Your Prayers Have Power: Rising in a Time of Fear

Your Prayers Have Power: Rising in a Time of Fear

by | Nov 11, 2025

The wide-scale injustices and breakdown of democracy we are experiencing today can leave you wondering if your prayers have power. I get it. When the news is heavy, and the future is uncertain, it’s easy to wonder. Is God even listening? The pain points are clear: fear, anxiety, a loss of basic safety and stability. I promise you this: Your prayers have power. In this article I want to share with you five principles for powerful prayer.

But first, let’s address a common myth about prayer that I often hear.

 

The Myth that Only Certain Prayers are Heard

A common myth is that only certain prayers are heard. Or that only certain people can enact real change. But here’s the truth. In the face of major systems of injustice, change is not a sudden, one-time event. Rather, change comes about through a tapestry of courageous actions and persistent prayer. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”.

 

Five Principles of Powerful Prayer

To transform your approach to prayer and rise from discipleship to apostleship, here are the five principles of powerful prayer. They come from believing like Jesus, not simply believing in Him.

1) Seek Divine Partnership: Jesus, being fully human and fully divine, regularly withdrew to lonely, quiet places to pray, seeking guidance, strength, meditation, renewal, and communion with God. Prayer is the most essential form of communication with the divine. Jesus invites us to believe that we too are in divine partnership with God.

2) Believe You Have Received: Jesus’ audacious advice is: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). It sounds a little easier than it is. Because it means not doubting our own faith, or your own relationship with God. As you begin to believe like Jesus and believe your prayers have power, start by praying for something you can truly believe in, something you won’t actively doubt you can do. For instance, pray that you can be consistently kind toward others.  Rather than praying that you can stop unjust practices on the spot. Start small, build your faith, and work up toward the larger goals.

3) Practice Persistence: Jesus taught his disciples to always pray and not give up. Like the persistent woman who received justice from an unjust judge, your persistence in faith and prayer is a key ingredient. The scriptures counsel us to “not grow weary in well-doing.” Pray each day for God’s good and gracious will to be done. Then look for instances where it is happening. Tell others of the good that you are witnessing. Not as a way of ignoring evil, but to create a positive feedback loop and build the muscle of persistent prayer.

4) Align Your Beliefs (Intentionality): Your prayers can be hindered when you pray against your deepest beliefs. In other words, if you pray for a big blessing but deep down suspect you don’t deserve it, your beliefs are not aligned with your prayer. Align your prayers with your beliefs, as Jesus did, and watch miracles unfold.

5) Prayer is Action: Not all prayer is meditative or in solitude. Can one be truly blessed while turning a blind eye to the suffering of others? Don’t wait for the answers to your prayers to come to you – get out of your comfort zone! Put feet on your prayers by volunteering at a food bank, turning out for protests, or seeking the betterment of others. Powerful prayer is active.

 

How My Prayers Got Answered…Finally

By the time I was ready for children I was forty. I desperately longed for the experience of parenting, but nothing seemed to work. After investigating foster to adopt programs, domestic and international adoption, none of these paths felt right. I even prayed, “God, can’t the stork just ring the doorbell and drop off a child on the front steps?” I grieved and thought I had let the desire go.

Fast forward more than twenty years. I found myself in a deep existential crisis, burdened by a profound sense of absence and loneliness. The longing for a multi-generational family returned with a vengeance, leaving me sad and listless. Ten days into this crisis, a friend’s family was falling apart, and their two young children were in danger. I prayed for them that night. The very next morning, two little brothers lay fast asleep in the guest bedroom, having been dropped off late in the night by a social worker. Without forewarning, they were two children to care for, a sudden and unexpected disruption.

My surprise quickly turned to wonder and acceptance, as I knew in my heart this was God’s work. The existential crisis vanished; my heart soared. God had finally answered my “stork prayer”—just two decades later than I’d expected.

 

Next Steps/Takeaways

Your prayers are a thread in the tapestry of a new unfolding reality. Prayer is essential for both transforming systems of injustice and for bringing God’s answers into your life. So don’t give up hope. But you’ll have to surrender self-limiting thought patterns, and the desire for immediate gratification. Instead, actively adopt attitudes and beliefs that align with your prayers. Here are two next steps.

