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Our hope and prayer at Keys Vineyard Ministries is that we will be able to be a blessing to pastors and churches around the world and partner with them to fulfill the calling of God on their lives.
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Kingdom Influence Part 8 Devotionals
Day 1: Seeing the World as It Really Is
Devotional
We live in a world that teaches us to move quickly past pain, to distract ourselves from discomfort, and to put on a brave face when things fall apart. But Jesus offers a radically different approach. When He says “Blessed are those who mourn,” He’s inviting us into a deeper way of living – one that doesn’t rush past the brokenness but acknowledges it honestly. This isn’t about becoming pessimistic or dwelling in despair. It’s about developing the courage to see the world as it truly is: beautiful but broken, filled with wonder yet marked by pain. When we refuse to acknowledge this reality, we end up taking every disappointment personally, wondering why bad things keep happening to us. The truth is, we live in a fallen world where everything – including us – is affected by brokenness. Recognizing this doesn’t make us weak; it makes us wise. It helps us understand that our struggles aren’t unique punishments but part of the human experience in a world that isn’t yet fully redeemed.
Bible Verse
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.” – Isaiah 61:1-3
Reflection Question
What area of brokenness in your life or the world around you have you been trying to ignore or rush past?
Quote
Blessed are those who mourn, Jesus said, for they will be comforted. And this morning, it’s not a light sadness. It’s actually the grief that comes when you realize that the world has fallen, the planet is broken, life doesn’t work the way it was meant to.
Prayer
God, give me the courage to see the world honestly, without becoming overwhelmed by its brokenness. Help me find hope in the midst of reality.
Day 2: The Gift of a Soft Heart
Devotional
There’s something beautiful that happens when we allow ourselves to truly feel the weight of brokenness around us. Instead of becoming bitter or hardened, we become more compassionate. Instead of growing proud, we become humble. This is the unexpected gift of mourning – it keeps our hearts tender. When we acknowledge our own brokenness and the world’s pain, we stop pretending we have it all together. We stop judging others harshly because we recognize our shared need for grace. We become the kind of people who can sit with others in their pain because we’ve learned to sit with our own. This tenderness isn’t weakness – it’s strength. It takes courage to feel deeply in a world that encourages numbness. It takes faith to remain soft when everything around us suggests we should build walls. But this is exactly what Jesus modeled for us, weeping at gravesides and over cities, showing us that a heart that mourns is a heart that truly loves.
Bible Verse
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. Jesus wept.” – John 11:33-35
Reflection Question
How has experiencing your own brokenness made you more compassionate toward others?
Quote
People who refuse to mourn become hardened. They get hard hearted. But people who embrace mourning, they become humble and they become compassionate and they become patient and they become merciful.
Prayer
Lord, keep my heart soft and tender. Don’t let me become hardened by pain, but use it to make me more like You.
Day 3: Strength in Weakness
Devotional
Our culture celebrates self-sufficiency and personal strength, but God’s kingdom operates by different rules. When we try to fix everything in our own power, we often find ourselves exhausted and defeated. But when we acknowledge our limitations and lean into God’s strength, something beautiful happens – we discover a power that’s not our own. Mourning teaches us this vital lesson. When we face the reality that we can’t heal every hurt or solve every problem, we stop trying to be our own savior. We learn to trust in Someone greater than ourselves. This isn’t giving up – it’s growing up spiritually. The comfort Jesus promises isn’t just a gentle pat on the back. It’s the kind of strengthening that comes when God’s power works through our weakness. When we stop pretending we’re strong enough on our own, we make room for His strength to work in and through us. This is where real transformation begins.
Bible Verse
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Reflection Question
Where have you been trying to fix what only God can redeem?
Quote
When I realize I just can’t make it work in my own strength, and I admit that I can’t, I begin trusting him instead. And when I trust him, I’m stronger than what I was pretending.
Prayer
Father, help me find strength in admitting my weakness. Teach me to trust in Your power rather than my own limited abilities.
Day 4: Never Alone in the Darkness
Devotional
One of the most comforting truths about following Jesus is that we never have to face life’s difficulties alone. When we mourn, we don’t mourn in isolation. Jesus, who experienced the deepest grief and carried the weight of all brokenness to the cross, walks with us through every valley. This companionship changes everything about how we experience pain. We’re not abandoned in our struggles or left to figure things out on our own. The same Jesus who wept at Lazarus’s tomb understands our tears. The same Savior who carried our sorrows to Calvary carries us through our darkest moments. While we wait for the day when all mourning will end, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, giving us foretastes of the coming kingdom. These glimpses of hope – moments of peace in chaos, unexpected joy in sorrow, strength in weakness – remind us that our current pain is not the end of the story.
