Welcome to The Sisterhood Hub! The Hub is where I share insights, resources, and reflections that have deepened my faith and strengthened my Christian walk. My hope is that you find encouragement and inspiration, be uplifted and challenged as you navigate your own journey. The Hub is dedicated to empowering women to embrace their God-given identity, rooted in the love, grace, mercy, truth and sacrifice of our Lord, Saviour, and soon-coming King, Jesus Christ. May this be a source of strength and renewal, fostering your self-worth and guiding you to live out your faith authentically. Together, let us walk confidently in our callings, trusting God every step of the way. May our lives reflect humility, integrity, and reverence for Him, as the Holy Spirit leads us to live fruitfully for His glory. The mission is to parade God’s love by sharing the gospel, writing, engaging in outreach and missionary work, distributing Christian resources, and serving communities both locally and internationally—as a pro-life advocate, committed to the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb and beyond the grave, in both the physical and spiritual realms, as every life matters. Blessings, Lori 💕
On this Father’s Day, we honor and give thanks to our Heavenly Father, the source of unconditional love, endless grace, and unwavering faithfulness.
Through every season of life, You have been our guide, protector, provider, and comforter. When we were weak, You gave us strength. When we were lost, You showed us the way. When we stumbled, Your mercy lifted us up, and Your love never let us go.
Thank You for Your patience when we fall short, for Your wisdom when we seek direction, and for the countless blessings You pour into our lives each day. Your Fatherly love is perfect, steadfast through every trial and constant through every joy.
Today, we celebrate You, our Eternal Father, whose care knows no limits and whose promises never fail. May our hearts always remain grateful for Your presence, trusting in Your guidance and resting in Your peace.
Happy Father’s Day to our Heavenly Father, who loves us beyond measure and calls us His own.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” — 1 John 3:1
“The Lord has been prompting me to use some of that time to just sit down (or go on a short walk) and not do anything except talking to Him and listening – for the sake of just being present with Him and wanting to hear His heart”
“And this word: ‘Let prayer be your work’ has come to me so powerfully. Instead of looking at all the things I have to do and say and plan to attempt to micromanage circumstances and accomplish a work in my life or in someone’s life, I’ve come to the conclusion that ‘consistent prayer without giving up’ is what the Lord has led me to commit to; because it’s God that has to do the work.”
“We need not feel guilty if the prayer is short for the day. Or if it’s not so many fancy words. The question is, did I pray to the Lord with a burden? Even if it was just for 30 seconds. Did I put my heart into it and mean it?”
“Keep pressing on in prayer even if you feel nothing for that day. Faith is consistency. Faith continues when feelings go up and down.”
“And be patient. God’s timing is usually slower than ours because He’s doing a quality work. We try to push things faster and it’s like pushing open rose petals before it’s ready to bloom. It won’t work. It’ll ruin the rose in all of its beauty. Let the Lord choose the time – and let constant prayer be your work until then.”
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By nature, in my flesh I have tended to have a bit of a restless personality. When I have a bit of free time my mind tends to be wandering around, eager to find, “what to do next?” And trying to find some activity to keep myself occupied. Lately the Lord has been prompting me to use some of that time to just sit down (or go on a short walk) and not do anything except talking to Him and listening – for the sake of just being present with Him and wanting to hear His heart.
I believe this is a good habit to have as we’re able throughout the day. A few moments with the Lord in the midst of a busy day can refresh our spirits greatly. Did Jesus have hobbies? I believe here was His hobby (as He got time and was able): Luke 5:16 – “Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray”
And very similar to this picture of going from busyness to resting in God (of calming down from all my outward actions and trying to find ‘nuggets’ of time to spend time with the Lord), the Lord has also been calming me down inwardly with regard to pulling back from the “work” of trying to control circumstances and people, and having me rest by leaning on prayer alone.
I remember one time there was a season I found myself trying to push circumstances and people for what I believed were good things (and were according to His will), and He spoke to me so clearly a word which totally changed the way I went forward: “You’re laboring in your own effort. Cease striving. Let prayer be your work.”
Sometimes God leads us to take some action or speak some word which changes a situation instantly – like the blind man who washed his eyes in the pool, or the paralyzed man who picked up his mat and walked. With regard to our sin, our action should always be to repent immediately, and pray for God’s grace for help going forward. But regarding circumstances it can be a bit different. Sometime it’s to take some action to follow God’s leading, and at other times I’m seeing that there is no action at all He wants me to do right now except to trust: to pray and wait. And to keep praying and commit to never give up until God does something!
George Muller prayed daily for over 50 years for a friend to be saved. I’m sure that he preached to this friend, and tried to convince him of the gospel. But after all of his convincing and preaching, and thinking “What should I say?” there was no fruit. His friend didn’t respond at all. So what to do?
He committed to pray daily.
Not for a month, or some months, or even a few years. He committed to pray for as long as it takes, daily.
I’m sure that those daily prayers weren’t always perfect or long. But I believe George Muller got to the point where he realized: “I cannot change my friend. So I will pray daily and not give up. Prayer will be my work for him from this point forward. Daily. For as long as it takes. Decades if needed.”
