Returning To The Heart Of The Kingdom by stella ashworth
My dear beloved in Christ, how easily we forget what the Kingdom of God is truly about. We become entangled in the pleasures of this world, its noise, its entertainment, its applause. And without even noticing, we begin craving to be seen by man rather than known by God.
We want others to recognize our “anointing,” yet we forget that true anointing comes at a cost. It requires a life set apart, a heart surrendered, and a walk that is consecrated before the Lord.
There are moments when I find myself drawn into the distractions of this world, and afterward my heart feels burdened and distant. In those moments, I sit before the Lord and ask, Is this what it truly means to follow Christ?
Today, so many movements rise within the church—groups, titles, platforms, and “special” circles. Instead of building unity, these structures often create division.
They elevate some voices above others, as if the Kingdom of God is ranked by visibility, influence, or position. But Christ never called us to create platforms; He called us to carry our cross.
He never asked us to follow movements; He asked us to follow Him.
When the church begins to celebrate personalities instead of the presence of God… when we honour performance more than purity… when we chase recognition more than repentance… our hearts drift from the true Gospel.
I tell you the truth, the more I invested in my personal relationship with Christ, the more I found myself drifting away from the noise of the modern-day church. Not from His Body, but from the systems, the trends, the performances, and the empty rituals that have replaced genuine devotion.
Because when you seek Christ with all your heart, you quickly realize that not everything labeled “church” reflects His heart.
The closer you draw to Jesus, the more clearly you see the difference between what is real and what is merely religious. You begin to discern the difference between the presence of God and the presence of men's opinions… between anointing and entertainment… between discipleship and display.
This is not rebellion... it is awakening.
This is not pride... it is discernment.
This is not isolation, it is consecration.
When your secret place becomes alive, loud stages lose their appeal. When Christ becomes your center, shallow systems can no longer satisfy. When His Word becomes your anchor, human traditions fall away like dust.
Perhaps this is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “My sheep know My voice.” Not every voice in the church speaks for Him. But in the quiet place… He does.
So today, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I stand unashamed in saying this: I don’t mind being an outcast for Christ’s sake. I follow Jesus. What about you?
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27
“Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Written by Stella Ashworth for Team Talk Magazine. © 2025