I recommend this book because when I read it, it changed the way I think. I wanted to read books from other like-minded authors who would challenge my thinking so that I could develop how to think like them. I wanted to live in the land of great expectation.

Admittedly, when I first started reading books, I did not know who I could trust, and I didn’t want to invest in reading a book where I thought that the author might steer me in the wrong direction.

At first, I had no idea where to start, or who to trust. So, I started looking for books that were recommended by the few authors I had read and had learned to trust. Through that process, I found my library of trusted authors grow.

I remember coming across the teachings of Bill Johnson and was blown away by the depth of insight, understanding and power that he walked in. I wanted that. So I started reading his book, “When Heaven Invades Earth“. Then I read it again, and then a third time. I then started reading books by others in the Bethel community, like Kris Vallotton, Heidi Baker, Danny Silk, Steve Backlund, and others.

I specifically remember looking for a source of book reviews by people who thought like Bill Johnson taught, and I couldn’t find anything. My hope is that the book reviews you find here on this site will help you in your journey as you allow the Holy Spirit to develop the way you think and grow.

Today’s culture has poisoned the minds of men, convincing them that by worshiping, they are less than a “real man.” How foolish. Men were designed to worship. God ordained it that way. It’s a lie from the enemy that says worship makes you weak; instead, it’s the ultimate expression of strength, because only a real man can bow his heart to the Creator and still stand tall.

Worship is the right posture for any man who loves God and wants to lead his family. A man who vigorously worships the Lord with his whole heart is to be honored, because he leads by example. His kids see a father who humbles himself before God, and his wife sees a husband who puts the Lord first, establishing what a real man looks like, in the home.

Pride says, “Look at me.” This was the posture the devil took, and he got himself, along with a third of the angels, thrown out of heaven, because they worshiped Lucifer. It takes a real man to stand in humility before the Father. Anybody can say, “Look at me.” That’s so easy, anybody can do that. It’s the real man, who stands distinguished before the Lord and wholeheartedly worships Him. Not for show, but to celebrate Him. Real men worship. Pride builds nothing but walls, but worship builds a legacy for generations to come, showing others what it means to live for Him.

Worship is Absolutely Necessary

As a believer, worship is not optional. I’m definitely not being legalistic here, but let me speak to the legalistic mindset that says, “Well, I don’t really have to worship. I can worship when I feel like it.” But worshiping is not about you. It’s about Him. It’s getting broken before God and staying that way. When one truly humbles himself and worships the Lord with all of his heart, transformation takes place. There are so many benefits to developing a lifestyle of worship, here are just a few. Worship isn’t a box to check; it’s the air your soul breathes, connecting you to the Lord’s heart and opening the door for Him to move in your life in ways you can’t imagine.

If you are not in the habit of worshiping, start today. You don’t need anything other than humility. This is how God designed you, and when you function as designed, all the pieces fit. When you wake up in the morning, tell Him that He is awesome, full of joy and encouragement. Later, tell Him how worthy He is or what a caring Father He is. Watch how this simple act of worship shifts your focus.

Worshiping God Ushers in His Presence

In a moment, it ushers in His presence. Having a rough day? Take a moment to worship. It’s the recognition of His Lordship in your life, and submission to His Lordship. People talk about wanting to experience His presence all the time, and yet they don’t enter into worship. You determine if you want to experience His presence, not Him. That is entirely your responsibility. When you lift your voice or bow your heart, it’s like opening a window to let His Spirit rush in, refreshing your soul, and aligning your focus.

Moreover, you don’t have to wait until you gather together with other believers and get the band to play your favorite worship song. You can do it right now, in the present, without any music. In fact, if you make it a point to worship in private, you will find that those times of corporate worship are so much more exhilarating, exciting, and celebratory when you take the time to worship the Lord on your own, outside of the corporate setting. Private worship builds a foundation that makes Sunday mornings explode with joy, because you’ve already been meeting with God all week long.

Worshiping God Aligns Your Heart with His

When your heart is in alignment with His heart, you can walk in His presence. It is so much easier to make this a way of living when you purpose in your heart to worship the Lord throughout the day. This way of living defines what a “Believer” looks like. Celebrating who the Lord is, no longer becomes a Sunday experience, but an everyday posture. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day demonstrates to the Lord that your heart is in alignment with His. Alignment means your decisions, your words, and your actions start to reflect His heart, making you a light to your family, friends, and even strangers.

Worshiping God Changes You from the Inside Out

There is always room to grow and mature in your relationship with the Lord, and that should be every man’s desire, to become more like Him. Worship is an act of humility, which is required for transformation to take place in your heart. It is the foundation needed for the Lord to work on your heart. It’s like letting God reshape the clay of your soul, smoothing out the rough edges and forming you into the man He created you to be.

