Author: Travail and Transform Ministry

Genesis 22:15–17 “And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, ‘By Myself have I sworn,’ saith the Lord, ‘for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee.’” –

There is a sound that Heaven cannot ignore, the sound of surrender. It’s not always loud or public; sometimes, it’s the quiet “yes” whispered through tears, the steady faith when fear is shouting, the silent release when the heart breaks open before God. That sound travels farther than you realize, it reaches the throne and draws a divine response. When Abraham lifted the knife, Heaven responded. God didn’t move when Abraham began the climb; He didn’t speak when the altar was built. It was Abraham’s act of surrender that caused Heaven to speak. The moment Abraham’s obedience reached its fullness, the angel of the Lord called out, not once, but twice. Heaven always moves where surrender is complete.

Surrender releases sound because it speaks the language of faith. It tells God, “I trust You more than my outcome.” It silences fear, doubt, and logic. The sound of surrender echoes through time, shaking chains, breaking curses, and birthing promises. It’s the sound that causes God to swear by His own name, because what He starts, He will finish. This moment marked a divine shift for Abraham. His “yes” wasn’t just a test; it was a trigger for generational blessing. One act of obedience caused Heaven to open its mouth and decree, “In blessing, I will bless thee.” Your surrender doesn’t just affect you; it reverberates through your bloodline. It positions generations under a covenant of grace.

Every “yes” carries a frequency of worship that heaven recognizes. The altar might look like sacrifice, but it sounds like symphony to the Lord. When your surrender rises, angels respond, and God’s promises unfold. Surrender changes your sound from “Why, God?” to “Yes, Lord.” That shift changes everything. There’s something powerful about the timing of surrender. Abraham didn’t wait until God stopped him; he moved until God spoke. True surrender doesn’t pause for signs; it presses forward in faith. Heaven responds to motion. When God sees that your trust outweighs your understanding, He steps in with divine intervention. Sometimes, the sound of surrender is quiet but costly. It’s the still moment when you forgive someone who deeply hurt you. It’s the gentle release when you stop trying to control outcomes. It’s the deep sigh when you finally let go of what you were never meant to carry. Heaven doesn’t miss that sound, it’s holy music to His ears.

Surrender is not defeat; it’s divine alignment. When you surrender, you’re not losing, you’re positioning yourself for victory that doesn’t depend on you. It’s the shift from striving to resting, from controlling to trusting, from holding on to letting go. It’s where your will bows, and God’s power stands tall. Heaven responds to sound because sound represents agreement. When Abraham’s obedience met God’s promise, the two sounds collided, faith and fulfillment, and a covenant was sealed. That’s what happens when your “yes” meets His word. It’s not just heard, it’s established. Every time you say “yes” to God, something moves in the spirit realm. Old cycles break. New doors open. Generational patterns shatter. Just as the sound of Abraham’s surrender changed history, your obedience carries the same potential. There are blessings waiting to be released at the frequency of your faith.

The sound of surrender also silences the enemy. The devil cannot accuse what’s already been yielded. He loses his grip when you release control. The very thing that felt like your weakness becomes your weapon when it’s placed in God’s hands. What you surrender, God sanctifies, and what He sanctifies, He multiplies. In that moment, Heaven didn’t just bless Abraham, it swore by God’s own name. That means the promise was sealed with eternal authority. When you surrender to God, He doesn’t just respond with favor; He binds Himself to His word concerning you. Your “yes” gives Him legal access to fulfill His covenant. Surrender also changes how you hear God. Once Abraham obeyed, he heard Heaven clearly. Obedience sharpens spiritual hearing. The voice that once seemed distant becomes distinct. The confusion that once clouded your mind is replaced with clarity, because surrender tunes your heart to Heaven’s frequency.

Sometimes, all God is waiting for is your sound. He’s waiting for your worship in the middle of warfare, your faith in the face of fear, your declaration in the midst of doubt. The moment you lift your voice and release your “yes,” Heaven leans in. What seemed silent becomes sacred, and what felt delayed becomes divine. Your “yes” is your weapon. Your surrender is your signal. Heaven is listening. The moment you say, “Lord, have Your way,” angels are dispatched, doors begin to open, and favor finds you. God never ignores a surrendered sound; it always gets a response.

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank You for the sound of surrender that moves Heaven. Today, I lift my heart before You and release a fresh “yes.” I surrender my plans, my fears, and my will to You. Let my obedience become the sound that Heaven recognizes and responds to. Lord, teach me the rhythm of surrender. Help me to trust that my “yes” carries weight in the spirit. When I cannot see the outcome, let me rest in the assurance that You are faithful to perform what You have promised. Holy Spirit, tune my heart to Heaven’s frequency. Let every thought, word, and action harmonize with Your will. When I’m tempted to take control, remind me that surrender is the safest place I can stand. Father, just as Abraham’s surrender brought blessing, let my obedience unlock what You have already prepared. I pray for a generational shift, for promises to manifest, for curses to break, and for legacies of faith to rise through my “yes.” When I feel weary, remind me that surrender is not weakness but strength. It is not giving up, it is giving in to the greatness of Your plan. Fill me with courage to obey even when the mountain looks steep and the outcome uncertain. Lord, I pray that my worship would sound like surrender. Let every note of my life sing, “Have Your way.” Let my faith echo through every valley and mountaintop, declaring that You are worthy of it all. Father, respond to my “yes” in ways that only You can. Let miracles, provision, healing, and restoration follow my obedience. Let my surrender create a sound that causes Heaven to decree, “In blessing, I will bless thee.” Thank You, Lord, for hearing my sound of surrender. Thank You for responding with love, power, and divine purpose. May my “yes” continue to build altars, break barriers, and birth blessings that outlive me.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

“Heaven always responds to the sound of surrender, your ‘yes’ is the key that unlocks divine favor.”

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

Genesis 22:9 ~ “Then Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.”

There is a place in every believer’s journey where faith is tested not through what you do, but through what you are willing to surrender. Abraham’s altar was not just a location; it was a revelation. It symbolized a divine exchange between him and God and his will for God’s Will, his plan for God’s purpose. At the altar, trust ceased to be theory and became worship.

