Breathing Room for My Soul

Posted on August 6, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalm 62:5-6 (MSG)
“God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle: I’m set for life.”

Significant relationships is an area where most of us have the greatest challenges. We yearn in our hearts to find someone that is compatible; someone that loves God and is committed to love us in the same way that we will love them. Our desire for security and validation pushes us to put our best foot forward when we’re dating someone new. We try hard not to allow them to see our baggage and they do the same, but the truth is that we all have it; some more than others. Eventually, the walls will come down and a person’s real self is revealed. If it’s uglier than we could have imagined, the reality that we’ve committed ourselves to this person can make us feel trapped.

If we’ve made an ample emotional investment in a dating relationship, most of us will overlook certain things and try to make it work, but sometimes this isn’t the answer. If we’ve left God out of the equation from the very beginning, and we’re not following His Word in our relationships, the reservoir for real and lasting love is depleted before the relationship begins. 1John 4:8(AMP) tells us, “The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]” The love of God has to be in a person’s heart and on that person’s mind in order for them to be a conduit of His love. Sometimes we date individuals that are simply not interested in pursuing and giving God’s love in a way that pleases Him and fulfills us.

God’s love working in us will cause us to govern our lives by things like patience, generosity, kindness, honesty, peace, and joy. If there isn’t gratitude for God and His love, and if this isn’t the motivation for all that we do, there will be no breathing room for our souls. We can’t expand and increase in a way that brings light into all the situations and relationships of our lives.

1Peter 1:13-16(MSG) says, “So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.””

Our heads are in the game when our hearts are ever expanding with love and honor for our Creator. We are required and equipped to demonstrate our gratitude for what He has accomplished for us through Jesus Christ. The way that we do this is to be obedient to His Word. We can’t slip back to those old ways of trying to leave God out of our relationships. Everything we hope for comes from Him, as Psalm 62:5-6 tells us.

Significant relationships can add to our lives and increase them in wonderful ways, but every person we date doesn’t have the capacity to partner in this. Rather than giving us room to grow, they can stifle us, and God doesn’t want this. He’s the One with the plan for our existences, and He knows the person that is a gift to our journey forward and upward through Christ. So, let’s not takes risks with something as important as joining our lives to another. God knows our flaws and strengths, and if we place our faith in Him, He will connect us with the person that will help us grow stronger in His love and grace. Surrender this area of your life to Him, because only He can give comfort to our aching hearts and breathing room for our souls.■

Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Your Way Out

Posted on July 2, 2025 by daaorg1214

1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

Looking for a way out of your troubling circumstances? Fear, loneliness, and hopelessness creeping up on you? You’re not the first person to feel this way, and you won’t be the last. 1 Peter 5:9(NLT) tells us, “Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” No matter what we face in life, no matter how difficult or tough it may seem, God promises that we have the victory in Jesus Christ. If God says it, it must be so!

All of us have times in our relationships where we become weary. Sometimes, the issues of our partners are weightier than we expected, and this can make us feel boxed in. When those issues are domestic violence and abuse, the toll on our total well-being can be overwhelming, but can be comforted in the reality that we don’t have to go through it alone. There are many resources available for those of us that are being abused, and we should take full advantage of them. We must also know that the best gift we can give ourselves is to pray to God for help. When we do, He often answers our prayers through other people. He works through them to help us at just the right time. So, we should never hesitate to ask our Heavenly Father for help, nor should we hesitate to accept the help He sends.

We should also be aware that our internal healing is also very necessary. It’s possible that the person we’re in a relationship with had red flags from the very beginning, but we either ignored or didn’t recognize them. Maybe we thought these things would get better, or that the person’s love for us would overshadow any deficiencies. Whatever the case, it is very likely that we need increased wisdom, so that we make better choices in the future, and we learn how to discern the Will of God for our lives. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t ever want anyone to be abused in any way, and when we learn more about His love, we will gain greater confidence in life.

So, it isn’t uncommon that we need to be strengthened internally to feel better and stronger about seeking help. God tells us in Isaiah 41:10 (NLT), “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” God is our strength, and it is important that we feed our minds and souls with the promises of His Word so that we can be empowered by His truth.

Some of us look at the current state of our lives, and we think, “How did I get here?” It can be pretty shocking, but we must not blame ourselves or sink into self-condemnation. We must remember that we have the strength of God within us because the Holy Spirit lives within. God’s Word teaches us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20(NLT), “19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Our Heavenly Father has trouble covered in grace on all sides, and His Spirit is in us helping us beyond what we can imagine.

