Today I want to talk about something that has become almost countercultural in our modern world.

Rest.

Not vacation. Not entertainment. Not distraction.

Rest. Real rest.

The kind of rest that reaches all the way into the soul. The kind of rest that tells your nervous system it is safe. The kind of rest that reminds you that the world does not depend on your constant striving. The kind of rest that allows you to remember who you are in Christ.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Present Truth Academy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The problem that many people have come to believe every thought they think. But one of the greatest discoveries in emotional and spiritual health is realizing: You are not your thoughts. You have thoughts.

And Christ-centered transformation begins when we learn how to participate with the mind of Christ rather than the fear-driven narratives of anxiety.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today we’re talking about something that sits underneath so much stress, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, conflict, and even religion itself: Fear.

Not healthy caution.
Not wisdom.
Not discernment.

But fear as an internal governing system.

Fear as a way of living.

And one of the central works of Christ is not merely forgiving sin—but liberating humanity from slavery to fear.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The tragedy is that many sincere believers love Jesus deeply while still living trapped inside performance-based identity systems.

And today I want us to rediscover something radical: In Christ, your value is not rooted in your productivity.

You are not what you produce.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Jesus was never in a hurry.

Think about that. The Savior of the world. The One carrying the redemption of humanity. The embodiment of God in flesh.

And yet when you read the Gospels carefully, Jesus is astonishingly unhurried.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today we’re beginning a brand-new series on Christ-centered stress management. And I want to say right out of the gate—this is not going to be another shallow “just pray more and calm down” conversation.

Because many sincere believers love Jesus deeply and still live with crushing anxiety, emotional exhaustion, burnout, nervous system overload, and constant inner pressure.

And honestly, modern culture is discipling us into stress.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today we’re diving into a question that is one of the most important in all of theology:

“Does God Use Violence?”

Scriptures seems to support this idea, but what does Jesus inform these stories and beliefs?

⁠Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today we’re diving into a question that always stirs the pot:

“If love is nonviolent… how does it actually protect?”

Because let’s be honest—this sounds beautiful in theory…
…but what happens when it gets real?

Let’s walk through it together.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Jesus says in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Not peacekeepers.

Peacekeepers avoid conflict.

Peacemakers step into it.

Peacemakers don’t ignore tension.

They transform it. Let's Unpack This!

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode we arrive at the question everyone eventually asks: “Okay… but what about real life?”

What about protecting your family?

What about evil?

What about self-defense?

Let’s go there honestly.

Hester Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rorschach God⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