Answer the Call: Believe in your prayers as Jesus does. Believe that God has already said “Yes” to you. Then, allow God to answer your prayers in God’s own way and time.

Practice: See everything that happens in your life—that new opportunity, that unexpected gift, those sudden circumstances—as an answer to a prayer.

To deepen your understanding and capacity for apostolic prayer, I invite you to join me at an upcoming spiritual retreat, held at Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas. Learn more and register here:  Epiphany: Manifesting the Miraculous.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Believe in a Miracle Mindset

Believe in a Miracle Mindset

by | Oct 14, 2025

 

 

We use the word “miracle” a lot. But what is a miracle, exactly? The dictionary defines it as a surprising and welcome event that can’t be explained by natural or scientific laws and, therefore, must be considered the work of divine agency.

Do you know who is pretty good at miracles? Jesus—and his apostles. That is their superpower. No, they don’t have a “Spidey” sense, superhuman strength, or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Rather, their superpower is a miracle mindset. They know that, given their divine partnership with God and the power of their prayers, they can operate in the realm of the miraculous, opening the way for the unexpected to happen. They believe—they know—they can co-create miracles with God.

And you can tap into that superpower, also. If you rise from having faith in Jesus to having the faith of Jesus, you, too, can co-create miracles with God.

Given the distress much of the world is experiencing today, there is no better time to take this step—to believe like Jesus, to develop the kind of faith Jesus had—so you can actively participate in creating the miracles the world so desperately need right now—at the personal, communal, and societal levels. And let’s not forget about the needs of the natural world, and all that impacts it.

To do so, you need to shift the way you see the world. Instead of seeing it as a fixed reality that is simply moving inexorably toward destruction—whether environmental crisis, the breakdown of democracy, the loss of morality, the disappearance of freedoms, the expanding chaos of rapid change, or the breakdown of all that is familiar—it’s time to see the world as one string of miracles away from redemption and salvation. This will require a new set of lenses and a literal change of heart. We live in a world that prioritizes head over the heart, the left brain over the right brain, and self-will over God’s will. But I say embrace your superpower, believe like Jesus, and welcome a miracle mindset into your life. That will empower you to act with creativity and courage, to not give up in quiet resignation. It will change everything.

 

Embrace the Belief: Use the Miracle Mindset to Activate Your Superpower

Jesus and his apostles aren’t the only ones to possess this superpower. God has also given it to you, as shown for example in the New Testament passages Romans 12:2 and 2 Timothy 1:7.

These passages confirm the importance of the right mindset—a miracle mindset built on unity and communication with God—in carrying out God’s will. God gives us this mindset as a gift of grace, but at the same time, we have to accept it so that we may “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.” God can give us the mindset to pursue miracles, but we must first believe we can and then go out and do it.

Like Jesus, you, too, have the capacity in every moment to choose your mindset so you can pursue miracles. Don’t get me wrong. You’ll probably not walk on water the first time out—or ever. But who knows what you can accomplish? After all, in John 14:12-14 Jesus said:

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Cultivating the superpower of a miracle mindset requires a great deal of practice. The scriptures remind us that even Jesus himself has to grow into wisdom before he can set out into the world. Luke tells the story of Jesus leaving his parents at twelve to learn and teach in the temple. The people are amazed. But when Mary and Joseph frantically track him down, he agrees to go home with them; he isn’t ready yet. He still has to grow into his full power. Luke goes on to record the ending of the story: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:51-52). This maturation process took another eighteen years. According to tradition, he didn’t even begin his public ministry until the age of thirty.

Though we call it “mindset,” transforming the way you look at the world begins as much in your heart and soul as it does in your mind. To take this step, begin to notice the pattern of your thoughts. Do you tend to paint yourself and the world in a negative or positive light? Ask yourself: Do my thoughts build my faith? Do they make me feel hopeful? Or do they tear me down, turn me toward hopelessness? Only thoughts that build the faith in your heart can lead you to embrace a miracle mindset.

