ambassadors for Christ and His Kingdom in a world that celebrates self-expression and seeks autonomy from God’s loving rule and reign.Why this Lie Glorifying Self-Expression is so Appealing (and so Insidious)Our culture idolizes self—self-expression, self-definition, self-autonomy. So we’re told things like:* “Look within yourself to find what you need.”* “Trust yourself.”* “Follow your desires.”* “If it feels true to you, it must be right.”* “Manifest your destiny.”* “Become your best self.”* “Don’t let anyone ‘suppress’ your identity.”* “You know you best”But here’s the problem: our self is broken and needs to be healed, to be redeemed.We are not just blank slates or hidden treasures waiting to be unlocked.According to the Bible, here is our unenviable reality before we anchor our faith in Jesus and welcome Christ into our hearts and lives as our Savior and Lord.This took a lot of research, so feel free to explore the supporting Bible verses and passages attached alongside each point below.Before and without Christ, we are:* Born into sin (Psalm 51:5)* Dead in our sin, following the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air, & children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3)* Deceived by our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9)* Spiritually blind (2 Corinthians 4:4)* Enemies of God (Romans 5:10-12)* Separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)* Slaves to sin (Romans 6:16–20)* Unable to please God (Romans 8:7–8)* Walking in darkness (John 8:12)* Lovers of darkness rather than light (John 3:19)* Bondservants of corruption (2 Peter 2:19)* Unable to understand the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14)* Trying to build an identity and life on shifting sand (Matthew 7:26–27)* Unable to save ourselves by our works (Titus 3:5)* Destined for judgement (Hebrews 9:27)* On the broad road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13)* Hopeless and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12)Whether we or they know it or not, according to the Bible, this is the current state of those who do not experientially know God and submit to Jesus as Lord.This is hard to hear, I know. This topic is easily passed over or disregarded. If I had a worst enemy, I wouldn’t wish these things on my worst enemy.If you have anchored your faith and life in Christ, this list should be a source of gratitude for all God has saved you from, and it should be a source of inspiration to live out your faith boldly and to share the hope, love, and freedom you have in Christ among those who are currently living in the midst of this dark reality, unaware of the ever-available goodness and grace of God.So, I hope it’s a bit more clear to see that trying to define yourself apart from our Creator God is like trying to put together Ikea furniture without the instructions…blindfolded…while being told that up is down, right is left, you do you, truth is relative, there’s no structure, no consequences, and no end goal.In other words: it doesn’t end well.Let’s Expose Some the Half-Truths surrounding Self-Expression and Identity AutonomyHalf-Truth #1: “Your identity is found within.”Truth: Your identity is found in Christ…not in your ever-shifting feelings, desires, or self-perception.In Colossians 3:3-4, it says as we mentioned earlier,“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”Our life—our truest identity—is hidden with Jesus in God, not discovered by introspection.Half-Truth #2: “You are who you feel you are.”Truth: Our feelings don’t define what is true, they can lie and deceive us—but God’s Word never does. Our feelings can be helpful indicators of what we are experiencing, but are not meant to direct us.It says in Jeremiah 17:9,“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”In John 17:17, Jesus prays,“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”The Greek word, hagiazō, translated here as “Sanctify,” is also translated as “Set apart,” as God would consecrate or set apart someone or something for holy service. So, this prayer can also be understood as Jesus asking the Father,“Set them apart (for holy service) in the truth; Your word is truth.”In Christ, you are a beloved son or daughter, set apart for holy service to God, being shaped by God in love over the course of your life to better resemble the character and likeness of Christ Jesus your Lord to the world around you living in darkness.Your heart isn’t your compass. God’s Word is.Your feelings don’t define who you are, your Creator does.Half-Truth #3: “Your body and identity are separate.”Truth: God beautifully created us as spiritual and physical beings, male and female, as part of His very good design.In Genesis 1:27, it says,“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and fem

Hey friends, thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I’m Tanner Klein.I don’t know about you, but mornings really set the tone for my whole day.Lately, the Lord has been stirring my heart to rethink what those early hours can look like, not in a burdensome or legalistic way, but in a way that actually honors Him, draws me closer to Jesus, and anchors me in truth before the volume of life gets increasingly louder.It seems evident the way we begin our day can either pull us toward God or drift us deeper into distraction and directionlessness.It’s helpful to know that the Scriptures give us a surprising amount of wisdom about mornings—how to approach them, what to seek, and what pleases God when the sun rises each morning.So today, I want to talk about developing a practical and simple morning routine that honors the Lord our God.Not a complicated one. Not a Pinterest-perfect or Instagramable one.Just a faithful one. A joyful one.A daily rhythm that exalts Christ and keeps our hearts tender, humble, and aware of His presence.Lead the way, Lord our God!1. Start the Morning by Seeking God Before Anything Else…Begin With ThankfulnessThere’s something powerful about seeking the Lord early.There is Biblical precedence for this.David said: “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice” (Psalm 5:3).In Psalm 143:8, David also prayed to the LORD,“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”And as always, we can look at Jesus’ example. He rose “very early in the morning, while it was still dark,” to pray (Mark 1:35).So before grabbing our phones, before scrolling, before jumping into the day…we have the holy opportunity to pause and let our first conversation be with the Lord our Maker, the Lover of our souls.We can keep the first things first. In this case, we can keep the Lord first.It can be as simple as:“Good morning, Lord. This day is Yours.”This is a great introduction to new day engagement with the living God.Psalm 92 says it’s good to declare God’s steadfast love in the morning.There’s something about gratitude that aligns our hearts, lifts our eyes, and restores our perspective.So maybe your morning gratitude sounds like:“Lord, thank You for breath, for life, for this new day. Thank You for Your new mercies. Thank You for Your patience and presence with me now.”Based on the Scriptures, I believe it’s clear that gratitude leads to praise. It honors the Lord, and it powerfully impacts our awareness of God’s nearness and goodness.Seeking God first with thanksgiving really sets our trajectory for the day.2. Offer Yourself and Your Day to GodRomans 12:1 calls this “spiritual worship,” or “latreia” in Greek:presenting yourself to God as a living sacrifice—fully, honestly, & joyfully.Paul writes,“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your (latreia) spiritual worship.”So each morning, we can follow our thanksgiving with a submitted prayer such as:“Lord Jesus, I belong to You. My day belongs to You. My time, my thoughts, my efforts. Teach me to walk in Your ways today.”This is not an exercise in striving or performing for God’s approval or blessing.This is a simple and honest act of surrendering to the trustworthy leadership of the Lord our Good Shepherd.I think you’ll be amazed at how differently you walk through your day when you begin with this surrendered heart posture.3. Prayerfully Engage with God by Reading His Word (even if it’s just a small portion)Pray as you open the Word of God, fully expectant that God will draw near to You as You draw near to Him…knowing, He is ready to meet you where you are at.Psalm 1 paints a picture of the blessed person—rooted, fruitful, steady—who meditates on God’s Word “day and night.” It also contrasts this person with the way of the wicked that will perish.Your morning rhythm doesn’t have to be an hour-long Bible study.But it can be steady, faithful, attentive, and responsive.For example, read a section from