EGM TIMES
EXPOSING | ENCOURAGING | EMPOWERING
“WE MUST BE READY TO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE INTERRUPTED BY GOD.”
-DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
CONTENTS
Listening to God in This Noisy World – How to Prioritize His Voice Over Life’s Distractions
-Jacob Vilgi Oommen
Overflow With Thanks 08 14 22 27 32
Searching for God in 2026
-Gideon Pingkihan
Hearing God: A Journey from Distance to Daily Intimacy
-Effie Ochago
The Pause Between Hearing and Doing
-Dr. Gladys Childs
-Daya Raja
All Bible references are from the New International Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, King James Version.
EGM Times is published by Elohim Gospel Ministries, USA. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. EGM Times has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. Because all EGM Times editions are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts.
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President: Evg. Jacob Vilgi Oommen
Associate Editor: Gideon Pingkihan
Content Editor: Effie Ochago
Design: EGM Media
Dear Friend,
Greetings to you in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
This edition is special not only because it’s the first edition of this new year, but because EGM Times has entered its 14th year of publication. I still remember the night God placed the vision for this magazine in my heart. I did not begin as an expert in publishing; I began as someone willing to obey. I did not know where the journey would lead, but I was convinced that this magazine must be an uncompromising voice of God for this generation. Today, as we step into year fourteen, I am deeply grateful to Him.
Thank you to our readers around the world for being part of the EGM Times family. We remain committed to sharing Christ-centered, life-transforming biblical reflections and faith-building testimonies that strengthen and nurture your walk with the Lord.
We begin this year with a timely theme: “Listening to God in a Noisy World.” There was a season in my life when I felt spiritually dry and distant from God. My prayers seemed unanswered, and I wondered if He had stopped speaking. Later, I realized the truth: God had not stopped speaking; I had allowed the noise around me to dull my sensitivity to His voice.
We live in a busy world, but hearing God is not optional; it is essential. When we quiet the distractions and cultivate spiritual discipline, we position ourselves to hear the faithful voice of our Shepherd.
May this edition help you silence the noise, renew your sensitivity to His voice, and rediscover the joy of walking closely with Him.
Evg. Jacob Vilgi Oommen President EGM Times
Faith Isn’t Dead Gen Z Is Proving It
Recent studies, especially from the Barna Group, are challenging the idea that young people are abandoning church. In fact, Gen Z is now reported to attend church as often as or even more often than older generations, showing a renewed openness to faith, spirituality, and community. In a world filled with confusion and shifting values, this generation is searching for truth, meaning, and stability. A biblically sound church offers exactly that: God’s Word as a firm foundation, clear guidance for life, and a Christ-centered community where faith is rooted in truth, not trends.
Now is the time for intentional action. Churches are called to be more youth-inclusive by creating safe spaces for honest questions, mentoring young people, involving them in service and leadership, and communicating in ways that connect with real-life challenges while remaining faithful to Scripture. When churches hold firmly to the Bible and lead with love, purpose, and authenticity, they become places where young people don’t just attend out of habit, but choose to belong, grow spiritually, and invite others to experience the transforming power of Christ.
If you are part of Gen Z and have not yet found your way to church, consider it an invitation rather than an obligation. Church can be a safe space to ask honest questions, find supportive community, and grow spiritually at your own pace. It is not about being perfect or having everything figured out, but about showing up as you are and allowing God to meet you there. In a time when loneliness and uncertainty are common, church offers connection, purpose, and grounding values that can help you navigate life with hope and direction.
LISTENING TO IN THIS NOISY WORLD GOD
HOW TO PRIORITIZE HIS VOICE OVER LIFE’S DISTRACTIONS
When you open your eyes each morning, do your hands instinctively reach for your phone before getting up? If so, you’re not alone. As a Christian, do you believe that your biggest challenge may not be a secret sin, a bad habit, or a bitter heart, but rather the difficulty of listening to God amidst the hectic pace of life and the constant distractions around us? One of the greatest challenges Christians face today is dealing with distractions. While sin still poses a threat to believers, distraction has become a subtle yet powerful force that gradually dulls our sensitivity to God.
No matter where you live, daily responsibilities already demand your attention. On top of that, there are countless distractions. One of the main culprits is the smartphone, packed with apps that constantly compete for your focus. Many studies show that mobile phones are quietly consuming hours of our attention every day. Cell phones are just one distraction, and there are so many others that are slowly weakening believers by preventing them from listening to God, the source of true life.