Bible Verse
“As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” – Luke 19:41
Reflection Question
How have you experienced God’s presence with you during your most difficult seasons?
Quote
We never have to face the brokenness alone.
Prayer
Thank You, Jesus, that I never have to walk through pain alone. Help me feel Your presence especially in my darkest moments.
Day 5: Hope Beyond the Grave
Devotional
The story of mourning doesn’t end in sadness – it ends in resurrection. Jesus didn’t just comfort us with words; He defeated the very source of our deepest grief. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death, promising that one day every tear will be wiped away and all things will be made new. This future hope transforms how we experience present pain. We mourn, but not as those without hope. We grieve, but we grieve with the confidence that this brokenness is temporary. The comfort Jesus offers isn’t fragile or fleeting – it’s resurrection strong, backed by the power that raised Him from the dead. Until that final day of restoration, we live as people who have seen beyond the grave. We face reality honestly, but we face it with hope. We acknowledge the world’s brokenness, but we do so knowing that God’s redemption is already at work and will one day be complete. This is why those who mourn are truly blessed – not because grief wins, but because God does.
Bible Verse
“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'” – Revelation 21:4
Reflection Question
How does knowing that God will ultimately make all things new change the way you face current struggles?
Quote
Mourning is real. Brokenness is real. But it’s not final. We follow a Savior who entered mourning and walked out of a tomb.
Prayer
God, anchor my hope in Your promises. Help me live with the confidence that comes from knowing You have the final word over every sorrow.
Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.
Kingdom Influence Part 7 Devotionals
Day 1: The Upside-Down Kingdom
Devotional
Our world celebrates the self-made, the confident, and those who appear to have it all together. We’re taught that independence is strength and needing help is weakness. But Jesus introduces us to a completely different way of living – an upside-down kingdom where everything we thought we knew gets flipped on its head. In God’s kingdom, the blessed aren’t those who’ve climbed their way to the top through their own efforts. Instead, blessing belongs to those who recognize their desperate need for God. This isn’t about lowering our standards or settling for less – it’s about discovering that true strength comes from acknowledging our limitations and finding our identity in Christ rather than our achievements. The beautiful truth is that God’s kingdom operates on grace, not performance. When we stop trying to impress God with our spiritual résumé and instead come to Him with empty hands, we discover that He fills us with everything we truly need. This upside-down kingdom isn’t a place we earn our way into – it’s a reality that transforms us from the inside out when we surrender our need to have it all figured out.
Bible Verse
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ – Matthew 5:3-6
Reflection Question
What areas of your life are you still trying to manage through your own strength instead of surrendering to God’s upside-down kingdom values?
Quote
The Beatitudes describe a kingdom that is completely upside down when compared to the values of our culture.
Prayer
God, help me embrace Your upside-down kingdom where weakness becomes strength and surrender leads to blessing. Show me where I’m still trying to earn Your favor instead of receiving Your grace.
Day 2: Desperately Aware
Devotional
There’s something liberating about admitting we don’t have it all together. In a culture that demands perfection and self-sufficiency, Jesus invites us into a different reality – one where our greatest strength comes from recognizing our deepest need. To be poor in spirit isn’t about having low self-esteem or thinking poorly of ourselves. It’s about having an accurate assessment of our spiritual condition before a holy God. It’s the honest recognition that no matter how hard we try, we cannot bridge the gap between ourselves and God through our own efforts. This awareness isn’t meant to discourage us but to position us for grace. When we stop pretending we can handle life on our own, we create space for God to work in ways we never imagined. The tax collector in Jesus’ parable understood this – he couldn’t even lift his eyes to heaven, but his honest cry for mercy positioned him to receive God’s justification. Being desperately aware of our need isn’t a one-time realization but a daily posture. Each morning, we wake up needing God’s mercy, grace, and strength. This constant awareness keeps us humble, dependent, and open to the abundant life God wants to give us.
Bible Verse
‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”‘ – Luke 18:13
Reflection Question
How has recognizing your need for God’s mercy changed the way you approach Him in prayer and daily life?
