Be encourage with biblical encouragement and inspiration from Pastor Kevin Berry. Receive leadership tips to succeed in your work or daily life, follow along with daily devotionals, and receive practical steps to walk out your Christian life.
While I love this time of year, I know it can be hectic and stressful. The never-ending political ads that you just can’t seem to get away from are beyond annoying. A new friend I met recently is running for Lt. Governor of Indiana. He told me that politics comes from two words: poly, meaning many, and ticks, meaning blood-sucking parasites. When I got done laughing, I looked at my new friend and said, “Thank you for running for office! We need good, godly leaders in places of authority and influence.”
I want to encourage you to VOTE. I was shocked to discover that there are nearly 30 million Christians that do not vote! Why would that be? I know there are some who are convinced that as a citizen of Heaven, they have no business in elections. Listen, I know that our options sometimes make voting challenging. But as Christians, we are to be a light in this dark world. What does light do? It influences its surroundings. Let me address a very simple question: Why should Christians vote? What, if anything, do the Scriptures tell us about this practice of voting for our leaders?
“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare” (Jer. 29:7).
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior (Phil. 3:20).
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Cor. 5:20).
Israel would be living in a foreign land, Babylon, for 70 years. For years, they would be surrounded by ungodliness, idol worship, and immorality. But just because they were citizens of Israel did not mean they were not to care about Babylon. While there would be no voting in Babylon, they were to work for the peace and prosperity of that place. They were supposed to pray for it. They were supposed to work for the city’s welfare, which would significantly impact their lives.
So it is with Christians in America. I know our citizenship is in Heaven. But as long as we are on this earth, we are responsible for this world’s welfare, peace, and prosperity. I’m not obsessed with this world, but I care about it! How this world goes, the laws passed, and the policies pursued, will impact my life and yours.
We must PRAY for our city, state, and nation. As it is in Heaven, let it be on the earth! We should pray that God will give us leaders who will make decisions based on His plans. We should pray that God will bless our leaders and give them a heart to know Him! We should ask God to help our leaders.
We must VOTE as ambassadors of the heavenly kingdom of which we are citizens. We certainly can’t sit around and gripe about the moral decline in our nation when we are not willing to stand up for Biblical values through our votes. Allow the values of Heaven to direct you as you vote. An ambassador lives in a foreign land and experiences the tensions that come with that. Have you felt some of that tension lately? The primary responsibility of an ambassador is to accurately represent and advocate for their home country’s values and goals while abroad. We should ask, what values represent the King of Kings? What goals is He working toward? And how am I representing those values and goals in all that I do, including how I vote?
We must LOVE like Jesus. If we will represent Jesus well, we will love well. You don’t have to look farther than the next person in front of you to find someone who needs love and compassion. Election seasons are all too often known for high emotions and divisiveness. Let’s go out of our way to bring the love of Jesus into this season with every person we come in contact with.
Love and Prayers,
Pastor Kevin
Dear friend, I want you to know that Renee and I love you and are praying for you! We are thrilled that God added you to the Mount Hope Church family. It is our delight to pray for, love, and serve you.
I was reading the Bible the other morning when I ran across a passage that leaped off the page. It’s the answer for the person who feels stuck in life. It’s the answer to a nation that has gone astray. It was a specific word for Judah and a relevant word for America today. Here it is:
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’” – Jeremiah 6:16.
Maybe you have looked around at what is happening in our country and around the world, and it has grieved you. What are we to do? The Lord tells us precisely the critical steps we must take.
I want to encourage you, my brother and sister, to stop business as usual, stop going through the motions, stop being obsessed with the negativity around you, and stop and listen to the voice of the Lord. Ask the Lord for His perspective on the circumstances you are currently facing. What does the Lord have to say about your family, our community, and America? Just hearing one word from God can change everything for you.
What do you see happening around you? What has the Lord called you to do about it? I look around and see confusion, division, and intense hatred for Israel like I’ve never seen before in my lifetime. But I also see that God is raising up a remnant of prayer warriors in these last days. As you look around, I want you to take note of what is possible. Take note of not just what is but what could be. When you do this, faith will well up in you! That faith will prompt you to action.
I love this. Ask for the old, godly way of humility to be evident in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of reverence. Ask for the old, godly way of prayer to be active in your life. Ask for the old, godly way of honoring the Lord’s Words. Ask for the old godly way known for a deep, intimate relationship with God, what the Bible calls close fellowship or walking with God.
We must ask for the old, godly way and walk in it! Asking must be followed by action.
When it comes to our state and country, please pray and please take action. One of the actions you can take is to vote. The truth is a large percentage of Christians don’t vote every election year. I don’t know why that is, but it should not be. Elections have consequences. Be sure to make your voice heard.
As long as people are running for office, there will never be a perfect person to vote for. But you can vote with biblical values as your guide. Let’s do our part and ask for that old, godly way and then walk in it. The promise is that then there will be rest for your soul. I pray that for you and your family.
Would you join me in a prayer for the United States of America?
Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name to pray for Michigan and America. I’m asking for the old godly way! As your people who are called by your name, we humble ourselves before you, great King. We turn from our wicked ways. Forgive us for the injustice, murder, pride, arrogance, and perversion that has polluted this nation. May our hearts be right before you so that you will hear our cry, forgive us, and heal our land.
We are a nation in need of your healing touch! We are utterly broken and bankrupt apart from you. I ask that the fear of the Lord will fall on this land called America. May there be a holy respect for you, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. According to your word, give us hearts that long to know you more than anybody or anything—that you will be our God, and we will be your people! May there be a genuine spirit of humility and repentance across this land that will cause thousands to be swept into your Kingdom in these last days.
As it is in Heaven, let it be on the earth! As it is in Heaven, let it be in America! I ask for an invasion of your Kingdom—the King’s Domain—to come to this land. I declare the state of Michigan to be a healing zone, a divorce-free zone, a cancer-free zone for your honor and glory! I ask that you stretch out your hand with healing power over this nation and heal those who are hurt.
Father, you have a long history of waking kings in the middle of the night and putting in a leader’s heart what they should do. I ask that you wake up our leaders in the night season. I ask that you give them dreams and visions and put what they should do in their hearts. Cause our leaders to be delivered from wicked men. Heal our leaders where they hurt and give them peace. I pray that our leaders will have ears to hear you and a heart to obey so that our land may be healed.
Grant our leaders wisdom in all their decisions, specifically concerning our interaction with Israel. We know that those who bless Israel will be blessed! So, help us as a nation to always bless Israel. May we walk in the blessing that comes from blessing your people, Israel.
Father, surround this nation with a fiery wall of protection, and no weapon formed against this nation will prosper in the name of Jesus. You, Lord, be the glory inside this nation. Thank you for bringing healing to America for your honor and glory. Amen.
A few weeks ago, the Lord put a word in my heart that has everything to do with you! It was all about how your prayers are the link to somebody’s miracle! If you missed that message, please check it out at www.mounthopechurch.org/messages.
“The greatest thing anyone can do for God and for man is to pray. It is not the only thing; but it is the chief thing.” — S.D. Gordon
Peter was set free from prison and an impending death because somebody prayed (Acts 12:5). At the sound of God’s people praying, an angel suddenly appeared, chains fell off his wrists, gates opened wide, and Peter was free!
God could have set Peter free by Himself, but He has chosen to work through His children to release miracles on the earth. What if those believers who committed to praying for Peter never made that choice? What if they were just too distracted or just too busy? I guess God would go looking elsewhere and find a group of people who would say “yes” to become the link to Peter’s miracle.
We will not take the call to prayer seriously until our hearts begin to feel the prison and impending death sentence that people are facing right now. Sin and the effects of it are destroying people’s lives, locking them in prison, and throwing away the key. But we can pray! We can become the link to the miracle they desperately need and that the Lord deeply desires to bring their way.
There is no way around this fact: The earth is in a state of war, a spiritual conflict in which we have a part to play!
On the Sunday I shared this message, the church responded. It looked like 100% of the church said, “Yes, Pastor Kev, I will commit to praying and becoming the link to somebody’s miracle.” That’s amazing! THANK YOU! I know God is putting in people’s hearts to pray for certain people and specific places, until there is a breakthrough from Heaven. For every ditch you dig through prayer, God will fill it!
I see spontaneous prayer groups popping up all over the community. Some will meet to strategically pray in the Prayer Center. Others will gather in homes, workplaces, and schools, all as the Lord orchestrates. We need to give Him our “YES.”
If you feel called to gather with other Christians to pray, GO FOR IT! Please take a moment and fill out the form here. You may use the Prayer Center or decide to use the place you work or go to school. While I love the big prayer gatherings and see the day stadiums are filled for prayer and worship, I never have lost sight of the power of a few hungry hearts praying together! A few people committed to praying have always changed the face of the world.
From my heart, thank you! I can’t wait to see what happens in our community and the nations because of your prayers!
Your Friend and Pastor,
Kevin Berry
“In God We Trust” are the words I have seen all over Washington, DC. I saw those words over the Supreme Court building. Everywhere I looked, I could see signs of faith in America’s history.
“A nation which does not know what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do.” – President Woodrow Wilson
I see an ever-increasing hunger for the Word of God and the Presence of God in America again! Across this nation, I hear a praying Church asking for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit over this land. I see Christians representing Jesus and the Kingdom well by caring for the poor, orphans, and widows. We are becoming famous for our love. I keep hearing about miracles at Mount Hope, and these testimonies are contagious, igniting faith and hope in others.
