Like a Child | God as Father

Mike Wilday May 9, 2025

Occasionally we ‘rerun’ a blog post. We are blessed to have a talented group of writers who are sensitive to the voice and heart of the Lord through the seasons of their lives. What they have to share is worth repeating! This is one such blog post. Enjoy!

It’s no accident that all four of the gospels begin with the revelation of God as a loving father to all of humanity. The exploration of the incarnate God, the journey of discovering Jesus, begins with the revelation of God as a father doting on his son.

The father child relationship is so important in my own personal life journey. The relationship I had with my father had a tremendous impact on my life. His emotional absence and the lack in our relationship has been a source of grief and great pain staining my belief about myself, and creating trauma that impacts the way I approach relationships with others. It interferes with the way I father, and opposes the way I even care for myself.

I know I’m not alone in this, so many people have been impacted by their relationships with their fathers, and yet that is the way God chose to reveal himself to humanity, and each gospel accounts this revealing of Jesus, his son. Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all describe the event of Jesus’ baptism. The first words we hear God speak in the New Testament are those of a doting father, who delights in his son. Imagine with me this moment: it’s been 400 years since God has spoken through the prophets, or revealed himself to his people. Suddenly, a prophet is revealed: some crazy man named John who wears camel skin and wanders the desert. He’s warning everyone to repent of their sins and turn to God.(Matt 3:2; Mark 3:4; Luke 3:7).

God, in all his power, and all that holiness, and all that expectation, reveals himself during Jesus’ baptism as a loving father; one who is well pleased with his son. This is so vastly different than the voice booming on the mountain side, accompanied with thunder and lightning and fire and smoke.(Exodus 19:16-18).

I love the juxtaposition of these realities as expressed in John 1:17: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” Jesus, he explains in John 1:12, gives us the right to become children of God. This really sets apart the work of Jesus as he brings another revelation of the heart of the father. God, as is even portrayed in the Old Testament, is full of mercy, generous, kind, and loving. He can be trusted, depended on. He is one who heals, who speaks kindly, who loves to show mercy, who is patient, and long suffering. He is one who waits expectantly with a ring and a robe to welcome us home. He is one who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one astray. He is a father, who is avidly pursuing our hearts. He deeply longs to be in a relationship with us, his children. He is a good father who loves us. Take a moment to listen to this YouTube playlist of songs while considering these truths. I pray these songs bless you and minister to your heart as you consider how much the Lord loves you today. You are his dearly loved child. Rest in that today.

About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Like a Child | God as Father

Mike Wilday April 12, 2024

About the Author

Who Does God Say I Am | Identity: Peter’s perspective of who we are

Mike Wilday February 16, 2024

When I consider who God says we are, one book of the Bible especially stands out to me: 1 Peter. All throughout the book are scattered truths about our standing before the father and a champion call to live and be who God has declared us to be, in the midst of trials and tribulations. While we are not suffering like the persecution of the early Christians who were put to the test by Nero, we must acknowledge the truth of 1 Peter 5:8. We have a great enemy whose intent is to devour us. The champion call of Peter isn’t to compare our circumstances with each other, but rather to stand in confidence with who he says we are and live a life that pleases our creator, despite the challenges we endure along with all of humanity.

Take a moment to consider who God says we are in the book of Peter. He says we are known, we are chosen, we are holy, and we are cleansed (1 Peter 1:2). Peter reminds us that we are born again (1:3) and we are possessors of a priceless inheritance (1:4). Peter has a no-holds-barred expression of our standing before God in the very beginning of his book. In preparation for 5:8 and the introduction of our great enemy, he declares that we are protected by God‘s power (1:5), and we are temporary residents of this world. He foreshadows the day when Christ will make all things new. Peter declares that we are ransomed (1:18), cleansed from many sins (1:22), and born again to a new life (1:23). The whole chapter is full of amazing truths about those who have said yes to Christ.