Abraham had walked with God for years. He had heard promises, seen miracles, and witnessed divine faithfulness. But on this mountain, God wasn’t asking for Abraham’s understanding, He was asking for his trust. The altar is where logic ends, and love begins. It is where you discover that true faith is not believing for something, but believing through something. Before the fire ever touched the wood, worship had already begun. Abraham didn’t wait for the outcome to worship; he worshiped while walking up the mountain. That’s the kind of faith that transforms trials into altars. Every step was a declaration of love and surrender, proof that Abraham trusted God even when he didn’t know the “how.”

When Abraham bound Isaac, he wasn’t binding his future, he was binding his fear. The altar is where you take what is most precious to you and lay it before the One who gave it. It’s the hardest act of faith because it requires giving up control. Yet, that is exactly what turns obedience into worship, the willingness to release what you cannot keep in order to honor the One who cannot fail. God often brings you to your own “altar moments.” They may not look like a mountain with wood and fire, but they carry the same weight. They could be a decision to forgive when it hurts, to trust when nothing makes sense, or to stay faithful when no one else sees. In those moments, the altar becomes the meeting place between sacrifice and revelation. At the altar, Abraham’s faith spoke louder than his fear. He didn’t argue, question, or bargain, he simply obeyed. That kind of faith moves heaven. It draws the presence of God so close that what seemed like an ending becomes the setup for a new beginning. The altar is where tests transform into testimonies.

Worship isn’t always a song, it’s a stance. It’s the posture of a heart that says, “God, even if I don’t understand, I trust You.” Abraham’s altar teaches you that worship isn’t measured by your comfort, but by your surrender. Every sacrifice becomes a melody that heaven recognizes. When you build your own altars of faith, something shifts in the atmosphere. Your willingness to trust God invites His power to manifest. What you lay down in obedience, He raises up in resurrection. The altar is where divine exchange takes place, our surrender for His sufficiency, your weakness for His strength, your questions for His answers. The altar also reveals the intimacy between trust and timing. Abraham didn’t know that provision was already climbing up the other side of the mountain. While he was building the altar, God was preparing the ram. That’s the beauty of divine timing, obedience and provision always meet at the top. You may not see it now, but God’s answer is ascending even as you worship.

True worship flows from trust. The more you trust Him, the freer you worship. The freer you worship, the greater His Presence manifests. When Abraham looked up and saw the ram, he named the place Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Will Provide. But notice, he only saw that revelation after he built the altar. Some names of God are revealed only in the fire of obedience. The altar is not a place of loss; it’s a place of exchange. It’s where Abraham gave up what he thought was the promise to encounter the God of provision. It’s where he realized that God doesn’t just make promises; He fulfills them through faith that is proven in fire. The altar is proof that God’s requests are never to harm you but to shape you. When you build an altar, you create a space for heaven to respond. God will never let an altar stand empty. Every act of surrender calls forth divine visitation. When He sees obedience, He sends provision. When He sees faith, He releases favor. When He sees trust, He reveals Himself. The altar becomes holy ground where heaven meets humanity.

Sometimes, the altar feels lonely. You may wonder if anyone else understands the cost of your “yes.” But it’s in that solitude that you discover God most deeply. It’s there that you realize you’re not offering something to God as much as you’re offering something with Him, your trust, your faith, your worship. On the altar of faith, every tear becomes incense and every prayer becomes fire. It’s the place where God refines, restores, and renews. The same way He gave Abraham back his promise, He will give you back what you’ve laid down, multiplied, and aligned with His Will. When you choose to build altars instead of walls, you make room for miracles. So today, wherever you are, build your altar. Lay down your fear. Offer your obedience. Lift your eyes. Because on the mountain of surrender, God still provides. And when He does, you’ll name that place not by what you gave up, but by what you gained, His Presence, His Peace, and His Promise fulfilled.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You for the altar, the sacred place where my faith meets Your fire. I come before You today, not just to ask, but to surrender. Like Abraham, I bring my heart, my hopes, and my Isaacs before You. Teach me to trust You even when I can’t trace You. Lord, build in me an altar of obedience that never grows cold. Let my worship rise from a surrendered heart, not just from words or songs. When I feel the weight of sacrifice, remind me that You are worthy of it all. Holy Spirit, help me to see the beauty of the altar. Help me to understand that every time I release something in faith, You’re preparing something far greater in return. Where I see loss, You see legacy. Where I feel pain, You’re birthing purpose. Father, I lay down every fear of the unknown, every need for control, and every attachment that competes with my devotion to You. Purify my motives and align my desires with Your will. Let the altar of my heart burn continually with holy fire. Lord, thank You that You never leave an altar empty. Every act of obedience invites Your glory to dwell. I trust that while I’m building, You are providing. While I’m surrendering, You are revealing. Give me eyes to see the ram You’ve already positioned in my thicket. Let me never doubt that You are Jehovah Jireh, my faithful provider. When the test feels heavy, remind me that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Father, transform my sacrifice into worship. Let my obedience release an aroma pleasing to You. When I lift my hands, let heaven respond with grace, favor, and supernatural peace. Thank You for the mountain moments that stretch my faith and deepen my trust. Thank You for turning what felt like an altar of loss into an altar of revelation. Let every act of surrender draw me closer to You and display Your glory through my life. Today, I declare that my altar is built, my faith is steady, and my eyes are lifted. You are worthy of my trust, my praise, and my obedience, forever and always. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

“The altar is where obedience turns into worship, and worship becomes the birthplace of revelation.”

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

Genesis 22:14 ~ “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Abraham’s story doesn’t end on the mountain, it begins there. The same place where he lifted the knife became the very ground where God revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh, his provider. The mountain that tested his faith became the altar of God’s provision. That’s the mystery and majesty of obedience, what begins as surrender ends in supernatural supply.

The “other side of obedience” is not just a blessing, it’s revelation. When Abraham obeyed, he saw a side of God he had never known before. Some revelations only come through obedience. It’s in the climb, (receive this spiritually, “It’s In The Climb!”) the surrender, and the letting go that heaven unfolds what’s been waiting for you all along. God doesn’t always reveal His provision before the test; He reveals it through the test. Obedience is often uncomfortable because it demands trust without details. God told Abraham to go, but He didn’t show him the ram until after he had fully obeyed. Likewise, there are seasons where God will ask you to move with no map, (I literally just experienced this) because faith doesn’t follow sight; it follows sound. When you respond to the voice of God, even when it’s unclear, you will always find His hand guiding you.

