The One Who Changed Everything

A Personal Reflection on Why I Follow Jesus

There is a name I carry not just on my lips, but in every fiber of my being:Jesus.

He’s not just a name in a book or a figure in history.He is my Savior, my Friend, my Hope, and the Light that found me when I was surrounded by darkness.

🌿 When I Was at My Lowest...

I’ve walked roads paved in sorrow, carrying invisible burdens that felt too heavy for my soul.I believed pain was permanent. I believed lies about my worth. I was exhausted from trying to be strong when all I felt was weak.

But when I whispered His name—Jesus—something inside me shifted.

It wasn’t the world around me that changed.It was the world within me.

He lifted the weight I thought I’d carry forever.He began healing the wounds I had hidden so long.And the lies that haunted me were drowned out by His gentle truth.

✨ He Walks With Me Still

Jesus never said the path would be easy.But He promised that I’d never walk it alone.

And somehow, in the middle of shared suffering and silent battles, He brings peace.His love is not something you work for—it’s something you receive.Freely.Fully.Faithfully.

Even when I doubted.Even when I ran.Even when I failed over and over again...

He stayed.He forgave.He restored.

💛 This Is Why I’ll Follow Him Forever

I’ve followed the world before—and it left me hollow.But following Jesus? That brought life.Not just survival, but real, soul-deep purpose.

He gave me peace the world couldn’t offer.He gave me a name before I even knew who I was.

So if you’re searching—If you’re tired of pretending you’re okay—If you’re wondering if there’s something more...

There is.

His name is Jesus, and He’s been waiting for you all along.

🙏 Dear Reader...

If this touched your heart, I invite you to pause and whisper His name.It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be honest.He already knows you.And He still chooses you.

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."— Matthew 11:28

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The Squeezing of an Olive

Growth is often romanticized as a graceful, effortless unfolding. But the truth is, growth is rarely gentle. It’s a process of being pressed, stretched, and shaped in ways that feel almost unbearable—like the squeezing of an olive to release its oil. And yet, it is in this pressing that the true essence of the olive, and of ourselves, is revealed.

I found myself in this pressing, a space where life seemed determined to crush every part of me that I thought I needed. Each trial bore down with relentless force—illness stripping me of my vitality, spiritual battles challenging my beliefs, and the weight of my past pressing against my future. At times, I felt as though I might break, unable to withstand the pressure. But the strange thing about this process is that it doesn’t destroy you; it transforms you.

As an olive is crushed under the weight of the press, its oil flows forth, pure and golden. This oil is not just a product of the process—it is its purpose. In the same way, I began to understand that the trials pressing against me were not random acts of suffering but deliberate acts of refinement. They were revealing something hidden deep within me, something that could only emerge through the intensity of the struggle.

The pressing was slow and deliberate, requiring patience I didn’t think I possessed. It wasn’t a single moment of pain but a continual process, wave after wave of pressure that forced me to confront parts of myself I would rather have ignored. My fears, my doubts, my attachments—they all surfaced, demanding to be acknowledged and released. It was as if the pressing was peeling away layers, stripping me of everything unnecessary so that what was essential could finally shine through.

This duality of pain and peace was striking. There were moments when the crushing felt unbearable, the weight too heavy to carry. But in those moments, there was also a strange sense of calm, a reminder that this process was not without purpose. Just as the oil of the olive is used for healing and anointing, the revelations that came through my pressing began to heal parts of me I hadn’t even realized were broken. They reminded me that my struggle was not just for myself but for something greater—a purpose that extended beyond my own healing.

As I reflected on this, I realized that the pressing was teaching me surrender. It wasn’t about resisting the pressure or trying to escape it but about allowing it to shape me, trusting that what emerged would be better than what was left behind. This surrender wasn’t easy—it felt like losing control, like giving up. But in reality, it was the most powerful act I could take, because it allowed the process to do its work.

Now, as I look back, I see the beauty in the crushing. I see how it revealed strength I didn’t know I had, how it connected me to a deeper understanding of myself and my purpose. The pressing wasn’t just about what it took away; it was about what it gave me. It gave me clarity, resilience, and a connection to something greater than myself. It gave me the courage to keep going, even when the weight felt too heavy.