Quote
To be poor in spirit is to be desperately aware of our need for God’s mercy and God’s grace. It’s the recognition that we can’t save ourselves and we’re helpless and defenseless in our own strength.
Prayer
Father, give me the courage to be desperately aware of my need for You. Help me find freedom in admitting I can’t do this life without Your grace and strength.
Day 3: Empty Hands, Full Heart
Devotional
There’s a beautiful exchange that happens when we come to Jesus with empty hands. We arrive thinking we have nothing to offer, and He responds by filling us with everything we need. This is the heart of what it means to be poor in spirit – coming to God not with our achievements or spiritual résumé, but with our honest need. Many of us struggle with this because we’ve been conditioned to believe we must earn our place at God’s table. We think we need to clean up our act, get our lives together, or prove our worthiness before approaching Him. But Jesus turns this thinking upside down. He doesn’t wait for us to become good enough – He meets us in our brokenness and transforms us from the inside out. When we stop trying to impress God with our performance and instead acknowledge our spiritual poverty, something miraculous happens. He fills our emptiness with His grace, our weakness with His strength, and our brokenness with His healing. The kingdom of heaven isn’t earned through spiritual achievement – it’s received through spiritual surrender. This isn’t a one-time transaction but an ongoing way of life. Each day, we return to this posture of open hands and humble hearts, trusting that God will meet us there with exactly what we need.
Bible Verse
‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.’ – Isaiah 61:1
Reflection Question
What do you need to release from your hands today so that God can fill them with His grace and provision?
Quote
When we come to Jesus empty, He doesn’t turn us away. He fills us with grace. He fills us with love, fills us with mercy, fills us with his spirit.
Prayer
Jesus, I come to You with empty hands and an open heart. Fill me with Your grace, love, and mercy as I surrender my need to have it all figured out.
Day 4: A Posture, Not a Phase
Devotional
One of the most freeing truths about being poor in spirit is that it’s not something we graduate from – it’s a posture we return to again and again. In our achievement-oriented world, we often think spiritual maturity means needing God less, but the opposite is true. The more we grow in faith, the more we realize how much we need Him. This ongoing dependence isn’t a sign of weakness or spiritual immaturity. It’s actually the mark of wisdom and authentic faith. When we understand that dependence on God is how we’re designed to live, we stop fighting against our need for Him and start embracing it as the pathway to abundant life. Every morning brings new challenges that remind us we can’t navigate life in our own strength. Every victory we experience is ultimately a gift of God’s grace working through us. This constant awareness protects us from becoming self-righteous and keeps us tender, humble, and dependent on God. The beautiful thing about this posture is that it keeps us connected to the source of all life and blessing. Instead of exhausting ourselves trying to be self-sufficient, we learn to draw from God’s unlimited resources. We discover that admitting our need isn’t defeat – it’s the doorway to experiencing God’s power and presence in our daily lives.
Bible Verse
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ – Matthew 5:3
Reflection Question
In what ways can you cultivate a daily posture of dependence on God rather than viewing spiritual need as something to overcome?
Quote
Being poor in spirit isn’t something we graduate from. It’s a posture we return to again and again and again.
Prayer
God, help me embrace dependence on You as a daily posture, not a temporary phase. Keep my heart tender and humble before You each day.
Day 5: The Kingdom Belongs to You
Devotional
Here’s the incredible promise that changes everything: when Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He uses the present tense. Not “will be” but “is.” Right now, in this moment, if you recognize your need for God’s grace, the kingdom of heaven belongs to you. This isn’t about waiting until you die to experience God’s kingdom – it’s about discovering that His kingdom reality is available to you today. When you acknowledge your spiritual poverty and surrender to God’s grace, you step into a way of living that’s marked by His presence, power, and peace. The kingdom doesn’t belong to those who have their lives perfectly organized or their theology completely figured out. It belongs to those who say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” and mean it from their hearts. It belongs to those who wake up each morning knowing they desperately need Jesus to make it through the day. If you’ve never taken this step of surrendering your life to Jesus, recognizing that you need His forgiveness and grace, today is the perfect day. Don’t wait for tomorrow or until you feel more ready. Come to Him just as you are, with your need and your brokenness, and discover that His kingdom has been waiting for you all along. The abundant life He promises begins the moment you say yes to His grace.
Bible Verse
‘I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ – Luke 18:14
Reflection Question
How does knowing that God’s kingdom belongs to you right now, in your current state of need, change the way you approach your relationship with Him?