Over the past few years, we have developed habits that keep us absorbed in daily routines and the distractions of this world, to the point that our ears and hearts have lost the sensitivity to the voice of God. The busy and noisy culture we live in today has slowly pushed God down our list of priorities. We have so many deadlines to meet, texts to reply to, a spouse to take care of, kids to take care of, parents to take care of, house chores, entertainment, reels, social media, politics, workouts, and it just continues to add up, and in the middle of this, we put God on hold. We are rushing from one task to another like a machine, which is taking away our communication with God and preventing us from experiencing the true joy and peace God has set for us.
Pause for a minute, calm down, take a deep breath, analyze your life, and ask yourself:
What is the purpose of my life?
Am I leading a meaningful life?
Am I caught up in the busyness of this world? Where is God in my life?
What’s my relationship with Him? I am in this world temporarily, but I will spend eternity with God. What am I doing with my life in light of eternity?
When was the last time I spent a quality, quiet time with the Lord?
Asking these questions helps you conduct a reality check and understand how the enemy has deceived us through this noisy world.
Communication is the key to having a successful relationship in this world. One reason many relationships struggle today is that we fail to make time for one another, even when we have family or friends right in front of us, because we are drowning in our phones. Constant communication with the Lord is the secret behind a successful Christian life. It’s not just about talking to God but also listening to God. Often, our impatience in waiting and listening to God leads us to spiritual failure. This world constantly produces noise that distracts us from hearing God’s voice, the very voice that guides us into His will and shapes us into fruitful believers. Despite the noise and busyness of this world, as a Christian, it’s crucial to listen to God daily and walk in His ways. The more you ignore God’s voice, the farther you walk away from Him, which ends in a struggling Christian life.
“The more you ignore God’s voice, the farther you walk away from Him, which ends in a struggling Christian life.”
-Jacob Vilgi Oommen
How can we listen to God in this noisy world?
1.Analyze your daily life: Do a thorough analysis of your day, from the time you wake up until you go to bed. What does your routine look like? Where do you spend most of your time, on your phone, entertainment, the gym, cooking, ministry, kids, your spouse, events, sleep, cleaning, and so on? So in 24 hours, how many things are you packing into your life? By the time you get to bed, you will be exhausted and ready to sleep. The majority of people are repeating this cycle day after day, and gradually it slowly drains your peace, joy, and hope. You feel like a machine, living to work and sustain your life in this world. Amid all this chaotic daily life, we barely find time for God. It’s like you put Him on hold all the time, expecting to talk and listen to Him as soon as you finish your chores, but by the time you finish, you even forget that you put Him on hold. Unfortunately, that’s how the world works now.
Adapting this lifestyle would gradually drain your spiritual life and ultimately jeopardize your life because you have been walking away from God one step at a time. Then we wonder where God is. It is like boarding a train toward a destination and falling asleep. The announcement is made, but you never hear it. When you wake up, you wonder why you missed your stop. The speaker was not broken—you simply weren’t listening.
After enjoying the noise of this world, when we reach the rock bottom of life, we wonder where God is and why He is silent, but in reality, God is still there; it’s just that the buzzing of this world carried us away. Examine your life and see whether there is anything you are doing that you are not supposed to do. How can you lower the noise of this world and be intentional in listening to the voice of God? If our lifestyle consistently leaves no room to hear from God, it may be time to prayerfully realign our priorities. God calls us to walk closely with Him, not to live so rushed that we cannot hear His voice. Identify the areas you need to cut back to create time and space to be with Him peacefully.
When we read Luke 10:38-42 NLT, we can see what Jesus told Martha, who was busy in the kitchen, even in the presence of Jesus Christ.
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Even though Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, she became distracted by the meal she was preparing, while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His teaching. Mary’s priority was not the dinner but the words of life from Jesus. She squeezed that moment to draw life and strength from the Lord. Martha intervened and complained to Jesus, saying, “Lord, it’s unfair that my sister sits here while I do all the work.” She even asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus’ reply might have surprised Martha.
He said, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Here, Jesus is teaching us a great lesson: if you work hard on the wrong things, you are wasting time. When we analyze our daily lives, we may discover that we are busy with the wrong things. Just because you are busy doesn’t mean you are being productive or fruitful. As a Christian, there is only one thing worth being concerned about, and that is the voice of God that leads us in righteousness as we live in this world.
