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What if the next level of your spiritual life is not about asking for more, but about clearing the way? In this opening message of a new Metron series, Bishop Jim Swilley invites us to stop trying to make things happen and start letting them happen. Drawing on Psalm 19, he explains that we are no longer bombarding heaven with petitions; we are becoming the embodiment of the prayer, open gates through which spirit can flow. What clogs the channels? Self-blame, old resentments, and the memories we keep replaying in the middle of the night. Bishop Swilley introduces the two phrases that will carry this month’s teaching, relentless gratitude and radical forgiveness, and makes a crucial distinction: forgiving something does not mean condoning it, liking it, or staying in harm’s way. It means cutting the tie so it no longer has dominion over you. From a spilled glass of water on a freshly finished painting, to giant spider webs on the front porch, to a cousin’s unexpected words about forgiving everything before you leave this world, this is a deeply personal, grown-folks conversation about inner peace, renewing the mind, and the freedom that comes when you finally get out of your own way. MAIN TAKEAWAYS – We are entering a season of flow, not force. Instead of trying to get God to move, the question becomes how to open the channels and let it happen. – You are the gate of your life and your day. What you say about your day helps shape what your day becomes, and no one can do that for you. – When the heart gets right, the speech gets right. Words carry what is going on inside, so the real work is in the heart, not in policing your vocabulary. – Forgiveness is not condoning. You can hate what happened, refuse to be a doormat, set boundaries, even walk away, and still forgive. – Unforgiveness keeps you connected. Every time you rehearse the offense, the web gets stronger; forgiveness severs the tie. – Radical forgiveness can reach back through generations: parents, their parents, ancestry, and the painful histories we inherit, not to excuse them but to stop the cycle. – If you cannot forgive yourself, you will struggle to forgive anyone else. Self-forgiveness turns self-blame into compassion. – You cannot change the past, but you can reframe what it means. Some things do not need to be exhumed; they can simply be forgiven and laid to rest. – Relentless gratitude and radical forgiveness are connected. If all things work together for good, all has to mean all. SCRIPTURES – Psalm 19:12-14 – “Who can understand his errors?” The anchor text: cleansing hidden faults so the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart flow from a clear inner life. – Psalm 24:7 – “Lift up your heads, O ye gates.” Bishop Swilley reads the gates as us: you are the portal of your life. – Job 22:28 – Decreeing a thing and seeing it established; prayer as embodiment rather than struggle. – Matthew 12:34 – Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Genesis 2:19 – Whatever Adam called the animals, that was its name; human agency in naming and framing life. – Acts 2:22-23 and Luke 23:34 – Peter’s rebuke on the day of Pentecost alongside “Father, forgive them,” held together as truths that exist simultaneously. – 1 Corinthians 13:7 – Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. Bishop Swilley reads from the Jonathan Mitchell New Testament to emphasize the allness of love. – Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good; either all means all or it doesn’t mean anything. – Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate you from the love of God; growth is about opening your channels, not earning approval. – Isaiah 10:27 – The anointing breaks the yoke, which he pairs with: forgiveness breaks the cycle. – Psalm 103:12 (thematic connection) – As far as the east is from the west; releasing what has been forgiven. FEATURED QUOTE “The anointing breaks the yoke. The forgiveness breaks the cycle.” – Bishop Jim Swilley

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow In the conclusion of PEACE, BE STILL!: Healing the Nervous System and Opting Out of the Stress Zone, Bishop Jim Swilley brings the series full circle with a deeply personal story and one of the most beloved passages in scripture. The night before this live teaching, he returned to the small Georgia town where he spent most of his childhood, for a reunion with classmates he had not seen in 56 years. What he expected to be simply interesting became a quiet, unexpected healing: warm welcomes, forgotten memories, and the sudden realization of who had been behind a frightening act of vandalism against his family decades earlier. From there he turns to Psalm 91 and its rich bird imagery, the secret place, the snare of the fowler, and shelter under sheltering wings, alongside why the simple sound of birds singing can feel so calming. This finale is about the hidden places in us that still need healing, why we sometimes overreact without knowing why, and how inner peace grows when your nervous system learns it is safe. It closes with breath work, birdsong, Psalm 23, and a spoken blessing over everyone listening: peace, be still. MAIN TAKEAWAYS – Healing can come when you least expect it. Some wounds surface only when you revisit the places where your story began. – You may carry small cracks in your foundation that you do not know are there. When you open up to spirit, even those can be healed. – Your story is what makes you strong, but it has to be healed, or it can take you down. – What matters most in your story is how it ends up. Painful chapters can become simply part of the story instead of something you still feel. – Go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated. – Overreactions are clues. When something hurts more than it should, there may be a secret place in you that is still hurting. – The snare of the fowler is a hidden trap. Some things that wound us are covert, some are overt, and Psalm 91 speaks to both. – Psalm 91 carries a nurturing, feminine image of God: a mother bird gathering her young under her wings. – Birds sing when they feel safe. Bishop Swilley shares research summaries suggesting birdsong can ease stress and signal safety to the brain, and invites you to simply step outside and listen. – There are things you need that you did not know you needed, like a good belly laugh. God does more than you can ask or think. – Long life in Psalm 91 means a satisfied life, not just a long one. – Breath work, presence, and affirmations (“I am whole,” “I am well,” “I am present”) are simple ways to calm the nervous system and come back to yourself. SCRIPTURES – Psalm 91 – The heart of this message: the secret place, the shadow of the Almighty, the snare of the fowler, covering feathers and sheltering wings, and verse 16’s promise of a long and satisfying life. Bishop Swilley recalls quoting the whole psalm aloud on a troubled flight home from the Philippines. – Psalm 23 – The still waters and the restored soul, spoken over listeners at the close. – Proverbs 20:27 – The spirit of man as the candle of the Lord, searching the hidden rooms of the heart. – Colossians 1:27 – Christ in you, the hope of glory: not above you, but within you. – Philippians 3:13-14 – It is safe to forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark. – Ephesians 3:20 – God does more than you can ask or think. – John 20:23 – Jesus’ words on forgiving and remitting sins, applied here to the healing of memories. – Matthew 10:14 – Shaking the dust off your feet where you are not received. – Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. – Mark 4:39 – “Peace, be still,” the words behind this series and its closing blessing (added for context). FEATURED QUOTE “When you overreact to something, there’s a secret place in you that’s hurting and you don’t even realize it.” – Bishop Jim Swilley

