by Joseph | Apr 27, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
The Shaking
Whose voice then shook the earth
Shared by Jeff Rowland.
The power of the voice of God is unmatched by anything the earth has ever seen or come in contact with. One word from the lips of God can destroy with more devastation than any bomb ever created. One word from the lips of God can breathe life into anything or anyone.
(1Ki 19:12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Even though our God’s voice is so powerful, He can speak with such still softness as to gently urge the hearts of all who will listen. Could it be that the gentleness of our God is often why we so disregard and refuse Him that speaks? Could it be that our God is speaking louder so as to get our attention to the times we are living in now?
I believe that we are now living in the middle of Hebrews 12:25-29. I also believe that God is speaking to the earth and its time that we begin to pay attention. There is always purpose and reason to the voice of God being released.
Verse 26 says, “Whose voice then shook the earth.” We need to consider the events that are taking place now at such a rapid rate of speed. The earthquakes that are ravaging the earth all over must be given heed to. Jesus foretold of things to come as a sign of the end of the age in Matthew 24.
(Mat 24:7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
This was the response of Jesus after being asked the question what is the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? We are now seeing these signs. Even a casual student of the Word of God can see these things are upon us.
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by Joseph | Apr 27, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
Part of emergency preparedness involves having money available during the situation, and having a backup of all your financial data for when the crisis has passed. Think about how terrible it would be to survive a particularly bad situation, and then find out that all your financial information was lost. There are different steps that you can take to minimize a financial emergency when things go wrong, and to plan for your future.
Now, while there are certainly potential scenarios and risks of banking collapse and global financial meltdown, this writing will not address that level of preparedness. This post will make an assumption that current banking and legal tender remains somewhat solvent and available. We will share more on the potential of massive financial collapse in future posts.
Money is an important part of good emergency preparedness, since banks may not be open and access to funds electronically may not be available. So this means that cash may be the only form of payment accepted at stores or in other situations. If that should be the case, then you will need to have a supply of emergency cash that you can access if there is a large-scale problem. This money should include coins for pay phones and it should be hidden in a safe place in your home.
After the situation has been resolved, then the next step is fixing the problems and confusion that occurred. Your emergency preparation should have involved making backup copies of all relevant data related to your finances. On an external drive, you should regularly backup any recent transactions made online, and your credit card information. The idea here is that even if there is a massive power surge that fries your computer, followed by a power failure, once things have been restored to normal you should be able to hook your external drive to an unaffected computer and recover all your data.
Another important step to being prepared for an emergency is having financial records and important contact numbers and names of people in a safe place. In fact, this information should ideally be stored in more than one place, in the event that the first location is compromised. Safe locations could involve an external hard drive, a safety deposit box, a home safe, or some other hidden location. Once the situation has been resolved, these records can be accessed and used to make a quick transition back to normal, and they can often suffice as evidence in case the original data has been lost or damaged.
To be successful with your emergency preparedness, you need to anticipate a great deal. It is hard to predict exactly what will happen in a major crisis, but basic steps you take should involve setting aside some cash and making a backup of your financial information. So much can be lost in such a short period of time that it is well worth it to invest a bit of effort in making sure that should the worst occur, you will be more likely to walk away from it unscathed.
by Joseph | Apr 27, 2026 | Sharing
Scripture Reading:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NAS)
Understanding the Battles we are Facing
Today, we face more than just the challenges of daily life. We are living in a world saturated with demonic influences, where deception, lies, and strongholds seem to dominate the minds and hearts of many. You may feel this pressure yourself, as if an unseen force is pulling you away from the truth, sowing seeds of fear, discouragement, and division. This is not a coincidence—this is spiritual warfare, and it is intensifying.
In these last days, as we prepare for uncertain times, it’s crucial not only to stock our pantries with food and water but also to prepare our hearts and minds against the enemy’s tactics. The call to be spiritually prepared is just as urgent as any physical preparation. We must tear down the demonic strongholds that the enemy is building up in our lives and stand firm in the truth of God’s Word.
What Is a Demonic Stronghold?
A stronghold is like a fortress—a deeply rooted belief or mindset that stands in opposition to God’s truth. The enemy uses strongholds to keep us trapped in fear, sin, and lies. Strongholds can form through unforgiveness, anxiety, pride, or addiction. They can develop when we accept false beliefs about ourselves or God, giving Satan a foothold in our lives.
Imagine a castle built stone by stone. Each stone represents a lie or sinful habit, stacked higher and higher until it forms a fortress, hard to penetrate. The enemy whispers lies like: “You are not good enough,” “God can’t forgive that sin,” or “You will never change.” Over time, these lies solidify, becoming a stronghold that keeps us in bondage.
But there is good news: these strongholds can be torn down through the divine power given to us in Christ.