If your life is a mess, worship the Lord. Worship brings healing and restoration to your soul because it moves your soul into alignment with God. When your heart is in alignment with God, He will give rest to your soul (see Matthew 11:28-29). Worship takes the chaos inside—anger, fear, or failure—and trades it for His peace, rebuilding you into a man who carries His strength.

I pray-worship all the time. “Pray-worship” is when you speak words of adoration to the Lord throughout the day. It might be when you are driving your car, or while in the supermarket, or when you get up from your desk at work on your way to the restroom. It usually is short and to the point. I do this throughout the day because I need to keep my heart in alignment with His. There is too much going on in our lives each day not to worship Him throughout the day. These quick moments of pray-worship are like anchors, keeping your heart steady no matter what storms come your way.

I encourage you to pray-worship throughout the day for two weeks, and then look back and see if, in fact, you are not a different person. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day will absolutely strengthen your relationship with Him, and as His son, you’ll find that you look a lot more like Him. You’ll notice your heart softening, your patience growing, and your faith deepening, because worship keeps you connected to the Father who made you for this purpose.

Scripture unveils the Father’s heart, and Bill Johnson’s Release the Power of Jesus grabs that truth and runs with it. Johnson writes with a fire to show how your words can carry God’s life. He anchors the book in Revelation 19:10, where the testimony of Jesus sparks prophecy. When you share what the Father has done, you plant seeds of faith that release His power. Have you ever considered how your story could shift someone’s heart toward the Father?

Johnson’s core message is clear: your testimony isn’t just a story; it’s a tool to release heaven’s life. He urges you to stay close to the Father’s heart, letting your words flow from His Presence. This isn’t about chasing miracles to impress; it’s about speaking what God has done to point others to Him. The book pulses with urgency, calling you to live with boldness, trusting the Father to work through your voice.

The strength of Johnson’s writing lies in his vivid stories. He shares examples from Bethel’s ministry—people healed, lives restored—showing how simple words, rooted in faith, can change everything. His style is conversational, like a pastor talking over coffee, yet it carries a weight that stirs your soul. He draws from scriptures like Matthew 10, where Jesus sends His disciples to heal and restore, to show that you’re called to do the same. It’s a reminder that your voice can carry the Father’s power.

Johnson doesn’t shy away from challenges. He warns that doubt or fear can silence your testimony, pulling you from the Father’s truth. Instead of giving in, he calls you to focus on what God has spoken, letting His Word shape your words. This resonates deeply, pushing you to trust the Father’s heart even when life feels heavy. Have you ever paused to consider how speaking His truth could break through your own struggles?

The book shines brightest when it talks about legacy. Johnson writes that your testimony plants seeds for generations, not just for today. When you share how the Father moved, you invite others to expect His life. He grounds this in stories of revival, where one person’s words sparked faith in countless hearts. It’s a call to see every conversation as a chance to release the Father’s hope.

Johnson also emphasizes abiding in the Father’s Presence. He shows how Jesus, in John 5:19, spoke only what He saw the Father doing, and you’re invited to do the same. Your words, when rooted in His heart, become tools to restore broken lives. This focus on staying close to the Father makes the book a powerful guide for anyone wanting to live with impact.

If you’re ready to let your words release the Father’s life, Release the Power of Jesus is for you. Johnson’s call to share your testimony with boldness will stir your heart, reminding you that you’re entrusted with a voice that can shift lives. Pick up this book, and let it inspire you to speak what the Father has done, trusting Him to move through you.

Why I Recommend This Book

Author: Bill Johnson
Release Date: April 28, 2024
Pages: 141
Publisher: Destiny Image Publishers
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Bill Johnson is the Senior Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California, and a renowned author and speaker known for his passionate teachings on the supernatural and the presence of God. With over four decades of pastoral experience, Bill Johnson has authored several influential books. His ministry emphasizes the importance of experiencing God’s goodness and power in everyday life, encouraging believers to pursue a deeper relationship with God. Through his writing, conferences, and leadership, Bill Johnson continues to inspire and equip Christians worldwide to live a life full of faith and the miraculous.

Dr. Geoff Wattoff’s Restoring the Soul: Living Free from the Wounds and Hurts of Life speaks directly to the heart, offering a path for those weighed down by past wounds. Wattoff, a man who journeyed from a Jewish upbringing to a life changed by Jesus, writes with a pastor’s warmth and an engineer’s precision. His core message is clear and powerful: Jesus came to set us free from the deep hurts that bind our souls. The book invites readers to embrace that freedom, to let the Father’s heart heal what is broken and restore what has been lost.

Wattoff begins by describing the human soul, bruised by life’s pains such as abuse or rejection. He addresses the raw reality of suffering, showing how it settles into our hearts like seeds in dark soil. I found myself agreeing as he shared stories of people who manage their pain but never truly live free. Have you ever felt like you are just surviving, carrying a hurt you cannot name? Wattoff points to Galatians 5:1, reminding us that Christ set us free for freedom. This is not just a verse; it is a promise that the Father’s heart is always working to bring us into a life unburdened.