Quote
The kingdom really doesn’t belong to the capable. It belongs to those who realize their need for Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You that Your kingdom belongs to me right now, not because of what I’ve done but because of Your grace. Help me live in this kingdom reality today.
Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.
Kingdom Influence Part 6 Devotionals
Day 1: A Portrait, Not a Performance
Devotional
Have you ever tried to force fruit to grow on a tree? It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Yet so often we approach our spiritual lives with this same futile effort – straining, gritting our teeth, trying harder to become the people God wants us to be. Jesus gives us a completely different picture through the Beatitudes. These aren’t spiritual achievements we need to unlock or behaviors we need to perfect. They’re a beautiful portrait of what naturally emerges when God is actively working in our hearts. When we’re rooted in Christ, kingdom character flows from the inside out. Think about the most genuine, Christ-like people you know. Their kindness isn’t forced. Their peace isn’t manufactured. Their love isn’t performed. These qualities flow naturally from hearts that have been transformed by God’s grace. They’ve learned the secret that fruit is the result of life, not effort. This is incredibly freeing news! You don’t have to strain to become who God wants you to be. You don’t have to perform your way into His approval or try harder to earn His love. Instead, you can focus on staying connected to Jesus – the source of all spiritual life. As you remain rooted in Him, the character He desires will naturally begin to emerge. Today, instead of asking ‘How can I try harder?’ ask ‘How can I stay more connected to Jesus?’ The difference will transform not just your efforts, but your entire approach to spiritual growth.
Bible Verse
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ – John 3:16
Reflection Question
In what areas of your spiritual life have you been striving and performing rather than simply staying rooted in your relationship with Jesus?
Quote
The Beatitudes are not a checklist of things that we need to accomplish on our own. The Beatitudes are a portrait. They describe the kind of people the Kingdom produces when God is at work in life.
Prayer
Jesus, help me to stop striving and start abiding. Teach me to find my identity and strength in You rather than in my own efforts. Grow Your character in me naturally as I stay connected to You. Amen.
Day 2: Heart Formation Over Behavior Modification
Devotional
We live in a world obsessed with quick fixes and surface-level changes. Want to lose weight? Try this new diet. Want to be more productive? Download this app. Want to be a better person? Follow these five simple steps. But God operates differently. While the world focuses on changing behavior from the outside in, God works from the inside out. He’s not interested in helping you become a better version of yourself through willpower and determination. He wants to transform your heart so completely that new behaviors flow naturally from a new identity. This is why Jesus begins His most famous sermon not with a list of rules, but with a description of heart postures. Poor in spirit. Mourning over sin. Meek and humble. These aren’t behaviors you can fake or force – they’re heart conditions that God develops in us over time. When God changes your heart, everything else follows. You don’t have to remind yourself to be merciful – mercy flows from a heart that has experienced God’s mercy. You don’t have to force yourself to be a peacemaker – peace naturally radiates from a heart at peace with God. This process takes time, and it requires patience with yourself and trust in God’s timing. But it’s so much more sustainable than trying to change from the outside in. Heart transformation creates lasting change that can weather any storm. God is more interested in who you’re becoming than how quickly you appear successful. He’s working on your heart, and that’s the most important work of all.
Bible Verse
‘By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?’ – Matthew 7:16
Reflection Question
What’s one area where you’ve been focusing on changing your behavior instead of asking God to transform your heart?
Quote
The Beatitudes are not about behavior modification. They are about heart formation.
Prayer
Father, I confess that I often focus more on looking good than being transformed. Work in my heart first. Change me from the inside out so that my actions flow from a heart that truly knows and loves You. Amen.
Day 3: Kingdom Character vs. Cultural Success
Devotional
If you were to create a list of qualities that lead to success in our world, what would it include? Probably things like confidence, ambition, self-promotion, and the ability to outperform others. These are the traits our culture celebrates and rewards. But Jesus presents a completely different picture of what true success looks like. The people He calls blessed are poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, and humble. From the world’s perspective, these qualities might seem like weaknesses that will hold you back. But Jesus reveals they’re actually the foundation of lasting influence and genuine blessing. This creates a tension for those of us trying to follow Jesus while living in this world. We’re constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to promote ourselves, fight for our rights, and prioritize our own success above all else. But Jesus calls us to surrender instead of striving, to choose humility over self-promotion, and to show mercy instead of outrage. Here’s what’s beautiful about kingdom character: it might look unimpressive from the outside, but its fruit is undeniable. People with deep spiritual roots may not grab headlines or win popularity contests, but they change lives. They bring peace to chaos, hope to despair, and love to broken places. You don’t influence the world by overpowering it. You influence it by reflecting the heart of the King. This kind of influence is quiet but powerful, gentle but transformative. It’s the kind of impact that lasts long after the noise of self-promotion fades away.
