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. ■

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.

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. ■

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Help is Here

Posted on March 4, 2025 by daaorg1214

Some years ago, after I filed for divorce from a physically and mentally abusive husband, I felt very alone and isolated. I was facing life as a single parent, and I didn’t know which way to turn. I couldn’t believe that I was in that situation, and I became depressed. I never dreamed that the person I loved so dearly, the person that at one time made me feel so loved and secure, would cause me so much pain. I blamed my ex-husband for my misery, but I also blamed God. For a while, I was very angry with the Lord, because I couldn’t understand what I had done so wrong to deserve such a terrible end to my marriage.

Financial dependency is a very common factor for many individuals that remain in abusive relationships. It had been one of the reasons that I continued to stay in my marriage. My ex was always very attentive and kind to our child, but I finally decided to leave when it was clear to me that it was, for me, a matter of life or death. At times after the divorce, I felt as though my survival was still unsure, because I didn’t think that I could call on anyone for help. I felt trapped, and I was still very angry, but I decided I would have a heart to heart talk with God, and I set aside some time to do just that.

Philippians 4:13(NLT) was a verse that was introduced to me when I was a child, and it kept coming back to my mind during that time in my life. This verse declares, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” One day I cried out to God, “Where’s the strength You promised me? I can’t take this. Why aren’t You helping me?!!!” Later, I was both terrified and thankful to our Heavenly Father. Despite my disrespect, He allowed my ignorance and anger, and He patiently taught me to understand that I was strong through Him even though I felt weak. The more I learned about God, the stronger I became.

I had to admit to myself that I couldn’t hold things together on my own. The fear of making a mistake kept me on edge and to some degree, it also kept me seeking God. I was completely helpless, and the grace and blessings He extended were miraculous. After my divorce, I was at a point where I was either going to give up or trust our Heavenly Father. I decided to trust Him and to humble myself under His power and goodness. He helped me through my hopelessness, and He will do the same for anyone and everyone who will humble themselves and seek His help.

Sometimes, life leaves us in a position where it seems we have nowhere to turn. We can’t foresee the future. We don’t know what will happen in our lives from one moment to the next. Our immediate response when facing this is fear, but in 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (NLT), our Heavenly Father gives us a better strategy of what to do. This passage states, “1 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) 3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.”

Seeking God’s help with our whole hearts is the only way to go. God knows everything there is to know about every individual that is living and has ever lived. He doesn’t rush us to trust Him. He waits for us to allow Him to shower His unfailing love and strength on our lives. We must understand that He is always willing and able to help us, and our response to Him has to be one of true humility and reverence. We have to honor the truth that we need God every moment of every day. We can’t do anything without His help, and when we have faith in Him, He will fight our battles. Victory and glory belong to God. We will help ourselves tremendously if we put aside our anger and blame, and trust that God loves us and is helping us right this very moment to overcome because our faith is in Him.■

Don’t Let the Enemy Steal Another Opportunity

Posted on February 25, 2025 by daaorg1214

Luke 4:5-8(NKJV)
“5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for [this] has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “

Fast and furious. That’s how many of us would describe the number of issues that are coming at us these days. It’s not just the simple stuff. Most of us can handle that. It’s issues that bring up things like insecurity, anxiety, and fear. They cause us to experience emotions that make us unsettled and doubtful about our happiness in the future. Perhaps thoughts of your past mistakes, childhood memories, or the heaviness of your current relationship continue to weigh you down. When these things are heavy on our hearts, our emotions begin to mirror the obstacles and problems we face. Going about our daily lives as if all is well becomes increasingly challenging to do. We might be wondering if things will get better. Our precious Lord and Savior promises that they will.

When we were much younger, we had such high hopes and dreams. That is what young minds do. We think we’re invincible, and that life will cooperate with all our plans. As we mature physically and mentally, life teaches us that everything doesn’t turn out the way we expect. The Apostle Paul said in 1Corinthians 13:11(NLT), “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” As we mature, God intends that we will change, and do so in a way that our minds become sharper and our decisions and choices become wiser. To keep pace with everything around us, we are required to understand life on a whole other level.

It doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes we mature physically and mentally, but emotionally, we don’t keep pace; there’s still some growing to do. Our expectations don’t always make the leap from fantasy to faith, and this can lead to disappointment and heartache as we mature. This is especially the case when we don’t adjust our expectations for relationships and expect our partners to know exactly how to love us. On some level, we expect that things will be better than the dreams we’ve always had, and sometimes they are, but a lot of the times, they pull on us in ways we didn’t expect. We underestimate how much emotional maturity and spiritual strength and wisdom relationships require.

Our partners are a mirror for us. They show us both the best and the not-so-pretty about ourselves. This is a truth most of us miss as we mature into adulthood. Through all the romantic movies, novels, and fairytales we consume, fantasy gets seeped into our brain cells, and this can impact our expectations regarding relationships. In fantasies, there are dastardly villains who attempt to sabotage a couple’s dreams, but there is always a happily ever after. In real life, our spiritual enemy is far more dastardly and evil than any villain, and he has no mercy.

Faith is what we learn from God’s Word, and faith requires us to leave fantasy out of reality’s equation. Our faith in God requires us to feed our minds and hearts the truth, so that we can stand strong under enemy attack. Our Heavenly Father warns us in 1Peter 5:8(NLT), “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Unity in any way, shape, form, or fashion is a target of darkness, and God hasn’t kept this a secret. He’s commanded us to stay alert and watch out. When it comes to maintaining and preserving any blessing in life, relationships or otherwise, we need to be hyper vigilant in prayer and the wisdom of God’s Word.

Don’t let the enemy steal another opportunity by taking advantage of your lack of faith. Fantasies are not true. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to extract them from our expectations about relationships and every other thing, because our most precious treasures can be stolen if we’re not on guard. Our fear and doubt give the enemy an opening to disturb our lives, and if we don’t act wisely and swiftly, a small issue can magnify into something that spoils our blessings and causes them to fall apart. Faith is the answer! Our faith in the Lord must be strengthened. Often this is what our unsettling emotions are about; they point us in the direction of seeking God on a greater level.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it is impossible to please our Heavenly Father without faith. It also tells us that God is a Rewarder, and He rewards those who diligently seek Him. He doesn’t cause the troubling situations that plague our lives, but what the enemy meant for our destruction, our Heavenly Father can turn it around and use it for our good. God is sovereign, and He is always willing and able to help, restore, and plant our feet on higher ground. 1 Peter 5:6-7(NLT) tells us, “6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” So, let’s not give in to disappointment or anxiety. Instead, let’s pray continually to our Heavenly Father in faith and stay strong. He promises that when we do, we will resist the enemy and position ourselves under the Lord’s protection, power, and grace.■

The Lord Will Hold Me Close

Posted on February 18, 2025 by daaorg1214

Psalm 27:10(NLT)
“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”

A friend’s daughter, Lexi, has been estranged from her father for years and bumping into him recently was troubling for her. She’s in her twenties now, and since he’s been out of her life, she’s felt a sense of peace and security. He became abusive after she turned sixteen and seeing him unexpectantly opened old wounds that she had tried to put behind her.

Lexi’s father had been very loving and supportive when she was much younger, and she never understood what caused him to change. She felt abandoned when he continued to belittle her, and because of this, sometimes she also felt abandoned by God as well. We don’t always understand why we endure so much pain, especially when we are at our most vulnerable, but God doesn’t cause the circumstances of our pain. Trusting this truth creates a space in our hearts for the love of God to come in. Lexi stopped being angry long enough to seek God’s help and to trust that He would give it.

Nervous, sad, and insecure, initially she was afraid that nothing she tried would work out, but God tells us in 2Corinthians 12:9(NLT), “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Lexi decided to have faith that God would help her to establish a life on her own. For years she had walked on eggshells, and she never wanted to experience that fear again. As she grew in faith, her self-esteem improved and so did her life. She drew closer to our Heavenly Father, and she continued to pray for healing and for the strength to forgive her biological father. After seven years, she thought she had forgiven him, but when she saw him after all that time, she was confused, and her confidence was shaken.

The reality is that we don’t always know what is going to meet us around the corner. Life is very unpredictable that way. When we’ve gotten to a place of finally feeling secure, and then something happens to seemingly set us back, we might feel tempted to turn away from our faith in God. We don’t understand why things happen the way they do, and this makes us question whether we can ever really feel safe. God promises that we can.