2. Make Listening to God Your Daily Priority:
After analyzing your life and getting rid of unnecessary daily tasks, intentionally prioritize quality time with God, not only the moments right before bed, but also when you are fresh and alert. Take one step at a time. Your goal is not to pray for two hours right away or read 5 chapters of the Bible daily. But a genuine effort with a passionate heart saying, “Lord, I want to walk closer in Your ways and will, and without listening to You, I cannot, so here I am, Lord, help me.” Start with a small prayer and continue it as the Spirit leads you. Take a chapter in the Bible and read it slowly with an open heart, saying, “Lord, speak to my life. How can I practice what I meditated on today?” Build this momentum daily. Sometimes you may fail; instead of beating yourself up and giving up, try again. Trying again despite the failures is better than blaming yourself and giving up. As you continue to prioritize God’s voice daily, it will become part of your lifestyle. You will come to a place where, despite the loud noises around you, you will learn how to lower the volume and listen to God, which will result in building a close relationship with God.
Scripture also gives us an example in Daniel. We can see how Daniel spent time with God despite the opposition he faced.
The Bible says in Daniel 6:10 NLT 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
When the administrators and high officers who worked with Daniel couldn’t find any corruption against Daniel, they plotted to put Daniel in danger by persuading the king to sign a law that, for 30 days, anyone who prayed to anyone other than the king would be thrown into the lions’ den. Despite this threat, Daniel prioritized spending time with God and listening to Him. If Daniel could overcome a life-threatening order and prioritize God’s presence and voice, then how much more can we choose to lower the noise of this world that distracts us from God’s voice? It’s not about the time, but it’s all about priority.
God has not stopped speaking. We have filled our lives with so much noise that we struggle to hear Him.
Your life in this world is a precious gift from God, and knowing the true God in this life is another great blessing. God wants you to live in this world according to His purpose for your life. Don’t get caught up in the deceiving strategy of the enemy in this “noisy world.” Turn your ears to be sensitive to the voice of God through daily disciplines in your Christian life, so that you can listen to Him.
We pray that you would examine your life and cut back the noises that are trying to keep you from listening to the voice of God in your daily life.
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG
JohnNewton was an Englishman who experienced a powerful life transformation. After living a reckless life and working as a slave trader, his turning point came in 1748 during a violent storm at sea. Fearing death, he cried out to God for mercy, and when the ship survived, that moment marked the beginning of his spiritual awakening. Over time, Newton left the slave trade, became an Anglican minister, and later spoke boldly against slavery, a cause he once supported.
Out of deep gratitude for God’s forgiveness and transforming grace, Newton wrote “Amazing Grace”, describing himself as a “wretch” in reflection of his past. The hymn has since become one of the most beloved songs about redemption, hope, and grace worldwide. Its message continues to resonate today, with contemporary worship artists like Hillsong and Phil Wickham offering fresh renditions that introduce this timeless testimony to new generations.
SEARCHING FOR GOD IN 2026
-Gideon Pingkihan
The year 2026 has arrived with remarkable advancements and relentless momentum. Technology continues to redefine how we think, work, communicate, and even worship. Artificial intelligence can generate ideas within seconds. News spreads globally in real time. Social platforms amplify voices instantly. We live in an age where information is abundant, yet clarity often feels scarce. In the middle of this acceleration, a quiet and enduring question surfaces in many hearts: where is God in all of this?
For some, searching for God in 2026 does not arise from atheism or rebellion. It arises from distraction. We are not necessarily denying His existence; we are simply preoccupied. Schedules are full, notifications are constant, and expectations are high. The modern believer is rarely disengaged but frequently overwhelmed. The challenge is not open opposition to faith but the subtle erosion of attention. When our minds are divided among countless demands, devotion becomes fragmented. We intend to pray but postpone it. We intend to read Scripture but settle for scrolling. We intend to reflect but choose to react.
“When our minds are divided among countless demands, devotion becomes fragmented. We intend to pray but postpone it. We intend to read Scripture but settle for scrolling. We intend to reflect but choose to react.”
This generation has unprecedented access to knowledge. With a few keystrokes, we can retrieve theological commentaries, sermon archives, and historical analyses. Yet knowledge does not automatically produce intimacy with God. It is possible to know about Him without knowing Him. In a culture that prizes efficiency, we may attempt to optimize even our spirituality. We look for quick inspiration rather than sustained formation. We seek motivational fragments instead of transformative truth. But God has never been found through shortcuts. He is revealed to those who seek Him with patience, humility, and sincerity.
Another reality shaping 2026 is the illusion of control. Digital tools allow us to manage finances, track health metrics, and forecast outcomes with impressive precision. We can monitor almost everything, yet we cannot guarantee peace. Control over data does not equal control over destiny. Scripture continues to challenge our confidence in self-sufficiency. Trusting in the Lord with all our hearts requires relinquishing the belief that we can engineer every result. Searching for God in this era demands intentional dependence. It calls us to recognize that while technology may expand our capabilities, it does not replace our need for divine guidance.
