🌿 Rising Above: Living the Kingdom Here and Now

This morning I found myself on a walk, sitting by a stream on a little bench swing. Tears welled up as I thought about this past week—how unattracted I’ve become to my own life. From the outside, people see the travel and the opportunities and say, “Oh my goodness, you’re living the dream.” But the truth is, the business side no longer lights me up. What stirs my soul is mentoring, nurturing, helping people bring their ideas to life.

This week, though, I’ve faced so many corporate and worldly mindsets that I just don’t align with anymore. Truth is—I never really did.

I don’t believe in working 40 hours a week just to survive.

I don’t believe in needing to request permission to live or rest.

I don’t believe in competition as the only way forward.

I don’t believe in ultimatums, unforgiveness, or compromising kingdom values just to keep peace.

The world runs on these systems, but they make my soul sick. Everyone is traumatized, corporations demand every ounce of our time, and relationships often come with conditions. And as I sat by that stream, I realized—what I want is kingdom.

The Kingdom of God in Business

Kingdom business is not about profit at the expense of people. It’s about servanthood over exploitation (Mark 10:43–45). It’s about stewardship, where wealth is a resource to multiply and bless, not hoard (Acts 4:32–35). It’s about integrity over manipulation (Proverbs 11:1), and collaboration instead of competition (Romans 12:10).

The Kingdom of God in Friendship

Friendship in the kingdom means laying down our lives for one another (John 15:13). It’s marked by forgiveness (Colossians 3:13), accountability in love (Ephesians 4:15), and joy-filled encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

The Kingdom of God in Community

In true community, like in Acts 2:44–47, resources are shared, no one is left out, and strangers are welcomed as family (Hebrews 13:2). Communities are marked by justice and wholeness (Isaiah 1:17) and reflect the beauty of diversity in unity (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).

The Kingdom of God in Corporations

Corporations in God’s kingdom put people over profit (James 5:4). Their vision aligns with blessing the world, not empire-building (Genesis 12:2–3). They honor Sabbath rhythms of rest (Exodus 20:8–11) and build structures that uphold justice, not oppression (Micah 6:8).

The Kingdom of God in Government

Government in the kingdom is built on servant leadership (Luke 22:25–26), righteous laws that defend the poor and oppressed (Amos 5:24), and truth as the foundation (Proverbs 29:4). Its fruit is peace and flourishing (Isaiah 9:6–7).

The Call to Rise Above

Jesus came as a reformer—not to abolish the Law but to reveal its heart (Matthew 5:17). He exposed man-made traditions that twisted God’s design and instead taught mercy, justice, and love (Matthew 23:23).

If we continue subscribing to the world’s systems of unforgiveness, exploitation, and competition, our souls will always ache. But if we live by kingdom patterns, heaven truly touches earth.

Bringing Heaven Down

When Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), He wasn’t talking about someday. He meant now.

If we, together, stop subscribing to the world and instead rise up in kingdom alignment—in business, friendship, community, corporations, and government—we won’t just wait for heaven. We’ll bring it here.

✨ It’s time. Time to rise above the old ways. Time to live kingdom on earth.