the Gospels in the New Testament, from the accounts surrounding the way, truth, and life of Jesus Christ, found in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.Turn to the Old Testament and read a psalm.Read a Proverb.Read in context.Ask a simple question:“Lord, how can I walk this out today?”You don’t have to rush.You don’t have to impress God.Just open the Word and let God speak through it to you.Listen and respond by faith. It’s that simple.This act of hearing and responding by faith honors the Lord who designed us to walk in communion with Him.4. Commit Yourself & Your Day to GodHere are some verses that I love, verses that have radically impacted my life and walk with the Lord.Proverbs 16:3 says,“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”That sounds amazing, right? But this is also why we read in context.Proverbs 16:9 says,“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”So we see, we are to commit our work to the LORD and our “plans will be established,” while also knowing that it is not our plans or way that always prevails, but the LORD is the One who establishes our steps.So, there’s a beautiful balance here.Proverbs 3:5-6 says,“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”So, here’s a rhythm we can develop.We can take 60 seconds with awareness of the Lord’s presence, and take a look at our calendar, our to-do lists, our prospective meetings or plans, and invite the Lord into all of it.For example,“Father in heaven, I acknowledge that Jesus is Lord over my life and Lord over this day. Guide me. Strengthen me and give me wisdom to pursue all You give me the grace to do with You. Let Your light shine through me.”This is one way we walk in the fear of the Lord, acknowledging Him in all our ways and committing to God whatever He gives us the grace to pursue with Him.5. Proactively Plan An Act of LoveInstead of being overwhelmed by all the things we could or should do, seek the Lord’s guidance in choosing at least one small, intentional act of love for the day.Love-in-action is a right and beautiful response to God’s great love for us.This may look like forgiving someone who wounded you, maybe a family member, boss, or someone close to you.It might look like reaching out to encourage someone.It might look like giving generously to someone in need.It might look like doing the thing you have avoided to bless your spouse or honor your parents.Maybe it’s putting away harsh words, releasing some pent up feelings to God, and choosing gentleness and kindness to someone who doesn’t seem to deserve it, or to someone who’s hard to love.This is Kingdom living, one small, loving, and faithful step at a time.6. Receive the Lord’s New MerciesLamentations 3:21-26 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. It says,“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”Every morning, God’s mercies are new, His faithfulness is great, His steadfast love never ceases, His presence is near. The LORD is our portion, and He is good to those who wait for Him and seek Him.But if we don’t receive and treasure God’s love and mercy, why would we respond accordingly?Why would we live lives full of God’s love and mercy if we don’t actually slow down enough to seek the Lord, our portion, our Source, and abide in the One who fills us to overflow?The question is,Will we receive and respond to God’s love and mercy?Friends, let’s choose to see mornings with God as a gift.Let’s let the morning be a moment of receiving God’s grace, not rushing ahead with guilt.Let’s let God’s truth wash over and renew our minds.Let Him strengthen you with the love and courage you need to face the challenges of the day like the Lord your God is actually with you, ready and willing to support you.Confess anything weighing you down, receive His mercy, and accept the Good Shepherd’s invitation to walk with Him today, at His pace, according to His good plan.The Lord is not reluctant to forgive.He is ready to meet you with compassion every morning. As sure as the sun rises, You can count on the Lord to show up.7. Be Still Before GodBefore you rush out the door…pause.Take a minute, long enough to breathe and remember:The Lord is God. He is enthroned in glory and He is with you. He goes before you now.Psalm 46:10 says,“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”In the stillness, worship the Lord with reverence and awe.In the stillness, reaffirm Your trust in the Lord’s leadership.In the stillness, surrender all to the One who is trustworthy to care for you, guide you, and accomplish far more than you can ask or imagine in and through your life.This moment of quiet trust can powerfully reframe and influence your outlook and entire day.A Simple Morning RhythmHere’s a look back at this practical and grace-filled way to put it all together:* Seek God 1st & give thanks* Surrender yourself and your day to Him* Engage with God by reading His Word* Commit yourself & your day to God* Plan for love-in-action* Receive His mercy* Be still before the LordThis might take 10-20 minutes.There’s no pressure, but there is fullness of joy in God’s presence.My Encouragement to YouFriends, honoring God in the morning isn’t about perfection.It’s about your heart posture before God.It’s about beginning the day aware of the Lord, hungry for Him, and yielded to Him.Your mornings can become a sacred space of

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I’m Tanner Klein.As we celebrate Thanksgiving with people we love, we have the opportunity to set our hearts and minds on the One who deserves all thanks and all praise—our great God— the Giver of every good and every perfect gift.Thanksgiving Day is a favorite holiday. It is a blessing to gather with family and friends around a table. It is a day to look back and remember how good God has been.But then again, Thanksgiving begins not with a holiday, not with a table, not even with family, but with God Himself.So today, we are pausing to behold our God, to remember His goodness and lovingkindness, and to offer the kind of gratitude that transforms us from the inside out: our perspective, our attitudes, our emotions, and our engagement with God and others.Before we pray, let’s allow God’s Word to set the stage for our hearts.GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR THANKSGIVING & PRAISEIn James 1:17, it says,“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”Psalm 100:4-5 says,“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, God’s will for us is made plain and simple,“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”Let’s Give ThanksOur Father in heaven,Holy, holy, holy are You.We come before You today with thanksgiving.Before we ask, before we seek, before we request anything at all, we stop, we breathe by Your grace, and we remember.We remember who You are. We remember what You have done. And we give You thanks, living God, Maker of heaven and the earth, Lover of our souls, Lamb of God who was slain for our redemption.By Your sinless blood and atoning sacrifice, we are set free from the penalty of our sins and the power of sin over us.In Christ alone, we are free indeed! Thank You, Father!You, Lord, are the Source and Giver of every good and perfect gift. You are the God who loves us, the God who sees us.You are the God who provides, protects, rescues, redeems, restores, and renews. You are worthy of all gratitude and all praise.Thank You, Father. Thank You for the breath in our lungs. Thank You for life today. Keep us from taking the gift of life for granted. Thank You for all the evidence of Your loving-kindness—what we notice and what we don’t. Thank You for the countless ways You show us mercy and grace, moment by moment, more than we could ever number or repay.Father, we remember You did not spare Your own Son, but gave Him for us all so that we would have resurrection life through Him. Thank You for the reminder that if we ever need any evidence of Your love, the cross Christ endured is our eternal and unshakable proof of Your steadfast love.Like You, Lord Jesus, may we be faithful to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow You, day by day. Teach us to embrace living life in response to Your love.Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus.Lord, thank You for coming for us:for showing us what it is to be faithful to God,for living a sinless life, for dying the death we deserved,for paying the debt we owed for our sins, and for rising in victory so that all who trust in You for salvation could live forever with You and through You. Our Redeemer, our Savior, our King—we love You. We adore You. We thank You for who You are and what You’ve done.Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for dwelling within us: for comforting us, guiding us, convicting us, and strengthening us. Thank You for opening our eyes to see the beauty of Christ and for shaping us to become more and more like Him.God, we thank You not only for what is easy to celebrate but also for what is difficult too. Thank You for the trials that refine us, for the periods of waiting that teach us to trust You, for the pruning that allows us to bear more fruit.Thank You for remaining faithful and working all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose, even through circumstances that we don’t understand.Today, we choose gratitude, not because life is perfect, but because You are perfect, present, and always good. Not because we feel strong, but because You are strong for us, in us, and through us.We choose to adopt a lifestyle of giving thanks in all circumstances, because this is Your will for us in Christ Jesus. You know that gratitude lifts our eyes back where they belong: on You, Lord Jesus.God, You amaze me. You are so glorious and good in every way.Lord, train us fix our gaze on Your glory. Awaken our hearts to overflow with praise. May thanksgiving arise in us like wellspring, not just today but every day— in the morning and evening, in moments of what feels like lack and in abundance, in sorrow and in celebration, for You are worthy always, Lord our God.In You, we lack nothing we need.You are good, gracious God. Your steadfast love endures forever. Your faithfulness continues to all generations.So, it’s our joy to give You thanks, faithful One. You are worthy of praise. We honor Your holy, mighty name, Jesus. We give You our whole hearts.All glory to You, our great God, Savior, and King. You are worthy of our everything—our gratitude, our devotion, our worship, our lives.We love You, Lord. And we thank You for the priceless gift of Your presence with us now.We pray in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus our Lord. Amen. Amen. And amen.Hallelujah!As David declared in Psalm 103:1-5, we too can proclaim,“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”Friends, thank you for joining me in this special Thanksgiving prayer.Before and as we gather around tables, may our hearts go first before the throne of God, where we find mercy and grace in our time of need.Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday once a year, it’s a lifestyle of gratitude and worship, a daily rhythm of remembrance and response, a declaration that our God is good and His love endures forever.If this blessed you, share it with someone who might be blessed by a boost of gratitude, prayer, and praise today. And may the peace of Christ guard your heart and mind as you walk in Spirit-filled gratitude.LIFE ON MISSION with TANNER KLEIN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for joining me in re-centering Thanksgiving on God.Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus.Happy Thanksgiving! And all glory to our great God, Savior, and King!🇫🇷 ACTION DE GRÂCE RE-CENTRÉE : UNE PRIÈRE de GRATITUDE & de LOUANGE à DIEUNotre SEIGNEUR, Roi, & Sauveur en est DigneSalut les amis — merci de me rejoindre dans cette VIE EN MISSION avec Jésus. Je suis Tanner Klein.Alors que nous célébrons Thanksgiving avec les personnes que nous aimons, nous avons l’opportunité d’orienter nos cœurs et nos pensées vers Celui qui mérite toute notre reconnaissance et toute notre louange — notre grand Dieu — le Donateur de tout don bon et parfait.La fête de Thanksgiving est un jour que beaucoup aiment. C’est une bénédiction de se rassembler en famille et entre amis autour d’une table. C’est une journée pour regarder en arrière et se souvenir à quel point Dieu a été bon.Mais en réalité, Thanksgiving ne commence ni par un jour férié, ni par une table, ni même par la famille, mais par Dieu Lui-même.Alors aujourd’hui, nous faisons une pause pour contempler notre Dieu, pour nous souvenir de Sa bonté et de Sa bienveillance, et pour offrir la gratitude qui nous transforme de l’intérieur : notre perspective, nos attitudes, nos émotions, et notre manière d’interagir avec Dieu et avec les autres.Avant de prier, laissons la Parole de Dieu préparer nos cœurs.DIEU EST DIGNE DE NOTRE ACTION DE GRÂCE ET DE NOTRE LOUANGEDans Jacques 1.17, il est écrit :« Tout bienfait et tout don parfait descendent d’en haut, du Père des lumières, chez lequel il n’y a ni changement ni ombre de variation. »Psaume 100.4–5 dit :« Entrez dans ses portes avec reconnaissance, dans ses parvis avec des louanges ! Célébrez-le, bénissez son nom !Car l’Éternel est bon ; sa bienveillance dure à toujours, et sa fidélité de génération en génération. »Dans 1 Thessaloniciens 5.16–18, la volonté de Dieu pour nous est exprimée simplement :« Soyez toujours joyeux. Priez sans cesse. Rendez grâces en toutes choses, car c’est à votre égard la volonté de Dieu en Christ-Jésus. »Rendons GrâceNotre Père qui es aux cieux,Saint, saint, saint es-Tu.Nous venons devant Toi aujourd’hui avec reconnaissance.Avant de demander, avant de chercher, avant de présenter la moindre requête — nous nous arrêtons, nous respirons par Ta grâce, et nous nous souvenons.Nous nous souvenons qui Tu es. Nous nous souvenons de ce que Tu as fait. Et nous Te rendons grâce, Dieu vivant, Créateur du ciel et de la terre, Amant de nos âmes, Agneau de Dieu qui a été immolé pour notre rédemption.Par Ton sang sans péché et Ton sacrifice expiatoire, nous sommes libérés de la condamnation de nos péchés et du pouvoir du péché sur nous.En Christ seul, nous sommes vraiment libres ! Merci, Père !Toi, Seigneur, Tu es la Source et le Donateur de tout don bon et parfait. Tu es le Dieu qui nous aime, le Dieu qui nous voit.Tu es le Dieu qui pourvoit, qui protège, qui délivre, qui rachète, qui restaure et qui renouvelle. Tu es digne de toute gratitude et de toute louange.Merci, Père. Merci pour le souffle dans nos poumons. Merci pour la vie aujourd’hui. Préserve-nous de prendre le

Hey friends! Let’s start with three questions we’ll come back to later.* Where have you unknowingly adopted the world’s definition of worship or service? * What needs to change to take on and keep a posture of humble, hidden faithfulness? * What does it look like for you to embrace Jesus’ way of whole-life worship and service?This post is another tiny glimpse into my upcoming book on Avodah With God.In this AVODAH WITH GOD series, we’re letting God transform the way we see our work, service, worship, and lives through the lens of His Word, the Bible.Today, we’re building upon our last post, WHO Is Shaping Your PERSPECTIVE on WORK and Your WORTH—GOD or the World? Contrasting Lies Against God’s Truth Anchoring Our IDENTITY.If you’d like to check that out, click on the link attached.Now let’s rediscover and remember God’s original design together. Lead the way, Lord our God! The Call to Whole-life Worship & Service in a Self-Obsessed Culture & World Redefining WorshipThere’s a glut of bad news available in almost every direction. I am not interested in hopelessly dwelling in all that is wrong in the world. Not at all.Nevertheless, it is worth uncovering how God’s beautiful design for our avodah with Him has been distorted, so that we can intentionally choose the uncommon way of Jesus that leads to life instead of the wide, easy, and common way that leads to even more numbness, brokenness, and death.As followers of Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can see the bad and the good, and choose the good.So, let’s contrast the world’s twisted view on worship and service with God’s good design and His invitation to whole-life worship and service.The World’s Redefinition of WorshipLet’s be real: If you ask most people today what “worship” or “service” mean, you’ll probably hear answers like:* Worship? “Oh, you mean singing at church?”* Service? “Yeah, like volunteer hours to add to your résumé.” Or, hopefully not, but you may have heard or seen others take this point of view:* “I can serve myself, thank you very much.”Yuck.Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long looking around to discover that we live in the midst of a culture that is uniquely obsessed with personal fulfillment, self-expression, and instant gratification—and it seems we’ve lost the beauty of bowing low and lifting others up as we serve the only One who is high and exalted.In some way or another, we are all influenced by and contribute to the cultures we’re in. When we speak and act, we don’t do it in a vacuum. When we interact with others, in person or online, we engage with other eternal souls and make an impact.The greatness or significance of our impact is not for us to decide, nevertheless, it is enabled and noted by God—and He is worthy of all the glory.Ultimately, we can make an impact for good and the glory of God or, otherwise, for the good or glory of self. And when we turn from God’s way and go our own way, rather then partnering with God in contributing to flourishing, we participate in sin that contributes to further brokenness.So, we can honestly acknowledge that the problems we face are not just “out there,” but also in here, within our own hearts. This is a sin problem, not an “Us vs. Them” issue.All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.So, what does this have to do with our worship and service?True worship and service were never meant to revolve around us.In today’s culture, worship is often mistaken for a genre of music or a brief Sunday morning activity. If the lighting is good, the band is on point, the harmonies are angelic, we may say, “Wow, worship was amazing today.” But worship isn’t a concert. It’s not about a special feeling or even teary moment. It’s not about a vibe.Worship is not performance. It’s surrender. Between the twistedness of sin, the schemes of the deceiver, and the corruption of the world, in a number of ways and in various places, worship has been turned into an act of consumption. Consciously or not, we can buy in to the kind of thinking that asks, “What can I get from this experience?”But it seems the question the Lord is asking is, “What are you willing to lay down?”In response to God’s great, self-giving love, are we willing to surrender to the leadership and lordship of Jesus, and worship Him in spirit and in truth, in word and in action?If you’ve tuned into or read previous posts on this topic of avodah, you may remember “latreia,” the New Testament Greek word most closely resembling avodah. It’s used in Romans 12:1, saying :“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your (latreia) spiritual worship.”Not just your voice. Not just your emotions.This is a call to present our whole lives to God as a living and set apart sacrifice to Him.This should shock us at least a bit.This is not the conventional way to think about worship or service. This is not normal.What is our latreia? Our “spiritual worship” to God?Whole-hearted, whole-mind, whole-soul surrender to God.Our bodies, time, skills, and efforts laid down before the throne of God.All we are and have humbly and actively submitted to God.In response to who God is and all that He has given and done for us, we get to choose to lay down our lives before Him and practice living fully surrendered lives, day by day with Him.While this is not normal or common, and while we may not know or see people around us setting this example for us to follow, this kind of latreia, this kind of whole-life worship and service is the right response to God’s glory and presence.Hallelujah! To me, this is exciting. We are rediscovering God’s design.Before we go further, let’s briefly contrast this reality with the world’s agenda and expose some lies to the light.Worship of Self: A Modernized Ancient PracticeLet’s call it what it is: in many ways, we exist in a culture that advocates for the worship of self.From the Tower of Babel until today, not much has changed.For example, consider these cultural sayings that we’re led to believe are right, normal, & good:* “Follow your heart.”* “Do what feels right.”* “You do you.”* “Live your truth.” * “Make a name for yourself.”* “Believe in yourself.”* “You deserve this.”* “You need to love yourself.”* “Look within yourself to find answers.”* “Do what makes you happy.”Allow me to translate what these sayings imply: “You’re the god of your life. You call the shots now.”To this, I say with all my heart,“Absolutely not. Jesus is Lord. With my heart, soul, and mind, with my words, decisions, and the work of my hands, I choose to worship and serve God.”The not so subtle reality is that all these common claims are half-truths and lies that contradict God’s nature and His time-tested Word.These normalized declarations reveal the underlying counterfeit worship that exalts me, myself, and I instead of God, the Great I AM.Consider social media, for example.* You and I don’t just scroll, we devote our attention and affection.* We don’t just comment or post—too often we perform for the attention or approval of others.* We can curate impressive online personas instead of cultivating real Christlike character.We are left with a choice:Blend into our self-absorbed culture,Or,Stand out as Christ-exalting servants, as bright, loving, and rooted impact-makers, intentionally representing Christ and His Kingdom to the world around us.Service in a Selfie WorldNow let’s talk about service.Here’s a helpful way to define service.Service is the expression of love in action.True service requires a degree of humility.You lower yourself to lift someone up.You display the action of love by contributing or benefiting someone or something.Typically, this is characterized by devoted time and effort, unseen faithfulness, and getting your hands dirty for the sake of others.Understandably, you can see how service is essential to effective leadership.Ultimately, as disciples of Christ, to serve is simply to follow the example of our Master, the King of kings who came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.Philippians 2:3-11 speaks of the humility of Jesus that serves as our example. It says,“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”The way of Jesus is the way of humility, service, consistent obedience to the Father, and self-giving love.In Matthew 23:12, we see that Jesus Himself said,“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”Likewise, in James 4:10, it says,“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”But, our culture has long forgotten these matters of fact.Now there’s a new stream of thinking:* “Serve, if you have to, when necessary.”* “Serve, but only if you feel called to do so.”* “Serve where you’ll be seen.”* “Serve when there’s free food and coffee.”* “Serve when you have free time, but don’t let it mess with your schedule.”It seems that we’ve reduced Christian service to an unwanted obligation or as leverage to get something from God.Shockingly, humility and the willingness to serve are often perceived as weakness, rather than Christlikeness.Even among Christians, humility and the willingness to serve can be seen as nice-to-have, rather than the fruit produced from a life

Hey friends - Thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus.I love to pray according to the Bible. There’s real power in praying according to God’s truth, even more so as we pray with faith and in unity with one another. I’m convinced of that.So, what we’re about to do is a powerful and unifying act of faith. You are not just a passive recipient but an active participant in this prayer and intercession for our families, for unity, love, and awakened hearts.Jesus is willing and able to transform our hearts and families alike.If you’re reading, you will see that I’ve included a ton of verses and passages from the Bible linked below. These are not included because you or I need to reference every Scripture as we pray, but so that every reader or listener can see these powerful verses and the context around them for themselves.By all means, please feel free to share this with your family or friends. Copy and send the URL, click the share button, or scan the QR code.LIFE ON MISSION with TANNER KLEIN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Friends - May God bless you and build up your faith and the faith of your family through this prayer and His life-giving words inspiring and referenced throughout this prayer.Let’s proclaim truths from God’s Word and pray for our families accordingly.Let’s approach the one, true living God together with love, joy, reverence, and awe.Let’s PrayAlmighty God, our Father in Heaven, Holy One of Israel, Maker of heaven and earth, King of kings and Lord of lords.We acknowledge Your greatness, God.You alone are worthy.As it says in Romans 11:36, from You and through You and to You are all things. To You be glory forever and ever, Lord.We come before You with reverence and awe.It’s such an honor to come before Your throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, just as Your Word promises in Hebrews 4:16.Father in heaven, You are the Source of real joy and faith, of everything we need.Thank You for Your steadfast love that endures forever (Psalm 136:1).You set the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).You designed family from the beginning (Genesis 2:18–24).Father, Thank You for Your Your beautiful design for husbands and wives to enter into the covenant of marriage before You, God, to be united as one, to be one in the Spirit, to love one another, and to be faithful to each other in love.Thank