George Muller died and this man was still not saved. But do you know what happened after Muller died? The man was finally born again and saved! God answered.
Was it worth 50 years of daily prayer? Do you think George Muller is looking back from Heaven at his time on earth saying, “Ooh that was such a long difficult wait in prayer, praying everyday like that..”? No way!
These two brothers are together now in eternity and I believe that man is going to be expressing constant gratitude not for 50 years but for eternity to George Muller!
And this word: “Let prayer be your work” has come to me so powerfully. Instead of looking at all the things I have to do and say and plan to attempt to micromanage circumstances and accomplish a work in my life or in someone’s life, I’ve come to the conclusion that “consistent prayer without giving up” is what the Lord has led me to commit to; because it’s God that has to do the work. Prayer to move God to work and to do what I cannot do is the eternal lasting work that replaces all my plans and scheming of my own effort – to overcome sin, to rise above trials, to work in someone else’s heart. It’s also the one work we can take no credit for but have to give God the glory.
AN EXAMPLE
Whenever I meet a person whose children are all older and following the Lord (late teens or godly young adults in their 20s), pretty much every time I get a chance I ask that person: “What was your secret? What did you do?” And I saw something amazing with all of them: as far as I can remember, every single person has answered me with exactly the same answer: “It wasn’t our work. We prayed for them.“
We know that we have to pray 24 hours a day, without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). Most people do not practice that constant habit of listening to God and talking to Him. We need to have a life like that. But in addition to that, I believe we should also have specific times to pray for specific burdens, taking time with a couple or few things which are really important and committing to pray for them. Consistency is the important thing – don’t give up. Pray constantly, specifically for a burden. I know some people who would pray during their full hour commute everyday, many of the same things each day.
Whatever it is, the point isn’t a length of time but that we have decided to take on a burden to bring to the Lord, and we will not give up (Luke 18:1-8). And we say: “This is one important thing I will fight for in this life and so I will pray everyday for decades if needed, and prayer will be my work.”
We need not feel guilty if the prayer is short for the day. Or if it’s not so many fancy words. The question is, did I pray to the Lord with a burden? Even if it was just for 30 seconds. Did I put my heart into it and mean it? Jesus wasn’t against short prayers or even repetitive prayers. Jesus didn’t say He was against repetitive prayers, He said He was against “meaningless” repetitive prayers (Matt 6:7). Some days we’ll feel the burden more than others. But I think of George Muller and his 50 years. Just keep going.
Keep pressing on in prayer even if you feel nothing for that day. Faith is consistency. Faith continues when feelings go up and down.
George Muller, when he saw no fruit for his friend after evangelizing to him probably stopped asking, “what am I doing wrong? Is there something else I should say to him?” Because he tried everything and realized it wasn’t his power but God’s that had to do the work. He stopped working himself and said, “Lord I’m just going to bring it to you now for however long it takes. I’m powerless, you have to do something.” This is what it means I believe to come to the rest of Hebrews 4. Canaan. We stop asking, “what am I doing wrong?” and trying to think of what to do next – and instead we look to the Lord.If you’ve been trying to accomplish something in your own power (which you know is a good thing in God’s will), and you’re not seeing fruit, it doesn’t mean you did something wrong… it means you have to pray!
“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:10
“We don’t know anything, we’re powerless but we’re looking to you” – 2 Chronicles 20:12. Some things God wants us to take a specific action of obedience on and He will work through that. But for many things it’s not His time yet, and we have to wait on the Lord in prayer.
Even Jesus was at this point with His disciples:
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16:12-13
Even Jesus saw that He had to not lean on His own works, but commit to pray for His disciples until the Holy Spirit came powerfully to do what even He could not do in person (John 16:7).
CONCLUSION
Dear brother/sister – if you have been trying to do something or accomplish which you believe is God’s will, perhaps for years, consider this: decide that from now on you will stop trying to push the circumstance yourself. Instead, you will step back and pray until God does something. You will commit to it even for years or decades until He does something.
And be patient. God’s timing is usually slower than ours because He’s doing a quality work. We try to push things faster and it’s like pushing open rose petals before it’s ready to bloom. It won’t work. It’ll ruin the rose in all of its beauty. Let the Lord choose the time – and let constant prayer be your work until then.
It doesn’t mean you won’t do anything. Perhaps He may lead you here and there to take some action. But remember that you’ve tried so many of your own actions in your own control and they haven’t worked. Zero fruit. It’s time to commit your plans to the Lord and pray.
“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” Psalms 37:5-7
It says the Lord WILL do it.
Let prayer be your work.
Col 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer”
This has been one truth that has given me perhaps more rest than almost any other. Stop working and planning and controlling. Look to Jesus! Let prayer be your work from now on. And Col 4:2 goes on to tell us also in faith give thanks while you do this work.