It’s a great strategy if we can decrease the amount of focus that we place on our circumstances and situations and increase the focus we place on God. He never disappoints us, and He will never leave or forsake us. Romans 8:28 tells us that He will cause all things to work together for our good if we will give Him our trust and honor. He can heal us way down deep, where we need it most, because His Spirit is in us, and the Spirit will always be our way out of any trouble or problem we face.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Rivers of Difficulty

Posted on June 25, 2025 by daaorg1214

Isaiah 43:2-3(NLT)
“2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

A good friend recently went through a tumultuous situation in her relationship. “I feel broken, afraid, and alone! How could he hurt me this way!” Sometimes the people we love the most are the ones that will hurt us the most, and this is a very difficult reality to accept. When it happens, some of us go into repair mode, and that can look different for each person. It’s not uncommon to blame and punish ourselves for the pain we’re experiencing, and this means that we might continue to give up our power to the one that is hurting us. We might also neglect to remember that real and genuine love doesn’t hurt. This is the kind of love we should desire for ourselves because it is the kind of love God wants us to both give and receive.

Many people have been misinformed about what it takes to have a healthy significant relationship. Some of us don’t possess this knowledge and wisdom because we’ve never been taught. This is one of the many reasons why it is so extremely important to read God’s Word. We need to learn about the example of Jesus Christ, because his example is one of true and genuine love. Through his life, ministry, and sacrifice, he teaches us how to love God, ourselves, and others. He also teaches us how to recognize when a counterfeit is in our midst.

In John 15:13(NLT), Jesus Christ said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In this verse, he is teaching us how real, true, and genuine love behaves. When someone loves us truly, they are willing to make sacrifices for our well-being. They want to see us be our best selves, and they will always do whatever they can to help us be at our best. This is what real, true, and genuine looks like. It’s the way Jesus Christ loves each of us.

He said in John 13:34-35(NLT), “34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” It is not complicated to love people through the love of Jesus Christ. It’s a privilege and honor, and it’s in no way a burden. If what we’re receiving doesn’t look like the love of Christ, it’s a counterfeit, and it would be in our very best interest not to entertain it.

John 3:16(ESV) says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, and He sent him into the world to save us from the darkness and torment of eternal hell. This overwhelming, unconditional, and powerful love was in Christ as he carried out his ministry on earth, and because of his sacrifice, when we accept Christ into our hearts, this incredible love is in us through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5(NLT) says, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

How incredible are the promises of God in Isaiah 43:2-3? They are beyond comforting. He tells us that when we go through rivers of difficulties and walk through the fire of oppression in our relationships and in life, He will not allow us to drown or be consumed. He is with us. He’s our Rescue, and He has saved us through Jesus Christ. God’s love is the love of Jesus Christ, and we will always have it. This is where our power and strength must be anchored, and when it is, we’ll understand that through Christ, we are worthy of God love. We will be confident in the knowledge of how precious we are to our Heavenly Father, and we will not fall for anyone that doesn’t know and treat us that way too.

We Can Get Through Anything

Posted on June 18, 2025 by daaorg1214

1 Peter 5:8-9(NLT)
“8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Outsmarting the enemy isn’t new for those of us that are in Christ and trust him with all our hearts and minds. Through the Apostle Peter, God is warning us to remain on alert, to not sleep on the reality that we have a spiritual enemy, and he is dastardly, dark, and evil in every way. Our Heavenly Father also tells us in this passage to stand firm against the enemy. We must know that God would not tell us to stand firm and strong in our faith if we didn’t have the ability to get this done. In truth, our Heavenly Father has given us everything we need to be strong, filled with faith, and victorious in every situation, despite the enemy’s plots and tricks against us.

The times are challenging. There’s no doubt about that, but 1John 5:4(NLT) declares, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” Whether it’s dealing with financial crises, abandonment issues, domestic violence and abuse, addictions, fears, phobias, or any other kinds of troubles and tribulations, we can have victory over it when we wholeheartedly place our faith in God.

God’s Word reminds us that we’re not the only ones facing hardship and troubles. Believers in Christ are facing obstacles and adversities all over the world. We must be confident that we are important to our Heavenly Father, and He will never abandon us. He knows we need His help and He is always willing and able to help us.