The undeniable division in America and the sin that is running rampant tell me that America is ripe for another Great Awakening! Can you see the hope of where America can be? Can you see the day that prayer meetings start to pop up around the country and God answers the prayers of His people? We will see entire cities and counties come into a life-giving relationship with Jesus. It’s time for another Jesus Revolution!
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
Your Friend and Pastor,
Kevin Berry
I was talking to a dear friend and prayer partner on the phone recently. She told me that on a Sunday morning at Mount Hope Church, she remembers hearing a guest minister say, “Something big will loom over your life—your circumstances or the Word of God—and you get to decide.” It was so good, I wrote it down as she spoke.
What big thing are you allowing to loom over your life today? Is it the bigness of a situation you are currently facing? Or is it the bigness of the Word of God?
You may have heard of the time that Jesus told His disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake. But the journey to the other side of the lake came with a fierce storm that had the disciples saying something like, “Jesus, Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” What happened? Looking at their circumstances—the giant waves and the boat filling with water—they forgot the words of Jesus: “We are going to the other side” (Mark 4:35-38).
I encourage you to stay in your Bible! Don’t just read your Bible; let your Bible read you. Let the Word of God drive you to your knees in fervent prayer. May the Word of God lift you when you are down. May the Word of God that is active and alive carry you through to the other side. May the Word of God hover over your life today. Remember, one Word from God can change everything for you!
I invite you to join me as we continue reading through the Bible in One Year, and let’s read, talk, and encounter the power of God’s Word together!
Your Friend and Pastor,
Kevin Berry
Dear Friend,
We have experienced the horrible sting of evil in our community. It has been beyond heartbreaking to hear the stories, see the tears, and feel the pain in the hearts of so many.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
May the Lord be close to every hurting heart. May the Lord be close to MSU. May the Lord be close to those in our surrounding communities. May the Lord be close to YOU! Know this my friend, as the Lord draws close to you, He does so with one purpose in mind: to save you! To rescue you, to deliver you from distress, to come to your aid. He comes to be present with you, to help you!
When tragedy happens, if you are like me, you want to do something. But what can you do?
God hears the cries of our hearts, and He is famous for responding! It’s time for daring prayers. When our prayers cease to be daring, when they become tamed down, they are lacking. Here are prayer times you can participate during the week; 6:00am, 12:00pm, and 6:00pm in the Prayer Center and the Wednesday Night Prayer Gathering at 7:00pm.
Go to hurting people. God is close to the broken-
hearted, so we should be too. Be present—love, listen, and hug somebody. Join the teams bringing food to MSU dorm rooms and be close to those God is close to.
We must always give Him thanks, in the best of times and the worst of times. He is always worthy. Thanking God is a secret to experiencing His peace over your heart.
Love those nearest to you, check in on them. Even when you don’t know what to say, your presence speaks volumes.
Mostly, point people to Jesus. He is our only hope. He is our healer.
Your friend and Pastor,
Kevin
We are on the cusp of another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will result in a massive harvest such as the world has never seen. My eyes are fixed on Jesus and His soon return. But, as long as I’m still on this earth, I must be found busy about the Lord’s work. What is that? Part of the Lord’s work has always been caring for orphans, those who cannot defend themselves. This leads me to the current situations we face in America regarding abortion and the family.
Major victory was won for all who support life as the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade sends the issue back to the states. It’s important that we understand what abortion is, what God’s Word has to say, and our response as representatives of God’s family on the earth.
Abortion is being described as women’s healthcare, a woman’s reproductive right. Recently, I was approached by a man with a clipboard who asked me, “Do you believe in a woman’s reproductive rights?” I know where he was going with the question, and of course I believe in a woman’s right to reproduce, but that is vastly different than a right to kill a child. What is abortion? Abortion is the willful decision to terminate a pregnancy that results in a dead baby.
According to Alan Guttmacher Institute which is the research arm for Planned Parenthood, most abortions performed have nothing to do with a woman’s healthcare. Seventy-four percent of women said the child would interfere with their lives. Seventy-three percent said they could not afford a child. One percent were victims of incest or rape.
As a nation, we rejected the value of life, murdering 55-60 million babies in the pursuit of a more convenient life.
For years, those in favor of abortion have denied that life begins at conception and have attempted to dehumanize the baby. However, both the Bible and science say just the opposite. Dr. Jerome Lejeune, Professor of Fundamental Genetics, who is not a Christian, writes:
At two months of age, the human being is less than one thumb-length from head to rump. He would fit at ease in a nutshell, but everything is there, hands, feet, head, organs, brain. In the fourth week there is consciousness. All are in place. His heart has been beating for a month by the second month. His fingerprints can be detected, his heart is beating at 150 to 170 beats a minute. To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place, a new human being has come into being, is no longer a matter of opinion.