If I can’t be thankful now while I’m waiting on the Lord, then I won’t be able to be thankful later when the Lord answers.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;” Colossians 4:2
The Lord will do it. And when it’s done all glory will go to Him because you stopped working. It was all His doing. And He’s getting even more glory now by your pressing on in faith without seeing, than He will after the work is done and you praise Him then!
This is the power we have in Jesus to accomplish God’s will, to fight Satan’s work, to glorify God and shame the devil, and to bind things in Heaven and on earth.
The Samaritan woman era is based on the encounter with Christ in John 4:4–42, and is a powerful picture of transformation and healing. The woman at the well, often referred to as the Samaritan woman at the well, represents a woman who had a complicated past and had been rejected by others.
Her story begins as she goes to draw water from the well as part of her normal daily routine. In that moment, Jesus meets her, and what begins as an ordinary part of her day becomes an extraordinary encounter. She comes at about noon, in the heat of the day. In that culture, most women would go early in the morning or later in the evening when it was cooler, and they would usually go together in groups. The fact she comes alone at a different time suggests she was separated from the other women in the community.
The reason for that separation becomes clearer in the conversation. Jesus tells her she has had five husbands, and that the man she is currently with is not her husband. The text does not give every detail, but it does show that her life situation did not fit the accepted social and moral expectations of her community. Because of this, she was likely outside the normal social circle of the other women. Coming at noon would have been a practical way to avoid meeting people and to avoid the discomfort or judgment she may have faced.
Even in that condition, Jesus meets her. He does not ignore her or treat her as less important. He speaks to her directly and with respect. This is central to the Samaritan woman era—Jesus does not avoid people because of their past or their reputation.
One of the important details in this story is that Jesus “had to go through Samaria.” This was not the usual route for Jews. It shows that this meeting was intentional. Jesus went there on purpose to meet her. This shows that God is involved in real human situations and does not avoid difficult or broken places.
Jesus breaks several social barriers in this moment. He speaks to a Samaritan, even though Jews and Samaritans normally did not associate. He speaks to a woman in public, which was not common in that cultural setting. And He speaks openly to someone others would likely have avoided. This shows that Jesus does not treat people based on social categories or reputation.
The conversation begins with water but quickly moves deeper. Jesus speaks about “living water,” which means the life He gives. At first, she understands it in a physical way, but Jesus is pointing to something deeper. He is showing that there is a deeper need in human life that cannot be met by physical things, relationships, or external stability. Only He can satisfy that need.
This is where the Samaritan woman era becomes clear. It is a moment where Jesus shows that what people are looking for in different places can only be found in Him.
The woman also shows that she has some religious knowledge. She knows about worship and about the coming Messiah. She even says she knows the Messiah is coming. But even with that knowledge, her life is not aligned with what she is expecting.
This shows something important. It is possible to know religious language, understand teachings about God, and even believe in truth about Him, while still not living in a way that reflects that truth. In other words, a person can have knowledge about God, speak the right words, and still not be living in real alignment with what they believe.
This is similar to what Scripture describes as having a form of godliness but not living in a way that reflects its power. Outwardly there can be religious understanding, familiarity with truth, and correct language, but inwardly and practically there can still be a disconnect between belief and life.
The Samaritan woman is not presented as someone to be condemned, but as someone who has not yet had a full encounter with Jesus. Her story shows the difference between knowing about God and actually meeting Him personally. Knowledge alone does not change a person’s life in a deep way. Real change happens through encounter with Jesus Himself.
Jesus then speaks about worship. She asks about the correct place to worship, and Jesus explains that true worship is not about a place. It is about worshipping God in spirit and truth. This shows that God is not limited to buildings or locations. He is looking for real relationship with people.
At one point, Jesus clearly reveals Himself to her as the Messiah. He does this directly, to her. This shows that God reveals Himself to people in unexpected ways, regardless of background, reputation, or social standing.
After this encounter, the woman changes direction. She leaves her water jar and goes back to her community. The same woman who came alone now speaks to others. She tells them about the man who knew everything about her and still spoke to her with truth and respect. She invites them to come and see Him for themselves.
She becomes one of the first people in the Gospel to openly tell others about Jesus. Her encounter does not stay private. It becomes something she shares, and her words lead others to come and meet Jesus.
The Samaritan woman era is not only about personal change. It is about meeting Jesus, receiving what only He can give, and then sharing that experience with others. It is about going from emptiness to fullness, from separation to restored connection, and from silence to testimony.
A Prayer for the Samaritan Woman Season
Heavenly Father, Thank You that You meet us not only in our strength, but in our hidden places, our broken places, and the parts of our story we would rather keep covered. Thank You that nothing about us is hidden from You, and yet nothing in us is beyond Your love and restoration.
Lord, in this Samaritan woman season, I come before You as I am. You see every part of my past, every wound, every moment of shame, and every place where I have felt unseen or unworthy. Yet You still draw near. Help me to receive that love without fear, without running, and without hiding.
Jesus, meet me at my “well” moments, the places of routine, exhaustion, and quiet survival, and speak life into them. Where I have been spiritually thirsty, satisfy me with living water. Where I have been seeking fulfillment in things that cannot sustain me, redirect my heart back to You.