Beliefs shape your thoughts; thoughts fuel your actions; actions demonstrate your faith, and your faith reinforces your beliefs. So, as you begin to believe like Jesus, you will find that you are now able to think new thoughts, take new actions, and develop new faith. Mountains and mulberry trees start to move. The people around you begin to respond in new ways. And the world becomes a brighter place.

Miracles—and a miracle mindset—are as much about perceiving in a different way as they are about some sort of conversion of physical properties. It’s about recognizing what’s already there in a new way. It’s about being “the eyes with which he [Christ] looks / Compassion on this world.” You may think God doesn’t really need you. That God is all-powerful without you. Not true. God does need you—your energy, your creativity, your willingness. God is waiting to co-create miracles with you.

Even now, you may think you don’t have superpowers. Or that something or someone is missing in your life before you can activate your superpowers. Again, not true. The soul within you is all the proof you need of your inner divinity. That soul, that inner divinity, makes possible everything you are called to do and be and believe. Cultivating an awareness of your inner divinity will actually open up the space for you to see the people God has brought into your life to co-create miracles with you and help you adopt the miracle mindset.

 

Next Steps

I encourage you to visit my new Online Store and purchase your copy of Believe Like Jesus. Or take advantage of our discount on multiple copies for your next Lenten book study. Further your expansion into the miracle mindset with my one-of-a-kind Miracle cards! These high-quality inspirational visual devotionals can be purchased only through Rebekah Simon-Peter Coaching and Consulting Inc, and create a truly unique experience as you co-create miracles with God.

 

Excerpted and adapted from Rebekah Simon-Peter’s latest book, Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Faith in Jesus to the Faith of Jesus, November 2024 & October 2025.

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

When the Real Crisis Isn’t Out There—It’s In The Church

When the Real Crisis Isn’t Out There—It’s In The Church

by | May 14, 2025

When I gathered with a group of pastors this week on Zoom, I expected us to talk about political turmoil and economic uncertainty. After all, it’s what’s on everyone’s mind. But that’s not what these leaders were most concerned about.

What they were really wrestling with was something closer to home: a growing fear that their churches aren’t strong enough to deal with the challenges ahead. And worse, that there’s nothing they can do about it. So what happens when the real crisis isn’t out there, it’s in the church?

That shift changes everything.

 

The Hidden Crisis in Church Leadership Today: Feeling Spiritually Stuck

One pastor shared how her new church had been without a permanent leader for over 17 months. In that time, it lost its sense of mission. People were showing up, but they didn’t know why anymore. The mission statement wasn’t posted anywhere and, frankly, no one could recall what it might have said.

Another pastor is serving a growing church. That should be good news, right? But with growth has come a wave of resistance. Some members are now trying to micromanage the process, gossiping and backbiting in the midst of positive change.

Another noted that success itself can be unsettling. As new people join, older members withdraw. It’s as if the very progress leaders are praying for ends up triggering anxiety in the system.

It was clear to me that these pastors weren’t lacking vision or faith. They were facing the emotional and spiritual strain of trying to lead people who feel tired, stuck, or quietly resigned. And they were wondering, “Is bold leadership even possible anymore?”

 

Strengthening the Core: What Actually Makes a Church Resilient

That question led us back to the foundation: What makes a church strong in the first place?

Together we named some essentials—mission, vision, values, life-giving ministries, authentic relationships, and grounded spiritual practices. These aren’t fancy strategies. They’re the deep, steady anchors of a church’s identity.

One pastor, new to her appointment, said she’s committed to helping the church move forward even if progress is slow. That willingness to lead patiently and persistently resonated throughout the group. In a world demanding instant results, she modeled a different kind of leadership—one rooted in hope, not hurry.

We also revisited what makes each congregation unique. Churches highlighted a range of strengths: neighboring well, making disciples, loving their communities, nurturing intercessory prayer teams, and creating space for new expressions of faith to emerge.

These aren’t add-ons. They are the DNA of vibrant ministry. And they deserve to be named, celebrated, and integrated into every part of church life.