The book’s strength is its practical, biblical steps. Wattoff guides readers to identify wounds like unforgiveness or shame that block our true identity in Christ. He shares a story of a woman who found freedom from bitterness by praying with a trusted friend. That picture stayed with me, a soul stepping into open air. Wattoff’s approach avoids quick fixes; he encourages leaning into the Holy Spirit to touch the heart’s deepest parts. The process leads to life.

One chapter that resonated was about the lies we believe about ourselves. Wattoff explains how the enemy plants seeds of doubt, telling us we are unworthy or broken beyond repair. He counters with the truth of our identity in Christ, using Psalm 139 to show the Father’s intimate knowledge of us. Have you ever wondered if the Father sees the real you, the one hiding behind the hurt? Wattoff’s words gently urge trust in the Father’s heart, which always calls us back to our true identity.

Some parts of the book feel slightly clinical due to Wattoff’s engineering background, like a blueprint rather than a warm embrace. Some readers might want more emotional storytelling to connect with the heart. However, his clarity is a gift, making complex ideas accessible. He never leaves readers feeling stuck; every chapter points to the Father’s promise to restore what is lost.

Wattoff’s personal journey adds depth to his words. He shares how his encounter with Jesus shifted his life from striving to rest. This is not just theory; it is his reality. He has ministered to many, helping them find freedom through prayer and truth. His stories of changed lives, like a man who overcame anger through forgiveness, show what is possible when we follow the Father’s heart. No wound is too deep for the Father to heal.

Restoring the Soul is for anyone longing to break free from the past and live the life Jesus promised. It is practical, biblical, and full of hope, urging readers to trust the Father’s heart to make them whole. Wattoff’s message is a lifeline for the broken, showing that freedom is the Father’s desire for every soul. This book will leave you ready to walk lighter, with a heart open to the life and hope only the Father can give.

Why I Recommend This Book

Author: Geoff Wattoff
Release Date: April 24, 2023
Pages: 212
Publisher: Timothy Publishing
ISBN: 978-1940931241
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Geoff Wattoff is a respected author, speaker, and counselor dedicated to helping individuals find emotional and spiritual healing. With a background in psychology and theology, Wattoff combines his academic expertise with a deep passion for ministry, offering a unique perspective on inner healing and restoration. He has spent years working with people from diverse backgrounds, guiding them through their pain and helping them discover the transformative power of a Christ-centered life. Through his books, seminars, and personal counseling sessions, Wattoff has touched countless lives, providing hope and practical tools for living free from the wounds and hurts of life.

John C. Maxwell and Rob Hoskins’ Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make a Difference speaks to the heart of those longing to bring hope to a broken world. The authors, seasoned leaders who have transformed countless lives through their organizations, deliver a clear message: every soul can spark change, no matter their position or resources. Their words are a call to action, rooted in the belief that small, intentional steps can plant seeds of transformation in the world around us.

The book’s core is built on four principles: value people, add value to people, live positive values, and share positive values. Maxwell and Hoskins weave stories of ordinary individuals who changed their surroundings. One story tells of a young woman in Guatemala who gained confidence through a “transformation table,” a small group focused on living out good values. Her newfound courage led her to take a better job and lift others in her village. This shows how the Father’s heart works through simple acts to bring life where despair once stood.

Maxwell and Hoskins emphasize that change begins with the heart. They draw on biblical truth, like Matthew 5:16, which calls us to let our light shine so others see the Father’s goodness. The authors describe eight streams of influence, such as education and business, where anyone can make a difference by living out values like generosity and integrity. Their “transformation tables” concept is practical, encouraging readers to gather with others to learn and apply these values. It is a reminder that the Father’s heart moves through collaboration, not lone efforts.

The book’s strength lies in its real-world examples. The authors share how their organizations, EQUIP and OneHope, have touched millions by teaching values that align with the Father’s truth. A story of a man in Mexico who forgave his brother’s murderer after years of bitterness shows how choosing forgiveness can break cycles of pain. These stories make the book’s message tangible: change is not about grand gestures but about consistent, value-driven actions that reflect the Father’s heart.

Some parts of the book feel repetitive, with concepts like transformation tables revisited often. This can make the message feel stretched at times, as if the authors are reinforcing the same point too heavily. However, their conversational tone keeps it engaging, like a trusted friend sharing hard-earned wisdom. The repetition serves to drive home the truth that anyone can start where they are, with what they have, to bring hope.

Maxwell and Hoskins address the brokenness of the world, such as poverty and fractured relationships. They argue that institutions alone cannot fix these; it is up to individuals to act. Their stories of transformed communities show that when people live out the Father’s values, they become catalysts for hope. A young boy’s simple act of kindness, inspired by a transformation table, sparked a ripple effect in his school. This illustrates how the Father’s heart multiplies small seeds into abundant life.