Bible Verse
‘Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.’ – Matthew 5:1-2
Reflection Question
Where have you been tempted to pursue cultural success instead of kingdom character, and how might God be calling you to a different path?
Quote
Kingdom character is often the opposite of cultural success.
Prayer
Jesus, help me to value what You value. Give me the courage to pursue kingdom character even when it looks different from what the world celebrates. Let my life reflect Your heart, not the world’s definition of success. Amen.
Day 4: Redefining Blessing
Devotional
What does it mean to be blessed? If we’re honest, most of us think of blessing in terms of comfort, success, and having things go our way. We feel blessed when we get the promotion, when our relationships are smooth, when our health is good, and when our bank account is full. But Jesus completely redefines blessing in the Beatitudes. He calls blessed those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are persecuted for righteousness. These don’t sound like the kind of experiences we typically associate with God’s favor. This challenges us to examine how we measure blessing in our own lives. Have we been looking for God’s approval in all the wrong places? Have we been disappointed when life doesn’t go according to our plans, thinking that somehow means God isn’t blessing us? Jesus suggests that true blessing might be less about comfort and more about becoming like Him. The struggles that seem like obstacles might actually be the very experiences God uses to develop kingdom character in us. The difficulties that feel like punishments might be the tools He uses to make us more dependent on Him, more compassionate toward others, and more effective in His kingdom. This doesn’t mean God wants us to suffer or that He doesn’t care about our comfort. But it does mean that His definition of blessing is much deeper and more transformative than ours. He’s more interested in our character than our comfort, more concerned with our hearts than our circumstances. When we align our understanding of blessing with Jesus’ perspective, we can find joy and purpose even in difficult seasons, knowing that God is using everything to shape us into His image.
Bible Verse
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ – Matthew 5:3
Reflection Question
Where have you measured blessing the wrong way, and how might God be working in your current circumstances to develop kingdom character in you?
Quote
What if blessing is less about comfort and more about becoming like Jesus?
Prayer
God, help me to see blessing through Your eyes. When life is difficult, remind me that You might be doing Your deepest work in my heart. Grow in me the kind of life that reflects Your kingdom, regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
Day 5: Rooted for Influence
Devotional
There’s something powerful about a tree with deep roots. It doesn’t need to announce its strength or prove its worth. When storms come, it bends but doesn’t break. When seasons change, it adapts and continues to grow. And when the time is right, it produces fruit that nourishes others. This is the kind of influence Jesus wants to develop in us. Not the flashy, attention-grabbing kind that demands to be noticed, but the deep, rooted kind that makes a lasting difference. The Beatitudes prepare us for this kind of kingdom influence by developing character that can weather any storm and produce fruit in any season. You don’t have to perform your way into influence. You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room or the most impressive person in your circle. What you do need is to stay rooted in Christ. When your identity, strength, and purpose are anchored in Him, you become a source of stability and hope for others. This kind of influence often goes unnoticed by the world, but it’s exactly what our broken world needs. People are hungry for authenticity, desperate for peace, and longing for hope. They find these things not in those who shout the loudest, but in those who reflect the heart of Jesus most clearly. As you’ve journeyed through these devotionals this week, remember that God is more interested in your roots than your reputation. He’s developing in you the kind of character that can change the world – not through force or self-promotion, but through the quiet, powerful influence of a life deeply rooted in Christ. Stay rooted. The world needs the fruit that will grow from your life.
Bible Verse
‘What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.’ – 1 Corinthians 3:5-7
Reflection Question
How can you focus more on staying rooted in Christ rather than trying to create influence through your own efforts?
Quote
This is where Kingdom influence starts. Having a life deeply rooted in Christ. Good, healthy roots.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the work You’re doing in my heart. Help me to stay deeply rooted in You so that my life can bear fruit that brings glory to Your name and blessing to others. Use me as an instrument of Your kingdom influence in this world. Amen.
Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.
Visual Verse of the Day
"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst..." John 4:13-14
