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.

Stay Away from People Like That

Posted on June 11, 2025 by daaorg1214

2 Timothy 3:1-6 (NLT) “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.”

Have you ever been in a relationship that turned out to be a huge mistake? I have had some doozies, and that’s not an easy thing to admit. I don’t want to put anyone in a negative light, but the truth is that when you’re with the wrong person for your life, there’s a big chance that you’ll bring out the worst in them and they’ll bring out the worst in you. In the beginning, things might seem great, but as a relationship becomes more comfortable, there are usually warning signs all over the place, at least there were for me. Growing up, my mother had schooled me with sage wisdom and sound advice, so I really had no excuse. I just didn’t want to listen. “This one will be different. My love will cause him to change.” I’d say. I was only fooling myself.

In my early twenties, my mother and I would have lots of conversations about the signs to look out for when dating. “Stay away from men that want to spend all their time with you…”, she’d say. When I first heard this, I thought it was the opposite of what a woman should do. Every woman should want someone that is attentive and loyal, and it’s wonderful when a man appreciates spending time with you because they enjoy your company. So, I was skeptical about this piece of advice, and didn’t give it much weight. As I matured and went through some bumps in the road, I began to understand the wisdom behind my mother’s warning.

She wanted my eyes to be open about men that only wanted to spend all their time with me because they hadn’t put in the work to build a good life for themselves. They were more interested in taking than sharing. Through the Apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 3:10(NKJV), God said, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” Our Heavenly Father is teaching us about the level of responsibility and accountability He expects from a man. It’s clear from His Word that work is an extremely important aspect of life, and so is the consistency of character that is demonstrated in a person’s ability to maintain a job.

In 2 Timothy 3:6, God warns about people who are deceptive and manipulative. They are masters of pretending to be something they are not, and sadly, many of us have been vulnerable to their schemes. We’ve given our hearts to the wrong man only to be taken advantage of. Sometimes his motive for trying to occupy most of our time is control. This will often catch us by surprise because he might not appear to be controlling initially, but ultimately shows his true colors by wanting to know every move of the person in his life. It seems loving and caring at first, but we need to be very careful and not ignore these red flags.

Psalm 119:1-3(NLT) declares, “1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” My mother taught me to open my eyes to everything when I meet someone new. It took me a while to recognize this wisdom, and I learned many things the hard way, but I am now very observant. I understand that just because a man is attractive, articulate, and charming, and things go well in the beginning, it doesn’t mean that he will be a blessing to your life. It’s sad, but some people are manipulative, shady, and only out for what they can get. We need to stay away from people like that and run in the opposite direction, because they will not be a blessing to our lives. Walk in the Spirit and listen to God when it comes to dating and letting a man into your heart. He will let you know if the guy is really who he says it is.

Missed Red Flags

Posted on June 4, 2025 by daaorg1214

Ecclesiastes 6:10(NLT)
“Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.”

Eric filed for divorce from Mona one week before Thanksgiving. They had dated for five years and had only been married for three. Prior to them tying the knot, the relationship had its problems and went through a series of on-and-off again several times. Their families were skeptical that the marriage would last and were surprised it had made it as long as it did. Eric never wanted to get married, but finally succumbed when Mona forced the issue with an ultimatum. His frustration and exhaustion with her constant accusations has reached its peak. Repeatedly, He’s said to her, “I might as well cheat because no matter what I do or say, you will never trust me.” Mona’s insecurities had been a problem from the very beginning, and now Eric no longer wants to be in the marriage.

He had been emotionally unavailable while they dated, and Mona spent most of that time trying to pull a reaction out of him. A smidge better at communicating his feelings the last few years, he was trying to be better because he loved Mona and wanted their marriage to work. He even started to give her cards on special occasions, but he felt that nothing he did was ever enough. Eric was very handsome and constant glaring from other women continued to cause problems in the marriage. Even so, Mona is adamant to make it work. She refuses to cooperate with the divorce.

Emotional unavailability and insecurities are just a few of the issues that we often allow to go unresolved in our minds and hearts. We will bring these heavies into our significant relationships where they will ultimately wreak havoc for both people. For a person that is determined to preserve their well-being and partner well, these things are red flags. When we’re paying attention, they warn us about impending danger ahead.

Ephesians 4:22-23(NLT) tells us, “22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” When it becomes apparent to us that our behavior is causing our partner to be unhappy, we are to do what our Heavenly Father tells us in Ephesians 4:22-23. Looking within ourselves and being careful not to levy blame on the significant person in our lives is very important. It’s our responsibility to throw off the aspect of our thoughts and behavior that is causing pain for them and for us. The way that we do this is to change the way we think by reading God’s Word and lining up our thought with what He says is right. We must also pray to Him often in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, and we must take the necessary step to follow his example of love in a greater way.

Your destiny in Christ is to have a more than abundant life that is filled with God’s blessings. He will back every step that we take to change from hurt and pain to love and light. He tells us in 1Thessalonians 5:5(NLT), “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.” We are His children of the light, and He expects that His love, peace, joy, and kindness will saturate our hearts as we cling to the example of Christ. In Matthew 6:33(NLT), Jesus teaches, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” This is God’s promise, and His way works best. When we humble ourselves and seek His help and seek Him as our Source and Creator, He will guide and keep us on the path of His blessings.

Spiritually, Mona missed the red flags of her own heart. She didn’t pay attention to her relationship with God and wasn’t concerned with pleasing Him. Instead, she was consumed with fear, obsession, and anxiety about Eric. She didn’t allow herself to enjoy their union for fear of losing it. As God’s children, we don’t have to wait until we’re at the point of losing a precious relationship to pay attention to those internal signals of impending danger. Anxiety, phobias, and anger often lead us down a path of regret. The best choice is always one of praying, seeking, and pleasing God. Proverbs 22:4 tells us that the reward of true humility and reverence for God is riches, honor, and long life! Give yourself the gift of humbling and honoring our Heavenly Father. He’s worthy of our praise and will reward us with unity in our marriages that is pleasing to Him and fulfilling for us as well. ■

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. ■

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. ■

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

Tag Archives: Victims of Domestic Violence