The authors’ experience adds weight to their words. Maxwell, a leadership expert, and Hoskins, a global development leader, have spent decades equipping others to live with purpose. Their book is not just theory; it is a roadmap tested by real lives changed. They provide tools, like online resources at ChangeYourWorld.com, to help readers start their own transformation tables. This practicality makes the book a guide for anyone ready to move from despair to action.

Change Your World is a hopeful, practical call to live out the Father’s heart by valuing people and planting seeds of positive change. Maxwell and Hoskins show that transformation is not reserved for the powerful but is within reach for every soul willing to act. The book leaves readers equipped to make a difference, trusting that the Father’s truth can turn small steps into a harvest of hope and life.

Why I Recommend This Book

Author: John C. Maxwell
Release Date: January 26, 2021
Pages: 240
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-1400222315
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John C. Maxwell is a renowned leadership expert, speaker, and author, widely recognized for his extensive contributions to the field of personal and organizational development. With over 30 million books sold, including bestsellers like “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” and “Developing the Leader Within You,” Maxwell has profoundly impacted leaders worldwide. He is the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, and EQUIP, a nonprofit organization that has trained millions of leaders across various sectors. Maxwell’s practical wisdom and engaging teaching style make him a sought-after speaker and consultant, helping individuals and organizations achieve their highest potential.

When one serves, it has an impact on the one being served, but how does one create a lasting impact on those they serve? This question drives us to serve with purpose, aligning our actions with God’s heart to leave a legacy of love.

When you express God’s love in a practical way, you enter into a partnership with the Spirit of God Himself. This selfless act of service literally attracts the Holy Spirit. In effect, your act of kindness invites the Holy Spirit to revive, refresh, and rejuvenate their soul. This is the secret to serving for maximum impact. It’s not just about the act, but about inviting God’s presence to work through you, touching lives in ways only He can.

Your service should carry a tender touch that flows from a heart full of compassion, reflecting God’s gentle love. As you serve with the Father’s love, the Spirit of God breathes life into the individual you are serving. This gentle touch reflects God’s heart, making your service a conduit for His healing and restoration.

Partnering with the Holy Spirit

Remember, it’s not about you; it’s all about partnering with the Holy Spirit and honoring the Father. When you serve selflessly, you invite the Holy Spirit to serve alongside you. When the Holy Spirit partners with you in service, the impact that He leaves on the one served is powerful and will be life-changing.
When serving, your objective should be to partner with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to partner with you. It is when you choose to clothe yourself in humility that His Presence will rush in and minister to the soul of the one being served.

Below are 8 powerful ways in which you can partner with the Holy Spirit to have a lasting impact on those you serve.

1) Find a Mom at Checkout, and Offer to Help Her Put Her Groceries in Her Car

Usually, a Mom who has just finished grocery shopping with her kids in the cart is tired and probably frustrated. She simply wants to get the kids in the car and make her way home. By helping her get her groceries to the car for her, you help alleviate the stress that she is feeling, and your act of kindness will not be forgotten.

Remember, your purpose is to give, not get. Don’t use this as an opportunity to “witness” to her. Simply demonstrate the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit minister to her. Sorry, guys, but this one is only for Women. Assuming that it is a Mom grocery shopping with her kids, only a woman can minister in this capacity (or a husband and wife could). The reason for this is that you don’t want the “Mom” to think that you are hitting on her, or that you want anything in return for your act of kindness. In this case, Women should minister to Women, and men should minister to men.

2) Have “Papa John’s” or “Domino’s Pizza” Delivered

Order pizza and have it delivered to your next door neighbor for dinner. Be sure that all expenses are paid for (including the tip), prior to delivery. If they usually get home from work at 5:30 p.m., ensure that the pizza is delivered at 5:45 p.m. You may even want to put a Post-it note on their door that reads,

“Dinner is on me tonight. I just wanted to express God’s love in a practical way. Your pizza will arrive at 5:45 p.m., everything has already been paid for and taken care of, even the tip. Enjoy!”.

Just be certain that you do not sign your name, or let them know who did this for them. Remember, you are expressing God’s love in a practical way. If you remain anonymous and unnamed, the Lord receives ALL of the glory. The moment you are identified in any way with this act of kindness, you rob the Father of the glory and take it as your own.

3) Engage in Conversation for the Purpose of Listening

All too often, we engage in conversation so that we can convey our opinion. Be honest, when was the last time that you engaged in conversation with no hope or expectation of being heard? Genuinely listening to someone speaks volumes. It shows that you really care about them. You don’t need to “counsel”, just listen.

I can’t over-emphasize just how important it is to listen. Don’t speak. Let the Holy Spirit speak. You just need to sit there and listen with an empathizing ear. The Holy Spirit is the great Counselor. He knows what questions to ask them, and His questions will always address the heart of the issue.