You for revealing Your desire for godly offspring (Malachi 2:15).Steadfast God, You are faithful to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9). Thank You, LORD!Lord Jesus, thank You for Your words recorded in the book of John 15:9-11,“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord.May Your love motivate us to truly love one another as You have loved us.Let Your love motivate this prayer and intercession.May the meditations of our hearts, the words of our mouths, and the work of our hands be pleasing to You, gracious Father.King of Glory, we intercede today for families: every household, every marriage, every parent, every grandparent, every child, every sibling.We ask for unity.Your Word says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Psalm 133:1).Amen. How good and pleasant it is when family members dwell in unity.Lord Jesus, You prayed that we would be one as You and the Father are one (John 17:21).Let that prayer become reality in our homes.Let love bind families together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14).Let Your shalom— Your peace, wholeness, healing, and restoration—fill households and those within them (Numbers 6:24–26), (John 14:27).Where there has been brokenness, bring restoration.Where there has been bitterness, bring forgiveness from the heart. Free us from the torment that comes from unforgiveness. Set captives free to forgive that they may receive healing and newfound liberty.Where there has been generational pain, bring generational healing and blessing.Where walls of division or hostility have been built, tear them down by the power of the cross (Ephesians 2:14–16).Father, may families not only know things about You, but truly know You experientially (Jeremiah 9:23–24).Open eyes, open hearts, open ears.May the blind see You rightly, Lord. May hard hearts be replaced with tender and responsive hearts before You. May deaf ears be opened to hear You speak, gracious Good Shepherd.Thank You for speaking the truth. You never lie. You never contradict Yourself. You don’t play games with us. You know what we need to hear, when we need to hear it, and how we can best receive it. You are faithful to guide us into all truth, just as You said, Lord Jesus,“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” - John 16:13Keep us from being like the Pharisees, with ears, but not willing to hear and respond.Teach us to shema, to hear and obey, to know our Good Shepherd’s voice and respond by faith to Your trustworthy leadership.We pray that every family, every husband, every wife, every son, every daughter would truly taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).We ask that You would draw families into deep and authentic relationship with You—personal, heart-transforming, life-altering intimacy with You.Lord Jesus, be the center of our families.Be the cornerstone upon which our families and lives are built (Ephesians 2:20).Be the Lord of our homes.As for us and our households, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).Teach us to seek first the Kingdom of God and Your righteousness (Matthew 6:33).Raise up faithful fathers and mothers who walk the walk of faith, not only teaching the Word but living it (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), (James 1:22).Raise up children who know and love You, God, who honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1–3), who remember their Creator in the days of their youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1), who carry Your Word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11).May grandparents overflow with wisdom, prayer, blessing, and produce good fruit as they abide in the Vine, Jesus.(Psalm 92:14).May elders be the Christlike examples of seasoned faith, love, and enduring faithfulness that our world and families desperately need.Father, as Your Word says in Titus 1, may our elders and grandparents—and may we, future elders and grandparents—be truly Christlike in our character, faithful to You, Lord, and to our spouse, above reproach, full of love and truth, not hidden vices, sin, or defiance.May they and may we be good stewards of their families, children, and their children.Keep them and keep us from arrogance, quick tempers, drunkenness, violence, greed, and desire to control others or outcomes.Bless them and bless us to be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.May they and may we hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that they and we may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to lovingly rebuke those who contradict it.Thank You, Lord, for Titus 1, including this high calling toward Christlike character for the elders and overseers of Your Body, the church. We trust You will give the elders in our families and us the grace we need to become these faith-filled models of Christlikeness.Lord our God, Holy Spirit, awaken families from slumber (Ephesians 5:14). Wake us up to live in the light and not hide in the dark.Revive hearts from the inside out.Give us the courage to not be conformed the patterns of the world, but be transformed by renewing our minds with truth (Romans 12:2).Give us the tenacity and grace to daily choose the narrow and hard way You’ve set before us that leads to life and to reject the wide and easy way that leads to death (Matthew 7:14).Empower families to overcome temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and to bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).Lord, You exemplify all these things. I trust that the more we walk with You and abide in You, like disciples spending lots of time with their teacher, we too will become more and more like you.Teach us to abide in you moment by moment, day by day, like real disciples do.Teach us to remain in You so we will really grow as ambassadors of Christ and Your Kingdom, full of self-giving love, uncircumstantial joy, and lasting, steady peace and wholeness.Teach us to walk at Your pace so that we may be truly counter-cultural in our patience as we trust in Your sovereignty, perfect timing, and good plan for our lives.Teach us to remain in Your love that we may be genuinely kind and good to those who haven’t been either to us, to those who are hard to love, and to give without expecting something in return.Grow in us a newfound love for quality time with You so that we may be faithful and diligent despite constant distractions and opportunities to do anything but what You guide us to do by faith.Teach us to learn from You, Lord, so that we can offer love and grace with gentleness rather than react, bite back, or seek vengeance.Empower us and show us how to live in dependence on you with self-control, not seeking to control outcomes or others, but trusting You to be all we need, to provide what we need, and to grow in us the discipline we need to embrace the counter-cultural way of Jesus.Christ Jesus, be the center of our families. Be the Lord of our families. Not in word alone, but in reality, in our

Hey friends, thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I’m Tanner Klein.Welcome back to the Who Is God series.I pray that these posts don’t just add to your intellectual knowledge about God, but truly impact your heart and lead to deeper experiential knowledge of our patient Creator who loves us and desires to walk with us, abide in us, and impact others through us, by His Holy Spirit.The patience of our Holy God is really good news for all of us who don’t always live like set apart ambassadors for Christ and temples of God’s Spirit.So, I am hopeful and expectant in faith, trusting that our gracious God will continue to encourage and build up His beloved Bride through these posts.As a reminder, here’s the heart of this series:EMBRACING WHO GOD IS helps us ALIGN OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST which leads to EXPERIENCING MORE ABUNDANT LIFE WITH GOD.Get ready, because we’re about to engage with the living God and meditate on His nature as the long-suffering LORD who loves us into the likeness of Jesus.I hope this fuels your faith and inspires lasting gratitude, prayer, & praise. Let’s do this!GOD IS PATIENTWhat does this mean?Our God is not easily angered. He is not impulsive, reactionary, or emotionally volatile.He is patient, perfectly patient. Longsuffering. Steadfast in love. Gracious beyond measure.The love of God is patient and kind.His patience is not passive tolerance but an active expression of love that works for our good even when we struggle, stumble, delay, or resist.He waits…not because He is powerless, but because His power works perfectly alongside His love.God knows the full story—the end from the beginning.He knows who we are becoming in Christ. And He stays with