At the same time, the global landscape remains marked by instability. Conflicts persist. Economic pressures strain families. Mental health struggles are widespread. Many believers wrestle with unanswered prayers and prolonged uncertainty. In such conditions, searching for God becomes deeply personal. It is no longer an abstract spiritual exercise but a desperate pursuit of hope. When stability is shaken, faith is tested. Yet the Christian story does not promise immunity from hardship. It proclaims the presence of God within it. The cross stands as evidence that God does not remain distant from suffering. He enters it. The resurrection assures us that despair does not have the final word.
The church in 2026 also faces a unique tension. Faith can be broadcast, streamed, and curated for public consumption. Worship services are accessible on demand. Sermons circulate widely. While these developments extend reach, they also create the temptation to perform rather than to commune. It is possible to display spirituality without cultivating it. Authentic faith, however, is formed in private obedience long before it appears in public expression. Jesus emphasized prayer in secret, generosity without recognition, and devotion unseen by crowds. Searching for God requires integrity of heart. It demands that our private lives align with our public declarations.
As the year unfolds with its ambitions and uncertainties, the most consequential pursuit is not professional advancement or digital influence but spiritual alignment. Every generation must decide where it will anchor its trust. In 2026, amid innovation and instability alike, the invitation of Christ remains steady and personal. He calls us not merely to acknowledge Him but to follow Him. Those who respond will find that God was never far away. He has been present all along, waiting for hearts willing to seek Him with intention and devotion.
Silence has become rare in our time. Constant connectivity fills every pause. Yet throughout Scripture, encounters with God often occurred in stillness. The psalmist calls us to be still and know that He is God. Stillness is not inactivity but attentiveness. It is the deliberate choice to quiet competing voices in order to hear His. In 2026, cultivating silence may feel countercultural, but it is essential. Without it, our souls remain restless. With it, we create space for conviction, comfort, and clarity.
Ultimately, searching for God in 2026 is not about discovering a hidden deity. God has not retreated from modern society. He remains sovereign, faithful, and near. The search is less about His absence and more about our orientation. When we drift toward distraction, pride, or self-reliance, we lose sight of Him. When we turn toward repentance, prayer, Scripture, and community, we rediscover His nearness. The promise remains that those who seek Him wholeheartedly will find Him.
The “2016 Challenge” has recently taken over social media feeds, with users sharing throwback photos, videos, and memories from a decade ago. Many are recreating old selfies, popular filters, music, and fashion trends that were common in 2016. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the trend has gained attention as people look back on a time they remember as fun, carefree, and less complicated. For many users, posting old content has become a way to reconnect with moments that feel distant but familiar.
The popularity of the challenge shows how nostalgia continues to influence online culture. As digital spaces grow faster and more demanding, looking back at the past offers a sense of comfort and familiarity. The “2016 Challenge” is not just about old photos or trends, but about remembering a period that many associate with simplicity and shared experiences. Through this trend, social media once again becomes a space where personal memories and collective culture intersect.
Gideon Pingkihan is the Associate Editor of EGM Times and a graduate of Agricultural Engineering from Quirino State University, currently pursuing Theology at Bethesda School of Theology. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation to pursue their dreams while preparing spiritually for eternity.
IMPACT OF ONE YES
CHRISTINE LYNN LITTLE
A Life of Calling and Compassion.
Born on September 23, 1970, Christine Lynn Little lived a life shaped by calling and compassion. From her early involvement in church ministry and outreach initiatives, she sensed that her faith would extend beyond familiar borders. As she pursued her medical training, missions was not simply an interest, it was a direction.
In her early years of service, Christine participated in outreach efforts that integrated healthcare and evangelism. These formative mission experiences strengthened her conviction that medicine could become a powerful expression of Christian ministry. She understood that healing the body and ministering to the spirit were not separate assignments, but a unified calling.
Around 2005, she began long-term missionary service in Zambia under Assemblies of God World Missions, serving as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In communities where healthcare resources are limited, her clinical expertise provided critical support in maternal health, disease treatment, and community-based care. Yet her work went beyond medical intervention—it was rooted in relationship and trust.
Christine embodied a holistic approach to mission. Each patient encounter became an opportunity to communicate dignity, hope, and faith. Her service showed that healthcare can be more than treatment; it can be ministry in action. Through consistency and compassion, she built bridges between practical care and spiritual encouragement.
Her commitment to Zambia was measured not in short-term assignments, but in years of faithful presence. Long-term missionary work requires resilience, cultural sensitivity, and personal sacrifice. Christine remained steadfast, serving quietly and consistently in the place she believed she was called.