Obedience also shifts your perspective. Abraham didn’t see the ram until he looked up. Many times, your breakthrough is only one act of obedience away, but you miss it because your eyes are fixed on the sacrifice instead of the Savior. When you choose to lift your eyes, you stop mourning what you think you’ve lost and start recognizing what God has already prepared. There is divine timing attached to every act of obedience. The ram was there, but it wasn’t visible until the moment Abraham needed it. (Just like the photo that I should you yesterday, when I took the picture, I did not see the Ram’s Head in it, I only saw the beauty of God’s sunset. It was after I printed it that I saw the blessing; go back and look at the picture again.) God’s provision is never late; it’s released in alignment with your obedience. The moment you step out in faith, heaven starts moving on your behalf. You may not see the answer immediately, but it’s already being positioned for your arrival.

Your obedience also sets things in motion beyond you. Abraham’s faith didn’t just bless him; it birthed a covenant that stretched through generations. Every “yes” you give to God becomes a seed of legacy. What you obey today can open doors for those who will come after you. The fruit of your obedience ripples beyond your lifetime. On the other side of obedience is peace, and not because everything makes sense, but because your heart rests in knowing you did what God required. Obedience frees you from striving, and it shifts the weight of the outcome from your shoulders to God’s. When you obey, you no longer have to figure it all out, you just have to trust that He already has.

God doesn’t ask for obedience to take something from you but to make room for something greater. What you lay down is never wasted. Just as Abraham gave up Isaac only to receive him back, your surrender positions you for divine restoration. Whatever you’ve had to release, trust that God will return it multiplied, refined, and resurrected. And when you stand in your “mountain moment,” surrounded by the evidence of God’s faithfulness, remember to name your place. Abraham named his Jehovah Jireh, but your place might be called Peace, Breakthrough, or Restoration. Naming your mountain seals the testimony and reminds you, and others, that God still provides.

Even when obedience costs you your relationships, comfort, or certainty, trust that God is establishing something unshakable within you. Every mountain climbed in faith reveals the stability of His promise. And when the world watches how you obey, they will see a reflection of His Glory shining through your surrender. Ultimately, the other side of obedience isn’t just about provision, it’s about transformation. The test that seemed like it would break you becomes the very moment that births your purpose. God is not just giving you a ram; He’s making you a living testimony that His promises never fail.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You for the power and peace that come through obedience. You are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, and I trust that every act of surrender reveals another layer of Your faithfulness. Teach me to say “yes” without hesitation, knowing that You are working in ways I cannot see. Lord, help me to walk with unwavering faith when obedience feels costly. Give me spiritual courage to climb, even when the path is steep. Remind me that You have already prepared provision on the other side of my obedience. Father, I choose to trust You with every detail. Even when I cannot see the ram in the thicket, I will keep walking, believing that Your timing is perfect. Let my obedience be immediate, joyful, and complete, an offering that pleases You. Father, remove fear and hesitation from my heart. Replace every “what if” with “I will.” Let me be found faithful in the small things so that I can carry the greater things You’ve prepared. Holy Spirit, teach me to lift my eyes when I feel weary. Help me to see beyond the sacrifice to the Savior. Reveal what’s been hidden in my thicket and let me recognize divine provision when it appears. Lord, let my obedience ripple beyond me. Use my faith to strengthen others, my surrender to release blessings, and my testimony to remind future generations that You are still The Lord Who Provides. I pray for those who are in their own climb of obedience right now. Strengthen them to keep moving even when the way seems uncertain. Let them know that You have already stationed their ram and orchestrated their provision. Thank You for transforming my test into testimony. I declare that I am walking on the mountain of provision, surrounded by Your faithfulness. From this day forward, I will trust You fully, obey You quickly, and praise You continually. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

“The other side of obedience is where revelation and provision meet, and transformation begins.”

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

Genesis 22:11–13 ~ “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ He replied, ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ He said… ‘Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up, and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.”

It’s Time to Take a Look at The Covenant Carriers, That Went Ahead of You, they went on a Journey from Altar to Encounter.” Over the next three weeks we are going to be walking through Abraham’s Altar, Isaac’s Wells, and Jacob’s Ladder as they were “Covenant Carriers: They went on a Journey from Altar to Encounter.” These three men shaped by obedience, sustained by faith, and were transformed through divine encounters. It reveals the progressive movement of God’s covenant, from the altar of surrender to the well of continuity to the ladder of revelation, they are showing you that the promises of God are not confined to one generation but carried forward through surrendered lives. May you surrender your life to God.

The first week begins with Abaham, the father of faith, whose obedience on the mountain becomes a living declaration that faith that surrenders becomes faith that sees. In his willingness to offer Isaac, Abraham teaches that when we release what we love most, we make room for divine provision. The altar becomes the birthplace of vision, where sacrifice turns into revelation and obedience opens the way for blessing.

There’s a story told of a woman who once walked through one of the most difficult seasons of her life. Her finances were low, her health fragile, and her faith tested. Every morning she’d whisper, “Lord, I trust You,” even when her eyes couldn’t see a way out. One day, while praying, she heard these words in her spirit: “Look again, it’s in the thicket.” When she shifted her perspective from the problem to the promise, she noticed unexpected provision waiting in plain sight, a job offer she had overlooked, a friend willing to help, and a peace that surpassed understanding. The blessing was never absent; it was just hidden until her surrender revealed it.

This is the essence of Abraham’s story. When God asked Abraham to offer up Isaac, He was testing not his love for his son, but his willingness to trust God with his most precious possession. Abraham obeyed immediately. He didn’t negotiate or delay; he simply said, “Here I am.” And with every climb up Mount Moriah, his faith was being refined. The ram wasn’t visible at the base of the mountain because revelation always follows obedience.

