Bless His Name in the Storm

Posted on May 28, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalms 34:1 (NLT)
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.”

When we’re going through a really difficult season in life, and it seems like the storm just keeps on raging, we might find it challenging to praise God the way we should. It’s especially difficult when we have prayed steadfastly for a breakthrough, and it seems to be delayed. This can take a toll on us mentally and emotionally. A good thing to do is to go to God’s Word and study some of the many examples of those who cried out to God. They were really going through a hard time, but they waited for God to turn their situations around. Psalm 27:14 (NLT) tells us, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” This is what God’s people did thousands of years ago, and we must wait patiently for Him as well. We can have confidence that just as He rescued them, He will do the same for us and elevate us to a place of victory in Christ.

While we’re waiting on God, some might ask, “Well, what do we do in the wait?” Do we sit with our hands tucked beneath our laps and continue to sink in our emotions? No. When our backs are against the wall, and it seems like victory isn’t on our side, we thank God for His many blessings, and we give Him praise, proving that we have faith in His awesome love and power, and we know He will never let us down.

It’s easy to feel stuck or hopeless during times of waiting, but we must remember that waiting on God isn’t about idleness. It’s about trust. We have to trust that even when things don’t look promising, God is still working behind the scenes. Often, there is a space of time between the trouble we’re experiencing and the resolution that only our Father can bring. However, this waiting period isn’t a pause for us to be idle: it’s an opportunity to grow deeper in our relationship with Him. This is when our commitment to press should be strengthened. We should draw nearer to His presence, and allow His peace to fill us, even when everything around us feels chaotic.

The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 40:31 (NLT), “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” It’s not about staying in a constant state of sorrow and disappointment; the Father doesn’t want that for us. He wants us to keep our hearts in a posture of praise. We need to understand that our adoration and exaltation of the Father means that we are bringing ourselves in alignment with the truth. We are affirming His power as well as His willingness to use it on our behalf. Our praise is an affirmation of our faith in God.

We should also know that the enemy tries to destroy our praise for God, he doesn’t want us talking about the Father’s goodness, but instead, he wants us to glorify his evil works.

Dastardly and deceptive, the enemy wants our mouths to be filled with complaints, our hearts weighed down by worry, and our focus fixed on what’s going wrong. But when we choose to praise God in the middle of some of the worst times in our lives, we put a muzzle on the lies of the enemy and shift the atmosphere around us. Our praise becomes a weapon—a declaration that no matter what it looks like, we trust in the One who holds our future.

Our praises are faith builders. The more focused we are on God’s love and power, the less power we give to the enemy—and he will flee. James 4:7 (NLT) says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” It’s the humility in our praise that pleases God. When we praise Him even when we don’t feel like it, we’re showing Him that we know He’s the One that causes all things to work together for our good, as Romans 8:28 says. Our relationship with God can’t be built on emotions, it must be built on faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) tells us that we can’t please Him without it: “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

God is worthy of all praise, at all times, in all seasons of our life. He’s good all the time. Our circumstances and situations don’t dictate God’s sovereignty—He’s God all by Himself, and He will prove that to us each and every time we choose to trust Him, praise Him, and wait on Him. His faithfulness never changes, even when everything around us does. ■

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.

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!

Your Renewed Strength

Posted on April 29, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalm 51:10(KJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

For some, this past year was full of wonderful surprises and the accomplishment of many goals. For others, it might have been difficult and painful, full of unexpected challenges. Whatever the case, the new year presents an opportunity for renewal. It can be a time of learning to lean on God more, so that our strength is renewed and our faith in Him is increased. We may not want to admit it, but there are things in all our lives that hold us back and keep us from fully embracing all that God has in store. Praying like the psalmist did in Psalm 51:10 conveys the kind of humility that pleases our Heavenly Father, and it’s a good start to re-prioritizing and renewing our commitment to greater spiritual growth and blessings.

Jesus Christ told his disciples in John 16:33(NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Our powerful Lord was very clear that the earth experience can be very challenging. Christians are not exempt from trials and tribulations, as most of us can attest. The times in which we live are increasingly perilous. So, it’s not just pressure in our own lives, but it’s all around us. You may be feeling exhausted from it all, but Jesus tells us in John 16:33 to take heart. This means that we are to be courageous.

If we focus on our own ability or look to someone’s strength, we might find it very difficult to summon courage, but this isn’t what our Lord and Savior is telling us to do in this verse. The victory he achieved through his life, sacrifice, and resurrection overshadows any other. His victory is our victory, and it will overcome any and all troubles. This is where our focus must be. 1John 5:4(NLT) tells us, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” We must have faith in the victory that Jesus Christ won for us, but many of us are allowing the world to zap our strength and steal our joy. We can prevent this, and we should.

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” This overwhelmingly comforting verse tells us about the empowerment of God when we trust in Him. On our own, our resources are extremely limited, but Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 19:26 that with God, all things are possible! He can show us reservoirs and resources within ourselves that we’ve never tapped. He can strengthen what seems weak to us and stretch what appears to human eyes to be exhausted.