Peter doesn’t stop there though. I personally feel encouraged by the great gift God has bestowed upon us. In chapter 2, Peter continues establishing our identities as God’s people. Peter declares that our lives are purposeful and meaningful when he explains that we are living stones being built into God’s spiritual temple and designated as Christ’s holy priests (2:5). We are intended to show the world God’s greatness - similar to Israel’s champion call in the Old Testament. Peter declares us to be God’s chosen people, his royal priesthood, a holy nation, thus echoing the call of God to Israel, to be a people that are examples of his goodness (2:9). This truth is built upon and fortified by the declaration that we are God’s very own possession (2:9). We are able to show others the goodness of God (2:9). We are called out of the darkness with the intent of being visible, expressed examples of his wonderful light (2:9). We are God’s people, receivers of his mercy (2:10). As such, Peter declares our freedom but identifies us as voluntary slaves of God, love-servants, who have chosen to live our lives for God and his glory. Because of this, we are cared for by the shepherd; the guardian of our souls.

At this point, Peter encourages us to consider how we should live in the midst of persecution, suffering, and the rejection that many of us might face at being lovers of God (1 Peter 3). It’s a challenging and insightful read, I encourage us all to meditate on the response to such wonderful truths. But I want to focus explicitly on who God says we are. To further express this point, Peter picks up again in chapter 4 with follow-up truths about who we are. We have been given a spiritual gift from God (4:10), redeemed partners in Christ’s suffering (4:13), and are adorned with Christ’s glorious Spirit who rests upon us (4:14). We have the promise of being called by God’s name (4:15), are his handiwork, created by him (4:19). We are ultimately called to share in his eternal glory (5:10).

What an honor, such humbling and precious truths about our identity. Peter calls us out and calls us up as he sets a foundation from which we can rise and receive our calling as God’s. He then takes these truths and gives us a means by which we can live, and a framework by which we can walk out these truths as God‘s chosen people (1 Peter 3). We have a God who has actively, purposefully, and practically saved us, redeemed us, set us free, and gave us new life so that we can live before him and others, as a witness of his goodness. Let us encourage each other to do so every day henceforth. Peter’s thoughts about who we are echo the thoughts of Jesus and our church’s namesake scripture Matthew 5:13-16. We are salt called to flavor the world and make known his goodness. We are a city on a hill, a lamp to those who abide in darkness. We are called to express the light he has given us so the darkness of this world will experience it and might also experience God’s invitation to be redeemed and refined. What God has freely given us he longs to bestow on others and our lives have the ability to be a sweet testimony to others of his extreme kindness and generosity.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
13“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

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Joyous Lament | The Pure Joy of Perseverance

Mike Wilday October 27, 2023

“Consider it pure joy…” There is nothing as beautiful as pure joy. In my mind, I picture the elation and exuberance that come with the joy of meeting a long-awaited baby for the very first time. Or perhaps the joy that comes on a wedding day as two lovers prepare for the journey of love and life together. Or maybe the explicit wonder of your first love or your first kiss. All of these moments of joy are things one will never forget. Or maybe you’re a roller coaster junkie like me and just love the pure exhilaration as you climb the first hill and begin the first drop.

James 1:2 starts with that same sense of excitement. He takes us zooming down a breathtaking freefall with the hope of an incredible ride. However, immediately in verse three, we find ourselves in a hairpin break-neck, 180° turn that leaves our minds limp with confusion.

“...whenever you face trials of many kinds…” This messes with my mind. In my family of origin, troubles were always a reason for lament. There's never been in my mind anything joyous about trials and tribulations. My mother and father would frequently herald troubles with loud criticism or constant complaints. Never were troubles something to enjoy. When I first read this verse, I had to stop and ponder it for quite some time as I found it very confusing. Perhaps you do, too?

Thankfully, James’ statement is qualified with a promise. As the muscles in my neck return to full strength, I contemplate the truth of verse three, “because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Jesus grants us the promise of growth as we embrace our troubles and choose perseverance. James invites us to embrace joy on the journey of tested faith. By trusting God during troubles of any kind, we grow!