The Bible tells us that God is the Creator of every human life.
Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, “I’ve gotten a man, with God’s help.” – Genesis 4:1 MSG
You formed me with your hands; you made me… You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. – Job 10:8, 11
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. – Psalm 139:15-16
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5
This tells us that when a woman is pregnant, God is at work in her womb creating life! Inside that mama’s belly is not a mass, but a person created and known by God.
Family as God designed it has been brutally attacked. But God’s purpose for the family has not changed.
This September, we will start a new series on the family. We will look at the biblical roles of grandparents, fathers, mothers, and children, and discover the full potential of family as God designed it. This imperative study from the Word of God can unlock the full potential in every marriage; create healing for every wounded person; and equip every family to walk in a closer bond and love with each other.
Would you like to have a full, rich, life-giving marriage? Would you like to know how to be the spiritual leader of your home? Would you like your children and grandchildren to walk in their full potential, walking intimately with God? Would you like to discover your God-given role in your family? Then this one you will want to be part of! Mark your calendars now. I know this series on family is close to the heart of God and is one of the main themes of the entire Bible!
There is a crazy moment in the Scriptures. A prophet is sent by God to give a message to Israel. The Lord commands the prophet, “You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came” (1 Kings 13:9). The man of God spoke the message. He refused to eat food when it was offered. He obeyed completely until an old prophet caught up to the man and gave him a second word. The old prophet said,
“Come home with me and eat some food.” “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place.” But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him. So, they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home.
Then while they were sitting at the table, a command from the Lord came to the old prophet. He cried out to the man of God from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have disobeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.” After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him, and the man of God started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. – 1 Kings 13:15-24
Why would the old prophet lie? I don’t know. Here is what I do know: You must listen to the first word the Lord spoke to you. What has God spoken to you? What word of direction has God given you? I don’t care how impressive or compelling somebody seems to be to you; if their word contradicts the first word from the Lord, ignore them! There will always be a “second word,” another option, and when it presents itself to you, here is the question you want to ask yourself: What is the first word the Lord spoke to me concerning that matter? Stick with the first word.
You must familiarize yourself with the Word of the Lord, the Bible. The Bible is where we learn to hear the voice of the Lord. The Bible is where we get the truth. The Bible is how our faith grows. The Bible is the very foundation of Christianity. Hear my heart, the Bible is not a prophet’s idea. The Bible is not an apostle’s opinion on a matter. The Bible is the infallible, inspired, authoritative Word of God.
In a day when the truth is being twisted and pushed to the side as irrelevant, you must know the truth of God’s Word. Join me in reading through the One Year Bible for the rest of this year! I pray you have a wonderful summer as you read God’s Word and encounter the Living God who loves you deeply.
And remember, when it comes to making decisions, stick with the first word God gave you on the matter.
Your Friend and Pastor,
Kevin Berry
We began this year declaring it a year to BELIEVE BIG, a year that we are expecting More, Miracles, and Multiplication. I see the Lord moving in extraordinary ways among our children. Our children are having life changing God encounters every Sunday.
Every child is a miracle made by God, and every child is a miracle in the making. God, who made them in their mother’s womb, is relentless at making them look more like Jesus all throughout their lives. Will you join me in believing big for continued miracles in our children’s ministry?
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13
We are living in a critical time! The world around us reminds us that there is a war for our children’s souls taking place right now. Satan has always tried to snuff out the children—from Pharoah commanding Hebrew male children be killed, to Herod attempting to kill baby Jesus. Today, there is the abortion crisis and an overall indoctrination by this anti-God culture.
We must be more intentional than ever in our ministry to children and families. We must utilize every tool in our toolbox to equip our staff, innovate our approach to ministry, and, practically speaking, upgrade the physical space where our children come week in and week out to be shaped and equipped as strong followers of Christ.
We must be intentional about providing an atmosphere for children to have fun! Where kids may see a slide or game area, we see a space where children are building relationships that will shape their lives. Where some see technology or video equipment, we see creative ways to teach important lessons from the Bible. Some may see new paint and carpet; we see a safe space for small group ministry, learning through play, and a space that is made for miracles to happen in the lives of our children.
You will help make miracles happen in the lives of children by giving. Your giving is directly tied to shaping and equipping children to be disciples of Jesus who will grow and make disciples. It’s the miracle of being like Christ!
You are building the foundation for the next generation of world-changers. You are part of the Great Commission to make disciples. You are coming alongside parents to build strong families.
You are why a preschooler will know the name of Jesus; why a fifth-grader will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God before heading into middle school.
You are inspiring others to give. And you are launching forth thousands of new miracles. Your impact will ripple into the lives of families you know and ones you’ll never meet.
I’m asking you to do two things:
Together, we will make miracles happen—thank you!
Your Friend and Pastor,
Kevin Berry