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Rob B.'s avatar

🎵 https://youtu.be/t8f0aIe_jOM

“Let You Live” is a heartfelt surrender song — a worship ballad written from the ashes of striving and the freedom found in letting go. Inspired by personal testimony and Scripture, it captures the turning point where we stop trying to live for God and start letting Christ live through us.

Written for anyone exhausted by performance or achievement under the name of “calling,” this song invites you to rest, release, and be filled with the indwelling life of Jesus.

If you've ever chased your own success “in Jesus’ name” — only to burn out — this song is your invitation to step into true life.

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Frank Lamasan's avatar

Two things resonated with me from your beautiful reflection:

That Christian life is not a life lived only when we die and get to heaven.

That in order for us to be fully human, we need God.

Thank you for blessing me today. Your words echo in my stubborn, hard heart.

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GEORGE W. ENGELHARD's avatar

Theosis-participating in the life of the Holy Trinity where there is distinction of persons but interpenetration and sharing of being. I in Him and He in me.

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Thad Cardine's avatar

Mike, this resonates. I spent years “doing ministry” on caffeine and adrenaline. Grateful for the reminder that the Christian life isn’t my project for Him, but His life in me.

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Jodi Holmes's avatar

Amen!!!🙏

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Lisa’s Alternate Reality's avatar

Amen Mike! Thank you for this piece. It is truly impossible to live on this earth and give our lives to HIM, but we always forget, WITH HIM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. If you live and love and walk with HIM. I couldn’t see my life without HIM! Amen! 🙏🏻 when your website launches l, can you let us know?

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Matthew T. Adams's avatar

Mike, brother… this post wrecked me—in the best way possible.

What you’ve shared here is more than a reflection—it’s a revelation. Raw. Honest. Deeply anchored in truth. And absolutely Christ-exalting.

Your words about chasing your own success "under the guise of doing the Lord’s work" hit like a hammer, because so many of us have been there. It’s the subtle trap—serving for God without actually walking with Him. We baptize ambition in religious language, while our hearts remain self-driven. Thank you for pulling the mask off of that with such humility and clarity.

But the real gold here is what follows: your rediscovery of Christ not just as Savior—but as Life.

“The Christian life is an impossibility for us.”

Yes. A thousand times yes. That line echoes Galatians 2:20 with weight. So many of us try to live for Jesus rather than letting Jesus live through us. That shift—from striving to yielding—isn’t weakness. It’s divine strength. It’s the exchanged life. It’s the narrow road.

You beautifully captured the core of God's original intention: not just forgiveness, not just heaven later, but indwelling union right now. Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). That’s not theology reserved for mystics—it’s the birthright of every born-again believer.

Also, your parallel between the Tree of Life in Eden and the life of Christ in the Gospels is powerful. Jesus didn’t come just to get us out of hell. He came to restore the life Adam forfeited—and to show us what it means to be truly human: a vessel of divine life.

You’re not crazy, Mike. You’re waking up. And you’re inviting others into that awakening. This is the kind of message we desperately need in our pulpits, in our small groups, and in our everyday walk.

Keep writing. Keep unveiling Him.

This isn’t just another Substack post—this is flesh and blood crying out for Spirit and Truth. Thank you.

—Matthew Adams

MyR2B Ministries — Hearing God's Voice, Walking in His Life

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Jules's avatar

If Mankind had eaten from the tree of knowledge, we would have been dead forever in our sins and there would not have been the propitiation of Christ.

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Jules's avatar

I meant tree of life.

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Mike Donio's avatar

But from the beginning God desired that we’d eat from the Tree of Life. My point was what would happen if man never ate from the Tree of Knowledge but only from the Tree of Life. We wouldn’t have fallen but would have had God’s life dispensed into us and He would live through us. That was His ultimate intention. Jesus changed all that and brought us back to the Garden again. We now have the ability to turn away from the Tree of Knowledge and to partake of the Tree of Life which is Jesus Christ. By the indwelling of God’s life we can manifest His glory. This is how we bear His image to all the creation. The Christian life is the life that Jesus lived here in the flesh lived now by Him in us. God Bless.

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Jules's avatar

I will check the scripture and find where He desired us to eat from that tree. I thought we were forbidden from eating from both the tree of knowledge and the tree of life.