Verse 4 reads, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Amid difficult and trying situations, we have a tremendous promise, a reason for pure joy. Though we may lament our current strife, if we choose, we may actively rest by strengthening our faith in who God is and how much he loves us. And in that perseverance, we may discover a new level of maturity that James calls “perfect and complete.

Let us all take some time today to consider our current challenges. Ask the Lord to reveal to us what he feels about the difficulties we are enduring. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind us of truths about the Godhead that apply to our current situations. Let us read and reflect on scripture to strengthen our faith in our beloved Father so that we might find joyous truth to help us persevere through whatever trial or tribulation we might be enduring. His love is strong and capable of not only sustaining us, but helping us grow.

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The Joy of Being Human | Feeling Emotions

Mike Wilday September 1, 2023

One of the clearest markers of a person’s humanity is the ability to feel emotions. An initial search on ChatGPT requesting an exhaustive list of human emotions returned a list of over 106 different emotions, with the caveat that the list of emotions was only extensive and not exhaustive because emotions are “very nuanced and influenced by a wide range of factors.”

A cursory review of ChatGPT’s list will reveal many familiar emotions. Classic emotions like love, joy, anger, delight, guilt, shame, compassion, frustration, loneliness, hope, despair, and contentment can all be found on the list. Each emotion listed was varied and nuanced. Glee and happiness carry the same elation as the emotion of joy, but our experience of each reveals how nuanced and unique each is. Bitterness, contempt, and fury find their roots in anger but are also uniquely different, according to our experience.

Reviewing the list of emotions reminds me of Psalm 139:14. “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (NLT). These emotions are a beautiful facet of the character and nature of God intricately expressed within each of us. Within humanity, he has intricately woven a myriad of the emotions that he experiences. God, in all his omnipotence and perfection, exhibits feelings and expresses himself throughout scripture.

Zephaniah 3:17 speaks of the Lord delighting in his people. Isaiah 62:5 refers to God’s rejoicing over his people, Israel. Psalm 147:11 speaks about God’s pleasure. Ephesians 4:30 speaks of God experiencing sorrow. Exodus 34:6-7 speaks of God experiencing compassion and mercy. Psalm 78:40 speaks of God’s grief. Mark 3:5 expresses the sadness of Jesus. And in John 2:13-17, we have a straightforward story of Jesus experiencing anger.

In many contexts, emotions carry a negative connotation. People have been wounded by and hurt by others who have allowed their emotions to lead them to act in sinful ways, thus marking certain emotions as “inappropriate” or “out of control” or, in some instances, even forbidden. In my experience, particularly during adolescence, anger became a taboo emotion. But today, I propose that how we respond and react to emotions is sinful, not the emotions themselves. If God, in all his perfection, righteously experiences the full gambit of emotions without sin, I think that we, too, can do the same (with his support). According to Galatians 5:16-26, our response to those emotions is what matters. When experiencing difficult emotions, we can choose to walk under the guidance of Holy Spirit and choose to behave righteously, or by our sinful nature and respond unrighteously.

Only as we walk in unity with God and his spirit will we truly experience the exuberance of our humanity as expressed in the entire range of emotions. With him, we can endure anger, sadness, grief, overwhelming joy, regret, sorrow, expectation, anxiety, loneliness, or whatever emotion we are most impacted by. Together with Christ, we can be fully human.

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In His Image | In The Image of God He Created Them

Mike Wilday June 23, 2023

I’ve been considering this thought for several months now. What does it mean to be created in the image of God? And if the whole of humanity bears some aspect of his image, how am I then to live accordingly with others? My time of reflection left me considering the words of Paul to the Jewish believers in Rome from Romans 12:9-21 (NLT). He communicates in verses 9 and 10: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

A few verses later, he drops a massive bomb on persecuted believers: “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them” (Romans 12:14, NLT).

And then he extends it even more, a few verses later: “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God” (Romans 12:17-19, NLT).