1Peter 5:6-7(NLT) tells us, “6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” We are truly humble when we hold on to our faith in God during those times that are the most challenging for us. He desires us to surrender to Him by giving all our worries and cares to Him, because He cares about every detail of our lives. God has all power in His hands, and there isn’t anything He can’t solve, even when the issue is as complex as old wounds and a heart that’s been broken into pieces.

God will ‘father us’ through our darkest times. As Psalm 27:10 tells us, when our parents are not prepared to nurture and smother us with love, God will hold us close. When we face situations that open old wounds, He is faithful to bring us through, and we must trust His plan for our lives even when dark clouds loom. Romans 5:8(NLT) declares, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Our Heavenly Father is loving and kind towards us. He doesn’t hold our mistakes against us. Instead, when we come to Him in faith, He helps us to become strong through Jesus Christ! We can have every confidence that our God loves us way more than we could ever love ourselves. He will hold us close and hold us up as we move beyond our pasts and refuse to be held back by them. ■

Nothing Shall Hurt You

Posted on February 11, 2025 by daaorg1214

Luke 10:19(ESV)
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

I learned over the summer that a good friend had been going through a difficult season in her life. Everyone that knows her is quick to say how outspoken and brazen she is, but for the last few months she’d been noticeably more withdrawn and isolated. My friend and her teenage daughter moved in with her grandmother after being evicted from their apartment. In her words, nothing was going right. She was too embarrassed to tell anyone about the financial hardship she’d been having after her divorce two years ago.

My friend is not alone in her struggle. Many of God’s children are facing troubling times and feeling ashamed that their lives are so far from what they used to be. We shouldn’t walk in shame about any of our struggles, because the reality is that we all have hard days, and sometimes they last a lot longer than we’d like. During those difficult times, we might want to pull the covers over our heads and isolate ourselves from everything and everyone, but Jesus Christ offers us a better solution. If we trust him, he will lead us to a path of strength and wisdom. There, on the path with our blessed Lord, we need to increase our confidence in who God is and what He has promised us. On this path, we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. We let him lead, because when we place our hope in him, Romans 5:5(NLT) tells us, “…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.”

Through Jesus Christ, God has given us authority and power to live victoriously! Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and whole, and He has equipped us spiritually through Jesus Christ to stand strong. Romans 8:37 tells us that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loves us. No matter what we face in life, we are overcomers. Our problem is that when our conditions, situations, and circumstances look troubling, we forget that God is our fortress. We forget His Word tells us that He’s our refuge and shield. The psalmist said in Psalm 3:3(ESV), “But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” When we don’t feel like even trying anymore, this is the truth on which we must anchor our hearts and confess with our mouths.

Our minds and hearts must be drenched in faith towards our God. As Psalm 3:3 tells us, He’s the lifter of our heads. Sure, things sometimes look very bleak, and we don’t think we’re going to make it through. We don’t want people to see our sadness and disappointment, but it’s on our faces. It’s in the way we move, and we can’t hide it. God desires to connect with us, especially when we’re in pain. Even though we may feel shame, we need to remind ourselves that He will lift our heads above it if we cling to Him and trust in His power.

Jesus Christ showed us the heart of God when he carried out his ministry on earth. He helped and healed the hearts, minds, and bodies of people, because he loved everyone, and it pleased the Father to restore them. God wants to do this in our lives. When He lifts our heads out of the muck and mire of our troubling circumstances, our perspective should change from one of despair and shame to greater understanding and faith. We will see that we’ve been stuck in one place for too long, and through Christ, we can gain a greater vision of the future that God has in store for us.

In Luke 10:19, Jesus Christ blessed the disciples with absolute authority to carry out the ministry he had given them. He gave them power over the enemy, satan, and he declared, “nothing shall hurt you.” Because he finished the mission that God gave him through his sacrifice and resurrection, we can walk with this same authority, dominion, and power when we honor God with our lives and have faith in all that He is. We are God’s children, and He lifts our heads high, not with arrogance, but with the humility and confidence of being members of His spiritual family. The choice to believe God and lean totally on Him is the right one to make. We must pray that as we choose to believe the truth, God will speak to our hearts and remind us that we are strong through the Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep us through our darkest hour as we remain anchored in His faithfulness, deliverance, and strength. ■

You May Be on the Wrong Road

Posted on February 4, 2025 by daaorg1214

Proverbs 22:4 (NLT)
“True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.”