us in the process.Before We Continue…Let’s consider who it is we are approaching right now. Still your heart and mind before the living God.If you’re listening to this, feel free to pause the podcast.Let’s take just 30 seconds to consider the presence and patience of our Creator and King— the God who longs to show us His goodness, the Good Shepherd who wants to walk with us and is willing to speak exactly what we need to hear, the kind Father who waits for us to return to Him.Thank You, Lord our God, patient and gracious Shepherd of the flock.Are you ready, friends?Let’s behold what God’s Word reveals about His patient nature and respond by faith, empowered by the same Spirit of God who empowered Christ’s faithfulness despite all the challenges He faced.God’s Word Reveals HE IS PATIENTIn Exodus 34:6, we see the LORD’s patience celebrated alongside His mercy, grace, love, and faithfulness. God Himself proclaimed this to Moses on the top of Mt. Sinai,“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”In 2 Peter 3:9, we see the connection between God’s patience and His desire for our repentance, that we might receive salvation through Christ Jesus,“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”In 1 Timothy 1:15-17, we’re reminded of God’s perfect patience on display today, just as it was in Paul’s life. It serves as an example for us, for all who have and will come to believe in Christ for eternal life. Paul writes,“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”In Lamentations 3:22-23, we’re reminded of this amazing promise,“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”Thank You, Lord! Wow. Help us to receive and respond to all this good news.1. Behold: Who God IsBehold the God who does not disregard His children when they are weak or in need.Behold the Father who stays with us through immaturity, hypocrisy, and contradiction, not ignorant of sin, but unfailingly committed to redeeming His children from sin.Behold the Savior who did not give up on the disciples when they doubted, slept in the Garden of Gethsemane, abandoned Him in fear, or failed to believe the resurrection.Behold the Spirit who continues to whisper truth, correct, comfort, and lead—even though we have ignored Him so many times.The LORD’s patience is not proof that sin is insignificant; it is proof that His love is stronger than our sin.His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, to return to Him.He waits because He delights in the finished work He has formed and is forming in us. He waits because He sees Christ in us, not just our current condition of brokenness. He waits because He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.As it says in Philippians 1:6,“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”Hallelujah! All glory to our God!2. Believe: Who You Are in ChristBecause God is patient:* You are not defined by your worst moments.* You are not disqualified by slow progress.* You are deeply loved even in the middle of your sanctification, as God shapes you to better resemble Christ, bit by bit, more and more, day by day.In Christ, you are a child whose Father never abandons you, nor your process of growing in maturity in faith. You are a disciple who is being conformed to Christ—not instantly, but consistently and faithfully, today and for the length of your life. You are someone God has chosen to transform, not discard based on your performance.In Christ, you are:* Forgiven and continually restored* Being refined, not rejected* Held securely while you grow* Met with mercy morning after morningGod’s patience is proof that your life is precious to Him. You are worth the beautiful work He is doing in you and through you.The priceless value of your life is set by Your Creator who has definitively proven His love for you. Remember the cross of Christ. Remember His sacrifice. Remember, He was broken so we could be made whole, and enjoy the eternal treasure of restored relationship with God.3. Become: Like Jesus, Patient and Trusting God’s TimingA Declaration for Today (You can say this with me by faith):Patient God, thank You for Your perfect love toward me. Your patience toward me is steadfast and unwavering. You have made it abundantly clear that my life is precious to You. Thank You, Father.A Call to TrustAre you frustrated with yourself? Are you waiting on God for something? Are you impatient with God or others?Take hold of the truth: God is not late. He is not done working in you and He is not frustrated with this process. The living God doesn’t waste time. He is forming Christ in you, faithfully and patiently.God is trustworthy. Embrace His patience, and because He is patient and gracious with you, you can pass along the same patience and grace toward others.Take A Step of FaithAsk your Good Shepherd who guides and speaks to His sheep:* “Where are You inviting me to receive Your patience and respond accordingly instead of performing for acceptance?”* “Where are You inviting me to show patience to others in response to the patience You’ve shown me?”* “How can I best surrender my schedule and timeline to You in exchange for Your perfect timing?”By His grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, you can simply obey whatever the Lord reveals—trusting the One who loves you without fear.Remember God’s PromiseIn Philippians 1:6, it says,“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”Remember that patience is the first characteristic of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4,“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.”God’s patience is proof of His promise. His perfect timing is proof of His wisdom. His long-suffering love is proof that you are held in His unshakeable hands.Let’s PrayPatient Father,Thank You for Your kindness on display through your patience.Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, the long-suffering Lamb of God.Thank You for loving me through my weaknesses, failures, and unfinished places.Your commitment to us is unmatched.Thank You for never giving up on Your children.Keep me in Your love, keenly aware of Your presence.Teach me to trust You enough to release and forsake fear and control.You know what You’re doing in and through my life.Your timing really is perfect and I choose to embrace Your timing.By Your grace and the help of Your Holy Spirit, I choose to walk in step with You, my Lord, my God, my Good Shepherd.I trust You are growing me in Christ, in faith, in maturity, even when it feels slow.I refuse the shame, and I choose to trust You to finish the ongoing good work You have started in my life for Your glory, LORD.Thank you for loving me through this process of sanctification, as you shape me to resemble Christ more and more, producing the good fruit of the Spirit as I abide in You.I trust that as I remain in You, You will produce in me real love & joy, peace & patience, kindness & goodness, faithfulness & gentleness, and Spirit-empowered self-control.Teach me to rest in Your process, to trust Your timing, to receive Your mercy daily, and to embrace the good work You are doing in & through me.Make me like Jesus—patient, gentle, gracious, and steadfast in love.I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord and Good Shepherd,Amen.Thank You, faithful Father!Friends, may the patience of the living God inspire gratitude within you, an expanded view of who God is, and a desire to respond to His love by faith. May God’s patient heart fill you with hope and encourage you to both walk in His grace and extend that same grace to others.Thank You