Christine Little passed away on December 27, 2025, leaving behind a legacy defined by service and conviction. Her life stands as a testimony to what happens when professional skill is surrendered to God’s purpose—when healing becomes both vocation and mission, and faith is made visible through action.
Christine said yes to her God-given calling and finished her race well. Will you run from the call of God, or will you courageously run toward it? Say yezs to His purpose for your life, it is eternally worth it.
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
“A faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith.”
-Richard
Wurmbrand
Today, more than 380 million Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith, meaning 1 in 7 Christians globally is pressured, threatened, or punished for following Jesus (Open Doors, 2025).
From North Korea and Somalia to Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran, believers face harassment, imprisonment, church attacks, forced displacement, and even death. According to the World Watch List 2025, 4,476 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons, 7,679 Christian properties were attacked, and thousands were arrested or detained due to worship or Christian activity in the last reporting year alone (Open Doors, 2025).
Why We Pray
The global Church is called to stand in prayer for believers who suffer for their faith. Prayer strengthens the persecuted, brings comfort in suffering, and aligns us with God’s justice and protection (Hebrews 13:3).
How You Can Pray
Pray for protection and courage for persecuted believers.
Pray for wisdom and justice among leaders where religious freedom is limited.
Pray for comfort and provision for affected families.
HEARING GOD:
A JOURNEY FROM DISTANCE TO DAILY INTIMACY
Many people think hearing God is rocket science. I used to think so too. I believed God existed far away, both physically and spiritually, and that our relationship with Him was limited to fear and reverence. We acknowledged Him, respected Him, and then handled real life on our own.
I often wondered how the likes of Abraham and Moses related with God so naturally. Maybe it was because they were prophets, I thought. Scripture says of Moses, “So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11, NKJV). That level of intimacy felt unreachable to me, reserved for a select few.
Later, I was introduced to charismatic believers who could prophesy, give words of knowledge, and be slain in the Spirit. I was drawn to it, but I still believed those experiences were for specially gifted people, not for average people like me.
It was not until my late teens that I discovered a life-changing truth: every believer is meant to hear God’s voice. Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27, NKJV). When I finally learned to recognize His voice in my day-to-day life, I realized He had been speaking long before I even chose to intentionally pursue Him.
-Effie Ochago
The most reliable way to hear God’s voice is through His Word. Scripture is alive and powerful, penetrating deep into the human heart. The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV). When studying the Bible, quality matters more than quantity. Even meditating on a single verse each day is enough to keep the spirit nourished and sensitive to God’s leading.
Human beings are made up of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NKJV).
The body is our physical being. The soul consists of the mind, will, and emotions. The spirit is our innermost being, where the Holy Spirit resides and where we connect directly with God. The spirit comes alive when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, for “he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17, NKJV). God speaks to our spirit, but the soul must be renewed in order to receive His messages clearly.
God does not relate to everyone in the same way. Each person is uniquely and wonderfully made. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14, NKJV). While His Word always remains consistent with Scripture, the way God communicates differs from person to person. God may speak through the Bible, dreams and visions, other people, or life circumstances. The Bible confirms, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1, NKJV). Your responsibility is to discover how God speaks to you.
“Our walk with God is not defined by spiritual highs or powerful experiences, but by truth. We are not defined by what we feel, but by who God says we are.”
Some believers are prophetically gifted and may hear God with greater clarity, but every believer has the capacity to receive from God. “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you… and teaches you concerning all things” (1 John 2:27, NKJV).
While I believe in the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, I have learned that God’s voice, on most days, is not dramatic. It often feels like a verse gently dropped into the heart. Sometimes it is just one sentence that encourages you, a quiet prompting to reach out to someone, or a nudge to pray about something. Other times, it may come through something as simple as a message, a conversation, or even a social media post carrying the exact word you needed to hear. God’s voice is often subtle, but it is consistent and deeply personal.
Now, sometimes you will feel God’s leading, and other times you will not. However, whether you tangibly feel God’s presence or not, He is still present, still loves you, and is still working in your situation. In a world where everyone, from experts to everyday voices, has an opinion on nearly everything, it becomes essential to anchor ourselves in truth. Our walk with God is not defined by spiritual highs or powerful experiences, but by truth. We are not defined by what we feel, but by who God says we are.
The Holy Spirit speaks in the language of Scripture. Jesus said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13, NKJV). When we study the Word, we train our spirit to discern God’s voice. It is wise to write down moments of inspiration, test them against Scripture, and wait for confirmation. “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV).
One of the clearest signs of God’s leading is peace. Scripture describes it as “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7, NKJV). When you are walking in alignment with God, peace guards your heart. Fear and confusion signal misalignment, for “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).