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow In this third installment of PEACE, BE STILL!: Healing the Nervous System and Opting Out of the Stress Zone, Bishop Jim Swilley moves from changing the way you think to changing the way you feel, and builds the whole teaching around a simple phrase that stayed with him all week: heal your story. Live from the Metron studio, he explores how painful experiences linger in the body and the nervous system, why denial and forced positivity rarely bring real healing, and why the resurrected Jesus, glorified yet still bearing his scars, points to a different way forward. Drawing on Isaiah 61, David at Ziklag, and a harrowing memory from his own early childhood, Bishop Swilley offers a practical path for shifting your inner narrative from powerlessness and shame to agency, growth, and redemption. This is a message about inner healing, renewing the mind, and discovering that the scars you carry can become the very thing that lets you walk through walls. MAIN TAKEAWAYS – Your past lives in your body. Until you stop feeling it in your body, you may not be fully healed from it, which is why “just move on” so rarely works. – Healing is not denial. Like the man at the pool of Bethesda, you take your mat with you: the memory comes along, but into a new reality. – Jesus kept his scars in a glorified body. Scars do not cancel beauty; they identify you and remind you where you have come from. – When you embrace your scars, limits of money, health, or circumstance lose their power to wall you in or wall you out. – Self-talk matters. David sat on the ashes at Ziklag and encouraged himself. When no one else is speaking life to you, you can speak it to yourself. – Five ways to heal your story: examine the story you are telling, separate fact from interpretation, try mindful journaling, reframe a contamination story into a redemption story, and share in safe, trusted spaces. – Compassion comes before encouragement. Sometimes people first need someone to say, “I’m so sorry that’s happening to you.” – Trauma isolates, but you are not alone. Telling your story to encourage someone gives them beauty for ashes and makes you stronger. – Tell it from the other side. Crucifixion without resurrection is not the point; the healed testimony is the one that sets people free. SCRIPTURES – Isaiah 61:1-3 – Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: the central exchange of this message. – Luke 4:16-30 – Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and declares it fulfilled. – 1 Samuel 30:1-6 – At Ziklag, abandoned and sitting in the ashes, David encourages himself in the Lord. – Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 103:1-2 – David speaking directly to his own soul. – Psalm 30:11 – Mourning turned into dancing, the transactional nature of healing. – John 5:1-9 – “Take up your bed and walk”: healing that carries the memory into a new reality. – Luke 24:13-35 and John 20:11-18 – The risen Jesus goes unrecognized on the road to Emmaus and in the garden. – Acts 1:3 – The forty days Jesus spent speaking about the kingdom, the inspiration behind Metron. – John 20:19-29 – Jesus appears behind closed doors and shows Thomas his scars. – Matthew 16:24, Matthew 26:39, and Hebrews 12:2 – Taking up the cross, and enduring it for the joy set before him. – Revelation 12:11 – Overcoming by the word of your testimony. – James 5:16 – Sharing with one another so that you may be healed. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 – What you face is common to all; you are not alone. – Daniel 3 – In the fiery furnace, the only thing that burned was what bound them. FEATURED QUOTE “When you embrace your scars, you’re able to walk through walls.” – Bishop Jim Swilley

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow Can the painful experiences of your past become the foundation for your healing and strength? In this powerful continuation of Peace, Be Still!, Bishop Jim Swilley explores the connection between trauma, the nervous system, spiritual healing, and the transformative power of truth. Drawing from Psalm 30, Exodus 15, and insights from The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Bishop Jim explains how unresolved experiences can continue influencing our bodies long after the events themselves have passed. Through personal stories of physical pain, coming out, religious trauma, and emotional freedom, he reveals a deeper understanding of Jehovah Rapha: the God who heals and transforms bitter experiences into something sweet. Healing isn’t always about erasing what happened. Sometimes it’s about transforming our relationship with the past until mourning becomes dancing. Main Takeaways 1. Your body may still be living in a past you’ve already survived. Trauma can affect more than memories and emotions. Our bodies may continue responding to experiences that are no longer happening. Healing involves becoming aware of these responses and reconnecting with the safety of the present moment. 2. Healing transforms pain rather than simply erasing it. Psalm 30:11 doesn’t say God removed mourning. It says God turned mourning into dancing. The experiences that once caused suffering can eventually become sources of wisdom, compassion, and strength. 3. Truth and authenticity are essential to inner peace. Bishop Jim reflects on the emotional and physical weight of hiding his identity for decades. Living authentically helped him release shame and discover a relationship with God rooted in acceptance rather than fear. 4. Your nervous system needs safety, not constant fear. Fear-based religious teachings, unhealthy relationships, and unresolved trauma can reinforce feelings of danger. Safe relationships, honest conversations, and compassionate spiritual understanding create opportunities for healing. 5. Jehovah Rapha makes bitter experiences sweet. In Exodus 15, Moses encounters the bitter waters of Marah. When a tree is placed into the water, the water becomes sweet. Bishop Jim interprets this as a spiritual picture of the Tree of Life transforming the bitterness of our experiences. 6. You cannot heal what you continually refuse to acknowledge. Suppressed emotions, shame, and unprocessed experiences can keep us disconnected from ourselves. Healing requires the courage to recognize what happened, experience our emotions, and process them in healthy ways. 7. Your past is part of your story, but it doesn’t have to control your future. The goal isn’t to pretend painful experiences never happened. It’s to reach a place where those experiences no longer dictate our identity, relationships, or expectations for tomorrow. Key Scriptures Psalm 30:5, 11 — Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. God turns mourning into dancing. Exodus 15:22–26 — The bitter waters of Marah become sweet, revealing Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. Proverbs 4:23 — Guard your heart, for the issues of life flow from it. James 5:16 — Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. Genesis 50:20 — Joseph recognizes how God brought good out of what others intended for evil. Hebrews 12:2 — For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. Galatians 3:28 — In Christ, distinctions of male and female do not determine spiritual standing. Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “Many times your body is living in the past. Your spirit is in the now. Your body sometimes has not caught up.” Another central insight from Bishop Jim: “Jehovah Rapha is the God who makes bitter experiences sweet.”