Hey friends, thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I’m Tanner Klein.Welcome back to the Who Is God series.I pray that these posts don’t just add to your intellectual knowledge about God, but truly impact your heart and lead to deeper experiential knowledge of our ever-present Creator who loves us and desires to walk with us, abide in us, and impact others through us, by His Holy Spirit.This is without a doubt one of my favorite aspects of who God is.God’s ever-present nature is amazing news if You believe He is who He says He is.If you don’t, it would make sense to feel uneasy about a god you don’t trust who sees everything and surrounds you.But if we truly follow Jesus, then we do not serve, follow, and worship a god made in our image.We get to serve, follow, and worship our trustworthy Father, Creator, Savior, and Lord.Our God is always good and gracious, right and wise, intentional and all-knowing, all-powerful and ready to answer prayers according to His will. Our God is kind and ready to lead and guide us into all truth. He is even better than we can possibly know.This is the God who is with us—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the one, true living God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.So, I am hopeful and expectant in faith, trusting that our everpresent Lord will continue to encourage and build up His Bride through these posts.As a reminder, here’s the heart of this series:EMBRACING WHO GOD IS helps us ALIGN OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST which leads to EXPERIENCING MORE ABUNDANT LIFE WITH GOD.Get ready, because we’re about to engage with the living God and meditate on His nature as the ever-present God—Immanuel, God with us.As He promised, He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Jesus Himself said, “Behold I am with you always, even till the end of the age” and He meant it.With God, anything is possible.Jesus also said, “With God, nothing will be impossible.”I absolutely love this aspect of God’s character, His presence with us.The fact that God is with us in everything, everywhere, through His Holy Spirit, can make the most seemingly mundane things become full of joy, worship, meaning, and eternal significance.In God’s presence is fullness of joy.I hope this fuels your faith and inspires lasting gratitude, prayer, & praise. Let’s do this!God Is EVER-PRESENTWhat Does This Mean?To say God is Ever-Present means He is always with us—fully, faithfully, and nearer than the breath in our lungs.He is Immanuel, the God who draws near. The God who never leaves us nor forsakes us.The God who walks with us in the fire, in the valley, on the mountain, and in the most ordinary details of our daily rhythms.His presence is not symbolic—it is real. God’s presence is not distant—it is near. His presence isn’t fleeting or fragile—it is faithful.God’s presence is not dependent on what we feel or whether we are aware.God is present, because He is who He is—ever-present—whether or not you feel His presence or take notice.Through the Holy Spirit, the living God dwells within us who anchor our faith in Christ. We are talking about a real, ongoing, heart-level trust in Him—the truer the trust, the greater our awareness of His presence and response of faith-in-action.As He is omni-present, God can simultaneously and sovereignly rule and reign from His throne in heaven and guide you and me through His Spirit who dwells in us. Both are possible and true.And God’s nearness changes everything. Only God can make the mundane meaningful, the ordinary sacred, and the impossible possible.In His presence there is fullness of joy, strength, courage, wisdom, and everlasting hope. You might be thinking: How can that be?It’s because the LORD is the always accessible Source of every good thing, of all we need.* We don’t just need a temporary boost of dopamine to improve our mood, we need lasting joy from the wellspring of joy Himself and to remain rooted in Jesus through lengthy trials.* We don’t just need more willpower or stronger muscles, we need deep strength from the Spirit of God to overcome challenges to our faith.* We don’t just need to do what makes us happy or what feels right, we need the courage only God can give to take action by faith in the face of fear and uncertainty.* We don’t just need to know lots of information about the Bible or church or what the world deems important, we need wisdom from the Source to act with integrity and conviction in a world that calls good bad and bad good.* We don’t just need a better attitude or a favorable change of circumstances, we need everlasting hope in an everlasting God who does not change, who remains perfectly faithful, loving, and good regardless of ever-shifting seasons and circumstances.Immanuel is with you and with me right now. With the help of the Spirit of God, let’s try to embrace this reality together.Before We Continue…Pause with me. Still your heart before the God who is here. Not in theory. Not metaphorically. But truly present with us in ways we can perceive and in ways that far surpass our limited capacity to understand.If you’re listening to this, feel free to pause the podcast.Let’s take just 30 seconds and breathe in the wonder of Immanuel— the God who stays, the God who surrounds us, the God who dwells in us.Hallelujah! God be praised!Are you ready? Let awe arise within you. Let joy awaken. Let the nearness of God steady your heart and strengthen you.Let’s enjoy God’s joy as the gift it is, the gift we receive from being in His presence.God’s Word Reveals HE IS EVER-PRESENTIn Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus promises to always be with those who follow Him and powerfully instructs His disciples then and now with this Great Commission,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”In Deuteronomy 31:8, Moses says this to Joshua about the LORD our God,“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”In Psalm 139:7-12, David proclaims these power-packed phrases to God in light of His omni-presence,“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”Psalm 46:1 declares this,“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”Psalm 16:11 reveals the fullness of joy available in God’s presence,“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”Finally, it says this about Christ’s presence in us in Colossians 1:27,“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”1. Behold: Who God IsGod is the Ever-Present King—the One who fills heaven and earth, yet stoops low to walk beside His children.God says this in Jeremiah 23:24,“Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.”Powerful. No, we cannot hide ourselves from God’s sight. And yes, the LORD fills heaven and earth.* He is Immanuel, God with us (see Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).* He is the God who says, “Fear not, for I am with you” (see Isaiah 41:10).* He is the Shepherd who never leaves His sheep (see Psalm 23:4).* He is the Spirit of truth, the Helper who dwells with us and abides in us (see Jesus’ words in John 14:16-17).* He is the One in whom we live and move and have our being (see Acts 17:28).All glory to our Lord and King!The living God’s presence is not limited by location, circumstance, or emotion. That is such great news.He is with His children throughout history and in the smallest details of our days today. Our God and Father is over all, in all, and through all (see Ephesians 4:6).His presence transforms everything it touches—everything and everyone.Our God alone can make the heavy light, bring the dead to life, turn darkness to light, make the barren fruitful, restore the lost to be found, mend the broken heart, bring the mourning comfort, and make the impossible possible (see for yourself in Luke 1:37 & Matthew 19:26).The God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob is with you.The Creator of the world is with you.The Lord Jesus, Immanuel, is with you, present among you and abiding in you through the Spirit of truth. Right now. Right here. Always.This reality changes everything.2. Believe: Who You Are in ChristBecause God is Ever-Present and you are who God says you are as followers of Christ and as His beloved children…* You are never alone—not for a second—and you can choose Spirit-empowered contentment over lack because the faithful Source of all you need is with you (see Hebrews 13:5).* You belong to the Father of Light, not to the father of lies, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you constantly.* You are a living temple of God’s Spirit.* Your life has been ransomed from the penalty and power of sin through Jesus.* Your redemption was paid for with Christ’s blood, instead of your own, and now you can glorify God with your temple of God’s Spirit—your body (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).* You are a branch, invited by the Vine, Jesus, to joyfully abide in Him and remain in His love. As you do, your life will produce much fruit and without Him, you can do nothing (see John 15:1-11).* You are upheld, guided, strengthened, protected, and comforted by your Almighty