The thicket represents the unseen place of God’s provision. It’s the tangled, unclear part of your life where things don’t make sense, where you can’t see what God is doing, and where faith feels tested. But just because you can’t see the ram doesn’t mean it isn’t there. God’s provision often waits on the other side of your surrender. It wasn’t until Abraham lifted his eyes that he saw what was hidden. There’s something about lifting your gaze, taking your eyes off what you might lose and placing them on the One who never fails, (I sought the Lord, He heard, and He answered! I just thought I would drop this in right here…) that allows you to see the supernatural. Sometimes, God waits until you reach the end of your understanding so that you will finally look up instead of around.

Every test of faith is really a test of trust. Will you still believe even when the promise looks like it’s on the altar? Will you still worship when it feels like God is asking for what you love most? Abraham didn’t just walk in obedience; he walked in expectation. He told his servants, “We will go and worship, and then we will come back to you” (Genesis 22:5, Sometimes you have to leave others when it is time to go and worship). That statement of faith unlocked heaven’s provision.

There’s always a ram in your thicket. It may not appear when you want it to, but it’s been there since the beginning of your journey. God positions provision in places that align with obedience. When you reach the mountain of surrender, the ram will be waiting, caught and secured, unable to escape, because it’s divinely assigned to your moment of revelation. God never wastes a test. Your faith walk prepares you to see what casual eyes cannot. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the revelation. Abraham called that place “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning “The Lord will provide.” Notice he didn’t name it before the test, but after. It’s in the climb, in the letting go, and in the surrender that we discover who God really is.

In your own life, you often ask, “Lord, where is the provision?” when God is asking, “Where is your obedience?” The moment you stop withholding your time, your heart, your forgiveness, your faith, God reveals what’s been waiting in your thicket all along. Your ram is not late, it’s waiting. Your breakthrough isn’t lost; it’s positioned. The answer isn’t delayed; it’s divinely timed. God’s provision and promise always meet in the place of obedience. Look again. What you thought was tangled may just be the sound of your miracle rustling in the bushes.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You for being the God who provides even when I cannot see how. You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, and today I lift my eyes toward You. Just like Abraham, I choose obedience over understanding, surrender over struggle, and faith over fear. Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted what You were doing in the thicket of my life. Forgive me for withholding the things You’ve asked me to lay down. Teach me to trust You even when the mountain is steep and the sacrifice feels heavy. Father, I declare that You are faithful in every test. I may not always understand the “why,” but I know the “Who,” and that is enough. Thank You for already positioning my ram, for every divine provision waiting in my unseen future. Help me not to miss it because of fear or hesitation. Father, I release my Isaacs to You, every dream, every plan, every person, and every outcome I’ve tried to control. I lay them on the altar, not as loss, but as an act of worship. And as I surrender, I believe You are sending revelation, provision, and breakthrough from the unseen thicket. Holy Spirit, give me eyes to see what’s been hidden. Give me ears to hear the rustle of divine timing. When my heart grows weary, remind me that the climb is worth it, and the sacrifice is seen by Heaven. Lord, I pray for divine strength for everyone climbing their mountain today. Let them know You are already there at the top, with everything they need. Remind them that obedience will never leave them empty, it always makes room for abundance. And Father, I thank You for every “ram” You’ve prepared for Your people, for provision, healing, direction, and favor. Let Your supernatural supply overflow into every life connected to this prayer. Today, I call You Provider, Protector, and Promise Keeper. I will walk in faith, I will look up, and I will see the ram You have prepared. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

“What you’ve been praying for isn’t missing, it’s in the thicket, waiting for your obedience to reveal it.”

As I was closing out this devotional. God brought this picture back to my memory and I am sharing it with you. My friend and I (Cynthia C.) were standing at the back of Southern University, the Baton Rouge campus, and I took this picture of what I thought was the sun going down over the river, at this moment, I was in need of a miracle from God. And it was not until I printed the picture, that I saw the Ram’s Head in the photo, this was May 2004. And just to let you know, God honored that prayer and I am living in it right now. May this photo and devotion encourage you to trust God and surrender everything to Him that He may give it to with even more.

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

On October 1, 2025, we began our 5th year of Pearls, Praise & Prayer, and my heart is full of gratitude to God for His faithfulness. For five years, women across the world have stood together, clothed in unity, adorned in pearls, and committed to prayer and praise. This is no small thing, this is a move of God, and you are a vital part of it! 

We will gather together daily at 7:10 pm for corporate prayer, and each woman is encouraged to set aside 10 minutes individually at either 10:00 am or 10:00 pm to meet God in a personal way. 

Why ten? In scripture, the number 10 represents completion, divine order, and testimony. It reminds us that God is perfecting something in us during these 31 days, bringing order to our lives and sealing His promises with His Word.

This is significant because it was in October that Travail & Transform was birthed, out of travail came transformation. October is not just another month for us, it is a birthing place. It is a time when women of God press, push, and pray until something shifts and something new is delivered in the Spirit. This month will be no different. We are travailing, but we are also transforming!

For all 31 days, I encourage every sister to wear something pearl each day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or even a pin, let the pearls be a sign of unity, agreement, and covenant among us. Pearls remind us that beauty is formed through pressure, and together, our pearls testify that we have endured, overcome, and are being perfected in Christ.

The Word reminds us in Genesis 4:9 and Hebrews 13:1 that we are our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. These 31 days are not just about your own journey but about standing in the gap for your sisters, encouraging one another, and holding each other up in prayer. We are better together, and united we are unstoppable.

So tonight, I encourage you to prepare your heart. Get your pearls ready. Set your clocks for 7:10 pm and 10 minutes of personal prayer. Tomorrow begins something powerful, and God is going to meet us in ways we have not yet seen. Let’s enter this 5th year with expectation, faith, and unity.

We are women of pearls. We are women of praise. We are women of prayer. And together, we are women of transformation. 

Conference Number: 1-978-990-5000 ~ Access Code: 570381

Blessings,

Dr. Jean Stepter-Gray

Mark 12:41–44 (NIV) ~ “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’”

2 Samuel 24:24 (KJV) ~ “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”

In Mark 12, Jesus contrasted the giving of the wealthy with the poor widow’s two coins. Though her gift was small in human eyes, Jesus declared it greater than the others because she gave all she had. God’s principle shines clearly here: He is not impressed with what costs us nothing. He delights in offerings that stretch our faith, demand our trust, and reflect our surrender.