 

From Fear to Hope: How Churches Are Finding a Way Forward

As our time together deepened, we began naming not just challenges but assets. We saw glimpses of transformation already underway:

  • A shift from fear to hope.
  • A clearer understanding of each congregation’s unique context.
  • A willingness to create space for new ministries and new leaders to emerge.

We asked how to make these assets more than just momentary wins. How do they become a lasting part of a church’s DNA?

The answer lies in visibility and intentionality. That means staying connected—not just on Sunday mornings, but through newsletters, social media, neighborhood presence, and regular pastoral outreach. It means resisting the temptation to shrink back in the face of fear and instead choosing to lead with boldness and presence.

Celebration Is More Than a Party—It’s a Leadership Strategy

One of the most powerful moments in our session came when we turned to a surprising topic: celebration.

It’s easy to overlook. But celebration is one of the most important tools a leader has. It’s how we mark growth, affirm calling, and re-energize tired hearts. In seasons of struggle, celebration becomes a spiritual practice of resistance against despair.

We named personal and collective wins—becoming more proactive, trying new technologies, overcoming fear of rejection, accepting God’s approval, and remembering our worth as leaders. As we did, the tone of the entire session lifted. The energy shifted. Hope resurfaced.

Celebration reminded us that we’re not starting from scratch. God is already moving. We just have to notice.

 

What If Your Church Is Already Strong Enough?

Here’s what I want to leave you with: The fear that your church isn’t strong enough is understandable. But fears aren’t facts. The Church has always found its way through hard times—not because of perfect plans, but because of faithful leaders who showed up, got honest, and stayed the course.

Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And yes, your church can be strong enough—not by avoiding crisis, but by rising to meet it.

We’re in a season that calls for new kinds of ministry success—measured not just by numbers, but by spiritual resilience, courageous vision, and faithful next steps.

 

Free Seminar: How Christian Ministries Are Achieving Success

If this resonates with you, I invite you to go deeper. Join me for an upcoming interactive online seminar: “How Christian Ministries Are Achieving Success.”

We’ll explore what’s working right now in real churches—and how you can lead with strength and clarity, even in uncertain times. You’ll leave with practical tools, fresh insight, and the encouragement you need to keep going.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com. All Rights Reserved.

Courageous Leadership: Lent Practices for Church Leaders

Courageous Leadership: Lent Practices for Church Leaders

by | Mar 11, 2025

Friends, it’s hard to believe that just five years ago, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. And today, the complexities of our world continue to challenge us. It’s a time that calls for courageous church leadership, and that’s precisely what Lent invites us to embrace.

I’ve spent years helping churches thrive by creating a culture of renewal. I believe Lent isn’t just about somber reflection. It’s a powerful opportunity to lean into the suffering of Jesus as he walked toward the cross. And while we know the glorious end of the story – the resurrection – it’s crucial that we sit with the raw, real challenges Jesus faced. Because, let’s be honest, we’re all facing significant challenges right now. Lent couldn’t be more timely.

The traditional Lenten disciplines – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – aren’t dusty relics. They’re dynamic tools for effective leadership. Let’s explore how we can use these Lent spiritual disciplines to navigate these turbulent times with grace and strength.

Prayer: Cultivating Vision and Bold Action

Prayer, in my experience, isn’t passive. It’s the engine of vision and bold action. It’s about connecting with God, yes, but it’s also about tuning into the divine whisper that guides our next steps.

During Lent, let’s commit to a deeper level of prayer for church leaders. This means:

  • Practicing Gratitude: Even amidst the chaos, let’s intentionally give thanks. Gratitude fuels our resilience.
  • Offering Ourselves: Daily, let’s surrender our agendas to God, asking for the wisdom and strength to lead with purpose.
  • Interceding for Others: Let’s lift up our communities, our nations, and our world in prayer. Let’s pray specifically for those who are suffering.

But remember, prayer isn’t just about talking to God. It’s about listening for God. This is where true leadership emerges. Pay attention to those nudges, those insights, those “aha” moments that come during prayer. They are often God’s call to action.