The concept that every person is created in the image of God inspires me to consider how I am to live in alignment with others. If in each of us, there’s some aspect of God’s image; then I should carefully consider how I think about, talk about, engage with, and participate with all of the bearers of his image. This idea convicts my spirit to the core. How I perceive others must be impacted by this truth.

I believe this truth is echoed in all of scripture and reverberates in each author’s writing. Repeatedly scripture beckons us to embrace each other in love with kindness and consideration, and to think of others highly. In the age of justified evil, I am impacted by the apostles’ response to persecution. Did those who walked in that day perceive the value of each individual? Paul’s expression towards opposition in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 requires some consideration. “… We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us.“

These responses must come from an awareness and consideration that God cares deeply for every individual - even those who do not follow in his ways. I want to have that same awareness and let go of all judgment, accusation, and evil thoughts to fully care about the truth that God has imparted part of himself to all creation, and just because a person, or people group, doesn’t follow his leadership, doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit won’t convict them of their sin, or convict them of righteousness (John 16:8). Lord, help us all to see others as you do. Father. give us a spirit of prayer and of deep conviction when we engage with your creation.

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Trusting Our Mysterious God | A Walk Through the Valley

Mike Wilday April 7, 2023

Like most people I’ve encountered, I have habits from childhood that served me well as a kid but cause significant challenges for me today as an adult. When I think about what it means to trust in a mysterious God, the first thing that comes to mind is how the Lord has been leading me to change many of those ingrained behaviors preventing me from healthy relationships as an adult.

To survive my family of origin and the chaos that surrounded those family dynamics, I developed a strong independence and unhealthy flight response to conflict and difficult situations. Independence developed into unhealthy narcissism and avoiding conflict transformed into extreme avoidance of situations and circumstances I have no perceived control over. Those behaviors combined to form an unhealthy habit of isolation which doesn’t bode well when I’m operating as a husband, father, or manager at work. This deeply ingrained avoidance is something the Lord has challenged me to change over the past several years.

The imagery for trusting God to lead me in this process is akin to that which David expresses in Psalm 23, a walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Who, in their right mind, would choose to journey into such a place? It's difficult to picture anyone (except maybe Sylvester Stallone) choosing to stroll into what is pictured in my mind as a dark forest resembling Mirkwood (a treacherous forest from J.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, where misstep can lead to a multitude of unfortunate ends). The imagery that David uses evokes a place where the enemy lies in ambush around every bend in the road. One does not casually agree to travel to such a place, but this is exactly where David says the Lord leads his sheep.

I cannot claim to have had great success in my personal journey through behavioral and character-building change. It has been a difficult journey, and I have struggled greatly to let go of my inhibitions and embrace the season I have chosen to let the Lord walk me into. It has often caused me great distress and my tendency has been to do what I always do and run away or avoid embracing change. I’ve recently come to learn about Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy where a person intentionally exposes themselves to situations that cause them distress, and they prevent themselves from leaving until the distressed response diminishes to some degree. The goal is to experience that challenging circumstances aren’t as threatening as our mind makes them feel, which then teaches our brain to respond differently. Now, I’m not participating in ERP sessions, but I relate to what I imagine that experience could feel like, as the Lord continually prompts me to not avoid difficult circumstances.

Sitting in distress is the exact opposite of my developed tendencies and is very uncomfortable, kind of like a cheese grater to the face. But for some strange reason, the Lord and his sovereign leadership takes us through these dark and dangerous valleys, and promises to not only accompany us, but to defend us with his rod and his staff, and bring us out of the valley into a place of joy and abundance. In the meantime, we must journey through the daunting dilemma of trusting this mysterious God to lead us faithfully through dense forests, deep darkness, and disturbing dilemmas.

Obedience in the face of uncertainty isn’t easy, but as we choose to let go of what makes sense to us and embrace the mystery of how God leads us, we find ourselves in the best place to receive all that He has for us. To continue with David’s metaphor, on the other side of the valley of the shadow of death, there is a table prepared for us and the anointing of a head with oil (a symbol of consecration and honor). But the outcome is only obtained as we trust… as we join with our mysterious God while he gently and faithfully leads us on this journey.