Every fire needs fuel. Sparks alone cannot sustain flames. In the natural, you need wood, oil, or sacrifice to keep a fire burning. In the spiritual, the fire of God also falls where there is fuel, on altars, on obedience, on sacrifice. God does not ignite empty spaces. He asks for something to work with, and often that “something” is what costs us the most.

From Genesis to Revelation, we see the same pattern: God moves when people bring Him what they have. Elijah prepared an altar. A boy gave loaves and fish. Servants filled jars with water. Moses stretched his staff. A widow offered two coins. In each case, the act of giving became the fuel for God’s fire. What may seem small in our hands becomes abundance in His, but it requires obedience, surrender, and faith.

These last l5-days of devotionals were meant to invite you to ask yourself, “What are you giving God to work with? Are you offering Him your leftovers, or are you offering Him your best, did it cost you something? Because fire doesn’t fall on empty altars. It falls on sacrifice.

Follow me along with this story. There was a charity fundraiser, and people were invited to give as they felt led. Some wrote checks with many zeros but hardly noticed the difference in their bank accounts. Then a young girl stepped forward with a single dollar bill, crumpled and worn. It was all she had. To the world, the dollar seemed insignificant compared to the thousands given. But in heaven’s economy, that dollar outweighed the rest because it was everything she possessed. God’s eyes are never on the size of the gift but on the sacrifice behind it. The widow’s offering teaches you a powerful truth about how God measures differently than man. The smallest offering can outweigh the largest when given in faith. What you deem little may be abundance in God’s hands, if you are willing to surrender it.

The widow’s offering reveals that heaven’s scales are not balanced by quantity but by quality of sacrifice. While others gave from their abundance, she gave from her lack. This shows us that the value of a gift is not what it is worth on paper but what it costs in faith and surrender. David understood this principle when he said in 2 Samuel 24:24, “I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” True worship always costs something. Whether time, finances, pride, or comfort, sacrifice is the soil where God’s fire falls.

Her two coins looked insignificant, but they became an eternal testimony. Generations later, we still preach about her faith. This is the multiplication of obedience: God takes what seems small and makes it thunder across eternity. Nothing surrendered is ever wasted. The widow’s offering aligns with Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 8:12: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” God never demands what you don’t have; He only requires faithfulness with what you do. Her coins were acceptable because they were surrendered willingly and completely. When you give God what costs you, you are declaring your trust in Him as Provider. Philippians 4:19 promises, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The widow gave her livelihood and, in doing so, placed herself fully in the hands of her faithful God.

This principle is echoed in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” She gave little, but her return was eternal, abundant, and far beyond earthly measures. Her act also reminds us of Abel’s offering in Hebrews 11:4: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.” God honors offerings given in faith, even when they appear small. Every surrendered offering breaks the grip of self-reliance. It forces you to lean on God. When you give what costs you, you are making room for God’s supernatural provision. When you withhold, you remain dependent on your own limited supply.

You must remember that God doesn’t need what you give, He desires your heart. Sacrifice reveals love. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Heaven’s greatest gift was costly. If God did not withhold His Son, how can we withhold from Him? Sacrifice fuels revival. The early church grew not because of great wealth, but because believers gave generously, even selling possessions, to care for one another (Acts 4:34–35). Their willingness to release what they carried became fuel for the fire of the gospel. Your sacrifice today may not look like coins in a temple treasury, but it could be your time in prayer, your obedience to forgive, your financial giving, or your willingness to step into ministry when it stretches you. Whatever costs you something, when surrendered, becomes seed for God’s fire. The widow’s two coins preach across centuries, your offering matters to God. It may be overlooked by people, but heaven records every sacrifice. What you place in His hands, no matter how small, He multiplies for His glory.

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank You for teaching me through the widow’s offering that You see beyond the amount to the heart. You honor sacrifice, faith, and trust more than outward display. I bring myself before You today with all I carry, and I surrender it as my offering. Forgive me for the times I gave from convenience instead of sacrifice. Forgive me for offering You what cost me nothing while withholding what was costly. Lord, I desire to give You offerings that reflect my love and faith in You. Like David declared in 2 Samuel 24:24, help me never to give offerings that cost me nothing. May my time, my worship, my resources, and my devotion be given in a way that proves my trust in You above all else. Thank You for the promise of Philippians 4:19, that You will supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory. Even when I feel empty, You are faithful to fill. Even when I give out of my lack, You are able to sustain me with more than enough. Lord, remind me that the measure I use is the measure returned to me (Luke 6:38). When I give generously, You promise to give back in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Help me to live with open hands, trusting in Your abundance. Strengthen me to release even what feels like my “last two coins.” May I trust that nothing given to You is wasted. Teach me to walk in the faith of the widow, knowing that my small offering, when surrendered, is multiplied for Your glory. I recall the early church in Acts 4:34–35, who gave sacrificially so none would lack. Lord, let that same spirit of generosity rise in me. Let my life testify that when I release, You provide. Father, I offer my talents, my finances, my energy, and my heart as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Let them be holy and acceptable in Your sight. Burn away selfishness, and let my giving be fueled by love for You. Thank You, Lord, that You see me. Just as You saw the widow drop her two coins, You see every prayer, every sacrifice, and every gift I release to You. My offering may seem small to others, but You measure by surrender, not size. Lord, I ask for the grace to obey quickly when You call me to give. Remove hesitation, remove fear, and replace it with faith. Remind me that sacrifice always precedes fire, and giving always precedes overflow. Help me to believe, like Abel in Hebrews 11:4, that by faith my offering speaks even after it is given. Let my life and sacrifice leave a testimony of obedience that outlives me. Fill me with boldness to trust that You, Jehovah Jireh, are my provider. Just as You sustained Israel in the wilderness, sustain me as I release what I carry. Father, I lift my offering, my heart, my all, into Your hands today. Multiply it, use it, and let it fuel the fire of revival in my life and in the lives of those around me. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

God does not measure by size but by sacrifice. What costs you something becomes fuel for His fire, and what you release in faith, He multiplies for His glory.

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

Have A Blessed Weekend

On October 1, 2025, we began our 5th year of Pearls, Praise & Prayer, and my heart is full of gratitude to God for His faithfulness. For five years, women across the world have stood together, clothed in unity, adorned in pearls, and committed to prayer and praise. This is no small thing, this is a move of God, and you are a vital part of it! 