For Church Leaders:

  • Foster a Culture of Listening Prayer: Encourage your teams to practice listening prayer, not just petitioning. Create space for shared discernment.
  • Use Prayer for Strategic Planning: Don’t just pray for comfort. Pray for clarity, for vision, for innovative solutions to the challenges your church faces.
  • Teach Practical Prayer Skills: Offer workshops or resources on prayer practices that empower your people to connect with God in meaningful ways. Think Lectio Divina, Ignatian spirituality, or centering prayer.
  • Create Sacred Space for Lament: Acknowledge the grief and pain that people are carrying. Create space in worship and small groups for lament, for honest expression of sorrow.

Fasting: Disrupting the Status Quo and Embracing Innovation

Fasting isn’t just about giving up chocolate. It’s about disrupting the status quo. It’s about creating space for fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to church revitalization.

This Lent, I challenge you to consider fasting from:

  • Complacency: Are you settling for “good enough”? Fast from the fear of change.
  • Apathy: Fast from the temptation to disengage from the world’s problems.
  • Mindless Consumption: Fast from the endless scroll, the constant barrage of information that distracts us from what truly matters.

Fasting, in this context, is about creating space for clarity, for focus, for the kind of disruptive thinking that can revitalize our churches.

For Church Leaders:

  • Lead with Courageous Vulnerability: Share your own fasting journey with your congregation. Let them see that you’re willing to be challenged and transformed.
  • Encourage Innovative Fasting: Don’t just suggest traditional fasts. Invite your people to fast from things that hinder their creativity and engagement.
  • Use Fasting to Fuel Innovation: Before a brainstorming session, have your team engage in a brief period of fasting and prayer. See how it sharpens their focus.
  • Challenge the “Way We’ve Always Done It”: Use Lent as a time to question assumptions and explore new ways of being the church.

 

Almsgiving: Mobilizing Generosity for Maximum Impact

Almsgiving isn’t just about writing a check. It’s about mobilizing generosity for maximum impact. It’s about channeling our resources – our time, our talents, our finances – to make a real difference in the world.

This Lent let’s move beyond transactional giving and embrace transformational giving. Let’s ask:

  • Where can our generosity have the greatest impact?
  • How can we empower others to thrive?
  • How can we be agents of justice and reconciliation?

Almsgiving, in this sense, is about strategic investment, about building a world where God’s love is tangible and transformative.

For Church Leaders:

  • Teach Generosity as a Spiritual Practice: Help your congregation understand that giving is an act of worship, a way to participate in God’s work.
  • Partner Strategically: Don’t just support any cause. Identify organizations that align with your church’s values and have a proven track record of impact.
  • Empower Your People to Serve: Create opportunities for your congregation to volunteer their time and talents. Connect them with meaningful service projects.
  • Advocate for Systemic Change: Encourage your congregation to be informed and engaged citizens, advocating for policies that promote justice and equity.

Lent: A Call to Courageous Leadership

Friends, Lent is a call to courageous leadership. It’s a time to embrace the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in ways that empower us to be bold, innovative, and impactful.

As church leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to guide our congregations through this season. Let’s lead with vision, with courage, and with a deep commitment to making a difference in the world. Let’s use this Lent to equip our communities to be agents of hope, transformation, and God’s unwavering love.

Ready to lead your church with more courage and vision? Take this opportunity to expand on the spiritual strengths you are building by scheduling a 45-minute Discovery Session with me. Or, be my guest at our free seminar How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success.

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com. All Rights Reserved.

Believe in Your Ability to Rise Again: 3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

Believe in Your Ability to Rise Again: 3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

by | Feb 19, 2025

We are facing tough times in the world around us. Mainline churches are under attack for uplifting the mercy of Christ. The democracy as we know it is being changed from the inside out by unelected officials. The mission field is rapidly expanding as government workers are being summarily laid off or let go. The separation of church and state seems to have vanished as ICE and TSA officials enter churches at will to detain undocumented workers. The work of politics has positioned itself squarely in the realm of ethics.

As Christian leaders, we are called to notice, reflect on, and respond to matters of ethics. In fact, originally the separation of church and state was developed just so that churches would not feel constrained to speak to issues of the day.