1John 1:5(NLT) boldly tells us, “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” The dark forces in the world want to keep us in a dreary place and snuff out our hope. We can’t allow that to happen, and the way to prevent it is to trust in God. Things make look bleak, and we may feel like our strength is gone, but we can be renewed with vitality when our faith is firmly planted in Him. He wants our lives to be full of His light, and to walk in His light, we can’t allow our emotions or the world to dictate our reality. God’s Word is the truth, and we must believe what He says above all else. As you pray and seek His forgiveness and love, He will give you renewed strength. So, open your heart wider to the Lord Jesus Christ. You will witness his amazing grace when you give all your cares to him. ■

God Is With You Every Step You Take

Posted on April 22, 2025 by daaorg1214

During Old Testament times, our Heavenly Father made a promise to His people to give them a lush and bountiful land, so much so that it was referred to the land of ‘milk and honey’. In Joshua 1:9(The Message), He told them, “From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

God is as faithful to us as He was to His people living during Old Testament times. Hebrews 10:23(NLT) says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Our Heavenly Father always keeps His promises but even after we’ve been on this Christian journey for numerous years, many of us still struggle to believe this.

A friend of mine has been a Christian for almost as long as I have. She’s been struggling in a relationship with a man that is verbally abusive and often calls her horrible names. When I tell her that she is stronger than she thinks and encourage her that God will back her every step to live free of abuse, she immediately dismisses my encouragement. Her response is always, “What works for you, won’t work for me! If I have to suffer then that’s what God wants me to do.”

Many believers have this attitude, that God wants them to suffer. 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.” In this verse, our powerful Lord and Savior tells us why the devil is in the earth, and it is to steal, kill, and destroy. This is what the enemy does, but Jesus Christ came to give us victory. He came to make a more than abundant life available to all that will believe and accept it.

In John 3:16-17(NLT), Jesus also tells us, “16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” God loves us so much that He sent His precious Son to save us. He doesn’t want us to suffer, He wants us to live a blessed existence with good health, great relationships, fulfilling work, spiritual power, and most importantly, fellowship with Him.

This is the life God made available through Christ, but we have an enemy, the devil, and God warns us about this in 1Peter 5:8. In the verse, God tells us to stay alert about the devil’s schemes, tricks, and plots against us because he roams the earth, on the hunt for an opening into a person’s life. If he finds one, he will attempt to attack us in the most deceitful and merciless way. The way that we outsmart the devil is to open our eyes by learning and knowing God’s truth.

We can be tricked into believing the wrong things about God and what He will do for us, but we must refuse to continue to allow the enemy to blind us. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to suffer. He wants us lean on Him with every step we take, because He will be with us! He is our Source of strength and all good things. God doesn’t want us to be shy or discouraged about pursuing the blessed life He’s given us, and we must be resolves that no relationship with another human being is worth the cost of our peace. Our Heavenly Father wants us to learn the truth about Him and His love through His Word so that we can live confidently in the victory He has won for us through Christ! ■

Your Way Out Through the Love of Christ

Posted on April 15, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalms 34:8 (NLT)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”

Jesus Christ said in John 14:27(NLT), “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Peace is very important to every individual because it means that we are living in the present with faith in God and faith in the hedge of protection that He’s placed around our lives. The Father gives us peace through Jesus Christ, and it is an inner reality. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us and brings the fullness of Christ with him, but sometimes we forget this. We need to remind ourselves continually that peace is an inside job. It isn’t dependent on what is happening on the outside. There can be chaos and confusion all around us, but inside is a different story if we trust and honor God and have faith in what He is given us through Christ.

As we mature and gain experience in life, we learn that there can be situations that cause us to worry and have anxiety. We might think to ourselves, “I thought life would be easy since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but that has not been the case at all.” Jesus never promised that life would be a bed of roses all the time. He taught the disciples in John 16:33 (NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Trying to live a life outside of Christ, without his help, is treacherous, but living life in Christ brings us peace no matter what we face. He is our Refuge and our Savior, and we can trust him with all that we are.

Significant relationships have been a source of pain in the lives of many. They can disrupt our peace more than any other situation. In an abusive relationship, it’s unbelievable that the man that used to be so kind and patient is now mean and very hurtful. He may even be demeaning and call you horrible names, and you’re always shocked when you’re treated this way. It’s not surprising that the heartbreak of being treated this way by the person that is supposed to love and support you changes your outlook on life. We might be tempted to let our faith plummet and think that the Lord isn’t going to help us, but this isn’t true.

When we’re in the valley of despair, God is with us. In Joshua 1:9(NLT), He told His people living in Old Testament times, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” When we place our faith in Him, God will always give us a way out. He has delivered us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and because of this, we have unlimited access to God’s peace, mercy, grace, and love.

Every answer to any and every problem will always be found in the truth of the life and love of Jesus Christ, and any problem that we will ever face has already been nailed to the cross. Galatians 2:20(NLT) tells us, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” When trials and tribulation weigh heavily on us, we may feel as though we have nowhere to turn, but this is when we must turn to the face of God. His love, grace, and mercy are what we need to make it through.

Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. Indeed, He is good beyond our greatest imagination, and He invites us to put Him to the test because He never disappoints. God uses our senses of taste and sight in this verse because they are how we interact with the world around us. In this same way, He tells us to interact with His spiritual realm through our faith. He wants us to experience the truth that He cannot fail, and His mercy endures forever.

Lamentations 3:22-23(NLT) declares, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” As we face difficulties in our relationships and in other parts of our lives, we would give ourselves the greatest gift of turning to God so that we can encounter His love, mercy, and comfort. The weighty problems of life can easily slow us down, but our way out is through the love that Christ has for us. In the middle of our heartbreak and pain, we can have peace if we have faith that Jesus is our Helper, and as we draw closer to him, he will be our refuge and source of strength. ■

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.

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