Heal the places in me that still carry pain. Gently uncover what needs to be healed, and give me courage to face it with You rather than avoid it. Wash away shame that has tried to define me, and replace it with Your truth about who I am.
Lord, rebuild my identity from the inside out. Let my worth no longer be shaped by rejection, failure, or human opinion, but by the reality that I am seen, known, and loved by You. Teach me to walk in that identity with confidence and peace.
Break the power of old labels spoken over my life, labels of unworthiness, brokenness, or disqualification. Replace them with Your voice, which calls me chosen, restored, and loved.
And Lord, just as You transformed the Samaritan woman from avoidance into bold testimony, do the same in me. Take what I have hidden and turn it into a story that points others back to You. Give me courage to speak of what You have done, not for attention, but for Your glory.
Let my healing become a witness for Your namesake. Let my encounter become purpose. Let my story no longer be defined by where I have been, but by who I have met.
Thank You that You do not wait for me to be perfect before You meet me. You meet me in the middle of the journey, and You change everything.
This doctrine teaches that salvation can never be lost, despite the lifestyle you lead or the actions you take–even if it means denying Jesus and turning your back on Him. This view is based on Romans 8 and John 10 which in summary state that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that Jesus’ sheep have eternal life and no one can pluck them out of His hand.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.ROMANS 8:29-30,39
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.JOHN 10:28-29
This belief also affirms the emphasis on the perseverance of the saints, which means that any true believer will not choose to turn away from the Lord. Therefore, if anyone chooses to walk away from the Lord, it signifies they were never truly saved. The basis for that teaching is found in 1 John 2, which states that those who left the church were never really a part of it.
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.1 JOHN 2:19
This theological stance is very controversial amongst Christians. There are well-respected theologians and pastors on both sides of this issue. I also have dear friends who differ from me on this topic.
What The Bible Teaches
1. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace, not by works.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.EPHESIANS 2:8
We are not saved by doing good works and we don’t maintain our salvation by doing good works. God’s divine grace saves and sustains us. The grace of God saves but it also teaches us to deny sin.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.TITUS 2:11,12
Paul, the grace teacher, writes that while we are not saved by good works we are saved to do good works.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.EPHESIANS 2:10
You are not saved by good works. You are saved for good works.
2. Born-again believers have an assurance of their salvation.
Having an assurance of salvation is different from having evidence of salvation. The evidence of salvation is manifested through changes in a person’s conduct and character. The new birth produces a new nature which results in a new lifestyle. We are confident that we are saved based on the promises of God, not on our subjective experience, feelings, or moods at any given time. We shouldn’t live in fear and doubt about the certainty of our salvation! We see in 1 John 5, that those who have the Son have eternal life. Believing in Jesus guarantees us eternal life.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.1 JOHN 5:11-13
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.JOHN 3:16
The evidence of salvation is a changed life, but the assurance of salvation is the unchanging Word of God.
3. There is plenty of evidence that suggests that it’s possible for believers to willfully turn away from their faith in Jesus Christ.
God gives us the choice to accept Him or reject Him. It’s evident in the words: “whoever believes” found in John 3:16. But, we don’t lose our free will once we surrender to the preaching of the Gospel and to the Holy Spirit who leads us to repent and turn to Christ. Salvation is not an irreversible decision! Giving your life to Christ is not like joining a Colombian cartel with no chance of getting out. You can renounce your citizenship if you live in the USA. If you’re married you can break the covenant of marriage with your spouse. I am not saying that you would want to renounce your salvation, but you can. You’re not trapped.
We need to remember that the New Testament letters were written to Christians who trusted in God’s grace and salvation through Christ Jesus. Here are a few verses that suggest that genuine believers can willfully turn away from their faith and forfeit their salvation.
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they FALL AWAY, to be brought back to repentance, because to THEIR LOSS they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”HEBREWS 6:4-6
The epistle of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who had put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior. They came under pressure and persecution to return to the synagogue and the Jewish religion. During this, some capitulated and turned away from Christ. They returned to Judaism which refutes the Gospel’s message of salvation–redemption exclusively through faith in Christ’s sacrifice of blood on the cross. This passage especially speaks to them.
They had:
• Once been enlightened by the gospel.
• Tasted the heavenly gift of eternal life.
• Tasted the good Word of God about New Covenant truths.
• Tasted the powers of the age to come–the future kingdom age when Christ returns.
• Been partakers of the Holy Spirit.