God’s voice will always align with Scripture and His heart, which is love and redemption. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, NKJV). His leading will never cause you to doubt His love for humanity. Satan often masquerades as an angel of light: “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, NKJV). This is why discernment through Scripture is essential. Believers are not meant to seek guidance through divination, for “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV).
As a believer, remember this: Jesus paid the price for you to become a child of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, NKJV). You have direct access to His voice and His unconditional love. Study the Word, pay attention to His leading, and trust that he is always speaking.
Effie is a writer and editor based in Nairobi, Kenya, with a deep passion for the word of God. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Communication and currently serves as the Content Editor for EGM Times.Dedicated to sharing biblical truth and inspiring others in their faith journey, she uses her writing to uplift and encourage.
THE BOOK SHELF
We are living in a culture filled with noise, opinions, and constant pressure to compromise. For many Christians, standing firm in biblical truth has become increasingly challenging.
In Beautiful Resistance: The Joy of Conviction in a Culture of Compromise, Jon Tyson powerfully calls believers to resist cultural compromise and remain deeply rooted in the Word of God. With clarity and conviction, he shows how faithful discipleship is not only possible, but joyful.
This book is a timely and compelling read for anyone who desires to stand firm and follow Christ wholeheartedly in today’s world.
“We need to make sure that in our times of stress and sorrow and in the celebration of our triumphs, we turn our hearts to God in gratitude and prayer and worship, inviting him into the places of anxiety and fear, rather than medicating them by looking to some temporary solution. Netflix and pizza feel like a wonderful comfort at the moment, but if we use these to fend off dependence on God, we delay our deliverance. God is at war for the love of your heart” (Jon Tyson).
THE PAUSE BETWEEN HEARING AND DOING
We live in a world drowning in noise, endless notifications, scrolling headlines, opinions that flood every spare moment, even helpful sermons and devotionals that crowd out silence. We assume the greatest challenge in listening to God is cutting through all this clamor to hear Him clearly. Yet Scripture suggests something more searching: often the real difficulty is not that God’s voice is drowned out, but that we hear it, and then pause.
There is a space many of us know well, even if we do not have a language for it. It sits right after prayer and right before action. We read Scripture, feel a nudge, sense clarity forming, and then we stop. Not because God was unclear, but because obedience feels more demanding than expected. In that pause, we often decide the problem must be noise. We assume we need to hear God better when what we really need is to respond more honestly.
We live surrounded by sound: phones vibrate, headlines scroll, and advice arrives uninvited. Even faith-based content fills every spare moment, telling us how to listen, how to discern, and know God’s will. Yet Scripture never presents God as struggling to convey His message. More often, the tension appears after God speaks. The issue is not revelation; it is what happens next.
From the beginning, God’s voice has always carried direction, not just information. When God speaks, movement follows. Think of Samuel hearing his name in the night. The moment mattered, but what shaped his life was his response: “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10, ESV). Hearing wasn’t just listening; it was readiness to respond. Listening meant availability, not analysis.
Dr. Gladys Childs, host of Bare Faith and known as the “Truth Doctor,” boldly exposes lies that keep people from God’s truth, speaking with authority and real-life grit as a pastor’s wife, author, speaker, and former professor. Her new book, Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness, invites weary hearts to stop striving for what cannot satisfy and encounter the Spirit’s fullness in everyday life.
-Dr. Gladys Childs
We often reverse that order. We want understanding before obedience. We want the full picture before the first step. We want God to explain the outcome before we agree to follow. When that explanation does not come, we assume silence. But Scripture suggests something different. God frequently gives enough light for the next step, not the whole road.
Jesus speaks to this pattern directly: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24, ESV). The foundation is not hearing alone. It is hearing paired with doing. Stability grows from obedience, not from endless intake of spiritual insight. Wisdom shows up in motion.
The biggest distraction we face is rarely technology or culture. More often, it is hesitation dressed up as caution. We delay forgiveness because we are waiting to feel ready. We postpone obedience because we are waiting to feel certain. We ask God to repeat Himself when He is inviting us to trust Him with incomplete answers. That internal resistance can sound spiritual, but it keeps us stuck.
“Obedience clears space. Faith creates quiet. And often, God’s voice becomes clearest once we begin to walk.”
The Bible does not hide how costly obedience can feel. Moses argued with God. Jonah ran. Peter hesitated. These were not people unfamiliar with God’s voice. They were people wrestling with what obedience would require of them. Their struggle was not about clarity. It was about surrender. God met each of them with a persistent invitation.