4) Shovel Your Neighbor’s Driveway Before They Wake Up

A snow blizzard presents a tremendous opportunity for you to leave a huge impact on your neighbor. I can tell you firsthand that there is no greater joy than to wake up after a snow blizzard, only to find that your driveway is completely snow-free.

This really works best if you, or your neighbor, already has a snow-blower that you use to blow out your driveway. The reason for this is because the owner of the house whose driveway you are clearing will think that you are clearing out your driveway, and not theirs.

A few years ago, we were hit with about 30 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. We were snowed in. Everybody was snowed in for a week. Unbeknownst to my wife and me, early in the morning, while we were still asleep, the neighbor across the street used his snow-blower to remove all the snow from our driveway. It must have taken him at least an hour to do, and when I woke up that morning to start the process of shoveling out our driveway with a literal snow-shovel, boy was I surprised to find that it was already done. I was blown away.

Acts of kindness like this leave lasting impressions, but when carried out with the love of the Father, that’s where real impressions are made. The Father will take what you have done and minister in ways that you can’t fathom, because you don’t know what the issues of the heart are, but the Father does.

5) Use a Leaf Blower on Your Neighbor’s Lawn While They Are Not Home

Raking leaves takes forever, and is probably of the devil. OK, I’m kidding about the devil part, but it does take forever. Each year, you have a big opportunity to minister to the neighbor who has the most leaves all over their lawn. Or, perhaps you may want to do this for an elderly couple who can’t rake leaves, or would find it incredibly difficult to do.

As is the case in shoveling snow, you don’t want any credit for this act of service. You will need to take steps to ensure that you don’t receive any credit for this generous act of kindness.

If you are not able to get the job done yourself, gather a team of people to help you so that you can get the job done quickly. You may want to ask your youth pastor if he can assemble a team of teenagers who understand and value the idea of serving selflessly, without being noticed.

If you don’t have a leaf blower, rent one, or rent a couple of them. Just be sure to use the leaf-blowers when the owner of the house is not home.

If you assemble a team, think of it as a “SWAT team”, that completes the job with surgical precision. If the owner of the house does come home early, the team that you have assembled can “run” out of sight and assemble at a pre-determined location. When you finish the job, take the “SWAT team” out for pizza and ice cream.

6) Write a Hand-written Letter of Encouragement

When was the last time that you received a handwritten letter? I bet it has been years, if not decades. Today, when a letter is written, it is written on a computer and sent via email. If one were to actually write a letter and send it to somebody in the mail, they would almost certainly print it out from their computer. Nobody sends handwritten letters to people today.

Just after my wife and I had gotten married, we were looking for a church that we could call our own. We did not want to be “church hoppers,” and decided that we were going to choose three churches to attend before making the commitment to attend that church for one full year. Of the three churches that we attended, one of them sent us a handwritten letter thanking us for attending service that Sunday. It was written by and signed by the Pastor, himself. Guess which church we decided to make our home church?

That one handwritten letter was the determining factor in our commitment to serve in that church body for the next couple of years as we made our way through college. We invested a lot of time and energy into that church body, and still have friends from that congregation some 25+ years later. All that happened because one pastor decided to take three minutes of his day and send us a handwritten letter in the mail.

When you write a letter to somebody, make certain that you are not preaching at them, but rather encourage them. Every paragraph that you write should be written in such a way that they find encouragement in what they read. Don’t be fake about it. Be genuine. If you do this, it will certainly have a very lasting impact on them.

7) Expressing Kindness in the Simple Things

You can leave a lasting impact on somebody by doing the simplest of things. For example, smiling while opening the door and holding it open for somebody on your way into your local convenience store or Dunkin’ Donuts each morning on the way to work.

Looking for opportunities to assist someone is another small thing that you can do that will have a lasting impact. For example, picking something up off the floor that somebody just dropped.

Your kindness should shine through small acts that carry the weight of God’s love, leaving a mark on hearts through humble service.

Carrying out simple and small kind acts of service will almost certainly have a greater effect on you than it will on the recipient of your kind deed. If you make it a habit to look for opportunities to show small kind acts of service to people, it will help you maintain an attitude of servanthood.

Just like listening to worship music helps one maintain an attitude of worship throughout the day, so too, simple small acts of service help develop and maintain the attitude of a servant in your heart.

8) Pick Up the Dog Poop in Your Neighbor’s Yard

Anyone who has a dog and a yard, has dog poop in their yard. It may not be a lot, (or it might be), but I promise you, they have dog poop in their yard.

The last thing a dog owner wants to do, is pick up the dog poop in their yard. This is where you come in. You can really minister to someone by picking up the dog poop in their yard.

This particular act of service can be embarrassing for the recipient, and it is very important that you do not let them know that you are doing this for them. You definitely want to make sure that they are not home when you do this and that they will not return while you are doing this, as it will be very embarrassing for them if they see you picking up the poop in their yard.

You want to keep it a secret. In other words, you do not want them to find out that you picked up the poop in their yard**, ever.** Additionally, you don’t want their neighbors to find out that you picked up the poop in their yard because if they find out, it will get back to the dog owner.