Psalm 23 NKJV
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

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Fruits of the Spirit | Patience at the Feet of Jesus

Mike Wilday January 27, 2023

There are two primary words for patience in the Bible, which are frequently used together: Makrothume and Hupomone. Makro means long, and Thume means temper and is frequently defined as long-suffering. It is the ability to endure and sustain a lengthened period of difficulty or challenges. Biblical realization of this word includes suffering at the hands of others and suffering under the weight of circumstances. The second word for patience, Hupomone, also comes from two words. Hupo means under, and Mone means to abide. It bears the idea of abiding under challenges.

When I consider my life, there are many areas where I need patience, but the area I believe I need the most patient endurance is during seasons of waiting on and trusting in Jesus. I find it extremely difficult to endure waiting on the Lord to move, fulfill his promises, or to act in accordance with the leadership I felt he had given me as I had sought him for guidance.

The story of Anna, the prophetess in Luke 2:36-38, always astounds me. Luke writes that Anna’s husband died after seven years of marriage. Hebrew girls would often marry at about 12 to 13 years of age. She devoted herself to fasting and prayer in the temple from that time forth. At the time of Jesus's birth, Anna was about eighty-four. That means she spent about 64 years in prayer, fasting, and unwavering dedication to the Lord. Luke writes that when she heard about Jesus, she talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Anna waited faithfully for over 60 years for God to fulfill his word to send the Messiah, and suddenly, after waiting on the Lord for so long, he fulfilled his word. I want that kind of patient endurance.

As an extrovert, I tend to like to be busy. I tend to plan out too much and then fail to get it all done. Tasks tend to rule my heart each day. More often than not. I tend to join the spirit of Martha as she hurried around her home, preparing a meal for Jesus in Luke 10:38-42. I don't see anything inherently wrong with being task-oriented, but more than getting my list done, I want to be a person like Mary, who knows how to sit and listen at the feet of Jesus. I want to fulfill the first commandment: "love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, mind, and soul" (Matthew 22:37, NLT). And allow the second commandment: "love my neighbor as myself," (Matthew 22:39, NLT), to flow out of my encounter with Jesus in the first command. I think that Mary of Bethany, Martha's sister, patiently endured all that needed to be accomplished by slowing down and making space to listen to all that Jesus had to say. The pressures and platitudes of the day were not Mary's concern. She found solace patiently waiting at Jesus' feet.

I desire to have the patient persistence of Anna the prophetess and Mary of Bethany. I want to make the concerns of Jesus my own. I want to wait patiently for his thoughts, heart, and purpose to be expressed to my heart so that I can purposefully express it in my home, neighborhood, and county. Sitting and waiting can be an act of long-suffering, but the Word promises that he will faithfully lead us by his Spirit. It promises that the secrets of his heart have been and will be revealed to us by his Spirit. The fruit of patience, of long-suffering, at Jesus' feet is answered prayer, peace of mind, and life everlasting.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31, NASB). "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1, NLT). "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5, NIV).

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Truth in Love | Maturity

Mike Wilday December 2, 2022

Children are very curious. Their minds, beautifully immature, are constantly crafting ways to get their way, to meld their existence with those of their family, and to fit the broad context of the world they are discovering into their little frame of understanding. This journey of understanding can sometimes lead to some very humorous and innocent conclusions. Art Linkletter even capitalized on this concept with his TV show Kids Say the Darndest Things in the late 90’s. Aside from our faith, God did not intend for humanity to remain childlike. His intention for us is growth.

Maturation is God’s design. Our brains are intricate creations that grow and develop well into our late 20’s. However, the maturing process is not a personal, isolated thing, it’s a product of integration and community. A person’s level of maturity is defined by others. In Ephesians 4:13-15 Paul echoes this idea and expresses an expectation for growth and maturation in the development of our faith. We are meant to mature and grow both individually and corporately.