Many of us are walking around with wounded hearts and troubled minds. The world is changing, and these are challenging times. On top of this, some of us have issues in our relationships and finances that are causing us stress. We may be dealing with trouble on the job and at home, and this can rob us of the peace that God wants us to have. Searching for someone or something to help us escape feelings of despair, we sometimes turn to the wrong source for comfort. We go down the wrong road, and it can send us spiraling to further depths of confusion and disappointment. Romans 5:1 tells us that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is the rescue we desperately need, and we will do ourselves the greatest favor if we learn to tap into God’s tremendous peace and power.

A changed mind
Romans 12:2(NKJV) says, “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.” This verse is packed with truth, the kind that will help us take our lives to new levels of peace and abundance. It first tells us that God doesn’t want our minds to be conformed by the world or to be shaped by what society believes and teaches. Society has views and opinions that are often against God’s Word, and they tell us to do, think, feel, and say things that are opposite of what God says. This can add to our problems instead of helping us to solve them.

When our minds are conformed to something, it means that we will follow it, and this can lead us down that wrong road we’ve pointed to above. God wants us to be blessed. He wants us to love others with the love of Christ and to be full of his joy, peace, authority, and power. Our minds are a huge part of living this reality. God commands us to renew our minds, which means to change the way we think. This is necessary because sometimes we think and believe in a way that sabotages our happiness. We can be stubborn about changing our thoughts and attitudes, and we resist it because sameness is comfortable, but we must understand that not renewing our minds as God tells us can cause us to miss some of the wonderful blessings that He wants us to have.

Proverbs 23:7(NKJV) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Thoughts we think in our hearts are thoughts that have become pretty dug in. It means we’ve believed something to the point that it’s at the core of who we are. We get stuck in patterns of thinking and behaving, and we don’t confront those patterns or analyze them to see if they’re working for us. Our responsibility is to observe ourselves a little more closely and break the patterns that injure our relationship with God and hinder our faith.

Don’t worry
God tells us in Philippians 4:6(NLT), “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” All worry stems from a lack of faith, and this is one of the reasons that God tells us not to let our minds and hearts become bogged down by worry and anxiety. We’re to pray through situations with faith and right believing. Sure, our thoughts and feelings may tell us that things are falling apart, and that we need to be fearful, but we can’t succumb to wrong believing and let it win. God has empowered us through Christ to be more than conquerors in every situation. He wants the authority and truth of His Word to override our thoughts and feelings. He wants us to trust that He is greater than our problems, and He is willing and able to help us.

Proverbs 3:5 tells us that we shouldn’t lean on our own understanding, but instead, we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts. You and I don’t see the big picture. God does, and we must trust Him to handle things. Psalm 28:7 declares that the Lord is our strength and shield, and Romans 8:31-32(NLT) says, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” We must confess and believe that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He has said He will do. He always keeps His promises. He’s our incomparable fortress, and our peace in times of trouble. If we’re not thinking and confessing these truths daily, then we might be on the wrong road. The Good News is that God has made a way for us through Christ to get on the right one when we change our thoughts, honor Him in our hearts, and claim God’s power and love over every aspect of our lives.■

Love Is Not Supposed to Hurt

Posted on January 28, 2025 by daaorg1214

1Corinthians 13:4-8(NLT)
“4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

I had just flown home from visiting my family in the south. My two-year-old daughter was with me, and my soon to be ex-husband was on his way to pick us up from the airport. I knew it was going to be a rough night because while I was away, I’d called and told my husband I wanted a divorce. He didn’t take it well at all. My stomach was in my throat the entire flight home, and I dreaded the thought of being in his company, but at the time, I had nowhere else to go and had no other choice but to go home with my husband.