Remember, it’s not about you. Don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. For that matter, don’t let anybody know what you are doing. The Lord knows, and that’s all that matters.

Given that I have two medium sized dogs, I can tell you from personal experience that they poop a whole lot more than you think they do. You would be wise to bring a 5 pound bucket with you, and of course, be sure to wear disposable gloves. This almost goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Don’t leave the dog poop in their trash barrel. You need to bring it with you and dispose of it anywhere else, just not where the dog owner will be able to find it.

Closing Thoughts

I encourage you to be on the lookout for other opportunities to partner with the Holy Spirit. You will find that as you look for such opportunities, they arise all the time, every day. Remember, when you start serving others with love, you attract the Holy Spirit, who will then do the real ministering. The last thing you want to do is get in His way, or rob the person who is sharing with you, of the opportunity to be ministered to by the Holy Spirit.

When one serves, it has an impact on the one being served, but how does one create a lasting impact on those they serve? This question drives us to serve with purpose, aligning our actions with God’s heart to leave a legacy of love.

When you serve with love, the Lord uses that very act of service to minister directly to the soul, both yours and the one you are serving. Choosing to be mentored by a servant and absorbing everything you can on servanthood will spark growth in your heart. The true power of servanthood flows from investing time with the Father, producing fruit that transforms the lives of those you serve.

Make Sure Your Motives Are Right

In order to have maximum impact, never serve in the hope of getting something back in return. That is not serving. That is called selfish ambition. Don’t deceive yourself, that way of thinking is all about you, not others. If you are completely honest with yourself, and find that you hope that your act of service will return anything, stop serving. Your act of serving is just that, an act.

Selfish ambition creeps in like an actor overplaying their role to draw attention to themselves. The very moment selfish ambition plays a role in your act of service, is the moment when the Holy Spirit exits stage right. He does not play games or compromise. You either serve Him, or you serve yourself.

Why is it that Serving People Has Such a Powerful Impact?

Man is naturally selfish. Serving others is absolutely contrary to the nature of man. Think about it, do children naturally share their toys with their siblings or hoard them to themselves? As a parent of two children, I can tell you that they do not share their toys with each other, and I’m sure your kids don’t either. Why? Because by nature, children are self-centered. Selflessness is something that is learned. You are not born selfless, you are born self-centered.

Only after one has learned to embrace an other-centered mindset birthed out of love for the person you are serving, will the door to the heart of that individual fling open for the Holy Spirit to minister to. This is a Kingdom principle. When you express the love of the Father, it is going to have a positive effect. Like water being poured on fire changes the physical conditions, expressing the Father’s love while serving, has a spiritual impact on the one being served. A lot more could be said on this, but just know that the act of service carried out as an expression of the Father’s love, is the cause of the powerful impact, not you. Again, it’s not about you, but rather about embracing an other-centered way of thinking.

Serving with the Father’s love opens the heart of the one you serve, allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing and transformation.

Serving Without Love Does Not Help, and in Fact, May Have a Negative Impact
If you can’t serve with love for the person you are serving, don’t serve.

As I am sure you are aware, Paul wrote the following:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV):
If one does not serve with love, they may come across as annoying as a gong or clanging cymbal, and their “service” has no value. In fact, they may even become an annoyance to the one they are “serving”.

That annoyance may not be evident immediately, but the memory of the fake service can have lasting damage. Have you ever met someone who said, “I don’t attend church because those people were such hypocrites”? In the same way, one who does not serve from a heart of love is viewed as a hypocrite, and they will see right through you. You won’t fool anyone, especially the Father.

What follows in this article are tangible things you can implement today that will help you develop a servant mindset, so that you too, can pave a highway for the Holy Spirit to minister to the souls of those you serve.

Spend Time with the Father Every Day

Just before Jesus started his public ministry, he spent 40 days in the desert fasting. He spent every moment with the Father, gleaning, cherishing, developing intimacy. Communion with the Father was refined there. Note that it was after he spent this time with the Father that he said, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19 – ESV). There is much I could say about this passage alone, but the point is that you require intimacy with the Father to be an effective servant.

If you want to be a better servant, spend more time with the Father. Take a look at John the Baptist. I always wondered why Jesus said of him, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”. – Matthew 11:11 (ESV).

As a young believer, I used to think, “Really, what did John the Baptist ever aspire to? He’s the guy who ate locusts and honey. All he did was dunk people in water.” What was it that differentiated John the Baptist from others? He died to self as evidenced by his lifestyle in order to be intimate with the Father.

Investing time with the Father is like a farmer who plants seed in rich soil. It receives all the nutrients, water, and sunlight from the Father in order to produce a bountiful harvest. The more intimate you become with the Father, the more effective your acts of service will have on those you serve.