But now, they had fallen away, having been pressured to return to Judaism by denying Christ Jesus. They had fallen away by apostasy, renouncing their faith in Christ. They put Him to open shame. It was a recantation or desertion, and once they did that, it was impossible to renew themselves again to repentance. No matter how much you try to bend these verses, it’s pretty clear here that it’s talking about believers.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will DEPART from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” 1 TIMOTHY 4:1
You can’t depart from the faith if you were never in the faith. And, we know that some will depart in the last days. If you don’t believe this to be true, look up how many notable Christians have left the Christian faith, renounced their belief in Jesus Christ, and became atheists just in the last 10 years. To say that they were never believers would be a huge stretch and to say that they are still saved after disclaiming their faith would be a greater stretch.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will TURN AWAY from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”MATTHEW 24:9-13
It was Jesus who said that when times get hard people will turn away from their faith. This was evident during the persecution in the communist Soviet Union. The Soviet police would offer to spare your life if you would openly deny Christianity and report your Christian brothers to the communist party. Even to this day, the Chinese and other communist governments persecute Christian believers in the same way.
If you can remain saved after denying Jesus, then why did Jesus ask us to stand firm until the end?
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation– IF indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”COLOSSIANS 1:21-23
Did you see the word if in Paul’s statement? According to this verse, we are to continue in our faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Some, however, decide willingly to depart from the faith, which is why Paul addressed the conditional phrase if, following the truth about our reconciliation by Christ’s physical body.
“…But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be CUT OFF.”ROMANS 11:20-22
Using the example of the Israelite nation and how they were cut off due to unbelief, Paul argues that we, non-Jews, are saved by faith and we should continue in His kindness or else we will be cut off as well. Why warn about the possibility if it’s not possible for believers to be cut off?
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that TURNS AWAY from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”HEBREWS 3:12-14
The writer of Hebrews addresses brothers who might harbor sinful, unbelieving hearts that may turn away from the living God. Once again, he affirms that we share and enjoy security in Christ if we hold firmly until the end.
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, HOLDING ON to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”1 TIMOTHY 1:18-20
Paul is talking about two believers who have shipwrecked their faith. Faith is like a ship that gets us from point A to point B, but that ship can be wrecked. Do you remember the Titanic? You can choose to jump off the ship if you want to, but it’s better to stay in the lifeboat.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. IF a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is THROWN AWAY and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into THE FIRE and burned.”JOHN 15:1-6
An alternate translation of the second verse (the Passion translation) is that He lifts up every branch that is barren. The branches He throws away in verse 6 are those that don’t abide in the vine. Someone can try to use logic with this illustration and say: well branches can’t possibly choose to not abide, but according to Jesus, it is possible. Verse 5 says that we, human beings with free will, are the branches. We can’t use human logic to try and explain spiritual truths. We have to let the Word of God educate our understanding, not let our understanding try to educate God’s Word.
“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”GALATIANS 5:4
The word “estranged” means “separated” and “alienated.” This verse teaches that the one who attempts to justify himself by the law of Moses has become separated from Christ and has lost the benefits of Christ’s grace, which includes salvation.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”JAMES 5:19-20
This starts with the word “brethren,” so we can know that this was written to saved Christians. James then continues, “If anyone among you,” signifying that this statement is regarding other Christians. He stated that a Christian can wander from the truth! He also said that if a faithful, Christian servant were to turn a backslidden Christian back to God, he would be bringing back a child of God who was classified as a lost sinner. And what does the text say that this faithful believer would do? He would SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH! James was not referring to physical death here; rather, he was referring to spiritual death! So, here’s a good question for those who subscribe to the “Once Saved, Always Saved” theory:
How can we save another Christian’s soul from death (eternal separation from God), if at one point that person was considered saved and assumed to always be saved?
4. John Wesley who summarized the “once saved, always saved” teaching infers or presumes that somehow:
No virgin’s lamp can go out…(Matthew 25:8)
No promising harvest can be choked with thorns…(Matthew 13:7)
No branch in Christ can ever be cut off for not abiding…(John 15:6)
No forgiveness can ever be forfeited… (Matthew 18:32)
No name can be blotted out of God’s book…(Revelation 3:5; Exodus 32:33)
No salt can ever lose its flavor…(Matthew 5:13)
“Once Saved, Always Saved,” says that nobody can ever:
“Receive the grace of God in vain”… (2 Corinthians 6:1)
“Bury [their] talents”…(Matthew 25:18)
“Neglect such great salvation”… (Hebrews 2:3)
“Look back” after putting [their] hand to the plow… (Luke 9:62)
Nor “deny the Lord that bought them” and “brings upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1)
Nobody, or body of believers, can ever get so lukewarm that Jesus will spew them out of His mouth… (Revelation 3:16)
“Once Saved, Always Saved” will argue that:
If you are lost, you were never found (John 17:12)
If one falls, he was never standing (Romans 11:16-22; Hebrews 6:4-6)
If one was ever “cast forth,” he was never in, and “if one ever withered,” he was never attached to the vine and once green (John 15:1-6)
“If any man draws back,” proves that he never had anything to draw back from (Hebrews 10:38,39)
If one ever “falls away into spiritual darkness,” he was never enlightened (Hebrews 6:4-6)
If you “again get entangled in the pollution of the world,” it shows that you never escaped (2 Peter 2:20)
If you “put salvation away” you never truly had it (Hebrews 10:35; Psalms 51:11)
If you make a shipwreck of your faith, there was no ship of faith there, to begin with!! (1 Timothy 1:19)
5. 1 John 2 which deals with antichrists, not backsliders, is used to argue that if you “lost” your salvation, it means you never had it.
