Pastor Lucy Paynter Daily Insights

Yesterday we read from the book of psalms where David prayed that the Lord creates for him a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. And we said that the reason for this prayer, was because he did not just want to simulate virtue or appear to do right before people. He wanted a genuine change of heart. That his morals and virtues may be founded in God. He wanted something we all wish we could have eve...

One of the reasons why we are talking about matters of the heart this month is so that we may develop a consciousness, a conviction that will lead us to see the impurity of our hearts and nature. We have said over the past couple of days that the affections, the feelings and thoughts of the carnal mind are corrupted. They alienate us from God. And to rid ourselves of this veil, we would need to ha...

We said a few days ago that the affairs of the heart are open to the gaze of the Lord. There is nothing therein that is hidden from Him. All the complexities and subtleties of our hearts are known to Him to the tiniest details. You see, the muddles and devices of the human heart when it is not rooted in God are not to be entirely trusted even by he that holds them. Our hearts are not just weak and...

I don’t know if you have ever looked at someone; maybe they are being recommended for a certain position, or you have heard something about someone and you’re meeting them for the first time, and the moment you lay your eyes on them, you’re like they definitely look the part! You see, we often make the mistake of judging people by their appearances, or the uncommunicated impression they make. It’s...

Some of the most basic components of identity include language, values, customs and expectations of the world around you. You see, when you say you’re an American, there are those things that people automatically ascribe to you. When you say you’re an African, an Asian, there are those things that people, expect you to be familiar with or to be doing. Some biases and assumptions. Identity inspires...

“Matters of the Heart.” You know, the heart, the soul contains layers of thoughts, feelings, and intentions; some are known to us, and some are not really conscious of. The depth and detail of one's character are so far-reaching that we sometimes don’t even understand our motivations, interests, purposes, and plans. Sometimes we don’t even understand our own decisions. And this is why David, in Ps...

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me....

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while:...

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Matthew 13:3‭-‬4...

You know, there are so many models of imitation all around us. People whose lives look perfect. Whose lifestyles look ideal by world standards. But we need to remember that we answer to a higher power. We subscribe to, and are guided by higher principles. And so when the way of the world in times of plenty is to lean towards sheer folly and indulgence, our faith calls us to gratitude

But when you read Job 1:5, you realize that Job did not stop at his wealth. His spiritual life was as outstanding, as distinguished as his wealth. He was so spiritually sensitive that he constantly worried about how his children were fairing spiritually to the extent of offering sacrifices on their behalf.

I’m going to start by quoting what is called the Law of the Monastic cycle. The law states that “Discipline begets abundance, and abundance, unless we take the utmost care, destroys discipline; and discipline in its fall pulls down abundance.” The truth is, abundance can be blinding and a season of abundance might be the beginning of our downfall if we’re not careful. You know, sometimes we live i...

Recalling the past, in Biblical context, is an act of being honest to ourselves and to God in reconciling the past and the present and surrendering them to God. This is why Moses cautioned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:14-16 that they should not forget that it was God who brought them out of bondage. That they were once in a wilderness with serpents and scorpions. That they were once without foo...

We’re like mustard seeds planted in the Lord’s garden. We have the potential for a magnificent growth. But our growth does not stop when we sprout. There are even greater heights to be conquered. And the same way a plant doesn’t stop digging its roots deeper into the soil that provided the conditions necessary for it to germinate, so should we also not forget that it is the Lord who makes it possi...

God might fulfill our wildest dreams and we still might fall to the sin Eve fell to. Because as luscious as Eden was, she just couldn’t take her focus away from the one fruit that she couldn’t have. Everything she could have needed was right there but she took it for granted because she looked at it through the lens of deprivation not gratitude. And this is what I want us to talk about today as we...

Abraham did not consider worth the conflicts that were being bred by their abundant wealth. At the height of his communion with God, he sought after peace. He did not yield to Lot in weakness. He could have fought for his property. He could have stood on its dignity. But he chose to leave it to God because he knew that he could prosper anywhere. And we see later that it all played out to his advan...

Our reference story today is from Genesis 13:1-4, so if you can, read that and probably the preceding chapters to get a clear story. In this story, Abraham is coming from Egypt where he had gone, despite the Lord having commanded him earlier to go to Canaan. What had happened is, there had been a famine in Canaan, and Abraham chose to go to Egypt to escape it. The fact is, famine or no famine, he...

Blessings in whatever nature they come in, are an essential part of our growth as believers. But they’re not just meant to bring us comfort. They’re supposed to lead us towards developing a more intimate relationship with our God. You know, there’re those blessings that come to us even when we have not wished or prayed for them and they’re good. But when you’ve believed God for something and He de...

Today I want to start by stating something that may sound like a cliché, especially for us believers. That everything our God does is for a reason. Everything in His design has its own end. His commands, His deeds… everything that has its origin in God has an object and a reason for being how and where it is. It’s supposed to exhibit something; to tend to something with a higher purpose. His deeds...

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 KJV

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8 KJV

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1‭-‬2 KJV

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as...

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfec...

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfec...