Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Devotional

Devotional: The belt of truth—where trust finds its anchor
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Devotional: The belt of truth—where trust finds its anchor

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church If there’s one thing that holds relationships, communities, and even entire cultures together, it’s trust. But trust isn’t something that floats around waiting to be found—it’s something built. And like any lasting structure, it’s built on a solid foundation. That foundation, according to Scripture and life experience alike, builds trust through the truth. As someone who gets to wear a few meaningful hats—Pastor at Elevating Life Church, founder of Four-Dimensional Living, and Ambassador for Rocky Mountain Voice—I find myself constantly in conversations where people are searching for one thing: a reality they can trust. And the more I listen, the more I’m convinced: trust can’t grow where truth is absent. It withers under lie...
Devotional: The breastplate of righteousness isn’t a costume—it’s combat gear
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Devotional: The breastplate of righteousness isn’t a costume—it’s combat gear

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church Reflecting on the lives of remarkable figures—Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, etc.—we discover a golden thread that weaves through each of their stories: character. If asked how to live a good, just, and meaningful life, each would likely point not to power, fame, wealth, or status but to the inner life—the heart. Real character, a character that can meet the demands of a harsh reality, they’d say, isn’t a PR stunt; it’s forged in private, rooted in virtue, and revealed in action. It’s one thing to know what’s right…it’s another to live it. That’s the difference between fantasy and fact. In this mini-series, we’ve suited up with the Breastplate of Righteousness, anchoring ourselves not in...
Devotional: March in righteousness, not just good intentions
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Devotional: March in righteousness, not just good intentions

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church Every day, you're marching into a battle—whether you realize it or not. The question is: are you armored up, or are you walking into a war zone wearing flip-flops and good intentions? Religion alone won’t save you. It will load you down with rules while leaving your heart exposed. Wisdom, however—the real, raw kind that comes from fearing the Lord—will armor you up as you walk on the right path. It will train you to live well, fight smart, and win eternally (Proverbs 4:7). Listen carefully: you can’t walk two roads at once. You either follow Jesus on the narrow path of righteousness or stumble down the highway of wickedness. One leads to despair, shame, and foolishness. The other? Fulfillment, flourishing, and victory as a fu...
Devotional: In life’s fast lane, choosing the wrong road to a path of folly happens easily
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Devotional: In life’s fast lane, choosing the wrong road to a path of folly happens easily

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church We live in a world where countless roads claim to lead to success—express lanes to happiness, toll-free routes to purpose, and flashy detours promising fulfillment in the Eternal Now. And many folks, good-hearted and well-meaning, are sprinting full speed ahead. But here’s the kicker: what if the road you're on is the wrong one? The evidence is sobering. A growing number of Christians find themselves drained rather than fulfilled, weary instead of flourishing, spiritually stuck in a cycle that feels more like surviving than thriving. So, let’s ask the question straight up: If you’re on a path that doesn’t lead to life, what good is it—even if it’s dressed up in church clothes, labeled “faith”, with a dash of success? ...
Devotional: The Breastplate of Righteousness – Character that Covers the Heart
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Devotional: The Breastplate of Righteousness – Character that Covers the Heart

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church In our previous devotional, we explored righteousness as God’s unwavering standard for building just and right “equable” relationships—between us and God, and with all creation. Righteousness, in simple terms, is doing what is right in God's eyes. This time, we turn our attention to one of the most powerful symbols of protection in the believer’s life: the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). Why a breastplate? Because righteousness must not only be rooted in our hearts; it must also be worn. The breastplate protects our core—our heart, where our values, principles, and motivations reside. The armor we wear to shield that heart is character. However, it’s not just any character, it’s divine.  The Breastp...
Devotional: Breastplate of Righteousness – Living in Harmony
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Devotional: Breastplate of Righteousness – Living in Harmony

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice At the start of our devotional journey this year, we uncovered God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and explored the Helmet of Salvation—our foundational assurance in Christ. Now, it's time to embrace the next vital piece of God's gear: the Breastplate of Righteousness. But what exactly does righteousness mean, and how can we practically wear it daily? If the idea feels abstract or a bit distant, don’t worry—let’s unpack it together and discover how transformative and essential this protection is in our lives. Jesus provides us with an encouraging starting point: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6, NIV). To capture the beauty and simplicity of this promise, we can rephrase "bl...
Devotional: Perseverance – Keep Climbing! It’s Worth It!
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Devotional: Perseverance – Keep Climbing! It’s Worth It!

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Ever found yourself halfway up a mountain thinking, Why did I do this? Your legs burn, your lungs gasp, and your motivation runs dry. The summit seems distant, and the parking lot below is tempting. This is perseverance—when quitting looks easy, the reward for pressing on is greater. “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 24:13 (ESV) Many compare salvation to climbing God’s mountain. Jesus said, “Follow Me” before ascending the Sermon on the Mount. Salvation is a gift, freely given, not earned. But the journey of faith—becoming more like Christ—is an actual climb. Perseverance is faith in motion, a steady pace, and a determination to keep going. Let’s see how perseverance, the fifth panel of the helme...
Hunter: Suit Up! The Helmet of Salvation — Sanctification: No Pain, No Gain – Spiritual Workout
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Hunter: Suit Up! The Helmet of Salvation — Sanctification: No Pain, No Gain – Spiritual Workout

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Every meaningful relationship requires effort, whether in marriage, parenting, or professional life. A thriving life doesn’t just happen; it takes work. The same principle applies to our relationship with God. Many recognize that salvation is a gift—freely given, not earned. And that’s true! Through Christ, we receive Justification, Adoption, and Regeneration—the objective and subjective aspects of salvation and all are freely granted, forming the footprint or foundation of our salvation. But here’s where it gets real: there’s an ongoing aspect of salvation called sanctification—and that, my friends, is where the spiritual sweat kicks in. Sanctification is the divine workout regimen for every believer, requiring daily effort, enduran...
Pastor Bob: For such a time as this, we must lift our voices
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Pastor Bob: For such a time as this, we must lift our voices

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I have been asked: should Christians be involved in politics? Short answer — yes! Oh some may blurt out 2 Corinthians 6:16 in response: "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.’ Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." This does not preclude us from voicing and practicing the way and will of God. Remember what Christ said in John 20:21: "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." ...
Devotional: Embracing new life through regeneration
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Devotional: Embracing new life through regeneration

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The Helmet of Salvation, an essential part of the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:10-18, is not merely an image to visualize. It symbolizes the protection and assurance we gain when we respond to God's call for a new life—or a rebirth of reality—a new existence where we shed the old self and embrace a new reality that transforms our religious experiences into a deeper and more profound humanity in every aspect of life. The question is: will you answer the call?  Ring! Ring! Ring! Ah, the sweet sound of an incoming call. Well, at least it used to be. Nowadays, when my wife calls, I hear "Oh Sherrie"  by Journey (yes, I’m that guy). But no matter the ringtone, every call presents a choice—answer it or let it go to voicema...