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”1 JOHN 2:18-19
It’s true that there are false conversions of people who are carrying the spirit of the antichrist. It is also true that when the sower sowed a seed only 1 out of 4 types of soils produced a good harvest.
Not everyone who comes to the front of the church or raises their hand to pray the sinner’s prayer is born again. But to say that every person who walks away from Christ is an antichrist and was never saved is a huge stretch. Plenty of verses we covered already prove otherwise.
6. The logic of “once saved, always saved” is very flawed at best.
For example, they say, “once you are born again, you can’t be unborn” and therefore you can’t lose your salvation. But there are many spirit beings who were once children of God. For instance, there were angelic beings like Lucifer and the others who took part in his rebellion and are now outside of God’s family. The Bible often uses the picture of a family and marriage to illustrate the spiritual reality of belonging to God. But, everyone knows that you can disown your own family, and even divorce your spouse.
Another logical reasoning is that salvation is eternal, but if you can lose it then it means salvation is only temporary. As I mentioned before, nowhere does the Bible hint that it is impossible to renounce or forfeit our salvation once we have received it. The Scriptures are clear–a believer can backslide, a coin can get lost, sheep can go astray, and a son can become prodigal. A backslider is on dangerous ground and needs to be challenged to repentance, lest his backsliding leads to apostasy. We can also consider Judas Iscariot, who was a part of the inner circle of Jesus but ended up betraying Him and committing suicide.
7. Christians can’t lose their salvation but they can willfully choose to forfeit their salvation by walking away from the Lord.
We are convinced that true believers will enjoy the assurance of their salvation. We need not be afraid of losing our salvation like a wallet dropping from a pocket in a careless moment. The Scriptures assure us as believers of God’s provision and of the sustaining power of His Holy Spirit. Acknowledging that there is a real danger in backsliding and that we are able to abandon our salvation, does not mean that we should live in continual fear of doing the unthinkable.
For instance, a passenger flying on a plane is guaranteed to reach his destination. They will arrive at their destination safely unless they choose to do something crazy like open the cabin door and jump out. Forfeiting salvation is like jumping out of an airplane.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. They shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”JOHN 10:27
The very promise that is argued in favor of “eternal security” is not unconditional but conditional! Those who are given the promise of eternal life are those who “hear His voice and follow.” Indeed, no one can snatch them out of Jesus’ hand, but they themselves can place themselves outside of His hand.
Christians can’t lose their salvation, but they can willfully choose to forfeit their salvation.
8. Christians don’t lose their salvation by struggling with temptation and sin but by practicing lawlessness.
There is a huge difference here between struggling with sin and living in sin.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER knew you; depart from Me, you who PRACTICE lawlessness!’“MATTHEW 7:21-23
Here, Jesus refers to evildoers whom He never knew; they are not among those who got saved and then walked away from Him. They were never saved. Look at their state: they practice lawlessness. Practice is what our church’s worship team does to get better at singing. When you practice something, you desire to get better at doing it.
Christians don’t practice sin, they struggle with sin.
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are AGAIN entangled in it and overcome, they are WORSE off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”2 PETER 2:20-21
If a believer continually, deliberately, willfully, and knowingly practices living a sinful lifestyle, they place themselves on ‘dangerous ground’.
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of JUDGMENT and of raging FIRE that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” HEBREWS 10:26-31
9. If a Christian can lose their salvation, that means that the Holy Spirit can be taken away.
God took His Spirit away from king Saul, even though Saul, in the beginning, was counted among the prophets, prophesied, and spoke in tongues (see 1 Kings 10:9-13 & 16:14). Another Scripture points out that King David, in repentance, cried out to God to not take His Spirit from him.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.PSALMS 51:11
Paul writes in Ephesians 1 that after we believed in Christ, God sealed us “with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.EPHESIANS 1:13,14
The word “sealed” does not mean to be stuck in or sealed inside. It means to be “marked” or stamped with a private signet indicating ownership. But Paul also writes in Ephesians,
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”EPHESIANS 4:30
Final Thought:
The Scriptures consistently teach us that man has the power of freely choosing between life and death, and God will never violate that power. A true believer can willfully choose to apostatize, reject God’s grace, and forfeit their salvation. We are safe and secure in Jesus but, if we ultimately reject Him, we forfeit our secure standing in Him. Nonetheless, we can rest assured that God’s grace, which saved us in the first place, is ever-present to warn, check, encourage, and sustain us.
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*** By Vladimir Savchuk Ministries / Photo by El Jusuf at Pexels
The Mary era, inspired by Mary, mother of Jesus, represents a deeply spiritual season of surrender and divine trust (book of Luke) . It is a season where God places something within a person that they may not fully understand, but are called to carry faithfully.