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow What if the storm you need to calm isn’t happening around you, but within you? In this opening message of his new Metron Live series, Bishop Jim Swilley explores the connection between spirituality, mindset, emotional health, and the nervous system. Building on last month’s teachings about mindset, he examines how anxiety, prolonged stress, and our fight-or-flight responses shape our everyday experiences. Through the story of Jesus calming the storm, personal experiences with caregiving, financial responsibilities, and life’s uncertainties, Bishop Jim challenges us to discover a peace that doesn’t depend on perfect circumstances. Sometimes the greatest transformation isn’t changing what’s happening around us, but changing how we respond to it. Main Takeaways 1. Peace Begins Within, Not Around You Mark 4:35–41 When Jesus slept through the storm, He demonstrated an internal peace that wasn’t dependent on external conditions. Rather than fighting or fleeing the storm, He remained confident in His destination. We can learn to experience peace even when circumstances remain uncertain. 2. Your Nervous System Influences Your Reality 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Our reactions aren’t exclusively mental or spiritual. They’re physiological, too. Bishop Jim explains how the nervous system processes stress and why seemingly minor situations can sometimes trigger overwhelming emotional responses. Understanding these patterns can help us respond more intentionally. 3. You May Still Be Living in Survival Mode Psalm 46:10 Prolonged stress can leave the nervous system on high alert even after the original threat has passed. Through stories about caring for his parents and managing major responsibilities, Bishop Jim illustrates how emotional burdens can become physical tension. Learning to be still means allowing both mind and body to experience rest. 4. Renewing Your Mind Changes Your Responses Romans 12:2 Bishop Jim connects the biblical principle of renewing the mind with neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and change. Personal growth often becomes evident when we encounter familiar challenges but respond with greater calm, confidence, and understanding. 5. Not Every Concern Deserves Your Anxiety Philippians 4:6–8; 1 Peter 5:7 There’s a difference between reasonable caution and unnecessary worry. Using examples from everyday life, Bishop Jim reminds us that being responsible doesn’t require being constantly anxious. We can acknowledge genuine concerns without allowing fear to dominate our thoughts. 6. Recognize How Much You’ve Already Overcome Psalm 27:1 Sometimes we’re so focused on current challenges that we forget everything we’ve already successfully navigated. Bishop Jim encourages us to recognize our resilience, acknowledge our growth, and remember that we’ve figured out difficult situations before. 7. Abundant Life Is Meant to Be Enjoyed John 10:10 Life isn’t supposed to be an endless cycle of responsibility, stress, and sacrifice. Whether it’s taking a vacation, enjoying something you’ve worked for, or simply allowing yourself to rest, Bishop Jim reminds us that enjoying life is part of living abundantly. Featured Quote “He wasn’t saying peace be still to the storm. He was saying peace be still to in here.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Final Thought Peace isn’t the absence of challenges. It’s learning to remain grounded while navigating them. You don’t have to eliminate every storm to experience stillness, and you don’t have to live in survival mode simply because you’ve become good at surviving. Peace, be still.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow In this concluding message of Metron’s mindset series, Bishop Jim Swilley reframes being “born again” as something deeper than adopting a religious belief: it is a return to the original way we were created to see ourselves, other people, and the world. Using the analogy of the settings on a phone, Bishop Jim explains that many of our automatic reactions are produced by mental settings accumulated through family, religion, fear, trauma, survival, culture, and experience. Some of those settings once protected or taught us something important, but others have become obsolete and continue triggering reactions long after they are useful. Spiritual transformation, then, involves becoming conscious of those settings and intentionally changing them. Drawing from Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, the message presents being born again as recovering our “factory settings”—learning again to see without inherited prejudice, unnecessary fear, resentment, or limitation. Bishop Jim closes the series by identifying four settings that can reshape how we experience life: gratitude, understanding, forgiveness, and humor. Pasted text Main Takeaways Your mindset functions like the settings on your phone. Certain circumstances trigger predictable responses because of settings established in your mind. You may not have consciously chosen every setting, and some may have developed in survival mode, but becoming aware of them gives you the opportunity to change them. This connects strongly with Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Being born again can be understood as returning to your original spiritual settings. Bishop Jim interprets Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3–6 not primarily as a formula for getting into heaven, but as a transformation in how we see the Kingdom of God. The emphasis is on returning to what he calls the “original creation”—before fear, prejudice, exclusion, and other learned filters distorted our vision. Some settings were inherited rather than consciously chosen. Family patterns, cultural assumptions, religious traditions, painful experiences, and survival responses can become automatic mental programming. Bishop Jim connects this with generational patterns: unresolved fear in one generation can become the worldview handed to the next. Not everything you learned needs to be discarded. Wisdom does not mean becoming naïve. Some experiences teach necessary lessons about safety, responsibility, boundaries, and trust. Jesus’ instruction to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16) provides the balance: recover childlike openness without abandoning mature discernment. Gratitude is the first setting. Instead of continually dividing experiences into good and bad, Bishop Jim encourages viewing life through gratitude—even recognizing that painful experiences can teach, shape, and mature us. This echoes Romans 8:28 and the biblical emphasis on giving thanks in all circumstances. Understanding is the second setting. Replace “Why is this happening to me?” with “What is this showing me?” Pain, repetition, and recurring patterns can contain information. If something continually repeats, examine the mental setting producing or interpreting that experience. Forgiveness is the third setting. Forgiveness does not require pretending something was acceptable or restoring trust where trust is no longer appropriate. It means refusing to continually rehearse an injury and emotionally relive it. Forgiveness interrupts the cycle that keeps an old experience active in the present. Humor is the fourth setting. Learning to laugh—particularly at ourselves—helps loosen the grip of fear, ego, and excessive seriousness. Bishop Jim connects this with remembering laughter in his own family and rediscovering dimensions of people that difficult final seasons can sometimes obscure. Transformation requires examining the hidden settings. Bishop Jim invokes Psalm 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults,” as an invitation to examine subconscious patterns we may not even realize are operating. A “single eye” produces a life filled with light. The series ultimately returns to Matthew 6:22: “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Change the lens through which life is interpreted, and the experience of life itself begins to change. Four Settings to Keep Gratitude → Understanding → Forgiveness → Humor Rather than allowing fear, resentment, inherited assumptions, or old survival mechanisms to remain the default, Bishop Jim proposes deliberately making these four perspectives the settings through which we process life. Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “You go through life and you collect these different settings that are obsolete now, and they’re not serving you.” — Bishop Jim Swilley That statement captures the central idea of the message: spiritual growth isn’t necessarily about becoming someone entirely new. Sometimes it is about identifying what has accumulated over the years, keeping the wisdom, deleting what is obsolete, and returning to the clearer vision that was there before fear taught us how to see.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow In Part 3 of “If Your Eye Is Single,” Bishop Jim Swilley continues exploring mindset as the internal “setting” through which we interpret our lives. His central argument is that many things traditionally understood as spiritual warfare, strongholds, demons, and adversaries can also be understood as patterns of thought that oppose our purpose and distort our perception. Rather than arguing with an unhealthy setting, we can recognize it, change it, and consciously choose a different response. Through Scripture, personal stories, and unconventional interpretations of biblical imagery, Bishop Jim emphasizes that transformation happens when we stop surrendering authority to inherited beliefs, fear, past experiences, or negative thinking and begin examining the mental settings through which we interpret reality. Difficulty may still come, but our response determines what that difficulty produces in us. Main Takeaways Your mindset functions like a setting. Bishop Jim compares mindset to the settings on a phone, computer, car, or thermostat. When the setting produces the wrong result, arguing with it accomplishes nothing; the setting itself has to change. You are not obligated to believe everything you think. Some thoughts are temporary, while others have become deeply established because of childhood experiences, religious teaching, relationships, trauma, or repeated reinforcement. Recognizing that a thought exists does not require accepting it as truth. Strongholds can be understood as entrenched patterns of thought. Bishop Jim connects Paul’s language about spiritual warfare with Paul’s instruction about “casting down imaginations” and bringing thoughts into obedience. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 becomes a major framework for understanding the battle as something occurring within perception and thought. Scripture can reveal truth beyond strict literalism. Much of the message explores biblical stories symbolically rather than exclusively historically. Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, Pharaoh, the Red Sea, Daniel’s Prince of Persia, and other images become ways of discussing consciousness, fear, ego, adversity, transformation, and spiritual awakening. Adversarial thoughts can become your “devil.” Bishop Jim points to the basic idea of an adversary and applies it internally: a thought that continually works against your purpose can function as an adversarial force within your life. This reframes spiritual warfare as recognizing and confronting thoughts that continually undermine who you are becoming. Pressure can reveal abilities you did not know you possessed. Moses standing between Pharaoh and the Red Sea becomes an image of those moments when the only way forward is through. Sometimes we discover what we can do precisely because circumstances leave us no alternative. Stop asking only, “Why is this happening to me?” A more transformative question is: What can this teach me? How can this make me stronger? Bishop Jim uses his upcoming shoulder replacement and current pain as an example of deliberately changing the meaning attached to a difficult experience. Eventually, you have to take ownership of your response. What happened to you may genuinely have been caused by someone else. But continuing to surrender control of your present life to that event keeps the old setting active. We cannot necessarily control what happens, but we have significant influence over how we respond. Feelings do not have to be denied to change your mindset. Bishop Jim specifically acknowledges allowing himself to feel disappointment, pain, or frustration rather than suppressing it. The goal is not pretending something is good; it is refusing to remain mentally trapped there. Repentance can mean changing your thinking. In this framework, repentance becomes the recognition that a way of thinking is no longer producing life and choosing another way to perceive the situation. Key Scriptures Matthew 6:22–23 — “If your eye be single…” The foundational text of the series. Bishop Jim interprets the “single” or healthy eye in terms of healthy perception: when perception changes, what we experience becomes filled with light. Romans 15:4 — Scripture was written for instruction so that through endurance and its encouragement we might maintain hope. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 — The weapons of our warfare are not carnal; they pull down strongholds, cast down imaginations, and bring thoughts into obedience. This is one of the clearest biblical connections to the message’s emphasis on mindset. Daniel 10 — The Prince of Persia becomes an image Bishop Jim uses for entrenched thoughts that seem to delay or resist truths already known within the spirit. Exodus 14 — Moses and the Red Sea illustrate the capacity that can emerge when circumstances force us beyond what we previously believed we could do. Psalm 112:7 — The person whose heart is established is not afraid of bad news. Psalm 138:8 — “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” Bishop Jim describes this as one of the truths that became deeply established in his own thinking. Romans 8:28 — “All things work together for good…” The message emphasizes developing a mindset capable of looking for transformation even within difficulty. Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This captures the larger theme of changing the internal settings through which life is perceived. Philippians 4:7 — The “peace that passes understanding” illustrates an inner experience that can transcend the apparent logic of circumstances. John 16:33 — “In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “You’re not obligated to believe everything you think.” — Bishop Jim Swilley That line captures the heart of this installment: thoughts can be examined rather than automatically obeyed. A mindset may have been established years ago and remained silently active—like an alarm setting waiting until 3:00 a.m. to reveal itself. Becoming conscious of the setting gives us the opportunity to change it. Another line that strongly captures the closing movement of the message is: “I’m going to start declaring the end from the beginning. I’m going to prophesy my own resurrection.” — Bishop Jim Swilley The message ultimately moves from examining inherited beliefs to consciously choosing expectation: I will get through this. I will learn from this. I will become stronger. This circumstance does not get to write the ending of my story.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow This message continues Bishop Jim Swilley’s teaching on mindset, using the image of the crown of thorns as a metaphor for old mental settings, defenses, survival patterns, shame, and self-blame that may once have protected us but now cause pain. The central challenge is to recognize that what appears to be a problem with life may actually be an outdated setting through which we interpret life. Jim encourages listeners to forgive themselves for decisions made with the understanding they had at the time, examine old wounds without defensiveness, and move into a renewed way of thinking. The crown of thorns represents the old mindset; resurrection represents living from a new one. Main Takeaways Your mindset is a setting. Like a device configured incorrectly, we can interpret everything through mental settings formed by childhood, culture, relationships, trauma, religion, and past experiences. Other people aren’t necessarily seeing what you’re seeing. Their responses are filtered through their own settings, which explains why arguing with someone rarely changes a deeply rooted mindset. The crown of thorns becomes a picture of outdated self-protection. Jim describes the “thorns” as defenses and survival mechanisms that developed for a reason but may no longer serve us. Self-forgiveness is part of changing the setting. Instead of continually judging your past with what you know today, recognize the mindset and information you were operating from then. You can own your past without continuing to punish yourself for it. Accountability doesn’t require permanent shame. Looking directly at old wounds can actually remove their power. Stop interpreting every hardship through self-blame. Negative events aren’t automatic proof that you deserve punishment or that life is against you. The resurrection becomes a metaphor for renewed thinking. The invitation is to leave obsolete mindsets behind and begin thinking from the perspective of who you are now. Truth makes constant self-defense unnecessary. When you understand both your strengths and limitations, the protective “thorns” become less necessary. Scripture Connections Luke 23:34 — “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Jim turns this inward as an invitation toward self-forgiveness: forgive yourself for what you didn’t yet understand. Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This strongly parallels the message’s central image of changing your mental settings. Matthew 16:24 — Jesus’ call to “take up his cross” becomes part of Jim’s exploration of the cross as transformation rather than simply punishment. Genesis 3:11 — “Who told thee that thou wast naked?” Jim connects this with the voices and experiences that taught people to feel ashamed, exposed, or unworthy. Psalm 23:6 — “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Past mistakes do not prevent goodness and mercy from continuing to operate. Romans 8:28 — “All things work together for good.” Even experiences we wish we could change can ultimately become part of our growth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” The old mental setting does not have to define the person who exists now. Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “The thorns were protections that you developed over the years that no longer serve you.” That captures the heart of the message: you don’t have to hate the version of yourself that developed the thorns. You can understand why they were necessary, forgive yourself, and recognize when it’s finally time to take the crown off.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow Bishop Jim Swilley begins a new series centered on mindset—not simply what we think in a given moment, but the deeper, habitual way we interpret ourselves, other people, and the world around us. Using Jesus’ words, “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matthew 6:22), Jim argues that our internal lens can become one of the strongest forces shaping our lived experience. A mindset formed through fear, scarcity, rejection, victimization, or old experiences can keep recreating the same patterns. But mindset is not permanently fixed. Through awareness, spiritual growth, personal responsibility, and small intentional changes, we can reshape the way we see—and ultimately reshape the reality we experience. Main Takeaways Your mindset is the “hard drive” of your life. Jim challenges the idea that external forces are always determining our circumstances. Our habitual beliefs, attitudes, expectations, and reactions often have far more influence than we realize. A “single eye” is a healthy, focused perception. Matthew 6:22 sits within Jesus’ larger teaching about worry, provision, the lilies of the field, and seeking first the Kingdom (Matthew 6:25–34). The question becomes: What lens are you continually using to see your life? Pay attention to your automatic reactions. Affirmations can be powerful, but the spontaneous words that emerge when something unexpected happens can reveal the mindset underneath. As Jesus taught, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Develop an expectation of abundance. Jim connects this with Proverbs 21:5 and his own foundational belief from Psalm 138:8: “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” An abundance mindset doesn’t mean denying problems; it means believing that difficulty does not get the final word. Repeated patterns deserve examination. When the same conflict follows us through multiple jobs, relationships, friendships, or circumstances, it may be worth asking whether our own perception is part of the pattern. Personal responsibility creates the possibility for change. Choose a growth mindset over a fixed mindset. Some parts of our worldview were established very early, but that doesn’t mean they must remain untouched. Like renovating an older home while preserving its foundation, we can keep what serves us while updating what has become obsolete. Your mindset can become its own “personal hell.” Jim interprets the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 through the lens of mindset. The servant who buried his talent viewed his master through fear and resentment, while the others acted from possibility and multiplication. The warning is that an unchanged mindset can imprison us in the same experience repeatedly. Don’t assume every new situation will repeat an old wound. Racism, homophobia, misogyny, betrayal, injustice, and rejection are real, but expecting them in every interaction can cause past experiences to dictate present relationships. Discern what is actually happening instead of automatically imposing yesterday onto today. Microdose the change. Jim’s practical closing idea is powerful: don’t expect to transform decades of thinking overnight. Make small changes. Notice when something that once triggered you no longer controls you. Celebrate those moments as evidence that your mindset is growing. Key Scriptures Matthew 6:22 — “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Matthew 6:25–34 — Jesus’ teaching on worry, provision, considering the lilies, and seeking first the Kingdom. Psalm 138:8 — “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Proverbs 21:5 — The thoughts/plans of the diligent lead toward abundance. Matthew 25:14–30 — The parable of the talents and the contrasting responses of the servants. Matthew 25:31–46 — “I was hungry, and ye gave me meat…” connecting spirituality with our response to others. Mark 7:13 — Tradition can make the Word ineffective, reinforcing Jim’s point about deeply established patterns of thought. Quote of the Message “Your mindset can be your personal hell.” — Bishop Jim Swilley That statement captures the heart of the teaching. The good news is that mindset can change. Jim closes by reminding us that we have the mind of Christ and can become increasingly open to the Spirit, learning to think better, live better, and continually shape and reshape our reality.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow Everything Is Energy: Healing the Energy You Carry Bishop Jim Swilley closes this installment of The Healing Word: Everything Is Energy and We’re All Connected by exploring how the emotional and spiritual energy we absorb—especially early in life—can continue shaping our identity, relationships, choices, and even our experience of healing. Through personal stories about family, grief and closure, the woman with the issue of blood, forgiveness, Dolly Parton’s formative influences, and Zach’s testimony about his sister rebuilding her life, Jim challenges us to recognize what belongs to us and what we have simply carried for someone else. Healing begins when we tell ourselves the truth without condemnation, release inherited shame and limiting beliefs, and intentionally choose the energy of freedom, affirmation, health, and life. Main Takeaways Early energy can become lifelong programming. Experiences, words, people, places, and even seemingly insignificant childhood impressions can establish patterns that continue influencing us decades later. The question is not simply, “What happened to me?” but “What energy did I attach to what happened?” You don’t have to carry someone else’s infection. Shame, fear, inadequacy, rejection, and limitation can be projected onto us by parents, religious leaders, culture, relationships, or other authority figures. Forgiveness allows us to acknowledge what happened without continuing to carry its energy. Forgiveness is release, not approval. Jim emphasizes that forgiving someone does not condone abuse, mistreatment, or dysfunction. It means refusing to allow another person’s unresolved issues to continue living inside you. Jesus changed the energy around the rejected. In the story of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus does more than acknowledge her physical healing—He publicly calls her “Daughter.” Instead of reinforcing the shame surrounding her condition, He restores dignity and belonging. See Mark 5:25–34; Luke 8:43–48. Sometimes healing requires creating your own path of faith. The woman believed, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). Jim points out that she acted from her own conviction rather than waiting for permission from the religious system around her. Prayer can look like speaking well-being into another person. Drawing from James 5:13–16, Jim expands prayer beyond religious language. Sometimes prayer is simply looking at someone in difficulty and sincerely saying, “You’re going to be okay.” Let people experience their joy. James says, “Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Rather than diminishing another person’s happiness, confidence, accomplishment, or self-expression, we can celebrate it. Freedom comes through truth. Facing family dysfunction, painful memories, inherited beliefs, or personal history honestly does not require self-condemnation. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Your worst experience does not have to determine your future. Zach’s story about his sister illustrates how a devastating experience can become the catalyst for leaving an unhealthy environment, rediscovering identity, and building an entirely different life. Scriptures Referenced James 5:13–16 — Prayer, healing, anointing, and speaking well-being over those experiencing weakness or difficulty. Mark 5:25–34 / Luke 8:43–48 — The woman with the issue of blood reaches for Jesus and is healed; Jesus publicly calls her “Daughter.” Leviticus 15:19–30 — The purity laws surrounding a woman’s menstrual cycle and prolonged bleeding, providing important cultural context for the woman with the issue of blood. Jeremiah 6:14 — “Peace, peace; when there is no peace,” highlighting the danger of addressing symptoms without confronting deeper wounds. James 4:2 — “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” Luke 4:18 / Isaiah 61:1 — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” and the proclamation of liberty to the captives. John 8:32, 36 — The truth makes us free, and “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 — “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Ephesians 2:6 — We are raised up and seated together in heavenly places. Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “Forgiving a situation is saying, ‘I can’t let your energy fester in me anymore.’” That thought captures the heart of the message: you can acknowledge what happened, tell the truth about it, forgive what needs to be forgiven, and refuse to spend the rest of your life carrying energy that was never yours.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow Bishop Jim Swilley continues “The Healing Word” by turning the focus inward: the most powerful healing word we may ever hear is the one we learn to speak to ourselves. He reframes “familiar spirits” as familiar patterns of thought—old stories, survival mechanisms, fears, and emotional responses that once protected us but can eventually prevent us from moving forward. Healing does not require denying pain or pretending difficult experiences never happened. Instead, it requires changing the energy we continue giving those experiences. Like the man at Bethesda, we can remember the bed without remaining confined to it. Through renewed thinking, healthy relationships, empathy, and a willingness to interrupt familiar patterns, we can transform the internal dialogue that shapes our present reality. Main Takeaways The most significant healing word may come from within. Other people can encourage and strengthen us, but our continual internal monologue profoundly affects how we experience our lives. This connects naturally with Romans 12:2 and transformation through the renewing of the mind. “Familiar spirits” can be understood as familiar ways of thinking. Bishop Jim reframes demons as obsolete thoughts and survival patterns rooted in what has become emotionally familiar. In Matthew 12:43–45, Jesus describes an unclean spirit attempting to return to its former “house,” illustrating the pull toward what is familiar even after change has begun. Freedom can feel unfamiliar. The message uses examples of animals remaining psychologically confined after physical restraints are removed. In the same way, people can leave a difficult environment while continuing to carry the environment internally. The Holy Spirit represents movement rather than stagnation. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Spiritual transformation continually calls us beyond obsolete patterns and toward new ways of seeing ourselves and our circumstances. Change the energy attached to your story. In John 5:1–9, the man at Bethesda explains why he has remained where he is for 38 years. Jesus does not debate the story; He introduces a new possibility: “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The bed remains part of the man's history, but it no longer determines his identity or destination. Change the question from “Why me?” to “What now?” Instead of continually energizing the question of why something happened, ask what can be learned, changed, created, or healed through it. This is closely connected to metanoia—repentance understood as changing the mind. Acknowledging pain is not the same as remaining trapped in it. Jesus Himself acknowledged suffering: “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). Healing does not require pretending something doesn't hurt. Not everyone is qualified to speak into your pain. A healing word is different from dismissive positivity. Someone saying “count your blessings” can minimize legitimate pain, while someone who understands, empathizes, and then introduces hope can genuinely change the energy of the conversation. Romans 12:15 says, “Weep with those who weep.” Timing matters. Proverbs 15:23 celebrates “a word spoken in due season.” Even something true can become unhelpful when spoken without empathy, relationship, or appropriate timing. Deliverance can mean interrupting an old thought. Rather than a dramatic supernatural spectacle, Bishop Jim describes deliverance as recognizing a familiar pattern, interrupting it, and redirecting the mind toward something healthier and more life-giving. Featured Quote “Sometimes a thought just needs to be interrupted and redirected.”— Bishop Jim Swilley Another line that captures the heart of the message is: “You still keep your story. You still remember that you were on that bed. It’s just that now you’re changing the energy on it.”— Bishop Jim Swilley Key Scriptures Psalm 107:20 — “He sent His word and healed them.” Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” John 5:1–9 — Jesus tells the man at Bethesda to rise, take up his bed, and walk. Matthew 12:43–45 — The unclean spirit seeks to return to its familiar house. Mark 5:1–13 — Legion resists being sent away from familiar territory. Acts 17:28 — “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Romans 12:15 — “Weep with those who weep.” Proverbs 15:23 — The power of “a word spoken in due season.” Matthew 26:39 — Jesus acknowledges His suffering while continuing forward.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow   Bishop Jim Swilley continues “The Healing Word” by exploring healing not simply as something that comes vertically “from God,” but as something that also moves horizontally through human connection, relationships, words, thoughts, and presence. Beginning with Jesus healing the centurion’s servant from a distance, Jim considers how difficult circumstances can actually become catalysts for revelation. The message moves into the power of our thoughts and intentions, while avoiding the simplistic idea that every negative experience is something we somehow attracted. Ultimately, the emphasis is on connection: sometimes the healing word is encouragement, sometimes it is simply hearing the voice of someone you trust, and sometimes it is an uncomfortable truth spoken by someone who loves you. Healing happens as we remain open, nurture our relationships, release offenses, reframe painful memories, and become intentional about the energy and words we send into one another’s lives. Main Takeaways 1. Sometimes the negative becomes the catalyst for revelation.Jim returns to the Roman centurion who tells Jesus, “speak the word only” and his servant will be healed. The centurion understood that physical proximity was not necessary for healing. Jim’s larger point is that circumstances that make us uncomfortable, insecure, rejected, or seemingly trapped can sometimes push us into seeing possibilities we would never have considered otherwise. Scripture: Matthew 8:5–13; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 11:7 “Sometimes the worst thing that ever happened to you may be the best thing that ever happened to you.