Alan Penn

He's everywhere at once at all times. And Never more there than here or there.

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

It was great joining Njideka Akunyili Crosby — a gifted Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based artist — to unveil our first portrait together. This piece reflects so many chapters of Michelle and my story, and we’re thrilled that it will be on display in the Hope and Change lobby at the Obama Presidential Center starting this Juneteenth.

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop trying to fight what You told me to speak over. I keep putting my hands on battles my faith should be talking to. Teach me to bless what looks too big, declare what You said, and stop acting like the outcome depends on my strength. If You gave me the word, help me stand there in confidence until it moves. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

One of the challenges we face as Christians is learning how to be citizens of both earth and heaven. We belong to the kingdom of God, yet we also live under earthly governments and within earthly societies.

There is an unavoidable tension in this dual citizenship. As Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), yet we are also called to love and serve our neighbors here and now.

This challenge is not new. It goes all the way back to the Old Testament. In Jeremiah 29, the prophet writes to the Israelites exiled in Babylon. We might expect him to say, “Keep your distance. Don’t get too attached.” But instead, he tells them to build houses, plant gardens, marry, raise families, and settle down in Babylon (Jer. 29:4-6).

Then comes this surprising command: “Seek the welfare [shalom] of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer. 29:7).

In other words, God’s people were to be fully present in Babylon while remaining faithful to him. They were still Israelites, still worshipers of the true God, yet they were also to work for the good of the society in which they lived.

The same is true for us. We are called to serve our communities, love our neighbors, pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and contribute to the common good. Of course, there are times when we must “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). But most of the time, faithful Christian living means learning how to serve both God and neighbor within the places where he has planted us.

A Christian writing from the second century, called the Epistle to Diognetus, beautifully captures this tension:

“For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. For nowhere do they live in cities of their own, nor do they speak some unusual dialect, nor do they practice an eccentric way of life. This teaching of theirs has not been discovered by the thought and reflection of ingenious people, nor do they promote any human doctrine, as some do. But while they live in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each one’s lot was cast, and follow the local customs in dress and food and other aspects of life, at the same time they demonstrate the remarkable and admittedly unusual character of their own citizenship. They live in their own countries, but only as nonresidents; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign” (Diognetus 5:1-5).

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, as I step into this new week, I boldly declare victory over every circumstance. I refuse to settle for mere survival; instead, I will thrive and flourish in the face of every challenge. I step forward expecting good news, unexpected blessings, and divine favor. I expect to receive abundantly more than I have asked for. In the powerful name of Jesus, I claim these promises. Amen🙏🏽

[Chuck Swindoll @chuckswindoll]

Do you underestimate what God is up to in your life?

We do this without realizing it. We pencil in our own limits — too old, too inexperienced, too quiet, too late, too broken. We draw imaginary fences around what God could possibly do with someone like us. And then we wonder why our lives feel smaller than the abundant promise of Scripture.

But God has never once been constrained by our self-assessment. He used a shepherd boy to topple a giant. A widow's mite to outweigh the rich. An old man with no children to father nations. Whatever box you're tempted to put your future in — He's bigger than that.

Are you trusting Him?

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, I declare that the Holy Spirit is at work in me. Nothing is too hard for me to do. I am blessed, empowered, strengthened and enlightened. Against all odds, my heart is guarded. My mind shall be fruitful and innovative. I will prosper. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏾

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop waiting on perfect strength before I move. You told Gideon to go with what he had, so don’t let me insult the strength You gave me for this moment. Get shame off my back. Get regret out of my face. Give me the kind of joy that makes people wonder how I’m still smiling. And when doubt pulls up trying to ruin the day, make faith answer the door. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏾

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, let what I touch thrive, and let every system built to box me in trip over its own plan. Make my obedience dangerous to everything that expected me to quit. Let my grind disturb the folk who counted me out, and let my consistency shake the heads of my haters. Use me to break cycles, cross lines they drew, and change the rooms I enter. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop rushing past the life You gave me because I’m busy reaching for the next thing. Let me enjoy my food, talk without racing, laugh without checking the clock, and notice the small blessings trying to get my attention. If hurry tries to steal my day, make it leave empty-handed. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop answering every call like my name fixes everything. Some people don’t want help; they want somebody to sit in the mess with them. Teach me the difference before I give away the energy I needed for my own day. I can love them and still not let their panic become my schedule. Don’t let me spend my whole day being available and then wonder why I don’t have nothing left for me. In Jesus’ name.
Amen🙏🏽

[Alan Penn @alanpine]

@Pastor__West In the matchless name of Christ Jesus. AMEN!🙏🏿

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, walk into this new week before I do. Touch the plans I made and the mess I didn’t see coming. Make my work walk ahead of me and say what my mouth is tired of proving. Keep my mood from blocking what You send. Give me sense for open doors and peace for the closed one. If doubt moves in, choke the lie out of it and kick it out of my head. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop treating discipline like punishment. I asked for better, so help me live like I meant it. Let me keep one promise to myself before I chase ten new plans. Put sense in my yes, backbone in my no, and joy in the work nobody claps for. If laziness tries to bargain with my future, end it. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽.

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, keep me from measuring my life with somebody else’s ruler. I don’t want to hate my chapter because I peeked at theirs. Let me clap for them and still believe You didn’t skip me. Put patience in my pace and joy in my own lane. If comparison tries to sit at my table, send it home hungry and confused by my rejection. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, teach me not to treat every delay like a denial. Everybody knows how to panic when the plan doesn’t move fast enough. But give me enough faith to stop digging up seeds because I’m tired of waiting. Help me trust what You planted, water what I can, and leave the dirt alone until You say it’s time to turn the soil. In Jesus’ name.
Amen🙏🏽

[John Piper @JohnPiper]

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37

That is, change my desires so that I don’t find compelling pleasure in worthless things.

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, teach me to sit with You before I run from what’s trying to grow me. Sit me in the lesson until I stop blaming everybody else. Sit me in the wait without letting me get bitter. Sit me in the blessing without making me careless. And if I try to get up before I change, sit me back down—because I’m tired of new doors exposing old problems. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, let June open with sense, favor, and nerve. Put my feet where my prayers been pointing. Don’t let me drag May’s mood into a month You just opened for me. Let this month know I didn’t come in begging; I came in believing. Send answers with timing, people with clean motives, and wins that make me look and say, “That was God.” Let June find me prayed up, and done apologizing for expecting You to be God. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, close this month with Your fingerprints on my next step. I don’t need a perfect ending I need a clean handoff. Take what tried me, and teach me from it, don’t let it pack up with me. Let June meet me with fresh sense, better habits, and doors that know my name. I’m walking out thankful, not empty. In Jesus’ name.
Amen🙏🏽

[Pastor West @Pastor__West]

Dear Lord,

Today, help me stop treating focus like punishment. I asked You for better, so don’t let me get lazy when better starts asking for discipline. Let me enjoy the work without dragging my feet through it. Keep my mind in the room. Keep my hands on what matters. And if distraction shows up dressed like a break, don’t let me entertain it too long. In Jesus’ name. Amen🙏🏽