Romans 8:28(NLT) tells us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Sometimes, we may not see all the things that God is doing in the background, but as soon as we lifted our earnest prayer to Him, our Heavenly Father began to move on our behalf. We must trust this. None of us understand why we endure such difficult times, but it isn’t necessary to know more than the reality that God has equipped us through our faith in Him, and this is enough to overcome anything that the enemy throws our way. We can be confident that when we place all our faith in our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, we can get through anything.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 145:9(ESV), “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” It’s a given that the enemy will try to trick us into believing that God isn’t full of mercy and grace, and that God will not be good to us. This is a lie from the depths of darkness, and we must not believe it. In John 8:44(NLT), Jesus Christ was rebuking those who refused to believe in the truth of the Gospel. He said to them, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

In John 8:44, Jesus Christ tells us exactly who satan is; he is the father of lies, but as God’s children and followers of Jesus Christ, we must reject the enemy’s lies. When we’re at the most vulnerable times of our lives, we must cling to the truth of God’s love and grace toward us. He promised to never leave or forsake us, and nothing can ever separate us from His love. We must believe this with all our hearts and minds, because God will never let us down, and He will always come to our aid when we ask Him.

Waiting is Not Weakness

Posted on May 22, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”

Waiting has never been one of my strengths. My sister scheduled a hair appointment as a birthday gift. When she told me that I’d be in the salon for a few hours, I told her to cancel it. “Why can’t you just be patient and wait sometimes?” I ask myself sometimes. It was a very sweet gift, and I was very thankful for my sister’s thoughtfulness, but the thought of sitting for hours was too daunting. I probably would have driven the stylist and my sister crazy.

Patience is a virtue, and more importantly, it’s one of the Spirit’s fruit. Galatians 5:22-23(NLT) tells us, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” If we find that we are lacking in any of these, we need to pray to God and invite Him to do this work in our hearts through the Holy Spirit . The Spirit lives inside every born-again believer, and as we give him permission, he will help us to live a successful Christian life.

As the Lord works within us through the Holy Spirit, there will be situations and circumstances that we might encounter, and they will require bravery and courage. There may be things in our hearts that will come to the surface so that we can see, acknowledge, and repent. Bravery and courage come into play because our usual way of handling these heavies is one of denial. Hardly anyone wants to hear that they may be selfish, arrogant, impatient, and unkind in certain areas, but when the Holy Spirit does his work, the truth about these will come to light.

When the Lord is dealing with us, we must be patient and willing to see what He is revealing. The psalmist prayed to God in Psalm 51:10(NKJV), “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This prayer must be a habit pattern for the believer. It is inevitable that as we mature and journey forward in life, we will have encounters and experiences that help us to see where we are in Christ so that we can continue to make changes that line up with his example. This is a process that will never end for as long as we live.

It’s common that the thing about ourselves that we refuse to see is also blocking our blessing. God commands us in Hebrews 12:1(NLT) to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” This stripping off every weight is a process, and God doesn’t rush us. He patiently waits for us to wake up so that we can handle the blocker, and keep running the race He’s set before us.

God knows the answer to every question you might have. Whatever our shortcomings and weaknesses, He will never punish us, but waits for us to ask for His help. He told the Apostle Paul in 2Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” We must trust this. When it comes to answered prayers, success, and moving forward, sometimes the wait is necessary for us to get in alignment and harmony with God. So waiting is not a weakness. As we use the wait to seek God, renew our minds, and deal with what the Spirit is revealing, it will make us strong!

If We Don’t Give Up

Posted on April 8, 2025 by daaorg1214

Isaiah 10:27(NLT)
“In that day the LORD will end the bondage of his people. He will break the yoke of slavery and lift it from their shoulders.”

A revolving door goes around repeatedly, allowing people to both go in and go out. A revolving door relationship is one that is constantly ending and starting up again, continually giving a person access to walk in and out of our lives. Many people underestimate how dangerous these types of relationships can be. Robbing an individual of stability, joy, and peace, they can also be abusive and violent. Sometimes we don’t recognize the emotional damage this causes to our well-being until we’re challenged by the reality of completely letting the person go and cutting off the relationship for good.

1John 4:8(NLT) tells us, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” We tend to think of romantic love as an all-encompassing one that checks off all the boxes of good human behavior. Romantic love is wonderful when we have honorable and right motives, but it isn’t nearly enough to sustain a healthy quality relationship that is beneficial for both partners. The love of God is the kind of love that He places in our hearts when we are committed to love Him through Jesus Christ. 1John 4:10(NLT) says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” God’s love is real love, and it is the foundation on which all love is genuinely given and received.