Every competitive runner has a finish line etched in their mind. It’s the reason they tie up their laces and why they subject themselves to the grueling race before them. The author of Hebrews 12 uses this imagery as he calls believers to run the race God has called them to. The finish line of that race is obtained by fixing our minds on one thing; not the goal of winning, not a determination to defeat our fiercest competitor, but by fixing our eyes on Jesus.

Returning to Ephesians 4, Paul calls us to pursue maturity and sets Christ as our standard. Our goal for maturity, for completion, is Christ himself; to come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of him. Ephesians 4:15 reveals the outcome of this maturation process: a united body of believers who speak the truth in love and intricately work together to cause each other to grow and work as one, with Jesus leading the way.

Full maturity is obtained as we engage with each other, loving each other as Christ leads us. And while we engage each other, and encourage each other to fix our eyes on Jesus, He does His part. The author and perfecter of our faith is faithful to mature us more and more into the likeness of himself (Hebrews 12:2), mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-5).

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Ephesians 4 | The Signet Seal of the Holy Spirit

Mike Wilday September 9, 2022

In biblical times, kings would use hot wax or clay and a signet ring to seal vital items. The seal carried the authority and validity of the king. Anyone who viewed that seal knew the king had authorized the document or was guarding the content within. In the fourth chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul references this imagery.

Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

This imagery carries many connotations, which we will consider in this blog post.

Holy Spirit is a promise. Signet rings were often used in royal transactions as a promise or a pledge that whatever was contracted would be carried out. In Ephesians 4, Paul indicates that the Lord seals us with his spirit as a promise of what’s to come. The Spirit’s presence and power pledge to us that the day of redemption will come. The blessed day when Christ returns in glory and redeems his people, when we become fully like him, and when his power transforms us fully into his likeness is yet to come, but we have the Holy Spirit and his power to imbue us until that day arrives. (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14; Eph. 4:29)

Holy Spirit is an impression and impartation of God himself. At its base value, a king’s seal was an impression left by a ring or a specially made tube on wax or clay. Holy Spirit, who is entirely God, is likewise impressed on every believer; a marking of the power and presence of Christ. The fullness of God comes to dwell within and imparts us with everything we need for life and godliness. We are duly marked and impressed with all our King's markings. And as we allow Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we become more and more an impression of who our King is. (1 John 3:24; Tit. 3:4-7; Eph. 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:3)

Holy Spirit is a witness to whoever encounters us. Those who would encounter the signet seal of a king were witnesses to the authenticity of whatever was marked. The impression was clear and identified with clarity to whom the document belonged. The work of Holy Spirit in our lives, his gifts, his fruit, and ultimately our transformation into God’s likeness is a witness to those we encounter. It is a witness to them of whom we belong to and of the reality of our loving father. This is the very reason God sent his Spirit. The disciples received the gift of Holy Spirit to empower them and set them apart as God’s witness. To empower us to be his witness is still his Spirit’s purpose in our lives today. (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:7-12; John 15:26-27)

Holy Spirit is a symbol of God’s power and authority. Those who carried their king's seal possessed the full authority of the king. Whatever message they brought, transaction they were representing him in, or promise made under that seal carried the full authority and power of the king to act upon it. Likewise, the King of all Kings has empowered us with his own Spirit and has given us authority over the heavens and the earth. He has empowered us to be his witnesses and walk boldly upon the earth. God has granted us authority over the powers of this world and the strength to resist the devil who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He has freed us from the power of death, sin, and our sinful nature and freed us to follow him and his leadership. (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:16-18; Gal. 5:16-25; 2 Tim 1:7)

Holy Spirit is the ratification of God’s covenant with us. A signet seal was a mark indicating the validity of a treaty or a king's work. The Lord has signified the work he is doing within us by sealing us with the promise of Holy Spirit. His presence in our lives indicates the work the father has begun in us. We can rest in his work as we surrender to his Spirit and allow his fruit to bear in our lives. As we allow the Holy Spirit to confirm the word of the Lord and transform us into the likeness of Jesus, we can rest assured in our hope in Christ and our complete redemption.