The Spiritual Weapons We Have
The Bible tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). We cannot fight demonic strongholds with human strength, self-help books, or positive thinking alone. We need spiritual weapons—tools that God has given us for victory.
- The Truth of God’s Word:
- Satan’s strongholds are built on lies, so the first step to breaking them is confronting those lies with the truth. The Word of God is our sword (Ephesians 6:17), piercing through the deceptions of the enemy.
- When you find yourself believing the lie, “God doesn’t care about me,” counter it with Scripture: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NAS).
- Prayer and Fasting:
- Jesus taught that certain strongholds can only be broken through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Fasting is a powerful way to humble ourselves before God, making our prayers even more effective.
- When we fast and pray, we are declaring that our dependence is on God alone. We empty ourselves so that He can fill us with His power and truth.
- Repentance and Confession:
- Strongholds often have their roots in unconfessed sin. When we hold on to sin, we give the enemy legal ground to establish a foothold in our lives.
- 1 John 1:9 (NAS) says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confessing our sins is like removing a stone from the enemy’s fortress.
- Taking Thoughts Captive:
- The battlefield is in the mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When a thought comes that does not align with God’s truth, reject it. Replace it with what God says.
- The enemy will often attack our minds with fear, doubt, and confusion. If we let these thoughts linger, they can become strongholds. Instead, declare, “I have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
The Call to Be Prepared
In these times, preparedness is not just about storing food and supplies—it is about fortifying our spiritual defenses. Jesus warned us about the increasing deception that would come in the last days (Matthew 24:4-5). As the days grow darker, we must be vigilant and spiritually prepared.
Physical preparation without spiritual preparation is incomplete. You may have a well-stocked pantry, but if your heart and mind are vulnerable to the enemy’s lies, your spiritual house will crumble. The story of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27 serves as a powerful reminder. Only the house built on the rock of God’s truth can withstand the storm.
Facing Today’s Demonic Influences
The demonic influences in today’s world are not hidden; they are in plain sight, infiltrating our media, our schools, our workplaces, and even our homes. The enemy is working overtime to sow seeds of fear, confusion, and hopelessness. We see this in the rise of anxiety, depression, addiction, and societal chaos.
As believers, we must stand firm. The enemy may try to build strongholds in our lives, but we have the power to tear them down through Christ. Just as Joseph prepared Egypt for seven years of famine (Genesis 41), we must prepare ourselves and our families spiritually for the coming trials. Joseph’s wisdom saved a nation, but it was his spiritual discernment and obedience to God that guided his actions.
Today, God is calling us to a Joseph awakening—a time of preparation, discernment, and faith. We cannot rely on the government, society, or even our own strength to save us. Our hope and trust must be anchored in Christ alone.
Breaking Free from Strongholds
You may be feeling the weight of a stronghold today. Perhaps it is an addiction, a fear that paralyzes you, or a sin that you cannot seem to break free from. Know this: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you right now (Romans 8:11).
Take action today:
- Identify the stronghold: What lies or patterns are holding you back? Write them down.
- Declare God’s truth: Find Scriptures that counter these lies. Speak them out loud over your life.
- Pray for deliverance: Ask God to tear down these strongholds. If necessary, seek the help of a mature believer or pastor to pray with you.
- Prepare your heart daily: Just as you might stock supplies for an emergency, fill your heart and mind with the Word of God every day.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the power and authority You have given us in Christ. We declare that no stronghold of the enemy can stand against Your truth. Help us to see the lies that have taken root in our minds and hearts. Give us the strength to confront them with Your Word and the courage to tear them down. As we prepare for the physical challenges of these times, help us also to prepare spiritually, standing firm against the enemy’s attacks. We trust in Your promise that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.
Reflection: What strongholds has the enemy built in your life? Take time today to seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal any lies or deceptions you’ve believed. Write them down and find Scriptures that speak truth into those areas. Prepare yourself not just physically, but spiritually, for the days ahead. God is with you, and in Him, you have the victory.
by Joseph | Apr 27, 2026 | Sharing
The HIDDEN AUTHORITY OF THE SERVANT HEART
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NAS)
There is a leadership that is recognized by position, and there is a leadership that is recognized by heaven. One is established by visibility; the other is formed in surrender. Scripture reveals a consistent and holy pattern—when God is ready to preserve lives, confront systems, and redirect history, He does not begin with the exalted. He begins with the lowly. He begins with those who have been shaped in places of suffering, trained in obscurity, and emptied of the need to be seen. Not because they are naturally weak, but because they have learned dependence. They have learned obedience. They have learned to carry responsibility without applause.
Joseph stands as one of the clearest revelations of this divine choice.
He was not raised in a palace but lowered into a pit. He was not trained in courts but in chains. He was not affirmed by men but refined by God. And yet it was this man—betrayed, enslaved, falsely accused, and forgotten—whom God raised to preserve nations.