Hey friends, thanks for joining me in this LIFE ON MISSION with Jesus. I’m Tanner Klein.Welcome back to the Who Is God series.I pray that these posts don’t just add to your intellectual knowledge about God, but truly impact your heart and lead to deeper experiential knowledge of and engagement with our ever-present Creator who loves us and desires to walk with us, abide in us, and impact others through us, by His Holy Spirit.This is going to be a fun one together.So, I am hopeful and expectant in faith, trusting that our creative Creator will continue to encourage and build up His Bride through this post.As a reminder, here’s the heart of this series:EMBRACING WHO GOD IS helps us ALIGN OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST which leads to EXPERIENCING MORE ABUNDANT LIFE WITH GOD.Get ready, because we’re about to engage with the living God and meditate on His nature as God the masterful Creator of every living being and good thing.His creativity is on display across His beautifully designed creation, especially so in the crown of His creation—in us, humanity.According to the Scriptures, we are considered to be God’s “workmanship.”God’s creativity is as unmatched as His love, grace, & truth.He is the Source of inspiration.His nature as our creative Creator is evident on a cosmic scale, and in the tiniest details, in the rhythms of daily life and in the forming of a precious, healthy baby, like the one He is knitting together in my wife’s womb right now.I hope this fuels your faith and inspires lasting gratitude, prayer, & praise. Let’s go!God Is CREATIVEWhat Does This Mean?To say God is Creative means He is the Master Artist, the Divine Designer, the Imaginative Originator of every good and beautiful thing.His creativity is not merely an attribute—it is woven into every corner of His creation, from giant galaxies spanning millions of light-years, to the tiny, delicate eyelashes on a newborn child.He is the One who paints the skies, sculpts the mountains, designs sustainable ecosystems, forms human hearts, and breathes life into everything that exists.God’s creativity is not random—it is purposeful, powerful, and deeply personal.He is the God who fashioned us in the wombs of our mothers with intentional care. He is the God whose creativity shines in every sunrise and every soul He has made. He is the God who designs and sustains every heart—including the two hearts inside my wife, hers, and our daughter’s tiny new heart beating right now inside Madison’s womb.We truly are God’s workmanship—His masterpiece in progress.Before We Continue…Let’s pause. Let’s zoom out and behold the God who actually spoke the cosmos into being. Zoom in and behold the God who is also knitting every unborn child cell by cell in the womb, hidden from our view.Take 30 seconds or more to stop and consider the Creator we are approaching.Now…let’s behold our Creator God as we look to what the Bible reveals about its divine Designer, the Source of inspiration.God’s Word Reveals HE IS CREATIVEGenesis 1:1 says,“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”In Psalm 19:1 , it says,“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”Ephesians 2:10 says,“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”In Psalm 139:14-15, it says,“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret…”John 1:3-5 says,“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”1. Behold: Who God IsGod is the Creative Creator, the Master Artist, unmatched in creativity, brilliance, beauty, and design.* The LORD spoke and there was light and brought life where there was none (see Genesis 1).* He shaped human beings from dust and breathed life into their lungs (see Genesis 2:7).* He decides the number of stars in the skies and gives them their names (see Psalm 147:4).* He weaves children in the womb with intentional love and knows the number of all our days on earth (see Psalm 139:13-16).* God paints the skies with color, designates specific times and seasons, and orchestrates the life cycle of seeds that die and rise again to new life (see Mark 4:26-29).We can see our Creator’s creativity in countless ways, from the northern lights to our own unique DNA.In case you couldn’t tell that my mind is blown, even now, as we speak, the Designer’s creativity is at work forming a precious little daughter within my wife’s womb. God is knitting together a life that reflects His glory and attention to detailAll creation testifies of God’s artistic brilliance.Our Creator is endlessly creative.2. Believe: Who You Are in ChristWe are lovingly hand-crafted in the image of the true Source of creativity.* You are God’s workmanship—His handcrafted masterpiece (remember Ephesians 2:10).* You bear His image, His likeness (see Genesis 1:27)—creativity is woven into your DNA.* You are chosen and designed with purpose and the utmost intentionality—even your personality, gifts, and ability to imagine reflect your creative Designer.* In Christ, you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), so the old has passed away and now you get to walk in newness of life with Christ.* You are invited to partner with God in all that He gives you the grace to do—in your work, your words, your ideas, your relationships, your art, your parenting, your calling, and even your resting.You are not mass-produced.You are not one of many.Your life isn’t random.You are not insignificant.You are intricately and intentionally designed by the Creator of the universe who loves you.The Master Designer chose to make you.Our Father who is in heaven chose to make you His own, to adopt you into His covenant family as a beloved child.God gave Jesus, the Son, to redeem your life, to set you free from slavery to sin, debt, and punishment, and to make you new in Christ.You are loved. God has proven that through Jesus.You are desired. You are wanted. Your life matters to your Creator.The Maker’s creative touch is evident all over your life.He wants you to walk with Him closely, like Adam and Eve walked with Him in the Garden.In case that wasn’t sweet enough of God, He gives His Holy Spirit who is ready and willing to bless you with divine inspiration—to build, bless, imagine, dream, design, and create in ways that reflect His glory to the watching world.3. Become: Like Jesus, Creative and IntentionalA Declaration for Today (You can say this with me by faith):“LORD my Creator, I embrace the fact that you call me Your workmanship. I am who You say I am. I choose to partner with You, Master Designer.”A Call to Trust:Trust that God’s creativity is at work in you because His Spirit abides in you—even when you cannot yet see the finished masterpiece. Choose to abide in Christ and remain in His love.God wastes nothing. He is able to turn any and everything for good.He is forming beautiful things in your life, in ways you can perceive and in unseen ways beyond our comprehension.He is forming you, and God makes all things beautiful in time (see Ecclesiastes 3:11)Take A Step of Faith:Ask the Creator for a fresh spark of divine creativity today as you willingly choose to partner with Him.Invite the Spirit of God to breathe inspiration into a specific area of your life— a relationship, an idea, a dream, a project, a problem you need solved, or something you long to build with God. As you ask, listen closely, ready to respond intentionally, as it says in Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”Remember God’s Promise:In Philippians 1:6, it says,“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”Let’s PrayCreative God, Master Artist, Designer of all,I stand in awe of Your beauty and brilliance.Thank You for crafting the universe in such awe-inspiring ways and for forming me with such intentional care.You chose to design me. Hallelujah! Thank You, Creator God, for choosing to make me. You gave me life and You sustain my life—thank You.It’s humbling to think that we are hand-crafted by the sovereign Creator and Lord of all.It’s an honor to be Yours, God.Thank You for the precious lives You are creating right now, even in my family as we speak. New life is such a testimony of Your goodness and creativity.It is an honor to be desired, to be wanted and loved by You, Creator God.It is my honor to partner with You! What an invitation! What an opportunity!Not by our own power or might but by Your Spirit, we choose to accept Your invitation to partner with You, beautiful Lord.Inspire us with Your imagination, with Your thoughts.May we work, serve, and worship in innovative ways, seeing what others see, but thinking different thoughts and taking action in faith, led and inspired by Your life-giving Spirit.Fill me with Your Spirit and inspire my creativity so that my life better reflects Your beauty and purpose.Inspire your church. Inspire and align our minds, hearts, and hands.Teach and help us to truly live like we are Your workmanship—as You declared we are—reflecting Your creativity through our words, works, and act of love.We pray in the name of Jesus, the Word through whom all things were made,Amen.Thank You, Lord!Friends, may the creativity of God fill your heart with awe and wonder today—and spark fresh inspiration in every part of your purposeful life with Christ.Hallelujah! All glory and praise to our gracious God.It is always so good to engage with the living God.Thanks for tuning in and joining me in beholding our God Most Creative.By all means, if you were blessed by this post, share it with your friends.You can subscribe for free if you haven’t alread