Cactus Flower Ministry

WHEN LIFE FEELS OUT OF BALANCE
Rev. Jason Hill

There are moments in life when everything feels out of place. Your walk with God is not what it once was or what it should be. Your work feels heavy, strained, unproductive, and even frustrating. Your mind is restless and tired, your heart is discouraged, and your spirit is weary, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot seem to regain your footing or stability. Everything is slipping all at the same time, and life itself seems out of alignment.
Questions quietly emerge within: “What is happening to me? How did I get here; and how do I get back?”
This is a common experience to all Christians. Every born-again believer goes through, not just one season such as this but will encounter many within their lifetime. Some of these seasons will be worse than others and a few may even feel like your world is ending, but there is hope. There is good news regarding these times and there are answers and ways to restore balance and joy in life.
But before we can discover these answers, and before we go any further, this must be settled in your heart: What you are experiencing is not the design God has for you.
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Confusion, disorder, and instability are all indicators of misalignment. Something is out of order in your life, and it is causing a cascading effect. And while we often look at ourselves and our natural world for reasons and solutions, we must consider something that is often overlooked. Some of the battles in our lives are not just emotional, mental, or circumstantial; they are spiritual.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age…” (Ephesians 6:12)
When our prayer life weakens and our focus fractures, when discouragement becomes constant and everything feels harder than it should; it may not simply be life, but it may be resistance.
“Spiritual warfare is the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness over the lives of people.”—Tony Evans
And, when we begin to move toward order, growth, and toward God; resistance often increases.

The Enemy Thrives in Disorder
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings…”—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
The enemy does not always attack through obvious sin; sometimes he works through distraction, discouragement, and disconnection. Distracting you from what matters most. Discouraging you until you lose momentum. And, Disconnecting you from God’s presence.
It has been said: “If the devil cannot make you sin, he’ll make you busy…”
One day, you are aligned with God, life is calm, and your focus is clear. Then a small distraction arises. Not a big deal. But then another issue while still dealing with the first. You tell yourself, “No problem, that’s life.” And you press on. One by one more distractions appear, more decisions to be made, more work to do. Each day something new arises while you are still working on the previous issues. Suddenly you realize it’s all out of your control.
Destruction doesn’t always come all at once, often it drifts in over time.

Restore the Order- Reclaim the Ground
The issue is often order, not effort. Whether engaged in spiritual warfare, or the result of our own decision making, when life gets out of balance, many try and fix their lives by increasing effort. More discipline, more activity, and more pressure. But the answer is not in a panicked reactive response, it is in realignment.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
When God is no longer first, even subtly, everything else begins to fall out of place. Sometimes the imbalance in our lives is not because we are doing too little, but because we are holding too tightly to things that must be surrendered. Notice in the scripture, there is simplicity and power in the command: Seek first.
When God is restored to His rightful place, you begin to reclaim the ground that was lost. A.W. Tozer once wrote: “The reason why many are still troubled… is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves.” And “Where God is, there is peace. Where God is not first, there is unrest.”
So, return. Return to prayer, even if it feels resisted. Return to the Word, even if it feels dry. And return to obedience, even if it feels costly. Because resistance often intensifies right before restoration. And when that resistance comes, strengthen your spiritual posture and Stand.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
You cannot win a spiritual battle with natural strength. You need the Word of God anchoring your mind. Prayer strengthening your spirit. And truth confronting every lie.

Return and Strengthen, Don’t Rebuild
When life feels broken, the instinct is to start over; to rebuild everything from the ground up. The problem, however, is that the outward life cannot be stable if the inward life is neglected. If your thoughts are scattered, your life will follow. If your heart is divided, your direction will be unclear.
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)
God does not call you to restart, He calls you to return.
“Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:7)
Tony Evans has said: “When God is first, everything else finds its proper place.”
Set time aside daily to meet with God. Guard your mind from constant distraction. And feed your spirit more than your stress. You do not need a dramatic breakthrough; you need a return to a steady foundation.

Struggle is Not Defeat or Failure
Do not misinterpret what you are experiencing. Many believers wind up condemning themselves because they are struggling. Struggle doesn’t mean that you are losing or failing, but that you are engaged.
“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” (Psalm 37:24)
The enemy wants you to believe the worst in yourself. He wants you to believe that you have gone too far. He whispers in your ear, telling you that this is who you are now and that you can’t recover. But these are nothing but lies.
The very tension you feel is evidence that God is still at work within you. Remember this: Dead things do not struggle, only living things do. When everything feels broken, the temptation is to fix everything all at once. But victory is not regained in a single moment, it is reclaimed in consistent steps. So, take the next right step.
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness…” (Psalm 23:3)
Re-establish daily time with God, Remove what weakens your spirit, follow through on what God has already shown you. Small acts of obedience are spiritual warfare in action.