1John 4:16(NLT) says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” The greatest thing that any living being can do is to love God and to love others through Him. This is an eternal truth. Because God lives in us, loving Him becomes the most powerful and satisfying way to love ourselves.

Ending an abusive relationship, then repeatedly allowing an abuser access to our lives signals that we have more lessons to learn about our Christ identity and self-worth. Galatians 6:9(NLT) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Our goal should be to honor our lives the way that God does. So, don’t give up on praying and increasing your faith towards the good work of loving yourself through the love of God. Part of practicing this Godly self-love is guarding our hearts and opening doors to only those opportunities that reflect and promote His goodness.

God’s Will is for us to be victorious and to live free from bondage or slavery of any kind, and He’s made this possible for us through the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All of God’s Children are free, and we can live a quiet life with godliness and dignity when we make Him and His love our greatest priority. If you’re struggling to close the door to an unhealthy revolving door relationship, have faith that you can be released from this. Continue to pray for God’s help. He hears your prayers, and He invites you to lean on His strength and believe in His power as you trust Him and move forward in His Will for your life. ■

God Has Done It Before and Will Do It Again

Posted on April 1, 2025 by daaorg1214

Deuteronomy 7:16-18 (NLT)
“You must destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands over to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap you. Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’ But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt.”

These past years have been tough for a lot of people, and many of them are allowing challenging times to injure their faith. They are reacting with uncontrolled anger and outbursts that betray the example of Jesus Christ. Others are internalizing the anger, and it’s making them ill emotionally, mentally, and physically. When our understanding of the truth about God doesn’t exceed the knowledge of our troubles, our minds can sink to thoughts of doubt and unbelief. Our hearts become disappointed and grieved because we don’t trust God enough to raise our level of faith above those thoughts and feelings of sadness. We need to know that this is a condition that can be turned around if we are willing to change the way we think.

God tells us in Romans 12:2(NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” The first part of this verse is very instructive for us because our Heavenly Father is telling us what we shouldn’t do. He’s also letting us know that society’s behaviors and customs can be very destructive to our faith and relationship with Him.

The world, or society, can be very negative and chooses for the most part to deny and reject God’s love and light. It shuns the things He values and loves the things He forbids. The world is a very confusing and chaotic place and if the thoughts and feelings that promote confusion and chaos find their way into our hearts and minds, we can start to go backward and instead of forward.

Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So, wherever the Word of God is trusted and believed, faith hangs out there, and this is extremely important information for us to know. We can’t do anything without faith. If we’re sitting down, it takes faith to get up. If we’re walking, it takes faith to run. From the smallest to the greatest detail of life, every component runs on faith. Our victory and success depend on it, and this should motivate us to increase our faith in God and to do everything we possibly can to preserve our faith in Him.

When that doesn’t happen–when we’re at a standstill in our faith and we’re not doing what is necessary to preserve it, our minds and hearts are impacted. A lack of faith opens the door for sadness, doubt, insecurity, disappointment and other kinds of negativity to come in and make themselves at home. Whether or not they stay at home in our hearts and minds is completely left up to us.

In the Old Testament, the backdrop for Deuteronomy 7:16-18 speaks to the promise that God made to His people to give them a promised land. It’s clear to us from reading this passage that they couldn’t sit back with their hands tucked beneath their laps and do nothing. He commanded them to do what was necessary to take possession of the land and to take it by faith. Even though they were outnumbered and lacked the power of the other nations, they had to trust and believe God for victory. We must do the same, and the way that we get this done is to renew our minds to God’s Word and think thoughts that are in line with it.

Repeatedly, God backed His people and gave them victory and success. When it comes to causing the ones He loves to overcome adversity and obstacles, He’s done it before, and He’ll do it again. He receives the glory, and His name is magnified when we triumph and believe to receive all that He has in store for us. We might look at Deuteronomy 7:16-18 and think to ourselves, “Well, that was the Old Testament. God doesn’t show His power like that anymore.” Our Heavenly Father said in Malachi 3:6(NLT), “I am the LORD, and I do not change.” We change all the time, but our Heavenly Father never changes. So, we need to be confident that when we kick out thoughts of doubt and negativity and change the way we think, God will turn things around so that our circumstances and conditions begin to mirror our high opinion of Him and His power and love.

