There is a moment in Elijah’s story that I love. After everything he had been through, he reached a point where he simply couldn’t see a way forward. God didn’t respond by telling him to think more positively. He met Elijah where he was. That matters because sometimes the thought “I can’t do this anymore” isn’t the whole story. There can be information underneath a thought experiences, emotions and memories that have become connected over time. What we repeatedly think about matters. Our mind doesn’t operate separately from the rest of us. Our thinking can influence how our brain and body respond, and familiar patterns can become easier to return to. But here’s the hopeful part, a thought pattern that has been built can also be examined and changed. There is a practical way to do that. Not by pretending. Not by forcing yourself to be positive. By learning how to go beneath the surface and work with what is actually there. That’s some of the know-how we explore in CORE in the classroom And as Christians, we don’t have to explore those difficult places alone. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 POLL: When life becomes heavy, what do you tend to do first?

Have you ever wondered why something can deeply upset you while another person seems completely unaffected by it? Someone doesn’t answer your message. One person thinks: They’re probably busy. Another thinks: I’ve done something wrong. And another: They don’t care about me. Same event. Three completely different stories. That’s worth noticing. Because sometimes it isn’t only what happened that is affecting us. It’s also what we believed it meant. Perhaps an old hurt whispered, You’re being rejected again. Perhaps fear said, Something is wrong. Perhaps insecurity said, You’re not important enough. And before we’ve even established what is true, we’ve already written the rest of the story. So today, try something very simple. Think about something that upset you recently and ask What actually happened — and what meaning did I give it? Don’t correct it yet. Just notice the difference. God may be showing us something beneath the reaction that needs restoration rather than condemnation. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” — Proverbs 18:15 QUICK POLL 👇 Have you ever discovered afterwards that something you were worried about didn’t mean what you thought it meant? A — Many times B — Occasionally C — I’m starting to notice it D — I’ve never thought about this

Today we celebrate where we come from, our culture, our stories, our families and our heritage. But Heritage Day should also make us ask: What am I leaving behind? Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Without a picture of the future, it becomes difficult to practise discipline in the present. Why sacrifice? Why grow? Why step outside your comfort zone if you don’t know where you’re going? Everything around us started with a vision. The Wright brothers saw human flight before it became reality. Edison imagined electric light. Monty Roberts held onto the vision of owning his horse ranch even when others doubted him. Vision gives your life direction. Think of three men cutting stone. One says, “I’m cutting rocks.” Another says, “I’m earning a living.” The third says, “I’m building a cathedral.” Same work. Different vision. And here’s the beautiful part: When you work on your vision, your vision starts working on YOU. It develops your discipline, stretches your faith and forces you to grow. So today, don’t only celebrate the heritage you inherited. Think about the heritage you are creating. 🔥 HERITAGE DAY CHALLENGE: Finish this sentence in the comments: “The vision I have for my life is…” If you feel like there is MORE inside you, If you know you weren’t created merely to survive from Monday to Friday.. Then I want you there. 28th Monday evening 20:30–21:00 📍 LIVE inside our Skool community THE RESTORATION CHAMBER Bring a notebook. Bring an open mind. And most importantly, bring the future version of yourself that you haven’t met yet. See you Monday. Love Hykie Berg FAITH | FAMILY | FORTUNE PS: Have you downloaded the SKOOL App?

Maybe you’ve been unusually irritated. Your shoulders are constantly tight. You’re withdrawing from people. Or lately everything seems more negative than it really is. What if these aren’t things to immediately push away? What if they’re clues? Because sometimes what you can feel is pointing toward something you haven’t yet recognised. So let’s try something different today. POLL — Where does pressure usually show up FIRST for you? A — My emotions: anxious, irritated, overwhelmed B — My body: tension, headaches, exhaustion C — My behaviour: withdrawing, snapping, overworking D — My outlook: everything starts looking negative Drop A, B, C or D below. No explanation necessary. And then ask yourself: What might this signal be trying to tell me? “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23 Sometimes healing begins with noticing

Maybe you were never meant to prove your worth. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to perform for what we already longed to know was ours. We work harder to feel worthy. We keep everyone happy to feel loved. We say yes when we want to say no because belonging feels safer than disappointing someone. We become useful so we will feel needed. And after doing it for long enough, we can mistake the role we learned to play for who we actually are. But your value was never supposed to be earned through exhaustion. God didn’t create a copy. He didn’t ask you to become the person everybody else needed you to be. He created you with your own voice, gifts, personality and purpose. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” — Ephesians 2:10 A small question to carry with you today: Where am I being who God created me to be and where am I still performing for acceptance? Maybe freedom begins when we stop trying to prove who we are and start becoming comfortable with who God already knows us to be. Less proving. More becoming.