http://www.identitynetwork.net The people of God were crying out for help. The oppression of the Midianites was overwhelming. Though they were experiencing the consequences of turning away from God, He responded with mercy. He felt compassion for the very people who had rejected Him. In answer to their cries, God raised up Gideon (Judges 6). The story of God calling Gideon is fascinating. Gideon was threshing wheat when the Angel of the Lord came and sat down beside him. He spoke to Gideon, assured him that the Lord was with him, and called him a "mighty warrior." http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302554&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 One of the biggest shifts we all need to make is realizing that God never places us somewhere by accident. Every assignment in your life—your work, your business, your family, your ministry, even the relationships He's entrusted to you—is there for a reason. You're not just there to succeed, survive, or make it through. You're there because God intends to accomplish something through you. I think we often underestimate what an assignment really is. We see a job. God sees a place where His Kingdom can advance. We see a difficult relationship. God sees an opportunity to bring healing. We see a business decision. God sees an opportunity to establish wisdom, integrity, and blessing. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302555&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 The Lord looks down from heaven…to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.Psalm 14:2 ESV I hear a call from heaven. A simple yet clear charge coming from a Father who is searching. He is looking for those with the heart of Samuel – those who love His presence and will take the time to simply be with Him. Those who want to know Him – not just get a word from Him. At a time when so many of us are looking for answers about who to trust, who to listen to, and what to believe, I sense the Father calling us back to the secret place. It is only when we have been with Him that things begin to make sense. Those who truly know Him will carry more than His words or message. They will carry something of His heart – a heart that burns with holiness and purity. Those who have been with God will bear the unm http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302585&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 There's something almost comical about denying yourself a cheeseburger in the name of spiritual discipline while simultaneously feasting on somebody else's business. We tend to think of fasting as giving something up. Food. Sugar. Alcohol. Social media. Coffee—which, depending on the person, may require more faith than moving a mountain. We abstain from something we enjoy because we want to create space for God, sharpen our spiritual awareness, practice self-control, or remind ourselves that our appetites don't have to control us. And all of that can be meaningful. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302586&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 The Lord often uses things in the natural to speak to us supernaturally. One day I was in a powerful conference and suddenly a sweet perfume aroma filled the atmosphere. I knew it was the fragrance of the Lord and in that same moment the minister who was speaking shouted out: "Many of you are smelling the fragrance of God." Several of us smelled a glorious fragrance in the room but not everyone in the meeting did. Some people have a gift to discern what's in the atmosphere. For others, the Holy Spirit graciously allows them to sense or smell things in a moment. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302592&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 When an era ends, everything may appear chaotic. However, the Holy Spirit hovers and governs over the chaos. God always stands at the beginning of any new shift, era, or dispensation: In the beginning… God. "Now the earth was chaos and waste, darkness was on the surface of the deep, and the Ruach Elohim was hovering upon the surface of the water." Genesis 1:2 TLV Throughout Scripture, movements arose when people recognized the spiritual significance of the time. Movements of God displace individual ambition and summon a people into corporate destiny for Kingdom purpose. The second time Jesus returns will differ from the first, when He came as one man, representing the Father and the Holy Spirit. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302593&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 How many of you know that it's easy to check the boxes. Do the right things. Say the right words. Follow the right steps. But here's the truth that changed everything for me as I've traveled the world sharing the Gospel: God isn't after behavior modification — He's after heart transformation. From the fields of Southeast Asia to pastor's conferences in Africa to the pouring rain in Argentina, I've watched people encounter Jesus and walk away completely different — not because they tried harder, but because the Holy Spirit did what only He can do. Sometimes, evangelical Christians don't always talk about the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is incredible, humble, and helps Christians all over the world. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302531&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Struggling to know if it's God's voice or your own thoughts? This practical discernment checklist breaks down the difference between ego, intellect, and hearing God clearly. It's not always obvious. Sometimes what feels like leading is really just momentum — a passing thought, a bread crumb I've extrapolated into a mandate. Sometimes it's an opinion wearing spiritual clothes: something I want, or don't want, dressed up as discernment. And sometimes it's a charismatic expectation — the assumption that God will simply come to me, speak to me, without my having to go anywhere for it. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302538&view=post&blogid=2093 Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Have you ever felt trapped by your past? You know life could be different—freer, healthier, full of hope—but something is not allowing your turnaround. What if God reveals to you the secret to your turnaround? It's not hidden from you on purpose by Him, but the enemy hides it because it brings deliverance. It's simple, scriptural, and yours—if you take responsibility for your heart. But why do you want your turnaround so much… yet hesitate? You long to escape the past dictating your future. You feel stuck because of guilt, shame, and condemnation. Maybe you made a big mistake when you were younger out of ignorance, but it's still haunting you today. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302468&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 There is a kind of person we have learned to admire. The one who does not stop. The one who is first to arrive and last to leave. The one whose discipline looks like devotion and whose endurance looks like strength. For most of my life I was trying to be that person. I believed that if I pushed hard enough and long enough, I would arrive somewhere worth arriving at. Rest felt like a luxury I had not yet earned. Recovery felt like a confession that I was weak. So I kept moving, certain that the moving itself was the proof of my worth. What I did not understand then is something I see clearly now. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302471&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Set my spirit free so that I may worship You. Set my spirit free so that I may praise Your name. Let all bondage go and let deliverance flow. Set my spirit free to worship You! Close to fifty years ago, I visited a church that was Spirit-filled. I was in dire need of deliverance at the time, and because of the powerful anointing on the praise and worship, I was overcome with the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We used to sing songs of praise that would stay with me throughout the day. I would wake up with a song in my mind. A http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302477&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Most of us find forgiveness a difficult subject. After all, when someone "does you wrong," YOU are the victim of injustice! But forgiveness is a broad subject — there is forgiving other people, forgiving groups, forgiving corporations, and governments who have failed you. Then, there is forgiving yourself. Peter, the fisherman who left all to follow Jesus, swore his allegiance and undying love for the Master. So much so that when Jesus announced at the last supper that "one of you will betray me," Peter boldly declared: "Though they all are offended and stumble and fall away because of you [and distrust and desert you], I will never do so" (Matthew 26:33 AMPC).  http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302162&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 I remember as a little girl spending long summer evenings on a swing set in our backyard. I would pump my legs furiously, leaning back as far as I could, trying to make my toes touch the sky. There was such freedom in those moments. Such delight. I never measured whether I was doing it correctly. I never worried about performance. I was simply enjoying the experience of soaring higher and higher into the warm summer air. Years later, I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering to my heart that prayer was always meant to feel more like that than like another obligation waiting quietly on a checklist. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302164&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 What if I told you there is a library in Heaven, and inside that library are books written about you — stories filled with your identity, your destiny, and the very treasures God has hidden in your life? Would you want to know what's in those books? Most of us have never heard of a prophetic story. We are familiar with prophetic words — someone stepping forward with a microphone and declaring, 'Thus says the Lord.' That expression of the gift is powerful and biblical, and God still uses it. But what if there is another expression of the prophetic that Jesus Himself modeled — one that doesn't announce the Kingdom but instead invites you to discover it? That is the heart of what I call the Prophetic Story. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302165&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Life is filled with twists and turns that trouble us. An evil person may intend us harm. Our home might lie in the pathway of a terrible storm. A child may have made poor decisions leading to addiction. A family member may seem set on ruining our reputation. A medical diagnosis may change the trajectory of our career or ministry. Betrayal by a spouse may upend a marriage we thought secure. Whatever the twist or turn, we need a refuge in whom we can trust. That's why Psalm 91 is such good news. A refuge and stronghold not only exists for us, but if we turn to this Savior, we can cry with the psalmist, "my God, in whom I trust" (Ps. 91:2; italics mine). http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302174&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Loneliness is no respecter of persons. It can strike young and old, married and unmarried, male and female, rich and poor, extrovert and introvert. For some, loneliness may result from life circumstances that isolate and prevent us from cultivating relationships in the ways we'd like. For others, loneliness can be present despite being around other people regularly. In both cases, there can be a deep sense of feeling unseen, unknown, unloved, and disconnected from others, which can fuel anxiety, shame, or depression. As Christians, how do we understand loneliness from a biblical perspective to orient ourselves in this painful providence? http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302175&view=post&blogid=2093 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 My name is Patrick, but if you grew up around my family, there's a good chance you wouldn't have known that. To my dad, I was usually Peaches. Sometimes I was Peachy, and occasionally just Peach. I'm still not entirely sure where the nickname came from. I've heard it was because I had a lot of peach fuzz when I was a little boy, and that explanation seems reasonable enough. Like most family stories, though, the details have become less important than the tradition itself. Dad started calling me Peaches when I was very young, and over time the variations came naturally. Even today, some family members and lifelong friends still call me Peaches, Peachy, or Peach, and every time they do, it brings a smile to my face. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302126&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 3 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Today we live in a fast-paced society that seems to be placing more and more demands on us with each passing year. People are hurrying everywhere, and they're often rude and short-tempered. Many people are experiencing financial stress, marital stress and the stress of raising children. There's often mental and physical stress on the job caused by overwork. Many times this type of lifestyle causes health problems—adding even more stress. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302032&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 You don't have to suffer and sacrifice simply because you messed up. Your chest tightens. Nervousness develops in the pit of your stomach. You know better, so how could you do such a thing? Then fear kicks in. You fear you can't talk to God like before; you fear you're not clean enough to be in His presence—not after what you've done. These symptoms of guilt and shame are almost as old as time itself. Adam and Eve instantly felt shame after the Original Sin. They tried to hide from God. Peter denied Jesus three times and then wept bitterly. After betraying Jesus, Judas took his own life. Not much has changed, has it? Thousands of years later, guilt and shame remain as crippling as ever. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=302033&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 In a dream the other night, I was shown a choice between pursuing a deeper connection through Holy Spirit, versus retreating to what feels safe and familiar. Age-old mindsets are pulling some back to tried and true methods of church life in hopes of avoiding disappointment. And yet, the choice we make will not only determine our unity, but our ability to perceive truth. In the dream I was sitting in an outdoor mall café talking to a woman about spiritual things. She was well dressed and came from a conservative background and was very interested in the things I was sharing. Her husband came up, dressed in a suit and tie, and she began to share of our conversation. He seemed interested, as well, and I decided to invite them to church. They were eager for the invitation and asked where I attended. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301781&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 We've all looked at our family trees or our past mistakes and wondered: Is this just who I am now? Is this story already written? It's easy to feel trapped by the momentum of old habits, generational patterns, or the choices of those who came before us. But if today's sermon reminded us of anything, it's this: We serve a God who specializes in the turnaround. What the enemy seeks to finalize, God has the absolute authority to reverse. To fully understand the magnitude of this truth, we have to look at a powerful moment in the Old Testament where history, legacy, and a supernatural miracle collided on a single sundial. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301782&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Recently, I was reading through my dream journal from a couple of years ago. One night I dreamed I walked into my room and felt a gentle breeze coming through the window. When I looked up, I saw the window was open about an inch and the shades were slightly parted. I immediately understood that this was a prophetic dream. The open window was symbolic of an intruder attempting to break in- not a natural break in, but a spiritual one. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301783&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 One of the most overlooked promises is found in Isaiah 48:17: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go." Most people read this verse and immediately think about money, provision, or financial increase. While God's blessing certainly includes those things, the promise reveals something much greater. God is not promising simply to give you more. He is promising to develop you into someone capable of carrying more. This is the great distinction between provision and inheritance. Provision meets a need for today. Inheritance prepares someone to possess, multiply, and govern what has been entrusted to them. Anyone can receive a gift. Sons and daughters are trained to carry an inheritance. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301784&view=post&blogid=2093 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 For most of my life I thought I understood the story of Job. I had been handed the version most of us inherit. A righteous man appears to become a pawn in a wager between God and the accuser. He loses everything in a single afternoon. His wealth, his servants, his children, his health. Then three friends arrive and sit with him in silence before taking turns insisting that somewhere, hidden in the folds of his life, there must be a secret sin. Surely a just God would not let a man suffer unless he had earned it. Job protests his innocence. He holds his ground through speech after speech. In the final scene he receives back double what he lost, and we close the book satisfied that he passed the test and collected his reward. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301743&view=post&blogid=2093 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 "It is the spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Jesus said there is spirit life in the spoken word. That's why it is important for us to confess what God has already said about us in His Word. Words carry spiritual forces. Words can transmit fear or words can transmit faith. They transmit images after their kind to others. God's Word transmits the image God wants you to have. The devil's words transmit the image he wants you to have. http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?articleid=301622&view=post&blogid=2093 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400