God Is Always Ready to Help

Posted on March 25, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalms 91:1(NLT)
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

For many women, getting out of an abusive relationship is not so easy. Every woman that has overcome emotional, physical, or verbal abuse has a different story to tell, and you’d be surprised to hear that there are large numbers of women that have suffered in silence since childhood. Their lifelong trauma started with childhood, watching their mothers or close relatives endure abuse. Without prayers and an invitation to the Holy Spirit for the healing work of our hearts, minds, and souls, many of us repeat the patterns we’ve learned from childhood. We sometimes end up in relationships that cause us to repeat the cycle of abuse that we witnessed in our past.

Growing up in a household where domestic violence and abuse was common can register somewhere in our minds as a normal occurrence, even though it’s far from it. In the Word of God, there are examples of individuals who developed certain insecurities as a result of family dynamics that existed in their childhoods. These kinds of things affect us in ways that we can’t completely understand. This unresolved pain sits within and can steer our thoughts, actions, and attitudes without us being conscious of it. Pain of any kind is not a natural state. Because some of us have experienced deeply emotional pain from abuse at some point in our lives, resentment and bitterness about it can fester. We lean towards pessimism and doubt rather than being transformed by faith in God’s love, promises, and power.

God tells us in 2Corinthians 3:17(NLT), “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” When emotional pain dominates our internal reality, at some point, it’s going to show up externally, but this is not what God wants for His children. He knows our pain and wants us to turn to Him for help. God is always ready to help, and He offers us freedom from pain, but we must recognize that the work of the Spirit of going to change us. To live free, our minds, hearts, and souls must be surrendered to our Heavenly Father, so that He can transform us into the people He created us to be.

Jesus Christ said in John 10:10(NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” God wants us to have a good life, a more than abundant life. He not holding us back. Often there are things at work within that hinder our faith and keep us from the life God wants us to have. He tells us in His Word that the way to handle this is to renew our minds to what He says. Romans 12:2(NKJV) tells us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” To renew our minds is to change the way we think so that our thoughts line up with God’s Word.

When we desire our situations to change, it begins with us. Even the smallest step we take towards this is rewarded, because it means we are making a step towards having greater faith in God. He instructs us on how to help ourselves in a way that partners with His efforts to deliver and heal us. This requires that our hearts and minds are moving in the same direction that He is, and God is always moving in the direction of the truth of His Word. He’s rooting for us to do the same.

God is always completely and totally willing to come to our aid when we seek Him earnestly. He delights in helping us overcome the adversities we endure in life. Everyone has struggles and things they are trying to get over, and we must come to the realization that we can’t do it alone, and we were never meant to. We move out of our own way and do ourselves the greatest good when we have faith in God, and we trust that by placing our faith in Him, all things are possible, as Jesus Christ said in Mark 9:23. Give yourself as much time and space to heal and be better as you did to develop and learn in any other aspect of your life. You can rest assured that as you read and study God’s Word and trust in His instruction and guidance for your life, you are headed to becoming stronger, wiser, and better than you ever imagined. ■

Firmly Planted in God’s Hands

Posted on March 18, 2025 by daaorg1214

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

This passage in Proverbs is such a pinnacle of Godly wisdom, especially for those of us living today. Our modern advances have given us false confidence, and many individuals think they don’t need God’s help, but nothing could be further from the truth. I marvel sometimes when I look at how well my daughter is doing with her class work. Not long ago, she needed my help with everything, and now she can do it on her own with little or no assistance. She enjoys the challenge of trying to figure things out on her own, but there are times when she still needs my help, and I’m always there for her. God is a better parent than any of us will ever be. We’re His kids, and He loves us. He wants each of us to grow up and mature in Christ, and He also wants us to know that He is always there for us as well.

Colossians 3:3-4(NLT), tells us, “3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” When we give our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and make him the head of our lives, we die to our old unsaved life. Christ gives us new life through the Holy Spirit, and we become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

In this new life that God made possible through the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, we have victory not just in a few areas, but in every aspect of life. Romans 8:37(NLT) declares, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” No matter what we go through, none of it can separate us from God’s overwhelming and limitless love for us all. This makes us victorious in every way, and we must place our trust and faith in God and in what He’s given us. Our confidence should continually be in our Heavenly Father’s provision, protection, and power, because as His children, we’re firmly planted in His hands come what may.

The times are too perilous, and life is too unsteady for us to think we can handle everything on our own. We need God every moment of each day, and it is only because of His grace that we are alive this very moment. When we follow His Word and live according to the example of Jesus Christ, we will reap the benefits, but when we step out of God’s guidance, life can turn on us very quickly.