I am writing to encourage you to hold on to your high calling. Not only that, as many values we have held dear seem to tumble down around us, I want you to believe in your ability to rise again. And to bring others along with you.

Resurrection is one of the key tenets of the Christian path. Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, he raised others as well. And he believes that we can rise too. Whether you take resurrection to be a literal or metaphorical reality, rising from the dead speaks to the buoyancy of both the human spirit and the divine spirit within us.

When it comes to participating in our own resurrection, we have much to learn from Jesus. Faced with the worst of dead-end circumstances—an unjust death by crucifixion— Jesus feels dread and moves forward anyway. Jesus believes in the reality of resurrection and puts that belief ahead of his fears. It’s not that he discounts the pain that awaits him. He doesn’t. Instead, he chooses to trust God in the worst moments of his life.

 

3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

As you trust in your ability to rise, and to bring others along with you, here are 3 lessons we can learn from Jesus about how to believe in resurrection.

  1. Stay aware. Jesus stayed aware of what was happening around him and the implications of the decisions being made about his life. He didn’t bury his head in the sand, simply hoping for resurrection.

From Jesus we learn that as painful as times may be, it’s important to stay aware. So many people I know are opting out of watching the news, or staying informed because it is too depressing. Or too anguishing. While it’s important to keep one’s heart lifted, it is equally important to keep one’s feet firmly planted in the reality of changes taking place around us. Only in this way can you effectively speak, lead and minister to the people around you, and anticipate needs to be met. You can’t ignore the present if you are planning on resurrection.

 

  1. Trust the Guidance of God and the Prompting of the Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed during the worst time of his life. Rather than being frozen in fear, he actively sought out the wisdom of God.

From Jesus we learn to believe in the potent power of prayer. During these days of a rapidly changing landscape in our country, and around the world, pause to tune in to the guidance of God, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and the needs of your own soul. Divine guidance is what we most need right now.

 

  1. Activate the ministries of the church. Before Jesus faced crucifixion, he conscientiously trained the Twelve to carry on his ministries: healing the sick, proclaiming the Kingdom, and casting out demons. First trained as disciples, they were ready to be sent out as apostles to carry on Jesus’ mission.

From Jesus we learn to believe in the future. We must train people to be ready for ministry. Now is the time to activate the ministries of the church—both comfort and challenge ministries. Comfort ministries offer comfort to those in need. The need for basic human dignities such as food and housing as well as hope and support is growing.  Challenge ministries challenge the root causes of hunger, homelessness, etc. Challenge ministries in these days may look like calling on your government representatives to push back against immoral or unjust or illegal executive orders. Or alerting undocumented workers how to avoid illegal detainment and deportation.

Sometimes, it seems that life hands us dead ends. Bleakness is all that lies before us. While things are bound to be better in heaven, what about life now? How are we to go on in situations like these?

 

A Bonus Lesson  Find joy and gratitude. Remember that in God’s world, there are no dead ends. New life always comes. Be ready for it by finding joy and gratitude in each day. Let your light shine.

Yes, resurrection can seem elusive when times are tough, and fear has a sort of irresistible allure. It sometimes seems a safer bet to catastrophize, to believe in a fearful outcome, than to place our faith in a positive future.

 

Put your Belief in Action

Beliefs shape your thoughts; thoughts fuel your actions; actions demonstrate your faith, and your faith reinforces your beliefs. So, as you begin to believe like Jesus, you will find that you are now able to think new thoughts, take new actions, and develop new faith. Mountains and mulberry trees start to move. The people around you begin to respond in new ways. And the world becomes a brighter place.

  • Believe: Believe in the reality of resurrection by placing more faith in God’s positive future than in your fear. If you have faith in the possibilities of the future, you don’t need evidence that good things will happen. Your choice to believe like Jesus is all the proof you need.

 

  • Answer the Call: Answer the call of possibility, of belief in resurrection. That doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts from time to time, or that you won’t have fears. As Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 movie True Grit, John Wayne famously said, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” That’s as good a mantra for an apostle as any. Courage is being scared to death and having the faith of Jesus anyway. Don’t pretend you have no fear, but turn that fear around. Don’t let it shut you down. Instead, use it as fuel.