James names the danger clearly: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV). The deception is subtle. We assume continued listening equals faithfulness. Over time, we can consume Scripture, sermons, and spiritual conversations while quietly avoiding the one thing God has already placed before us. Information piles up. Transformation stalls.
Obedience does not mean dramatic gestures or public acts of faith. Often it looks painfully ordinary. It looks like telling the truth when silence feels safer. It looks like releasing resentment when holding it feels justified. It looks like stepping away from what numbs us, even when we do not know what will replace it. These are not mysterious calls. They are familiar ones we tend to revisit again and again.
Jesus connects obedience with deeper understanding: “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God” (John 7:17, ESV). Knowledge follows willingness. Discernment grows in obedience. When we move with what we already know, clarity tends to meet us along the way.
This is where the idea of a noisy world needs to be reframed. Sometimes the noise is not coming from outside in fluences. Sometimes it is the constant internal debate we carry while avoid ing a clear step of faith. We replay op tions, rehearse outcomes, and wait for peace to arrive before we act. Scripture suggests peace often comes after obe dience, not before it.
God is patient, but He does not com pete for our compliance. He speaks with intention, then waits. Silence can become an invitation, urging us to trust what we already heard. The next word from God is often connected to the last step we refused to take.
A better question than “Why is God quiet?” might be “Where have I delayed?” That question does not condemn. It clarifies. It gently brings us back to the place where listening was meant to turn into movement.
In a world full of voices, learning to hear God may not require more spiritual input. It may require the courage to act on the truth already placed in our hands. Obedience clears space. Faith creates quiet. And often, God’s voice becomes clearest once we begin to walk.
AS HAS JUST BEEN SAID: “TODAY, IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS YOU DID IN THE REBELLION.”
~HEBREWS 3:15
BECOMING OVERFLOW WITH THANKS
-Daya Raja
During the last Christmas season, I watched a video of a small boy, full of excitement and gratitude, telling his mother that he had been cast in his school Christmas play. He was so thrilled and asked his mum to guess what his role was. His mum suggested the lead roles like Joseph or one of the Magi, but he was none of those. Finally, the boy beamed and said, “No mamma, I am chosen to be one of the sheep!” The gratitude and excitement of that boy and even his mum was palpable. I must have watched that video at least ten times.
It grabbed my attention for several reasons. I think, if we are honest, we adults often have a “gratitude scale.” If it’s something significant or something we’ve been waiting for, we express thanks. But if it’s something ordinary, we are either discontent or simply move on to the next item on our to-do list. I, too, am guilty of this behavior.
“I think, if we are honest, we adults often have a “gratitude scale.” If it’s something significant or something we’ve been waiting for, we express thanks. But if it’s something ordinary, we are either discontent or simply move on to the next item on our to-do list.”
However, Paul suggests in Colossians that overflowing with thankfulness goes hand in hand with being built up in God and strengthened in faith:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7, NIV)
In Chapter 3, Paul again instructs us to give thanks in everything: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, ESV).
Essentially, our Christian lives should be marked by a posture of gratitude. But we all know this is hard to live out. Our minds often drift toward what we don’t have, our failures, and our fears. The key lies in Colossians 2:6: “continue to live your lives in him.” Living in Christ makes gratitude a natural response. When we live in Christ, we are immersed in Him and in constant communion with Him. We begin to think His thoughts and see how He is the source and reason for all things. We begin to realize that “apart from Him, we can do nothing.” This is why Paul asks us to do everything in Jesus’ name, giving thanks to God the Father.
In this New Year, let this be our earnest prayer: “Lord, help me live in You. Help me overflow with thanks. When people are around me, may they experience an environment of praise and thanksgiving.”
May we learn to find the same joy in being “one of the sheep” as we do in the moments that feel like lead roles. When we truly live in Him, we realize that no blessing is too small to be celebrated and no task is too ordinary to be an offering.
May this New Year bring you closer to the heart of Jesus and may you experience his presence and blessings in a way you haven’t experienced before. God bless you!
Daya thinks it’s absolutely cool to be known by Jesus. She deeply appreciates nature, art and silence. Her dream is to fall in love with Jesus and humanity every day. Daya can be reached at dayaraja95@gmail.com
HARD TRUTH
WHEN JESUS IS SAVIOR BUT NOT LORD
There is a growing tension in contemporary Christianity. Many gladly proclaim Jesus as their Savior, yet hesitate to acknowledge Him as Lord over every area of life. This partial allegiance threatens the essence of biblical discipleship. Accepting Jesus as Redeemer but resisting His rule leads to a fractured faith, one that honors His sacrifice yet resists His sovereignty.