The Servant Heart Formed in the Pit
Joseph’s journey into authority began in humiliation. When his brothers stripped him of his robe and cast him into the pit, they believed they were ending his future. In reality, God was beginning his formation. The pit is the place where human identity collapses and divine identity begins. It is the place where a person learns that calling is not sustained by recognition, and that purpose does not depend on environment.
“Then they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it” (Genesis 37:24 NAS).
In that empty place, Joseph was being introduced to the life of a servant. Servant leadership begins where self-exaltation ends. The dreams he had received from God were still true, but the path to their fulfillment would pass through places where he would have no control, no voice, and no visible progress. God was not delaying Joseph’s destiny; He was deepening his character.
Faithfulness in What Belongs to Another
In Potiphar’s house, Joseph had no personal inheritance, no promise of advancement, and no natural reason to give his best. Yet Scripture records, “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man” (Genesis 39:2 NAS). His success was not the result of ownership, but of stewardship. He served another man’s house as if it belonged to God.
This is the essence of the servant heart. It does not serve well because it is seen. It serves well because it belongs to the Lord.
Those whom God chooses from low places are often those who have learned to labor without personal reward. They know what it is to build what someone else will benefit from. They know what it is to carry responsibility while remaining unnamed. Through this, they gain a unique authority—the authority of trustworthiness. Heaven entrusts influence to those who have already proven they will not use it for themselves.
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10 NAS).
The Compassion Learned Through Suffering
Joseph’s suffering gave him something that power alone could never produce—understanding. When he was placed in the prison, he entered the pain of others. Instead of turning inward in self-pity, he began to serve. He noticed the countenance of the cupbearer and the baker. He asked the question that reveals the heart of a servant: “Why are your faces so sad today?” (Genesis 40:7 NAS).
The one who has suffered and remained tender becomes the one God uses to sustain others.
This is why God so often chooses the lowly. They lead differently. They do not rule from distance; they carry people in their hearts. They do not use authority to protect themselves; they use it to preserve others. Joseph’s ability to feed nations in the time of famine was directly connected to his ability to feel the sorrow of two prisoners in a forgotten place.
“Blessed be… the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NAS).
The Presence of God as the Only Credential
When Joseph finally stood before Pharaoh, he carried no visible proof of qualification. He had no title, no recommendation, no status. Yet Pharaoh discerned something greater than credentials: “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” (Genesis 41:38 NAS).
Joseph’s authority was the presence of God.
This is what the lowly gain that the self-exalted often cannot. They have been with God in places where there was no one else. They have learned to hear His voice without distraction. They have learned to depend on Him without alternatives. Their leadership is not the product of ambition; it is the result of communion.
Like David in the pasture who faced the lion and the bear before he ever saw Goliath, Joseph’s unseen battles produced a visible confidence in God. But unlike the confidence of the world, this confidence did not draw attention to itself. It pointed entirely to the Lord: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16 NAS).
Authority That Does Not Forget the Low Place
When God raises the lowly, the true test of the servant heart begins. Joseph was given absolute administrative power over Egypt. He held the future of nations in his hands. Yet the man who once served prisoners did not lose his tenderness when he ruled a nation.
Power did not erase his humility.
When his brothers stood before him—the very ones who had wounded him—Joseph did not respond from the authority of his position but from the compassion formed in his suffering. “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5 NAS). Only a servant heart can interpret personal pain through the lens of divine purpose.
This is why God chooses the lowly. They can be trusted with influence because they no longer live for themselves.
“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43 NAS).
The Wisdom That Silences the Wise
The world looks for strength in visibility, education, status, and control. God looks for hearts that have been broken and remade in His presence. Joseph’s entire life stands as a fulfillment of the word later written by Paul—that God chooses what appears foolish to shame what appears wise.
Joseph, the slave, became the counselor of kings.
Joseph, the prisoner, became the preserver of nations.
Joseph, the rejected brother, became the source of bread for the very ones who rejected him.
This is the wisdom of God.
And in every generation, He continues to do the same.
The Servant Heart That Carries the Future
In times of shaking, God is not searching for the most visible. He is searching for the most surrendered. He is searching for those who have been trained in hidden faithfulness, refined through suffering, and stripped of the need to promote themselves.
Servant leadership is not weakness. It is the highest form of authority because it is authority that has passed through death to self.
It is the life that can say, not with resignation but with revelation, “God sent me” (Genesis 45:8 NAS).
This is why the lowly are chosen.
So that when they are raised, no one will mistake the source.
So that when they lead, they will preserve life.
So that when they speak, wisdom will silence the systems of men.
And so that the glory will belong to God alone.
Joseph’s story reminds us that God is always present and working behind the scenes, even in our darkest hours. As a young man, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison. Talk about discouraging circumstances! Yet through it all, “the LORD was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2).
