Beyond Intellectual Opinions to Power

Posted on November 5, 2026 by Steve Simms

The Bible is the book about how God has acted in and through human beings. It contains more testimony, examples, instructions, and exhortations than explanation or theology. One book in the Bible is even called “The Acts of the Apostles,” not “The Theology of the Apostles.” Theological knowledge should never replace daily discipleship.

The Bible is more about having a relationship with God than about trying to figure Him out. It describes what God has said and done throughout history. It praises Him. It testifies to the ways He has sought to reveal Himself to people, heal them, lead and guide them, restore them to an intimate relationship with Him, and unite them heart-to-heart with one another.

The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as Lord, as “Emmanuel — God with us.” It focuses far more on experiencing, surrendering to, and obeying God than on explaining Him. It even explicitly states: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up,” (1 Corinthians 8:1) and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

The purpose of the Bible is to train people to continually rely on God and to love and obey Him wholeheartedly. It’s not a book designed to be analyzed and picked apart. It’s a book that brings awe, adoration, and transformation to those who persistently read it with a humble, open heart. It leads them into an eternal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I affirm, believe in, and rely on the theological truth presented in the Bible and ancient Christian creeds. I strive every day to align my thoughts and actions with those truths and be led by the presence of the resurrected Jesus living in and through me.

Creeds without Spirit-led deeds are dead religion. (James 2:17) Most Christians embrace the theology behind Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They say that they believe Jesus is risen. However, many live like He’s still shut up in His tomb. Instead of relying on the living Jesus to personally lead and direct them throughout each day, they passively trust in church attendance and hearing a preacher’s weekly sermon. How we, who call ourselves Christians, need to move beyond theology into daily following and obeying “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

Man holding a book titled Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary in a library
A scholar holds Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary in a warmly lit theological library.
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To Those Who Are Scared

Posted on November 4, 2026 by Steve Simms

My Thoughts on Seeing the USA Mid-Term Election Results

Christians are called to live by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit means walking by the Spirit, not by human desires. (Galatians 5:13-26) It means being aware of, sensitive to, and obedient to direct, inner revelation from God the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

To walk by the Spirit is to be personally guided, directed, and led by the Spirit’s inner promptings that always align with the Bible. It is continually choosing to do what God wants rather than what we want.

When we truly live by the Spirit, we will overflow with the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We will experience the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) humbly working in and through our lives. Rather than being overcome by evil, we will overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Many people prayed for the mid-term elections in the USA. Now, they are disappointed with how their prayers were answered. Now is the time to rely on the living God, not on government.

It’s time to turn away from fear, anger, domination, and unkindness. Instead, let’s embrace the courage to obey these Bible commands: “Bless those who curse you,” “Love your enemies,” and “Overcome evil with good.” It’s time to “Walk by the Spirit,” not by the flesh.

Make Americans Kind Again! (MAKA)

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Jesus is my Ticket. The Bible Leads me to Him

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Steve Simms

Jesus told His first followers to announce His good news worldwide and to train and disciple people to live and love as He taught. One way they did that was by writing. Gradually, their words were collected, called the New Testament, and added to the ancient Jewish writings that Jesus often called the Scriptures. Together, they are called the Bible.

The Bible is much more proclamation than explanation. It wasn’t written and collected so we can use it to explain, debate, and justify our religious opinions about theological details about God.

The Bible was written to announce what God has done and is doing. Its purpose is to invite us to experience and surrender to His presence and reality. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Let the Bible lead you to the tree of life, not to the tree of knowledge. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Bible analysis and systematic theology won’t save and satisfy your soul. “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” will! (Colossians 1:27) Let the Bible train you to experience, be aware of, and obey the risen Jesus throughout each day. (Matthew 28:20)

Refuse to treat the Bible like a religious textbook. Instead, continually read, absorb, and let it consume your heart like a love letter from God to you. Let it always keep you focused on experiencing and being led by Christ’s presence and love.

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Live Lightly

Posted on November 2, 2026 by Steve Simms

Let your eyes fill up with light
Bringing sight to your darkness,
Rays breaking through storm clouds,
Warming your heart
With healing incandescence,
Guiding your footsteps with hope
So you can walk in the light.
And be a guide for others.
Step out of the shadows
Where darkness lurks,
Into radiant insight.
Open the eyes of your heart.

Color-Blind?

Too many white people choose to be color-blind to the history of racial injustice. As a Christian, I’ve spent decades seeking the truth about skin color. If you want to live in the light of what I have found, google: Off the RACE Track–From Color-Blind to Color-Kind.

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An Apology Can Set You Free

Posted on November 1, 2026 by Steve Simms

We need to realize
It’s so much better
To apologize
Than it is to blame
And to call someone
An insulting name.
When we criticize
And attack nonstop
We start to despise
Those who disagree.
We shut down our eyes
To God’s love for them
And don’t recognize
Their humanity.
We start to tell lies
About who they are.
Look beyond disguise.
See pain in their eyes.
Let compassion rise.
Go apologize
To someone today.

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My Philosophy

Posted on October 31, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
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Here is my philosophy in one short poem:

You’re only around
For a little while
The least you can do
Is offer a smile.
Life’s about kindness.
It’s not about style.
Spread love everywhere.
Life’s not just a trial.
It’s a calling to
Let God’s light shine through
All you say and do.