A good friend went through a difficult season in her life recently, and it was because she didn’t seek the Lord with all her heart and allow Him to direct her path. Her fiancé accepted a job out-of-state, and in order to keep their relationship intact, she quit a job with excellent pay and benefits and relocated with him. Neither of them consulted the Lord for direction and wisdom. After three months, her fiancé ended the relationship. Her new position didn’t pay anywhere near what she was making at her old job, and she struggled to make ends meet. Eventually, she moved back to her home state and now feels ashamed, angry, and full of resentment and regret.

The psalmist said in Psalms 94:18-19(NLT), “I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Life can overtake us in less time than a blink of an eye, but when our assurance is in God’s unfailing love, we are never left with shame or resentment. Rather than taking matters into our own hands, we must trust that we are firmly planted in God’s hands through Jesus Christ. During those times when we make mistakes that cause us to lose direction, momentum, and stamina, through our faith in Him, our Heavenly Father can turn those around and use them for our good.

One step away from the path of God’s righteousness can lead to disastrous circumstances, and He doesn’t want this for any of us. Our mistakes should teach us that it’s absolutely essential to follow God’s Word and live through Jesus Christ. When we do, our victory is guaranteed. So, the very best thing that any of us can do for ourselves is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on your own understanding. All the technology and modern advancements in the world can’t repair a broken heart. Surrender your will to God’s Will. Every day give everything over to Him and allow Him to lead you through His indwelling Holy Spirit. God loves us so much, and through His grace and mercy, He will keep your feet from falling when your hands are firmly planted in His.

God is Our Refuge

Posted on March 11, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalm 18:30 (ESV)
“This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

We opted to sit side by side rather than facing each other in an upscale booth that looked like it belonged in a mansion rather than a restaurant. The dimmed lights and jazz music playing at just the right volume for conversation made the ambiance perfect for our third date. My heart was contented, and without looking in a mirror, I could tell that I was beaming. I had that feeling I always get when things are beautiful, exciting, and new. Bryce was treating me just the way I dreamed I would be. I’d been divorced almost four years and too busy with mom duty to even think about dating, but this man was charming, intelligent, and said all the right things. In my mind, it was too good to be true, and in the weeks after, instead of continuing to enjoy a developing friendship, I panicked.

Panic is a response I became intimately acquainted with as a very young child. Domestic violence and abuse happened regularly in my home, and I learned to always be on alert for danger. As an adult woman, I chose men that kept this on the edge anxiety on repeat. I wanted so much that Bryce was different, that he it wasn’t all an act and that he wouldn’t turn on me the way my ex did. I found myself not being able to trust that my own decision in relationships. I was afraid that I’d continually choose someone that would ultimately abuse me.

Bryce eventually fell off, and this sort of thing had happened before, either because I didn’t have time, or it just wasn’t a good fit. It hadn’t bothered me, but with Bryce it did. There was so much fear in my life, and he held up a mirror that I was finally ready to see. I didn’t have peace in my mind and heart, but I had fooled myself into thinking that I did.

Loneliness, fear, and a lack of faith can keep us walled off from the significant relationship we deeply desire. Internally, we’re not in a good place because we’re trying to be a protective shield for our own lives, and that’s utterly exhausting. God tells us in Isaiah 55:9 (KJV), “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Our brains are incapable of considering all the details that are involved just to keep us breathing from one moment until the next. We are alive this very moment because of God’s amazing grace. He knows everything there is to know about us, and He alone knows the future. We must have confidence that our safety is in His very capable hands because He has promised to be our Refuge.

A refuge is our safe place. It’s a place we rest in because it offers peace and protective. Only God can truly be this for us. Psalm 18:30 tells us that God’s Word proves true, and this is without exception. God is faithful and He keeps His promises. He tells us that He will be shield for everyone that takes refuge in Him.

The psalmist said in Psalm 34:4 (NLT), “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” A man can’t be our everything, and it’s a mistake to think that anyone can be this for us. That position belongs to God alone. When our trust is firmly planted in Him, and we love Him with our whole hearts, He will protect us. He is the refuge we seek, and when we know this in our hearts, minds, and souls, we won’t have fear. Instead we will rest in the truth of God’s love for us and always trust that He will lead us down a path that is blessed and best for our lives. ■

Domestic Abuse Awareness.Org

Breaking the chains of domestic abuse through the power of Jesus Christ.

Category Archives: Spiritual Encouragement