We will gather together daily at 7:10 pm for corporate prayer, and each woman is encouraged to set aside 10 minutes individually at either 10:00 am or 10:00 pm to meet God in a personal way. 

Why ten? In scripture, the number 10 represents completion, divine order, and testimony. It reminds us that God is perfecting something in us during these 31 days, bringing order to our lives and sealing His promises with His Word.

This is significant because it was in October that Travail & Transform was birthed, out of travail came transformation. October is not just another month for us, it is a birthing place. It is a time when women of God press, push, and pray until something shifts and something new is delivered in the Spirit. This month will be no different. We are travailing, but we are also transforming!

For all 31 days, I encourage every sister to wear something pearl each day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or even a pin, let the pearls be a sign of unity, agreement, and covenant among us. Pearls remind us that beauty is formed through pressure, and together, our pearls testify that we have endured, overcome, and are being perfected in Christ.

The Word reminds us in Genesis 4:9 and Hebrews 13:1 that we are our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. These 31 days are not just about your own journey but about standing in the gap for your sisters, encouraging one another, and holding each other up in prayer. We are better together, and united we are unstoppable.

So tonight, I encourage you to prepare your heart. Get your pearls ready. Set your clocks for 7:10 pm and 10 minutes of personal prayer. Tomorrow begins something powerful, and God is going to meet us in ways we have not yet seen. Let’s enter this 5th year with expectation, faith, and unity.

We are women of pearls. We are women of praise. We are women of prayer. And together, we are women of transformation. 

Conference Number: 1-978-990-5000 ~ Access Code: 570381

Blessings,

Dr. Jean Stepter-Gray

Exodus 4:2–4 (NIV) ~ “Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.’ So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.”

Luke 6:38 (KJV) ~ “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Moses was called by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, yet his first response was doubt. He pointed to his inadequacies, his speech, his background, his fear. But God shifted the conversation away from what Moses lacked and asked him, “What is in your hand?” Moses carried only a shepherd’s staff; a common stick he used to guide sheep. But in the hands of God, that staff became an instrument of miracles. With it, Moses confronted Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea, struck the rock to bring water, and displayed signs that revealed God’s power. The message is timeless: God does not need what you don’t have, He multiplies what you do have.

You have already read about what happens when people placed the little they had in God’s hands. A shepherd’s rod became a mighty instrument to part waters, a sling and stone became a weapon of victory against a giant, and a small lunch fed multitudes until there was overflow. Time and time again, Scripture shows us that what seems ordinary in our sight becomes extraordinary when surrendered to the Lord. What looks like “not enough” in your hands is more than enough in His.

So, what’s in your hands today? Is it a gift, a talent, a resource, or even a weakness you’ve been holding onto? Whatever it is, God can use it. He doesn’t require perfection, just surrender. When you release what you have into His care, He breathes on it, multiplies it, and turns it into something greater than you could imagine. In His hands, the ordinary is transformed, the broken is mended, and the small becomes significant.

Imagine a musician sitting with only a single instrument. To an untrained ear, it might seem too little to create a symphony. But in the right hands, that one instrument can fill a room with sound, move hearts, and shift atmospheres. The same is true with God; He never asks you for what you don’t have, He asks you for what you’re already holding. What seems too small, too ordinary, or too weak in your grip can become extraordinary when surrendered into His. The same question God asked Moses is the question He asks us today, “What is in your hand?” The measure you release is the measure God multiplies (Luke 6:38). When you surrender what you carry, whether it’s talent, time, treasure, or testimony, He fills it with His power and turns the ordinary into extraordinary.

Moses only had a staff, but when it was surrendered, it became a sign of God’s authority. What was once an ordinary tool for shepherding became a weapon of deliverance. This reveals that nothing in your hand is wasted when laid at the feet of the Master. The very thing you may overlook, God may intend to use as fuel for His fire. Luke 6:38 reminds us that God measures back what we measure out. If you hold tightly to what you carry, that’s all you will have. But when you release it in obedience, God multiplies it and returns it in overflowing abundance, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Moses’ staff was not powerful in itself; its power was revealed when Moses released it in obedience.

The widow of Zarephath gave her last portion of flour and oil, and God sustained her and her son through famine (1 Kings 17:12–16). A young boy gave his loaves and fish, and Jesus fed thousands (John 6:9–11). Hannah gave her son Samuel to the Lord, and he became a prophet to the nations (1 Samuel 1:27–28). Each story shows the same truth, what you give, God multiplies. What you release, God fills with His fire. The staff also represents your weaknesses. Moses initially resisted God’s call because he felt unqualified and incapable of speaking well. But God did not ask Moses to perform from his strength, He asked him to surrender his weakness. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. The staff in your hand may feel unimpressive, but God delights in using weakness to display His strength.

When Moses threw down his staff, it became a serpent, and he was afraid. Sometimes when you release what you hold, God shows you what it truly is, and the revelation may startle you. But the miracle came when Moses reached down in faith and picked it up again. What you release in obedience, you must also grasp in trust. God not only reveals, He redeems. Consider Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” When you give freely, you position yourself to receive. Withholding what’s in your hand may feel safe, but it limits what God can do. Release becomes the pathway to refreshment.

The Red Sea didn’t part until Moses stretched out the staff. Water didn’t flow from the rock until the staff struck it. Miracles didn’t happen until he used what was already in his hand in obedience to God’s Word, the same thing is true for you today. Your breakthrough will come not from waiting for something new, but from using what you already hold. Sometimes what’s in your hand looks too natural to be supernatural. A staff, a sling, a jar of oil, a handful of flour, these all appear common. Yet in Scripture, they became instruments of deliverance. What you see as plain or insignificant may be the very tool God wants to use to demonstrate His glory.

Obedience often feels uncomfortable at first. Moses had to face his fear when the staff became a serpent. Likewise, you may have to face insecurities, opposition, or uncertainty when releasing what you carry. But miracles are born on the other side of obedience. God doesn’t need much to display His glory. 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds you that He uses the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong. By using a staff, God showed Israel that the miracle was not in the object but in His power. The ordinary became extraordinary because it was surrendered.