Mary’s story begins with an unexpected calling. She receives a word that changes the entire direction of her life. Yet her response is not resistance, but surrender. The Mary era is often a season where God invites a person to trust Him beyond logic, comfort, or clarity. It is about saying yes even when the full picture is not visible.
To fully understand the depth of Mary’s obedience, it is important to understand the risk she was taking. Mary was an unmarried young woman, betrothed but not yet fully married, and in the cultural and religious context of her time, pregnancy outside of marriage could bring severe consequences. It could lead to public humiliation, rejection by her community, and in some cases, even death by stoning. Her yes to God was not spoken from a place of safety, but from a place of courageous trust. She chose obedience even when it threatened her reputation, she chose faith even when it could have cost her relationships, and she chose surrender even when the outcome was uncertain. This is one of the defining marks of a Mary era, trusting God even when obedience feels costly.
This season is often hidden in nature. Much like pregnancy, what is being formed is not yet seen by others. There is a process taking place internally that requires protection, patience, and care. The Mary era is a season of guarding what God has placed within you, even when others do not fully understand it.
It is also a season that may involve misunderstanding or isolation. Mary did not always have external validation for what she was carrying. In the same way, a Mary season can involve walking forward without full explanation or approval from others. It requires deep inner conviction and trust in God’s voice.
A Mary season touches every part of a person, spirit, mind, emotions, and body. What God is forming within is not carried only spiritually, but through the whole of your life. Like Mary carrying a child, there is often a physical weight to what has been entrusted, a sense of walking, waiting, and enduring while something hidden continues to grow. There is also a mental stretching, as thoughts must be anchored in God’s promise so that fear, doubt, and external opinions do not reshape what faith has received. Emotionally, this season can feel tender, requiring peace in uncertainty and courage in moments of misunderstanding. Spiritually, it is a season of deeper surrender, where trust is strengthened and obedience becomes the daily act of carrying what only God can sustain. A Mary season is a whole-person process, one that quietly forms endurance, humility, and faith as God prepares His promise to unfold in His perfect timing.
One of the hardest lessons in a Mary era is accepting that not everyone will understand what God has spoken to you. Some may question your calling, some may misunderstand your decisions, some may even mock, gossip, or form opinions about what they cannot comprehend. Mary herself likely faced this reality. To those around her, her circumstances may have appeared scandalous or confusing. There would have been people who doubted her story, questioned her integrity, or judged what they could not spiritually discern. Yet Mary did not spend her energy trying to convince everyone that what she was carrying was from God. She understood something deeply important, not everyone is meant to understand what God has entrusted to you, because not everyone was included in the conversation.
God spoke to you, God entrusted it to you, and your responsibility is not to seek constant validation or to defend your calling to those who were never assigned to carry it. Your responsibility is faithfulness. A Mary season often requires the courage to keep moving forward even when others misunderstand you. It means learning to be at peace with being misunderstood. It means resisting the temptation to over explain, defend yourself, or seek approval from people who cannot see what God has shown you. Not every opinion deserves your response, not every doubt deserves your attention. Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is quietly continue carrying what God has placed within you and trust Him to reveal it in His own time.
There is freedom in recognising that your calling is between you and God. What He has spoken over your life does not become less true because others fail to understand it. The promise does not need public agreement to remain valid. The assignment does not require human permission to move forward. A Mary era teaches you to become anchored in God’s voice above every other voice. It teaches you to protect your peace, guard your confidence, and remain faithful with what God has given you, even when no one else can yet see its significance.
While not everyone will understand your calling, God often sends a few people who do. Mary did not carry the news of what God had spoken entirely alone. After receiving the angel’s message, she went to visit Elizabeth, and in that encounter she received confirmation and encouragement. Elizabeth recognised what God was doing in Mary before the world ever could. This is such an important part of a Mary season. While you are not called to seek approval from everyone, God may place trusted, spiritually discerning people in your life who can affirm what He has spoken and strengthen your faith when you feel uncertain. These are the people who bring peace rather than confusion, who help anchor you in obedience rather than fear. Discernment is learning the difference between voices that drain your confidence and voices that confirm what God has already placed within you. You may not need everyone to understand, but God often provides an Elizabeth to remind you that you are not carrying the promise alone.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Mary’s story is that she did not carry the promise carelessly. Scripture tells us that Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. She reflected, she protected what had been spoken, and she did not rush to prove herself or force understanding. She allowed the mystery of what God was doing to unfold in His timing. The Mary era teaches the importance of guarding what God has placed within you. Not every promise needs immediate exposure, not every assignment needs immediate explanation. Some things must be nurtured quietly through prayer, patience, and trust.
One of the most beautiful responses Mary gives throughout her journey is worship. Before the promise was fulfilled, before she understood how everything would unfold, Mary praised God. She magnified the Lord while still standing in uncertainty. This teaches something deeply important about a Mary era, worship is not reserved only for when the promise has manifested. It is part of how we carry the promise. It is learning to praise God while questions remain unanswered, trusting His goodness before the outcome is visible. Worship becomes an act of surrender, a declaration that God is trustworthy even when life feels unclear. A Mary season teaches you how to magnify God above your fears, above your doubts, and above the voices that try to make you question what He has spoken.