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 2. The healing word is not limited by distance.Psalm 107 says that God “sent his word, and healed them.” Jim connects this with prayer, positive intention, “sending good energy,” and simply intentionally holding another person in your thoughts. Different people may use different terminology, but the underlying idea is connection that transcends physical distance. Scripture: Psalm 107:20; Matthew 8:8 3. Healing is horizontal as well as vertical.Spirituality is not only about our relationship with God. Jim emphasizes the importance of the “horizontal beam” — our relationships with one another. Jesus connected loving God with loving our neighbor, making human relationship an essential expression of spiritual life. Scripture: Matthew 22:37–40; Ecclesiastes 4:12 “It’s the relationships in your life that reveal the Christ to you.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 4. Prayer should seek agreement rather than control.Prayer can become unhealthy when it is really an attempt to make another person’s circumstances conform to what we think should happen. Jim argues that before praying for someone, we should understand what that person actually wants rather than assuming we know the proper outcome. Scripture: Romans 8:26; Matthew 18:19 5. Mature spirituality moves beyond everything being simply good or bad.Using the imagery of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil versus the Tree of Life, Jim challenges binary thinking. Heroes can be flawed. Villains can be wounded people. Painful circumstances can produce unexpected growth. The cross itself demonstrates that suffering and resurrection can exist within the same story. Scripture: Genesis 2:9; Hebrews 12:2 6. Unreleased offenses can keep the past alive in the present.Jim uses Charles Manson as an extreme example of what can happen when someone continually collects offenses and interprets everything through what has been done to them. The lesson is not to deny what happened, but to process it rather than allowing yesterday’s pain to dictate tomorrow’s behavior. “When you keep collecting offenses, it makes you crazy after a while.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 7. Our thoughts matter, which makes intentional living both freeing and challenging.Jim shares a message from Charles McFall responding to the statement, “Every thought I think is creating my future.” “It is as freeing as it is terrifying. Living without intent is scary and it’s hard work to always be intentional.” — Charles McFall Jim acknowledges the tension: we cannot simply turn off unwanted thoughts. The practical work is learning how to reframe them rather than repeatedly allowing painful memories or fearful projections to control the present. Scripture: Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8 8. Sometimes we need someone’s presence more than their advice.Jim describes calling someone close to him during an intense week and deliberately not talking about what was troubling him. The conversation itself was enough. Sometimes healing energy comes through familiarity, connection, a trusted voice, or someone simply saying, “It’s going to be okay.” Scripture: Proverbs 17:17; Galatians 6:2 9. A healing word isn't always a comfortable word.Like medicine, something can hurt while ultimately helping us. Someone who genuinely loves us may tell us something we do not want to hear. Healthy relationships create enough safety for truth, vulnerability, correction, and growth. “A healing word sometimes is an uncomfortable word. It’s a challenging word.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Scripture: Proverbs 27:6; Ephesians 4:15 10. Relationships are worth maintaining because we need connection.One of the strongest conclusions of the message is that independence should not become isolation. Keeping relational “airwaves clear,” releasing unnecessary offenses, communicating honestly, and understanding how different people connect can become part of our own healing. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; 1 Corinthians 12:20–21 The Central Thought You cannot control every thought that enters your mind, every painful memory, every difficult circumstance, or every unknown in your future. But you can change the framework through which you interpret them. Instead of repeatedly wounding yourself with yesterday, you can extract whatever truth is useful, release what belongs to someone else, and remain open to the people whose presence brings healing into your life. “Hang on and keep staying open and get outside of yourself and let people speak into your life and nourish and nurture your relationships, because you never know when you’re going to need that person.” — Bishop Jim Swilley

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow Bishop Jim Swilley begins a new Metron series exploring prayer, healing, intention, energy, and the power of human connection. Rather than presenting prayer simply as something directed vertically toward a distant God, Jim considers the deeply horizontal nature of prayer—the energy, compassion, words, touch, encouragement, and intention that human beings transmit to one another. Through Scripture and personal stories ranging from hospital rooms and Ken’s recovery to a remarkable encounter with a Muslim man in Nigeria, Jim argues that healing transcends religious terminology. Whether someone says, “I’m praying for you,” “I’m sending healing energy,” or simply, “I’m thinking about you,” the important thing is the loving intention behind the words. Sometimes the healing word is not a dramatic prayer at all. Sometimes it is simply letting another person know: I see you. I’m thinking about you. You are not alone. Main Takeaways Prayer is relational and horizontal. Jim challenges the image of prayer as merely attempting to persuade God somewhere “up there.” Jesus repeatedly placed spiritual authority into human hands: “If two of you agree on earth…” (Matthew 18:19), and “Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). We participate in one another’s healing. Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22-23), while James instructed believers to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Jim sees these passages as emphasizing connection rather than spiritual isolation. Sometimes healing begins with simply sending a word. “He sent His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). The Roman centurion understood this principle when he told Jesus, “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8-10). Distance did not eliminate connection. Don’t become trapped by religious vocabulary. “Prayer,” “positive intention,” “healing energy,” and “good thoughts” may sound different, but Jim argues that they can express the same fundamental human impulse: compassion directed toward someone who needs it. When people become obsessed with terminology, they can miss the spirit behind it: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Spiritual confidence should leave room for mystery. Jim openly acknowledges that he has seen prayer seemingly produce extraordinary results, while other deeply loved people did not recover. Rather than pretending to possess definitive answers, he believes mature spirituality can hold faith and mystery simultaneously. Human connection can transcend doctrine. Jim recounts praying on a rooftop in Nigeria in 1981 when a Muslim man approached him and unexpectedly said, “May God hear your prayers.” Instead of trying to convert him, Jim felt that the moment itself was sacred. The two men walked and prayed together, teaching Jim something about spirituality that transcended their theological differences. Healing does not always require a dramatic prayer. A hand on someone’s arm, a text saying “I’ve got you on my mind today,” or a sincere word of encouragement can become prayer because it communicates presence, compassion, and connection. We are the Body of Christ. Jim ultimately returns to the idea that Christianity cannot be exclusively vertical. If we are Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:27), then spiritual life must manifest through how we connect with one another. The horizontal dimension of the cross matters. Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley “Prayer and healing isn't about doctrine. It's about human connection.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Another line captures the practical heart of the entire message: “If somebody's on your heart and on your mind, let them know. Send a word to them.” — Bishop Jim Swilley