Find a True Servant to Mentor You

Servants serve. They don’t lead. When called upon to lead, they are not comfortable. Servants prefer to serve behind the scenes. So, when looking for a mentor, that is where you will find a genuine servant. The mentor you are looking for may be a High School janitor, or one who works in a soup kitchen to feed the homeless.

Don’t look up the ministry ladder to find a Servant Mentor. Look down. Reach out to the person who is always looking for people to serve, one who genuinely serves others. One who doesn’t talk about serving, but actually does it, all the time, without being asked.

Hang out with them, and serve with them. You don’t need to make a big deal about it, or even ask them, “Will you be my mentor?” They will probably feel very uncomfortable if you were to approach them with such a question. However, if you do as I am suggesting, you will learn so much from them as you serve together. Mind you, you won’t necessarily gain nuggets of wisdom from them. The Holy Spirit is the “nugget giver”. He will teach you all you need to know, as you serve alongside them.

Absorb Everything You Can on Servanthood

One of the big takeaways from the book, “As a Man Thinketh”, by James Allen, is that you become what you think about. If your goal is to become servant-minded, you will go to great lengths to absorb everything that encourages that way of thinking. Your heart will grow servant-minded by immersing yourself in stories and teachings about servanthood, shaping your thoughts to reflect a selfless spirit. Watching movies that are servant oriented will also have a big impact on your thinking. Your objective is to learn all you can about the heart of a servant, and this quest never ends.

Note that I didn’t say, absorb everything you can on “Servant Leadership”. Servants don’t lead. They serve. Servants don’t aspire to become leaders. They aspire to serve more. They look for ways to serve that will have a greater impact on the individual they are serving.

Be honest with yourself. If you want to be a leader, then pursue that. There is nothing wrong with becoming a leader, but do not engage in false-humility by serving in the hope of finding yourself in the spotlight. A true servant does not look to be in the spotlight, but rather looks for ways to give that honor to others. False humility is a stench in the nostrils of the Lord.

Find Someone to Serve Every Day

To develop a servant mentality, you have to actually serve people, every day. It is not enough to learn about serving by simply reading about it, or even being mentored by someone. You have to actually do it. Serving daily kneads a selfless mindset into your heart, shaping you into a true servant.

As a kid, my Mom used to make homemade bread for our family. I remember her kneading the bread with a rolling pin, and massaging out the air-pockets by hand. Similarly, every time you serve someone, that very act of service allows the Lord to knead servanthood into your way of thinking.

But integrity plays a role as well. You have to practice what you preach. James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only” – (James 1:22). Again, it’s not enough to know about serving, or to have been mentored by the humblest of all servants, or to have attended the greatest universities on servanthood. You are not a servant until you have served.

Only after you practice serving, only as you die to self while serving, will the real power of servanthood clothe you. Once you are clothed with the servanthood mentality, when you serve others, the Holy Spirit is then able to minister to the one you are serving in far more reaching ways than you ever could.

Closing Thoughts

In order to think like a servant who will have maximum impact on the one they are serving, you must spend time with the Father. There are no shortcuts. There is no way around it. If you genuinely want to have the greatest impact on those you serve, you must invest your time with the Father. The more time you invest in your relationship with the Father, the greater impact you will have on those you serve.

I would encourage you to spend some time with Him now. Ask Him to bring a greater revelation of these truths to your heart. Repent if you need to. Now stand tall in God confidence knowing that when you do serve, you are serving the love of the Father to those He has entrusted you with.

Never in the history of the world has one been able to communicate to the masses so easily. We live in a world where anyone can express their viewpoint by simply tapping out a sentence or two on their cell phone. Not too long ago, in order to communicate to the masses, one had to write a book. With the advent of the Internet, you could simply post an article to your website to share your heart with others.

Today, platforms like Facebook allow instant connection, but require greater care to reflect God’s love in every word. Your speech on these platforms should carry the grace of the Father, reaching hearts with love and truth. Every word you share online can reflect the Father’s heart and draw others closer to His truth.

With the iteration of each new communication platform, it not only becomes easier to communicate, but one can now reach a broader audience in a shorter period of time. What used to take years to communicate now takes less than a second, and therein lies a danger.

People do not think before they post. They post whatever they “feel” at that moment. Because they lack discipline, their posts are often defensive, steeped in selfish immature thinking reminiscent of a child in the grocery store who throws a temper tantrum. Such thoughtless words harm hearts and push people away from God’s love. Haven’t you read such posts yourself?

Just yesterday, a friend of mine wrote the following post on Facebook telling everyone that he was closing his Facebook account. Here is what he said:

“. . . Although I have enjoyed the opportunity over the years to reconnect with old friends, I can no longer take the rate of information, especially as it pertains to political opinions, nor the ease by which people are able to dehumanize each other by not having face-to-face conversations about the really hard issues that we are facing today. This particular social media outlet makes it so easy for people to write things that they would never say to each other face to face. I love you all and hope to see you around.”