Mary also teaches the discipline of patiently living with mystery. Not everything she experienced was immediately explained. There were moments she simply pondered in silence, holding what she did not yet understand in her heart. A Mary era teaches that not every question requires an immediate answer. Some parts of God’s plan unfold slowly, and faith is often found in the willingness to trust without full understanding. Sometimes spiritual maturity looks like resisting the urge to force clarity and instead resting in the knowledge that God will reveal what is needed in the proper time.
This season is also one of profound humility. Mary did not seek prominence or recognition. She simply made herself available. Her life reminds us that God often entrusts His greatest purposes to those who are willing to yield rather than strive. Humility is not weakness, it is strength surrendered to God. It is the willingness to be used without needing to control the outcome.
Mary’s journey also reminds us that when God gives a calling, He often prepares support alongside it. Her assignment was deeply personal, yet God also made provision through Joseph. Joseph’s obedience became part of Mary’s covering, protection, and practical support. This is a comforting truth in a Mary era. If God has entrusted something to you, He is also able to arrange the people, provision, and protection necessary to help sustain what He has asked you to carry. You may not see all of that support immediately, but God is never careless with the assignments He gives. He provides what is needed for what He has called forth.
Another important part of Mary’s story is her faithfulness over time. Her obedience was not limited to one moment of saying yes. She continued walking faithfully through every stage of what that yes required. She carried the child, she endured the journey, she gave birth in humble circumstances, she raised Jesus, she watched Him be misunderstood, and she remained near even at the cross. This reminds us that a Mary era is not simply about receiving a calling, it is about remaining faithful to carry it through every season.
It is one thing to say yes in a moment of inspiration, it is another to continue saying yes through discomfort, uncertainty, and pain. Mary teaches endurance. She teaches sustained surrender. She teaches what it means to trust God not only at the beginning of the promise, but through every unfolding chapter.
Perhaps one of the most profound parts of Mary’s story is that her faithfulness was tested not only in carrying the promise, but in watching it suffer. She stood near the cross, remaining present even in heartbreak. The same mother who carried the promise in hiddenness also had to endure the pain of watching that promise pass through suffering. A Mary era can include moments where what God has given you feels difficult, delayed, or painful to carry. There may be seasons when the promise itself seems to wound your expectations or stretch your faith. Mary teaches us the courage to remain faithful even then, trusting that God is still working beyond what we can see. Sometimes resurrection is unfolding even when everything appears to be breaking.
Ultimately, the Mary era is about obedience. It is about allowing God to shape your life according to His purpose, even when it stretches your understanding. It is a season of sacred trust, where surrender becomes the pathway to destiny.
The Mary era is not a season of striving. It is a season of yielding. It is not about being fully understood, it is about being fully surrendered. It is not about having control, it is about trusting the One who does. It is the hidden pregnancy before the promise is revealed, the quiet yes before the world understands, the obedience before the fulfilment, and the surrender before the glory.
The Mary era is the sacred season of carrying what only faith can sustain.
A Prayer for the Mary Season
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the seasons where You entrust us with things that are beyond our understanding, yet held safely within Your will. Thank You that when You speak, You also give grace to carry what You have spoken.
Lord, in this Mary season, I choose to say yes to You again. Even when I do not see the full picture, even when I do not understand the process, I trust Your voice above my own understanding and above the voices around me.
Strengthen me in the hidden places. Teach me how to guard what You have placed within me with wisdom, patience, and peace. Help me not to rush what You are growing, not to expose what You are still forming, and not to abandon what You have called me to carry.
Lord, when I feel misunderstood, give me quiet confidence. When others question or do not see what You are doing, anchor me in Your truth. Keep me from striving for approval, defending what does not need defence, or seeking validation where You have not assigned it. Let my identity rest securely in what You have spoken, not in what others perceive.
Thank You for the “Elizabeths” You place along the way, those who bring encouragement, confirmation, and peace. Give me discernment to recognise the voices that strengthen my faith and to gently release the voices that drain it.
Teach me the discipline of worship in uncertainty. Like Mary, help me to magnify You even when I am still waiting, still wondering, still walking through mystery. Let praise become my posture, not because everything is clear, but because You are faithful.
Shape my heart in humility. Remove striving, control, and anxiety about outcomes. Make me willing, available, and surrendered to Your timing and Your process. Help me to walk faithfully not only in moments of inspiration, but in every stage of obedience that follows.
And Lord, thank You that You are also the God who provides. Just as You gave Mary support through Joseph, send the covering, provision, and strength needed for what You have called me to carry. I trust that You do not give assignments without also supplying grace for them.
When the journey feels long, give me endurance. When the promise feels heavy, give me strength. When I am tempted to give up, remind me that You are still at work in what I cannot yet see.
I surrender this season to You completely. Form in me what You desire, and bring forth in me what You have already ordained. Let my life remain a yes to You, not just once, but continually.
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