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Mike Donio's avatar

Yes, after they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were banished from the garden altogether, the tree of life included. However, Jesus changed all that with His sacrifice and now because of that we can live the life God always intended when He created us.

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Loraine's avatar

Absolutely spectacular! Giving all GLORY TO THE LORD! Magnifying GOD! This is 💯🎯for where I’m at it’s is wonderful to see you zealous & heart full of Love kindled too to the GLORY OF ALMIGHTY GOD & CHRIST the KING! AMEN AMEN!🙏🏼🕊🙌❤️‍🔥 Blessings, Sister Loraine 😇

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Mike Donio's avatar

Thank you sister. Really appreciate that. All for His glory! What a Christ! God bless.

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Loraine's avatar

My privilege brother! 🙌🕊

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Peter OConnor's avatar

Not there yet myself. Only been a Christian 49 years but that breakthrough is getting closer I believe. In the crashing/burning stage at the moment.

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Paul F. Perlwitz's avatar

Thank you brother. A wonderful confession of progress in the Christian life. The evil one works constantly to pull us away from the Lord and our flesh is weak, we succumb often. Your message is encouraging.

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Mike Donio's avatar

Really appreciate that brother. God bless you.

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Ava Crotinger's avatar

Thank you for writing. I read and reflected on Galatians 2:20 this morning. … and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, … I live by faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Jesus said, … the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and are life.

Jesus is the Word of God. I love to read it and think of it.

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Mike Donio's avatar

Thank you Ava. I completely agree. For me to live is Christ! God bless you.

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Toddy's avatar

Thanks for the lift. The direction. And the needed Godly alert. You got me at "There is nothing greater than the Lord Jesus and......anyone who catches a glimpse of Him as He really is...."

🙂 May we all catch a glimpse, of Him, as we see Him in others. And learn His Greatness and Glory, to follow in His way. For me that is even in the simple mundane things of life, to do all things well.

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Mike Donio's avatar

Thank you for your comment Toddy. I really appreciate it. May we all catch a glimpse of Him indeed!! God Bless.

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Trudy Woodlands's avatar

And a message to Shane:

A dear friend once told me that we are human BEINGS not human DOINGS! We are to just be. Not focused on the ‘do’ because otherwise we are full of do-do 🤭

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Trudy Woodlands's avatar

Oh Mike…how His Holy Spirit within me leaps with joy as I read your words…He is truly speaking His Truth through you! I began to understand this in 1986 during a very very hard circumstance in my world. As I’ve grown over these last 40 years…Jesus is my all in all. How precious is His life in us. Before Him we were dead and in need of life. I’ve had many people who have taught me this same message but coming from a slightly different direction! God knew I needed to hear from all of them to understand that I can do NOTHING apart from Him. My husband preached this for nearly 20 years and the majority of believers do not want to hear that they can do NOTHING of themselves! It’s our pride saying we can do this or that for God.

Enjoying your journey of discovery…keep Jesus as your focus…one minute at a time and when you realize you’ve wandered off into independence then repent(which only means to turn around and go back) and He will always be there!!!

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Mike Donio's avatar

Thank you Trudy for sharing that and your kind words. I really appreciate that. It is very encouraging. May God continue to bless you and your husband.

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Susie q's avatar

I strive to live like this 🕊️

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Mike Donio's avatar

Amen sister! Me too. I'm learning to let Him live it through me.

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Shane Christensen's avatar

I don't know how to do this. I pray for it and feel like nothing happens. I think I'm to wait and persevere, but I am not sure if km doing this right

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Mike Donio's avatar

Thanks for your comment brother. I think it's ok that you don't know how to do it. Why? Because God wants to do it for you, within you. The key is letting Him. Your inclination to wait on Him is right. Continue to pray and persevere. He will respond. It may be subtle but you will hear from Him when the time is right. Just remember that His time is not ours as His ways are not ours. May the Lord bless you and your journey.

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Geoff Stroud's avatar

FUD (fear uncertainty doubt) is from the enemy. It is his primary tactic to keep you bound. Pray Romans 8 over yourself. Pray Romans 12:1-2 over yourself. Pray Galatians 2:20 over yourself. Live from Christ, the hope of glory who dwells IN you. Forget FUD and LIVE!

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Toddy's avatar

I find comfort in looking up at Him.

In "here a little, there a little. Line upon line....."

( to me that means partly, Scripture upon scripture) precept upon precept. (Step after step in His ways and His principles)

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