It is possible to admire Jesus without truly knowing Him. The most important question you will ever answer is not who you are, it's who Jesus is. Because once you know who He is, you'll begin to understand who you are in Him. If someone asked me who Jesus is, how would I answer? Do I know facts about Jesus, or do I truly know Him? "The crowds saw a prophet, but Peter saw the Messiah—and everything changed."

As I reflect on this, Matthew 23 really brings it into focus. Jesus speaks about outward appearances versus what’s truly happening in the heart. It made me realize that sometimes the areas I try to control are the very places I want to appear “right” or “together,” instead of fully surrendering them to God. Control can look like having everything in order on the outside… but still holding onto things on the inside. What God is showing me is this: He’s not asking for perfection—He’s asking for surrender. The areas I hold onto are often tied to pride, fear, or the need to manage things myself instead of trusting Him fully. What area am I holding onto? The places where I’m trying to keep control instead of letting Him truly lead. And today, I’m choosing to release that. “Lord, not just my words—but my heart. Not just what’s seen—but what’s hidden. I surrender it to You.” In Jesus’ name, amen.