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Unity | Living in Unity with Who You Are

Mike Wilday June 3, 2022

As an artistic child, I was always fascinated with butterflies. I enjoyed how they fluttered around the yard and brought splashes of color and beauty to an otherwise dusty and drab city landscape. I was equally moved when I learned that those beautiful creatures developed from a less-than-striking caterpillar. The DNA that made those creepy, crawly, sometimes furry worm-like creatures was the identical DNA that produced those intensely beautiful butterflies I admired. How could something so beautiful exist entirely within something so… well… not beautiful?

The caterpillar paints a lovely picture of the Christian faith and a somewhat realistic view of how two dynamically opposed things (beauty and the lack thereof) can exist simultaneously. Paul discusses this reality several times throughout his epistles. In Romans 7:4, Paul mentions that we stand unified with Jesus, who is raised from the dead (NLT). But he also reveals his present reality of inevitably doing what is wrong when he desires to do right; the consequence of his sinful nature (Romans 7:24). He expresses this unity of realities in the book of Colossians as well. In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul describes a sense of completeness that exists now in our union with Christ, and in Colossians 3:3 indicates that our real life is hidden with Christ in God. These ideas are our present, right now, realities. Today, at this very moment, we are unified and complete in Jesus. Because of our faith in Christ, the DNA of Christ himself (all the fullness of God) dwells within us, and we are free from the power of sin (Romans 8:2). We stand entirely right with God but are also working out our salvation by embracing our weakness and choosing to let the Holy Spirit lead our thoughts and actions (Romans 8:4, NLT). We are complete in Christ, yet Paul calls us to continually put on our new nature and become (a reality not yet realized) more like Jesus (Colossians 3:10).

Jesus depicts this same reality in the book of John. In John 15:5, Jesus describes his followers as fruit-bearing branches, fully grafted into himself as the vine. But he prefaces this reality by first introducing the gardener, his Father, who prunes fruit-bearing branches so they may produce more fruit (John 15:1-2). There is existing within this reality of being fully attached to the life-giving vine, subtleties of our nature that prohibit us from being as productive as the vine itself. There is a present reality of fruit in our lives and a not yet realized potential of abundantly more fruit.

The caterpillar is NOW as much a butterfly as the one already metamorphosed with sprouted wings. Likewise, we sinful and broken beings are fully saved, set apart, and filled with the fullness of God. As the caterpillar allows the fullness of what God has put within it to work internally and cause him to become a butterfly, we also must accept the realities of what is (who we are in Christ) and what is to be (becoming more like him). We realize the unity of these two truths as we submit ourselves fully to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. The Lord has released us from the power of our sinful nature (which still exists), and as we choose to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit and submit our thoughts and actions to him, we become more like the beautiful reality hidden in Him (Romans 8:4-10; Col. 3:3). Let’s respond with a simple and consistent yes to the constant prompting of the Holy Spirit’s voice. We can embrace that we are both sinful individuals yet have everything we need for life and godliness in Christ. Let us choose together to walk wholeheartedly toward who we are becoming in Him.

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Advent | Wonderful Counselor

Mike Wilday November 28, 2021

As Advent presents a time to pause and reflect, the CitySalt Blog team has crafted some additional writings to accompany our church services in preparation for Christmas. In addition to the regularly scheduled blog posts every other week, we are aligning with the sermon series derived from Isaiah 9:6 and sharing personal reflections each Sunday of Advent.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

When I first heard about the unique way our pastors were going to be approaching advent, I was immediately taken back to a profound revelation I received from the Lord about 20 years ago. It was one of those life altering moments that dynamically shifted the course of my relationship with God. Its effect reverberates today and continues to be worked out daily as I choose to embrace its truth.