Paul encourages us by writing, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” – Colossians 4:6. The temptation, however, is to post exactly what we feel, when we feel it, throwing grace to the wind, and salt in the wound. To avoid this trap, you can take simple steps to ensure your words reflect the Father’s heart and build others up. Choose to honor the Father by letting His grace guide every word you share to bless others.

Below are 3 things you can do right now to ensure that your words are gracious and “seasoned with salt” when posting to any social media platform.

Don’t Post Something That Does Not Reflect Your Character

All too often, I read posts from people on Facebook or X that appear to be “spiritual”, but really don’t reflect the character of the individual posting. The irony is that in posting something bigger than they are, they unknowingly expose their lack of spiritual depth. On the other hand, when one does post something that is in alignment with their character, it speaks loudly and is remembered. A post rooted in a heart changed by God carries His truth and touches lives with lasting impact. Remember, spiritual authority only has a voice if it has already changed your character.

Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious

If you do post, only post that which is going to build those who read up. In other words, only post things that edify those who read. If after reading what you have written, read it again to ensure that the biggest thing that comes across is building up those who read, NOT your opinion (See Eph. 4:29). Opinions reflect your thinking. More to the point, they expose your thinking. If you approach each post with the object of building others up, that thinking will reflect in your writing, and will impact the reader. Write words that lift a friend’s spirit or point others to the Father’s love to encourage their faith.

Wait Before Posting

When reading an offensive post, the natural tendency is to respond immediately to get YOUR point across. Stop. Breathe. And wait. Wait until you have heard from Wisdom. She may tell you to post something, but she very well may tell you not to post anything, and that’s OK. Getting her permission to post is key, and once you have her permission, follow her counsel when writing. Pausing to seek the Father’s wisdom keeps your heart aligned with His truth and protects others from harm.

Closing Thoughts

Your words on social media carry the power to reflect God’s heart or to harm others, so choose them with care. Let every post flow from a heart shaped by the Father’s love, building others up with grace and truth. Gracious speech opens the door for the Holy Spirit to minister to hearts and build a legacy of love for God’s glory.

To develop a servant’s heart, you must begin by being in right alignment with God. Recognizing who you are in relationship to who He is exposes any pride that you may have, and yet at the same time, the more you recognize who you are in relationship to Him, the more you embrace humility. Embracing humility is a daily practice, not a one time event. By doing so, you’ll keep your heart in alignment with the Holy Spirit. Staying humble before God shapes your heart to care for others selflessly. A heart aligned with God reflects His love and prepares you to serve others selflessly.

It is important to note that serving others does not hope for recognition. The Father sees what you are doing, and He takes notice. When you view servanthood as a way of living, an expression of worship to God, you do so willingly with joy because it is a reflection of your relationship with God. When you serve others, recognizing your act of service as an expression of worship, it’s like giving God a hug. Your service becomes a gift to the Father, honoring Him through every act of love. Serving others shows the Father’s care through your actions.

The Goal is Not to Serve Into Something Else

If you are serving to serve your way “up the ladder”, you misunderstand the concept of servanthood. The goal of the servant is to serve, and that’s the heart of it. One serves as an expression of worship to the Lord. He serves to express the love of God in a practical way, and in so doing, he honors the Lord. Servanthood is other-centered, not self-centered. True servanthood flows from a heart that seeks only to honor God and bless others. Every act of service spreads love that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

The Servant’s Thinking Determines His Behavior

Developing an ‘other-centered mindset’ is key here. The more time you invest in searching for opportunities to serve others, the more natural serving others will become. It will become second nature because your behavior follows your thinking. In as much as this is true of people like Charles Manson, it is equally true of those who serve like Mother Teresa. Both Charles Manson and Mother Teresa carried out what they allowed their mind to ponder, and so it is with you. You become what you think about. Focus your thoughts on serving others, and your heart will grow to reflect the Father’s selfless love. Thinking about helping others daily trains your heart to live with kindness.

It’s the Little Things that Make a Difference

Serving in small ways can make a difference in someone’s day. Every small act of service, done with love, reflects God’s heart and brings joy to those you serve. Whether you hold the door for someone at the store, let another driver merge in traffic, or offer your umbrella in the rain, these moments show God’s love in practical ways. Even parking farther away or cleaning up after others when it’s not your job can plant seeds of kindness that the Father uses to touch hearts. Small acts of care, done with love, create a ripple effect that changes lives.

Why would you do these things? For the express purpose of expressing God’s love in a practical way. If they don’t notice, that’s OK. The point is not to serve so they will notice. Remember, you are serving God, and He notices. Serving with a joyful heart fills you with a sense of purpose and peace.

Closing Thoughts

Developing a servant’s heart starts with aligning your heart with the Father’s love through daily humility. Serve others not for recognition, but to honor God, letting your words and actions reflect His grace and truth every day. Start serving now, and let your heart show God’s love to those who need it most.