The truth of Luke 6:38 flows through this lesson: the measure you release is the measure you receive. If you sow sparingly, you reap sparingly; if you sow generously, you reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6). God is not looking for perfection; He is looking for obedience and generosity of heart. When you offer God what you carry, He not only multiplies it for you, He also uses it to bless others. Just as Moses’ staff became a sign to Pharaoh and a lifeline to Israel, what you hold today could be the key to someone else’s deliverance tomorrow. Your obedience fuels not only your fire but also the fire in others. So, what’s in your hand? Is it your gift, your calling, your resources, or even your brokenness? Whatever it is, surrender it. Release it into God’s hands. Trust Him to transform it. And remember: what you measure to Him, He measures back to you, always in greater, overflowing measure.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You that You are the God who asks me not for what I lack but for what I carry. Like You asked Moses, You ask me today, “What is in your hand?” Help me to recognize that what feels small, ordinary, or weak in my grip becomes powerful when surrendered to You. Forgive me for the times I have dismissed my gifts, talents, or story as insignificant. Forgive me for comparing what I carry to others, forgetting that You placed this staff in my hand for a reason. Teach me to see value in what You’ve entrusted to me. Lord, I choose to release what I hold. Just as Moses laid down his staff, I lay down my abilities, my resources, my fears, and my weaknesses before You. Take them, Lord, and breathe upon them until they become instruments of deliverance and glory. Thank You for the truth of Luke 6:38, that the measure I use is the measure returned to me. Remind me that generosity unlocks abundance, and surrender invites overflow, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Your Word declares in Proverbs 11:25 that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. As I give of what I carry, let me also be replenished by Your Spirit. May my release become the seed of someone else’s breakthrough. Father, strengthen me to stretch out what’s in my hand, even when it feels uncomfortable. Moses parted the Red Sea when he lifted the staff. He struck the rock, and water flowed. Help me to act in faith, believing that obedience always precedes miracles. Break the grip of fear and doubt in my spirit. When I see what I release take a form I don’t understand, remind me that You are sovereign. Help me not to run from the transformation but to trust You in it. Thank You, Lord, that You delight in using the weak things to shame the strong. I don’t have to be impressive; I just have to be surrendered. Remind me that the miracle is not in what I hold but in the God who empowers it. Teach me to give not sparingly but generously. Your Word says in 2 Corinthians 9:6 that whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Let my giving, of time, talents, and resources, be marked by faith and not by fear. Lord, let my life testify that nothing surrendered is wasted. Every staff laid down becomes a symbol of Your glory. Every act of obedience becomes fuel for Your fire. Every offering becomes a seed of multiplication. Father, I release my hands to You today. Take my ordinary and make it extraordinary. Take what I carry and use it for deliverance, for provision, and for the advancement of Your kingdom. Thank You that You are faithful to multiply what I give. You never leave me empty. You always return in greater measure than I could ever imagine. Today, I declare that what’s in my hand belongs to You. I surrender it freely, I trust You completely, and I expectantly wait for You to use it powerfully. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

God doesn’t need what you don’t have, He only asks for what’s in your hand. Release it, and He will return it in greater measure, pressed down and running over.

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean

On today, October 1, 2025, we began our 5th year of Pearls, Praise & Prayer, and my heart is full of gratitude to God for His faithfulness. For five years, women across the world have stood together, clothed in unity, adorned in pearls, and committed to prayer and praise. This is no small thing, this is a move of God, and you are a vital part of it! 

We will gather together daily at 7:10 pm for corporate prayer, and each woman is encouraged to set aside 10 minutes individually at either 10:00 am or 10:00 pm to meet God in a personal way. 

Why ten? In scripture, the number 10 represents completion, divine order, and testimony. It reminds us that God is perfecting something in us during these 31 days, bringing order to our lives and sealing His promises with His Word.

This is significant because it was in October that Travail & Transform was birthed, out of travail came transformation. October is not just another month for us, it is a birthing place. It is a time when women of God press, push, and pray until something shifts and something new is delivered in the Spirit. This month will be no different. We are travailing, but we are also transforming!

For all 31 days, I encourage every sister to wear something pearl each day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or even a pin, let the pearls be a sign of unity, agreement, and covenant among us. Pearls remind us that beauty is formed through pressure, and together, our pearls testify that we have endured, overcome, and are being perfected in Christ.

The Word reminds us in Genesis 4:9 and Hebrews 13:1 that we are our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. These 31 days are not just about your own journey but about standing in the gap for your sisters, encouraging one another, and holding each other up in prayer. We are better together, and united we are unstoppable.

So tonight, I encourage you to prepare your heart. Get your pearls ready. Set your clocks for 7:10 pm and 10 minutes of personal prayer. Tomorrow begins something powerful, and God is going to meet us in ways we have not yet seen. Let’s enter this 5th year with expectation, faith, and unity.

We are women of pearls. We are women of praise. We are women of prayer. And together, we are women of transformation. 

Conference Number: 1-978-990-5000 ~ Access Code: 570381

Blessings,

Dr. Jean Stepter-Gray

John 2:6–9 (NIV) ~ “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside.”

God specializes in taking what seems small, simple, or insignificant and transforming it into something extraordinary for His Glory. A shepherd’s staff in Moses’ hand parted the Red Sea. A sling and five smooth stones in David’s hand brought down a giant. A little boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish fed thousands when placed in Jesus’ hands. The ordinary becomes extraordinary when surrendered to God.

This is your reminder that what you carry may not look like much, but when offered to the Lord, it becomes more than enough. Your talents, resources, time, and even your weaknesses can be instruments of miracles when you yield them to Him.

Think of a simple glass of water. Most of you drink it without a second thought. It seems plain, ordinary, and unimpressive compared to juice, milk, or wine. Yet, water is essential for life. Now imagine that very ordinary glass of water being transformed into something extraordinary, something celebrated, valued, and life-giving in a new way. This is the power of God: He takes what feels plain, common, and ordinary in our lives and transforms it into something extraordinary when it is surrendered to Him.