 

  • Practice: A friend of mine used to say, “It ain’t over till it’s over, and if it ain’t good, then it ain’t over.” Develop the practice of looking for the good in each situation. Amplify it. Write about it. Talk about it. Lift it up. Rename your problems as opportunities and act as such. I don’t want to make light of it, but Jesus can see beyond the horror of crucifixion to the good that lay beyond it. He isn’t naïve, nor does he ask us to discount our own pain. Rather, Jesus invites us to see the good that comes out of even the worst of circumstances, like the deep family connections that have resulted from my mother’s ALS.

 

Believe In Your Ability to Rise Again

If you are looking for new ways to embrace the power of resurrection and the faith of Jesus in your ministry and those around you, I invite you to join me for RISE: 40 Days to Spiritual Transformation.

I created this course for leaders like you to embark on a transformative journey based on my powerful new book, Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Faith in Jesus to the Faith of Jesus. This immersive online experience will guide you in awakening the divine potential within, empowering you to live with the same unwavering faith and miraculous power that Jesus embodied.

Throughout six dynamic sessions, you will explore core principles such as spiritual authority, the power of prayer, divine purpose, resilience, and co-creating miracles with God. You’ll gain practical tools to apply these transformative teachings to your spiritual growth and daily life in these challenging times.

The first session is Tuesday, March 4, 2025 and we will meet weekly until Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 6:30 – 7:45pm Central Time. Single and Group registration options are available. This could be the turning point you’ve been seeking, so register today!

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com. All Rights Reserved.

New Year’s Resolutions – 2025

New Year’s Resolutions – 2025

by | Jan 8, 2025

As we begin the new year, I have mixed feelings of excitement for a new year and trepidation for what this year could bring to our communities, nation, and world.

Will we, as a nation and as individuals, show solidarity with one another this year, especially with the oppressed?  Will we start treating one another more as a beloved community? Will we rise in support of those who, under possible new governmental policies may be literally put in danger, or at the very least, made uncomfortable?

When I originally wrote this blog, it was December of 2021 and we’d been through the pandemic and, despite the tragedies implicit in a global virus, the new year looked promising.  At that time, focusing on the positive, I sat down to write my New Year’s Resolutions.  I think, with some updates, those resolutions that served me well in 2022 can also expand and enhance my life’s ministry in 2025.  I want to share them with you.

 

RESOLUTIONS

Be it resolved that in the service of church leaders everywhere, in partnership with God, I will be creative, daring myself to think outside the box, and take on things that scare me. Both within my religion and faith community, and in the broader community that encompasses other religions and spiritualities.

Be it resolved that I will deepen my commitment to authentic Christian community by empowering my ministry team to lead powerfully.

Be it resolved that I will envision and give voice to new futures and not let the fear of failure or rejection hold me back. Like other leaders, I worry about what others think of me. To hell with that.

Be it resolved that with the current divisions in churches, in denominations, in religions, and in the nation, this year, I will move forward more courageously, helping to bridge the divides that keep us apart.

Be it resolved that I will rise from faith in Jesus to the faith of Jesus, allowing myself to take new actions and see both myself and others in new ways.  This will also shift my consciousness to help me become the change I wish to see in the world.

 

Will I fulfill all of my New Year’s resolutions for 2025? Will I hit every goal? If last year and the year before are any indication, probably not. But that’s ok. Life will present unexpected opportunities and new goals will take the place of old ones.

This year will be a challenge, but it will also be an opportunity to let go and trust God, partner in faith, and set out on vigorous courses of action.  With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, all things are possible. Even the Beloved Community in a nation rife with unrest.

 

Do you want support in envisioning and enacting new goals to bring peace and renewal to your church and community? Join me for the seminar “How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success”, my free introduction to Creating a Culture of Renewal®. I’ve got several dates available for this 90 minute online opportunity and I look forward to seeing you there.

Interested in shifting YOUR consciousness and embracing real spiritual transformation in 2025? My latest book, Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Faith in Jesus to the Faith of Jesus is now available online.

 

 

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