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow   In this concluding message of The Spirit of Spontaneity series, Bishop Jim Swilley challenges listeners to embrace every part of their journey instead of rejecting the people, beliefs, mistakes, and experiences that shaped them. Using personal stories—including the anniversary of his consecration, the "Zephyr" encounter, and reflections on Romans 10—he explains that spiritual growth comes from remaining open to fresh revelation rather than being imprisoned by old interpretations. The message culminates in a powerful reexamination of Romans 10:9-10, presenting salvation not primarily as a future destination but as an awakening to the Christ already present within us, expressed through the words we speak and the life we live. Main Takeaways Bless every part of your journey. Your upbringing, past churches, mistakes, disappointments, and even painful seasons all contributed to who you are today. Don't empower your past by resenting it—redeem it by embracing it. Your past is preparation, not a prison. Old beliefs may have been necessary for a previous season. Honor them without allowing them to limit present revelation. Spontaneity requires openness. Living in the Spirit means responding to what God is saying now instead of being locked into predetermined ideas or rigid expectations. The "Zephyr" moments matter. Pay attention to the meaningful markers and memories that remind you God has been guiding your path all along. Romans 10:9-10 is about present transformation. Bishop Swilley teaches that Paul's emphasis is not escaping to heaven someday but awakening to Christ's presence here and now. Your words shape your reality. What you consistently confess reflects what you truly believe in your heart and influences how you experience life. Believe your righteousness. Living with constant guilt and shame creates a cycle of defeat, while embracing your identity in Christ produces freedom and wholeness. Christ is present now. Instead of searching for God somewhere else, recognize the nearness of Christ within you and in the words of faith you speak every day. Key Scriptures Romans 10:5-13 – The righteousness of faith, confessing with the mouth, believing in the heart, and calling upon the Lord. Psalm 19:14 – "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable..." Isaiah 40:3-4 – "Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain made low..." Galatians 1:15-16 – "...to reveal His Son in me." Genesis 28:16-17 – Jacob recognizing that God was present all along. Luke 12:6-7 – God knows every sparrow and the hairs on your head. Isaiah 43:18-19 – Forget the former things; God is doing a new thing. Genesis 19:26 – "Remember Lot's wife." Psalm 103:12 – "As far as the east is from the west..." Memorable Quote "Don't run from your past. Don't forget your past. Love your crazy family. Love your imperfect parents... You can't embrace your 'I Am-ness' until you embrace everything that brought you here." — Bishop Jim Swilley Central Message The Spirit of Spontaneity isn't about living without direction—it's about remaining flexible enough to receive fresh revelation. When we stop fighting our past, stop clinging to outdated interpretations, and begin speaking from the Christ who is already present within us, we discover that salvation is something we experience every day. The journey itself becomes sacred because every step has led us to the grace, freedom, and awareness available in the present moment.

Bishop Jim’s insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow   Technical Note Note: We experienced a brief technical issue at the beginning of this week's livestream that affected the first few minutes of the broadcast. Thankfully, we were able to resolve it before Bishop Jim got into the heart of this week's message, so you won't miss any of the main teaching. Thank you for your patience and understanding! Summary In this week's message, Bishop Jim Swilley continued his series on The Spirit of Spontaneity, exploring how spiritual maturity is often revealed through our ability to recognize and trust the "still small voice." Rather than expecting God to communicate through dramatic signs and miracles, Jim challenged listeners to become quiet enough to hear the subtle nudges of intuition, wisdom, and inner knowing. Through personal stories, biblical examples, and practical insights, he illustrated that the deepest guidance often comes through spontaneous thoughts, gentle impressions, and moments we might otherwise dismiss. The invitation is to become present, attentive, flexible, and willing to move with the flow of Spirit rather than trying to force outcomes. Main Takeaways Listen for the Still Small Voice One of the central themes was that God's guidance becomes quieter as we mature spiritually. Rather than loud warnings or dramatic interventions, Spirit often speaks through subtle impressions that require attentiveness. Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13 – Elijah hears God in the "still small voice." Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God." Spiritual Maturity Recognizes Subtlety Children often require loud correction, but mature believers learn to recognize gentle nudges. Jim suggested that when we continually ignore those subtle promptings, we often create unnecessary hardship for ourselves. Meditation Creates Space for Wisdom Rather than constantly speaking to God, Jim emphasized learning to become quiet enough to hear what has already been placed within us. Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 Psalm 1:2 Joshua 1:8 Trust Your Spirit Before You Overthink Many of the stories Jim shared involved spontaneous thoughts or impressions that later proved significant—from simple desires like Raisinets to life-altering moments that likely prevented accidents. His point: Sometimes your first thought is your spirit speaking before your mind starts arguing. Detach from Outcomes Jim compared intention to giving someone flowers. Once you've offered them, you don't continue squeezing or controlling them. He connected this principle to: James 1 The principle of releasing intentions without obsessing over outcomes. Pay Attention to Divine Synchronicities Whether it was finding unexpected Raisinets, visiting the roof of a historic building only days after mentioning it, or repeated encounters with a cardinal while renovating his parents' home, Jim encouraged listeners to notice meaningful patterns rather than dismissing them as coincidence. Prayer Isn't About Convincing God Jim challenged the idea that louder or longer prayers produce better results. Instead, mature prayer becomes agreement with what God has already established. Scriptures discussed: Luke 11 Luke 18 Philippians 4:6 Matthew 6 Keep Knocking...But Not Necessarily on the Same Door When Jesus taught persistence, Jim suggested the deeper principle isn't endlessly pounding on one closed door. Instead: Keep seeking until you discover the door that actually opens. Relationships Teach Us How God Communicates Long-term relationships eventually develop communication that barely needs words. Jim suggested our relationship with God matures the same way. The Wind Cannot Be Controlled The Holy Spirit is dynamic—not formulaic. Scriptures: John 3:8 Acts 2:1-4 The Spirit moves where it wills, reminding us that God cannot be reduced to religious systems or predictable formulas. The Bible Points Beyond Itself Jim explored several biblical examples showing that Scripture itself often overturns assumptions made from earlier passages. Examples included: Ruth the Moabite (Ruth) Job from Uz (Job 1:1) The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8) The Good Samaritan (Luke 10) Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) His emphasis was that the Spirit consistently moves people toward greater inclusion, openness, and compassion. Quote of the Week "The still small voice is quiet... and it usually only speaks to you once." — Bishop Jim Swilley Scriptures Referenced 1 Kings 19:11-13 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 1:2 Joshua 1:8 James 1 Philippians 4:6-7 Luke 11 Luke 18 John 3:8 Acts 2:1-4 Acts 8 Acts 10 Proverbs 25:11 Deuteronomy 23 Ruth Job 1:1 Luke 10 Matthew 6 Final Thought The Spirit of spontaneity isn't about being impulsive—it's about becoming so present that you recognize the quiet movements of God before your mind talks you out of them. As Bishop Jim reminded us, spiritual maturity isn't measured by how loudly we pray, but by how deeply we listen. Often, the guidance we've been asking for has already been whispered—we simply need to become still enough to hear it.