Your Hope is Secure- In God, Not Yourself
Your life may feel unstable, but your God is not. No matter how unstable life feels one truth remains unshaken:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
Nothing in your life is outside of His awareness. Nothing is beyond His ability to restore. This means that your battle is not unseen and your struggle is not wasted.
So, if your life feels out of balance, do not give in to despair or assume it is only weakness. You may simply be out of alignment, or you may be engaged in a battle. Either way, do not quit or withdraw. Do not retreat or surrender. Do not accept disorder as your destiny.
Instead, return to God. Put Him first again and make a stand. Quiet your soul, strengthen your inner life and take that next step. Trust that the God who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. Remember, balance is not found in controlling everything but surrendering to the One who already does.

As we conclude today's message, I hope and pray that the Lord touches your heart and life with His love and revelations. May the Lord bless and keep you today and every day as you journey through life with Him.

If you have not been saved or are unsure if you have been “Born Again” please follow this link: Salvation

As always, I invite you to share your walk, discoveries, and testimonies with me. If you have a question that you would like scriptural answers to; Email me at [email protected]

THE URGENCY OF SALVATION
Rev. Jason Hill

The Decision Before You Now
I would like for you to take a moment; set aside distraction and assumption. Set aside the idea that this is just another message. I want to ask you a question: If you were to die today, right now, do you know where you will spend eternity?
Most people find it difficult to even consider dying right now let alone where they will spend eternity. But there is an undeniable truth that I want to share with you that must be stated as clearly, directly, and without compromise as I can possibly do it.
If you were to leave this world today, and you have not received Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will spend eternity separated from God; permanently banished to the pit of Hell.
Scripture has made this very clear. It is not an exaggeration or a means to obtain some kind of control. It is a simple reality that contains zero wiggle room.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Now, you may not like hearing that. You may feel resistance rise up inside of you. You may want to dismiss it, ignore it, or push it away. But know this; truth is not altered by our response to it.
There is no second opportunity beyond this life. There is no revision after death. What you decide here carries into eternity. You can reject it, but you cannot change it. You can deny it, but you cannot escape it.
This is a hard and uncomfortable truth indeed.
Yet this message is not rooted in condemnation but in love. The same God who speaks truth and who will pass judgment, is also the same God who extends His grace and mercy. He does not desire your separation but your salvation.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
This includes you.
Not the version of you that has it all together; but as you are right now. Your past does not disqualify you. Your failures do not remove you. Your sin does not place you beyond reach. God has already made a way specifically for you. Not through effort, but through a person.
Jesus Christ.
From the very beginning, God knew that humanity could not save itself. No amount of goodness could erase sin, and no amount of effort could satisfy righteousness.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Notice this verse does not say “some” it says “ALL”. And the consequence is clear:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Notice the contrast, wages versus gift.
Wages are earned. Therefore, because of the sin in our lives both physically and spiritually, we have earned the judgment of God in eternal death.
But a gift is received and not earned.
You cannot purchase your way, nor work your way into heaven. You cannot ever be “good” enough to earn heaven. If it could be earned, then the cross would not have been necessary.
But the cross was necessary because on that cross, Jesus took your place in judgment. He bore your sin. He carried your guilt. And He paid your debt. When He declared “It is finished,” He meant that everything required for your salvation had already been completed. Nothing needed to be added.
Jesus plus nothing equals everything!
We see this truth so powerfully in one specific moment. In Luke 23, a criminal hangs beside Jesus. He has no time to fix his life. No opportunity to prove himself. No “works” to offer. All he has is a moment of faith.
He says: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus responds: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
That man on the cross brought nothing but faith and faith was enough. This is the power of grace. There was no “quid pro quo” or bargaining. No performance or purchase. Just simple belief that Jesus is Lord and Savior and that man was granted eternal life with God in heaven.
What was available to that criminal at that moment is available to you right now. And just as that man had a limited window of time to decide, you do too.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Do not wait until later. Do not wait until life settles down. Do not wait until you feel more ready. Tomorrow is not promised. You are closer to eternity in this very moment that you have ever been before, and you are closer to salvation right now that you may ever be again.
Come to Jesus NOW. Place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and avail yourself of the free and eternal gift of life which He has promised.
I am not asking you to merely believe He existed or whether you agree with His teachings. I am asking you to trust Him; fully, personally, and completely; as your Savior.
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
This is the moment where everything changes for you. Not by your work or effort. Not by striving or purchasing. But by surrender and by faith. Right now, wherever you are; this is your moment. Do not let it pass.
If you feel conviction in your heart, that is the Spirit of God drawing you. Respond. Surrender. Come to Christ.
Pray this from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I cannot save myself. I believe You died for me and rose again. I place my trust in You alone. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me new. I receive You as my Savior and my Lord. From this day forward, I belong to You. In Your Name I pray. Amen.”
If you prayed that with sincerity, the Word of God declares that you are now saved! Your past is forgiven, your future is secured, and your eternity has changed.
But if you have not made that decision, hear this one final time.
Do Not Wait! The door is open, but it will not be open forever. The invitation has been extended, but it must be received. The day is today. The time is now. Come to Christ, and live.