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Unanswered prayer?

Posted on October 30, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Share a few recent shots from your camera roll, no context needed.
View all responses

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, He told them to ask God for this: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Christ-followers are supposed to pray for what God wants, not just what we want. We are called to align our desires with His so His kingdom can come within us and rule us from the inside out.

To do that, we need to believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) We need to continually absorb the Bible and let God the Holy Spirit reveal His will to us. With that kind of faith, we believe God answers our prayers.

Even as we struggle with disappointment, suffering, and brokenness, Christians are called to persist in praying, believing, praising, and thanking God. When we make requests to God, He gives us peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:8)

We learn to rely on the promise that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:24) No matter what, we continue to trust in and depend on the goodness of God. We’re learning to be content regardless of our circumstances. (Philippians 4:11) That’s how we are called to live. That’s true faith in God.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness.” Is yours?

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Religious Incubators Don’t Make Disciples

Posted on October 29, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s one thing you own that holds deep sentimental value?
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God doesn’t want churches to be incubators where spiritual babies are kept passive, inactive, and dependent on religious programs. God the Father wants His children to be led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14) so they can be empowered as witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8) and make disciples around the world. (Matthew 28:18)

Staying in a religious incubator won’t make you a disciple! Every Christ-follower is responsible for nurturing and growing his or her relationship with Jesus. No one else can do it.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news that gladdens and transforms the heart. It’s about an eternal, supernatural change in perspective and lifestyle. It’s not just about theological analysis of God that merely satisfies a curious mind.

A powerful reason many believers remain in spiritual incubators is because they never begin to take responsibility for the renewal of their own mind. Instead of being personally led by the Holy Spirit by daily absorbing and living by the Bible’s teachings, they rely on merely listening to a religious professional’s beliefs and opinions.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” We can understand how to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength; but how do we love Him with all our mind? How can we “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

Loving God with all your mind doesn’t mean merely analyzing and systematizing Him. It’s not just accumulating information about Him. It isn’t only the intellectual pursuit of theology. It’s not about studying the Bible like a textbook. It’s about disciplining your mind to align with His will as revealed in the Bible.

To love God with all your mind is to renew your mind by surrendering your thinking to the Holy Spirit’s moment-by-moment leading as it aligns with the Bible’s teaching. It is allowing God to align all your thoughts to His will instead of your own.

Loving God with all your mind is a constant mental battle. It is to “fight the good fight of faith.” It is “bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” It is keeping your mental focus on loving God more and more.

True Christianity isn’t about just communicating content. It’s about connecting people heart-to-heart with the risen Jesus.

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When Hearts Freeze Love Dies

Posted on October 28, 2026 by Steve Simms

The world’s condition
Cries out for more love.
Make the admission;
Love is your mission.
Overcome evil
With wholehearted love.
(Romans 12:21)

Because you are alive, you are on a long-term mission trip until the moment you die. God has a purpose and a calling for you. Find it. Embrace it. Surrender to it. Fulfill it throughout each day.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to love, obey, and surrender to God so completely that you demonstrate and radiate His love, compassion, and mercy to everyone, including your enemies. Nothing less than that is full Christianity.

“Whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8) “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

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Travel Through Life With Invisible Armor

Posted on October 27, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s one piece of travel advice you always follow?
View all responses

The best protection in life is invisible because it is inside of you. It’s how you think because the way you think and believe will control how you behave. That, of course, will determine what you get out of life.

God is holding out His hands to you. (Romans 10:21) He wants to give you His invisible armor that can empower you to live a glorious life. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Will you receive it, wear it, and use it throughout each day?

* The Belt of Truth — Hold yourself together by discerning and aligning with reality, avoiding deception, and humbly speaking the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

* The Breastplate of Righteousness — Protect your heart by always seeking first the inner government of God’s kingdom in your life (Matthew 6:33) and letting Him continually rule over your thoughts, opinions, emotions, and desires. Let Him always align you inwardly with His right way of living.

* The Shoes of the Good News of God’s Peace — Walk, proclaim, and demonstrate in your daily life the Good News of Christ’s love, grace, and forgiveness purchased by His blood shed on the Cross. (Romans 10:15) Everywhere you go, live and walk in the presence and power of His resurrection life. (Galatians 5:16)

* The Shield of Faith — Resist and shield yourself from every thought, opinion, feeling, and desire that doesn’t align with God’s will as it is revealed in the Bible. (James 4:7)

* The Helmet of Salvation — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)Bring every thought captive into the obedience of the risen Jesus Christ living in and through you. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

* The Sword of the Spirit — Listen to what God is saying in your heart through the Bible, His written word, and by the still small voice of His Spirit speaking directly within you. Deny yourself and let God’s words cut away all your resistance to His will. (Hebrews 4:12)

* Pray in the Spirit — Let God the Holy Spirit direct your prayers. Let them flow out of you like rivers of living water. (John 7:38-39) One way God does that is by empowering you to pray in a language you don’t know. (1 Corinthians 14:1) That’s called the gift of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:10) If you want a spiritual weapon that will fill you with the awareness of God’s presence and power, humbly ask for and receive that spiritual gift.

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