The miracle at Cana was Jesus’ first recorded miracle. At a wedding feast, the hosts ran out of wine, a shameful problem in that culture. Mary, Jesus’ mother, urged Him to intervene. Though His “time had not yet fully come,” Jesus instructed the servants to fill the ceremonial jars with water. These jars were not for drinking; they were for ritual washing, a symbol of tradition and cleansing. Yet Jesus used the ordinary water placed inside them to perform a supernatural transformation. The water became wine, the best wine, and the celebration continued. The principle is clear: God works when we give Him something to work with, even if it feels common or insignificant.

The servants had to obey a simple but strange instruction, (take heed, you need to obey) fill the jars with water. They could have refused, thinking, what good is water when wine is needed? But their obedience gave Jesus something to work with. The lesson for you is the same, God can turn the ordinary into extraordinary, but He asks for your obedience to give Him what you have. This miracle at Cana is to remind you that what you deem too ordinary can become miraculous in God’s hands. The water placed in jars did not look like wine, did not smell like wine, and did not taste like wine, until Jesus touched it. Transformation happens when your obedience meets His power.

The servants’ obedience was the turning point of the story. Jesus did not ask them to produce wine; He asked them to bring water. It was within their means, something simple they could give. Many times, God does not ask you to produce the miracle; He only asks u you s to provide the obedience. What you bring, He transforms. Notice that Jesus told them to fill the jars “to the brim.” This was no halfway effort, (it’s all or nothing). Partial obedience produces partial results, but full obedience invites full transformation. The measure you give determines the measure He fills. Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Water, in this story, represents the ordinary aspects of your life, your routines, your daily work, your hidden sacrifices, your overlooked faithfulness. These things may not seem impressive to you or to others, but when surrendered to Jesus, they become the very material for miracles. Wine, in contrast, represents joy, celebration, and abundance. The transformation of water into wine reveals how God takes the common and infuses it with His glory. What seems mundane in your hands becomes miraculous in His.

The master of the banquet remarked that the bridegroom had saved the best wine until last. This reveals a deeper truth, when God works, He does not produce something average, He produces the best. He saves the finest for those who are willing to surrender the ordinary to Him.

What you deem too little or too plain is abundance in God’s hands. He just wants your obedience. The servants could have doubted or delayed, but instead, they gave Him what they had. Their obedience became the trigger for transformation. This story teaches you that miracles don’t always begin with dramatic gestures, they often begin with ordinary acts of obedience. Filling jars with water may not look like a setup for a miracle, but in God’s hands, it became fuel for His glory. Romans 12:1 reminds you to present your bodies as living sacrifices. Sometimes presenting yourself means offering your ordinary schedules, routines, and responsibilities. When you give these to Him, He can turn them into something extraordinary. Your job, your prayer life, your service, your unseen sacrifices, these may feel like water in jars. But in God’s hands, they can become wine that refreshes, revives, and blesses others. Never underestimate the ordinary when it is surrendered to Him.

Perhaps you have been waiting for God to move while overlooking the simple instructions He has already given. Fill your jars with water. Obey what He has asked you to do. Trust Him to do the transforming work. The truth is simple but powerful, God doesn’t need you to perform miracles, He needs you to obey. What you place in His hands, He will transform. What you deem common, He will make extraordinary. What you surrender, He will multiply. The miracle at Cana was not just about wine; it was about revelation. It was a sign pointing to Jesus as the One who transforms. The servants saw it first because they obeyed. In the same way, when you give God something to work with, you will see His glory revealed in ways others cannot.

And notice this, the transformation didn’t happen in public before everyone’s eyes, it happened in the act of obedience. The servants knew what they poured into the jars was water, but when it was drawn out, it had already changed. Sometimes God works in the secret place of surrender, and only later do others taste the evidence of His transformation. This miracle also foreshadows the greater work of the cross. Just as ordinary water became extraordinary wine, Jesus takes your broken, sinful lives and transforms them into vessels of grace and glory. What was once empty becomes filled. What was once common became holy. Today, the question remains, are you willing to pour water into the jars, even when it doesn’t make sense? Are you willing to give God your ordinary, trusting Him to do the extraordinary? If you will, He Will and your life can become a living testimony that the best is yet to come.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I thank You that You are the God who transforms. You take what is ordinary and breathe upon it until it becomes extraordinary. You take water and make it wine, and You take my life and fill it with Your glory. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have withheld what seemed too small or too plain to matter. Forgive me for despising the ordinary, forgetting that You specialize in turning the common into the miraculous. Teach me to obey quickly and fully. Help me to fill the jars You have set before me with faithfulness, prayer, worship, and service. Let my obedience become the starting point for Your transforming power. Lord, remind me that You are not asking me to produce miracles but to provide obedience. What I cannot change, You can. What I cannot multiply, You will. Father, I thank You that when You work, You always produce the best. You never leave me with the leftovers of life, you save the finest for those who trust You with their ordinary. Take my routines, my work, my relationships, my talents, and even my struggles. Place Your hand upon them, Lord, and turn them into something beautiful for Your glory. Let my life testify that water can still become wine when surrendered to You. Let others taste and see that You are good because I obeyed and placed the ordinary into Your hands. Give me faith to see that nothing surrendered to You is wasted. Every drop of water poured in obedience becomes wine of testimony. Every act of service becomes a seed of glory. Strengthen me, Father, to be faithful in the small things. Help me to realize that even hidden obedience matters to You and becomes fuel for Your glory. When I feel overlooked or unseen, remind me that You see the water I pour and that You are able to transform it in Your timing. Encourage me to remain steadfast, knowing my labor in You is never in vain. Break the spirit of doubt that whispers, “This is not enough.” Silence the voice of fear that says, “This is too plain.” Let me see the value of placing my ordinary into Your extraordinary hands. Lord, create in me a heart that trusts You in the unseen places. Even if no one else notices the water I pour, let me remember that You are the One who turns it into wine. Let my obedience inspire faith in others. Just as the servants at Cana witnessed the miracle firsthand, let those who walk closely with me see how You transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. Today, I surrender my jars. I give You my ordinary. Transform it, use it, and let it point others to You. May my obedience create space for Your power, and may my life overflow with Your abundance. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nugget:

God doesn’t need wine; He just needs water. What you deem ordinary, He makes extraordinary when surrendered in obedience.

Blessings…

Love, Dr. Jean