Scripture never presents salvation and lordship as separate options. In Romans 10:9 we read, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Confession, belief, and lordship are inseparable in the economy of salvation. There is no biblical faith that saves without submitting to Christ’s authority.
The Bible contains stark examples of this dynamic. Simon Peter boldly declared his devotion to Christ during His ministry. Yet on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied knowing Him to protect himself (Matthew 26:69-75). His confession of Jesus was overshadowed by fear and self-preservation, illustrating how easy it is to assent verbally to Jesus as Savior without living under His lordship.
The Lord Himself rebuked such disconnect between words and obedience. In Luke 6:46, He asks, “Why do you call Me Lord and not do what I tell you?” Jesus taught that genuine discipleship involves surrender to His commands. Similarly, in Matthew 7:21, He warns that not everyone who says “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of the Father.
The epistles reinforce that saving faith is inseparable from obedience. James writes that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). John affirms that failure to obey Christ marks a lack of genuine relationship with Him (1 John 2:4). Obedience is neither optional nor peripheral; it is the fruit of authentic faith.
The danger of treating Jesus as Savior but not Lord is not merely theological abstraction; it has real cultural consequences. Globally, Christianity remains the largest religion, with an estimated 2.56 billion people identifying as Christian, roughly one-third of the world’s population. Yet surveys reveal troubling ambiguities in belief. In the United States, significant proportions of people who identify as Christian hold views that diverge from traditional biblical teaching about Jesus’ nature and role. For example, a notable percentage of Americans see Jesus as merely a great teacher rather than divine.
Even among those who profess commitment to Jesus, many hold beliefs inconsistent with Scripture’s teaching on salvation and discipleship. In one study, nearly 70 percent of self-identified born-again Christians disagreed with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God. Other research shows that many people interpret salvation through a works-based framework or believe that general goodness earns acceptance with God.
These statistics signal a widespread pattern: identification with Christ without deep obedience to Him. Jesus did not call His followers to a minimalist faith defined by comfort, cultural acceptance, or nominal belief. He commanded radical discipleship, encapsulated in Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Genuine lordship means surrendering personal agendas, preferences, and power to the authority of Christ.
Biblical history illustrates both obedience and resistance to Christlike lordship. The Israelites frequently chose autonomy over obedience, resulting in exile and broken covenant. Yet figures like Daniel and his companions stood firm in obedience even under threat of death, demonstrating that submitting to God’s lordship brings both courage and clarity. Their faithfulness did not make their lives easy, but it vindicated their allegiance to the true Lord.
The global church today faces similar choices. Christians are called not only to embrace Jesus as Savior but to live under His lordship in every sphere—personal, communal, and cultural. This means aligning our decisions, ethics, relationships, and public witness with the teachings and example of Christ.
The invitation of Christ is not merely rescue from sin but reign over life. True discipleship involves more than assent; it calls for obedience, transformation, and daily surrender. When Jesus is both Savior and Lord, faith matures into a consistent devotion that honors His name and reflects His character. The church must embrace this full gospel without compromise, for only then will our confession match our conduct and our allegiance align with our Savior’s claim to sovereign rule.
“Christians are called not only to embrace Jesus as Savior but to live under His lordship in every sphere—personal, communal, and cultural.”
-Team EGM Times
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
As we come to the close of this edition, we invite you to move beyond reading and into reflection. The stories and insights shared in these pages are not merely to inform, but to gently lead us toward a quieter, more attentive posture before God. May the following questions serve as a personal pause—a sacred space to examine the condition of your heart, the rhythm of your life, and your willingness to truly listen when He speaks.
If God were to speak quietly today, would my life be still enough to hear Him?
After reading this edition, what practical step can I take this week to create space for listening to God more attentively?
What noise in my life most often competes with God’s voice?
Am I truly listening for God’s voice, or only for answers that confirm what I already want?
An Invitation to Salvation
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not something we earn. We are saved by trusting in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again to give us new life (Ephesians 2:8–9).To respond to Jesus is to repent and believe, to turn away from sin and place our faith in Him.
True faith includes confessing Jesus as both Savior and Lord, surrendering our lives to His authority (Romans 10:9). Salvation is the beginning of a transformed life, where God forgives, renews, and gradually shapes us through the Holy Spirit as we learn to follow Christ daily.
A Prayer of Repentance and Faith Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I am a sinner and that I need Your mercy. I turn away from my sins and place my trust in You alone. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again. I receive You as my Savior and submit to You as my Lord. Change my heart, lead my life, and help me follow You. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, please tell someone you trust, connect with a Bible-believing church, and begin walking with believers who will help you grow spiritually. We would be honored to hear from you and walk alongside you as you begin your new life in Christ.