As a young kid, I grew up in a Christian home with parents who professed faith in Christ and went to church on most occasions. But as I personally began wrestling through life’s challenges, I would read scripture and wish that I could have Jesus physically present with me to tell me how I should respond to each trial I was facing as a young man. I envied the disciples who could ask Jesus any question they wanted and receive his wisdom.

It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I went on a journey through John 14-16. Within those chapters, Jesus, the disciples’ Wonderful Counselor, breaks the news that he has to “go away;” that they won’t see him anymore. I had never seen it before, but like walking into a telephone pole while sending a quick text, there it was. Jesus shares the following truth:

John 16:7 (NLT)
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

This simple sentence upturned all my pubescent apple cart desires for the physical incarnate Jesus. “It is better for you that I go away…” I reread that sentence multiple times and another proverbial pubescent quote came spilling forth from my lips: “Whatchu Talkin’ bout Willis?”

Throughout these chapters, Jesus breaks down the importance of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He reveals that he now wants to lead his disciples through the indwelling presence of this Holy Spirit. Take a look at

John 16:12-14 (NLT)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be the one to lead, to guide, to counsel us into all truth, and that what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, is coming straight from HIM. Our wonderful counselor is not so far off as we might sometimes imagine him. He has offered his wonderful counsel to us moment by moment, via the Holy Spirit; and the same Spirit that marked the apostles on Pentecost dwells within us today.

May we all take a moment as we enter this advent season to thank the Father for sending us his Son. Let us take another moment to thank Jesus for sending us his Spirit. And may we also thank the Spirit for revealing the wonderful counsel of the Wonderful Counselor, while giving him a moment to speak truth and lead us through whatever life circumstance we find ourselves in this Holiday season.

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Cycles | Turn Turn Turn

Mike Wilday October 22, 2021

I love the fall! As the summer sun is now setting earlier and the warm mornings are replaced by the brisk cool air, I am moved to thank the Lord for the shifting cycles of the seasons. The fall season for our family is full of birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and an abundance of meaningful family time together. For me, fall is also a time of retrospection. Sometimes, that reflection is bittersweet as I consider all that has shifted and changed over the years; the highs and lows and the wins and losses. Life itself is a continual cycle.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 references these cycles and sets the tone of expectation. Life has cycles and seasons; times that we will experience, enjoy, and in some cases, endure. Life is intricately woven with cycles of change as its center strand. I’m sure that all of you relate and perhaps some of you, like me, reluctantly surrender to that truth. The only thing consistent about change is that it’s inevitable.

In the midst of uncertainty (my pet word for life itself), I find it imperative to have a fortress, a terra firma, a solid ground to stand upon, when the inevitable occurs. In these seasons, I turn to the truth of Lamentations 3:22-24, written by Jeremiah. The previous verses lay out the context of Jeremiah’s “uncertainty.” He was a personal witness to the atrocities of war, of sin, of judgment; as his own nation turned from God to false prophets. He witnessed the darkness of tragedy (Jeremiah 3:2). He experienced the captivity and heaviness of grief (Jeremiah 3:7). He felt the bitterness of the hardship of his people being taken captive by their enemies (Jeremiah 3:15). Jeremiah was branded by uncertainty. It seared him, scarred him, deeply disturbed him. But in the midst of this intimate confession of how the uncertainty of life has marked him, he dares to hope.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NLT)
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

May this be our hope as well. As the seasons and cycles of life turn, turn, turn, may we find God’s faithfulness, his unchanging love, his fresh mercies, to be our stalwart; our faithful companion. And may we trust him, like David in Psalm 23, to lead us through life’s hills and valleys to places of anointing and rejoicing. No matter which cycle life is throwing at you today, dare to hope in God’s fresh, unfailing love and faithfulness for you. He will lead you faithfully through it to the other side!

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Occasionally we ‘rerun’ a blog post. We are blessed to have a talented group of writers who are sensitive to the voice and heart of the Lord through the seasons of their lives. What they have to share is worth repeating! This is one such blog post. Enjoy!

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