As we conclude today's message, I hope and pray that the Lord touches your heart and life with His love and revelations. May the Lord bless and keep you today and every day as you journey through life with Him.

If you have not been saved or are unsure if you have been “Born Again” please follow this link: Salvation

As always, I invite you to share your walk, discoveries, and testimonies with me. If you have a question that you would like scriptural answers to; Email me at [email protected]

THE CROSS WRITTEN IN ADVANCE
Rev. Jason Hill

Setting the Scene
The hour had come.
Jesus of Nazareth; betrayed, beaten, mocked; was led outside the city walls. A crown of thorns pressed into His brow, His back torn open from scourging, He carried the instrument of His own ex*****on until He could carry it no further. Nailed to a Roman cross, suspended between heaven and earth, He was displayed for all to see.
The crowds gathered, some grieving, some scoffing. Soldiers cast lots for His garments. Religious leaders mocked Him: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”
Darkness fell over the land.
And from the cross came a cry; “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
He breathed His last.
To many, it appeared to be the tragic end of a failed Messiah. The hope of many seemed to vanish as quickly as His final words passed His lips “It is finished”.
But what if they had known that this moment was not the collapse of hope, but the unveiling of something prophesied and written long before?
Before we continue, please pause and read Psalm 22 in its entirety. Read it slowly. Let the words speak.

The Unveiling Begins
What you have just read in Psalm 22 was written generations before Rome even became a world power. Long before crucifixion was practiced, and long before the nails pierced His hands and feet. The hill outside of Jerusalem had not even become known as Golgotha.
Yet the Psalm opens with the very words Jesus cried from the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
This is not coincidence. This is revelation

Details Too Precise to Ignore
Psalm 22 describes a man surrounded by mocking enemies and people shaking their heads and hurling insults. It speaks of him suffering with his bones out of joint and his strength dried up. His hands and feet were pierced and his garments divided by casting lots.
This is not some vague poetry but instead it is a portrait that aligns with the crucifixion in precise detail. This was not a description of failure, defeat, or interruption to God’s overall plan; It was the fulfillment of it.

From Suffering to Sovereignty
We notice however that the Psalm does not end in despair. It turns from anguish to assurance and from suffering to proclamation.
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord…”
What begins as a cry of abandonment ends as a declaration of victory. Jesus carried the weight of all the sins of the world with Him on that cross. This was not merely an ex*****on of a man, but a substitution. A judgment of death, previously intended for us, was carried out on the back of Jesus. This is a revelation of redemption.
What appeared to be defeat was, in truth, divine purpose being fulfilled before the eyes of the world.

Why Does This Matter
If Psalm 22 was written so long before the crucifixion, and if the crucifixion fulfills it so precisely, then we are not dealing with random history, but we are witnessing intentional design.
Foretold ages before Christ arrived on this earth. Necessary for the redemption of sin and to provide a substitute for the judgment meant for us, the suffering of Jesus Christ was by no means accidental.
The cross unveils both the depth of human sin and the magnitude of divine love.
We can no longer ask “What happened at the cross?” but should ask “What will I do with what has been revealed?”
The One who cried out in the Psalm entered into human suffering so that humanity might be brought into reconciliation with God.
Believe what has been revealed. Believe that the cross was not an accident, but an act of redemption. Believe that the suffering was purposeful, and that it was for you. Believe that the One who died is the fulfillment of what was written long before.
And then act.
Turn, Surrender, Trust, Follow. Let the unveiling lead to transformation. Because the cross does not simply reveal truth; it demands response.
The words were written long before the event unfolded. The meaning is now revealed. What was hidden has been made known. Will you see? Will you believe?

As we conclude today’s message I hope and pray that the Lord touches your heart and your life with his love and his revelations. Now may the Lord bless and keep you today and every day as you journey through life with him.
If you have not been saved or are unsure if you have been “Born Again” please follow this link: Salvation
As always, I invite you to share your walk, discoveries, and testimonies with me. If you have a question that you would like scriptural answers to; Email me at [email protected]