In the end, the squeezing of the olive is not an act of destruction but of creation. It is a process of transformation, one that reminds us that within every trial lies the potential for something beautiful, something sacred. And as I continue on this journey, I hold onto that truth, knowing that even in the pressing, there is purpose.

Olive Press

"Closing the Door: The Power of Thoughts and Spiritual Authority"

Our thoughts are more than just passing ideas; they are spiritual transactions that shape our reality. What we dwell on, we empower. The enemy thrives on deception, using our own minds as a battleground to infiltrate our lives. If we continue entertaining falsehoods, fears, and doubts, we unknowingly open doors to spiritual forces that seek to keep us bound.

In this blog, we will explore how the enemy operates through our thoughts, how to take control of our minds, and how to close the door to spiritual oppression.

I. The Mind as a Spiritual Battleground

Not All Thoughts Come from God

The Bible warns us that not every thought we have originates from us or from God. Some thoughts are planted by the enemy, designed to pull us away from our faith, introduce fear, or distort our perception of reality.

Scripture Reference: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

This verse reminds us that anything that steals peace, kills faith, or destroys hope does not come from God. The enemy’s strategy is deception, and his primary battleground is the mind.

Thoughts Become Agreements

What we repeatedly think about becomes what we believe. When we agree with lies—such as "I am not good enough," "I will never be free," or "God has abandoned me"—we give those lies power over us. These falsehoods take root and begin to shape our emotions, actions, and spiritual walk.

The Enemy Operates Through Deception

Satan is called the "father of lies" (John 8:44). He cannot create, but he can distort.

Example from Scripture: In Genesis 3:1-6, Satan deceived Eve by twisting God’s words, making her question what God had said. The enemy still uses this tactic today—causing us to doubt God's truth and believe a false reality instead.

II. How the Enemy Gains Re-entry

Unchecked Thoughts Open Spiritual Doors

If we continue dwelling on lies, we create an opening for spiritual oppression. Jesus warned about the danger of failing to fill the void with truth:

Scripture Reference: “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” – Luke 11:24-26

This passage highlights that deliverance alone is not enough—we must fill our minds with God's Word and guard our thoughts so that the enemy cannot return.

The Danger of Entertaining Lies

When we entertain negative thoughts and emotions, we unknowingly allow the enemy to take root in our minds. This is why some people find themselves trapped in cycles of fear, anxiety, addiction, and hopelessness. The door remains open because they have not replaced deception with truth.

III. Closing the Door to the Enemy

Taking Every Thought Captive

Scripture Reference: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5

This means actively recognizing, rejecting, and replacing thoughts that do not align with God’s truth.

Steps to Guard the Mind:

1. Recognize where the thought is coming from.

2. Reject any thought that contradicts God’s Word.

3. Replace it with scripture and truth.

Renewing the Mind with God’s Word

Scripture Reference: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2

We must fill our minds with prayer, scripture, worship, and godly community to keep the enemy from regaining control.

Putting on the Full Armor of God

Scripture Reference: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” – Ephesians 6:11

• The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds from deception.

• The Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) is our weapon against lies.

IV. Walking in Freedom and Authority

Declaring God’s Truth Over Your Life

The lies of the enemy must be replaced with God’s promises:

• If the enemy says, “You are alone,” God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

• If the enemy says, “You will never change,” God says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Action Step: Speak scripture over your life daily. Declare victory over your thoughts and mind.

Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

Scripture Reference: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Surround yourself with believers who encourage and strengthen your faith.

Living in God’s Presence

Scripture Reference: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

The best defense against the enemy is a life fully submitted to Christ.

Conclusion: The Power of a Closed Door

Our thoughts determine the doors we open in the spiritual realm. If we want to walk in freedom, we must be intentional about guarding our minds.

Final Scripture: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

Call to Action:

• Identify the thoughts that have been holding you in bondage.

• Repent and renounce any doors you have unknowingly opened.

• Declare God’s Word over your life daily.

• Commit to filling your mind with truth, worship, and prayer.

Closing Prayer: "Lord, we come before You acknowledging that our minds are a battlefield. We repent for any thoughts we have entertained that do not align with Your truth. We reject every lie of the enemy and replace it with Your Word. Strengthen us to take every thought captive and walk in the freedom You have given us through Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen."

By guarding our minds and standing firm in the truth, we can live in spiritual victory. Are you ready to close the door and take back authority over your thoughts?