I should have had a plan. I should have waited until details were in place before I declared that I wanted out, but I was young. I really didn’t care about a plan, I just wanted to breathe, and I felt like I hadn’t done that in a very long time. Whenever my ex was upset, it seemed to me that everything in the environment conspired with his rage. He yelled. He punched the walls or anything in his reach, and sometimes that ‘anything in his reach’ was me. I had been on the receiving end of his anger and punches for so long that I didn’t even feel that it was me living my life anymore. I was a shell of who I once was but managed to preserve a little piece of that woman for my daughter.

That night was horrible. I thought I had braced myself for it, but there was really no way to do that. I was a punching bag the entire ride home, and it got worse. That night resulted in another domestic dispute. The police were called, and he was arrested.

I can’t say for sure how I ended up with a man who abuses, but I remember people telling me when we were dating that “He loves hard.” I wasn’t wise enough during that time to equate those words with other words like obsession, jealousy, anger, rage, and out of control, but I certainly learned the hard way. As individuals that have been abused and are being abused, we need to know that there are other ways to learn the lessons of life and love, and those ways do not involve things like pain, abuse, and suffering.

One of the first things that we learn about God’s love is the reality of His kindness and patience. He tells us in 1Corinthians 13:4-5 that love is not jealous, abusive, belligerent, vengeful, irritable, or hurtful. Love is patient and kind, and this is the way our Heavenly Father loves us. It’s the way He wants others to love us, and it’s the way He wants us to love others as well. We learn from God’s example that love isn’t supposed to hurt. Love should nurture us and make us better people. We often think of love as this romantic and emotional ooey-gooey-ness that makes our hearts flutter like butterflies. That stuff is fun of course, but it’s too vacillating and fleeting to match the quality, longevity, and stability of real love. 1John 4:8 tells us that God is love. He’s the definitive authority on the subject, so we don’t get to put our own spin on how love looks and operates. He’s told us what love is, and based on His truth, we can discern and understand when we’re not being treated with love, and when we, ourselves, are not operating in love.

Jesus Christ lived by God’s love. He left us a perfect and lasting example of how to do that. The twelve disciples that were taught by him also closely walked and talked with him during his ministry on earth, and he loved them very much. In John 13:34(NLT), he told them, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” Our beautiful and beloved Lord and Savior set love in perpetual and continuous motion by commanded us to carry on loving just the way that he did. Because of the enduring and powerful love of God that our Master demonstrated, we have the distinct privilege and responsibility to let God’s love be our life’s goal and work.

Just because someone tells us that they love us, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Love doesn’t hurt or make us feel bad about ourselves, and this is a lesson that we don’t have to learn the hard way. It is not God’s Will for His children to live a life of suffering and despair. He gave the life of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our lives so that we can live abundantly! This is how much God loves us. He has made it overwhelmingly clear He has stamped us deserving of love. This is the way He sees us, and we must learn to see ourselves this way. We are worthy to be loved, because this is what God tells us. When we believe this in our hearts and begin to live by His love and Word, we will make wiser choices and decisions, and only accept the kind of love that doesn’t hurt. ■

Let Go of the Baggage

Posted on January 21, 2025 by daaorg1214

James 1:5(ESV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Noemi is a girlfriend of mine, and we decided to go out to dinner together to catch up. We were just finishing up when her boyfriend, Jake, called to say that he would need to break their plans for the weekend. He’s a truck driver, so she’s used to him being on the road, but this time, she felt things were different. He’s been distant lately. At times, she says his attitude and words are hurtful and aggressive. She told me, “I think he may have found someone else! He’s just not the same, and I don’t know what I’m going to do! I really need him in my life!” When will we understand the only person that we truly really need in our lives is Jesus Christ? Without knowing him and his love, we can be easily deceived into thinking that another human being can give us what only God can.

We read it in romance novels and see it on just about every form of media out there. Through them all, women are taught to make the significant man in their lives their everything, and this is never a good move. When we believe our prayers are answered, and we find someone that appears to be compatible, some of take all our eggs and put them in his basket, so to speak. We immediately invest times, energy, and other resources into this man, without a green light from the Lord that this is the man God has sent.

As women, we should be confident that our eggs are well preserved and beautifully adorned. These eggs are representative of wonderful goodies like our spiritual well-being in Christ and our level of confidence and authority in our Blessed Redeemer. They also represent our womanhood, self-esteem, and our capacity to love, grow, and thrive in God’s peace. As you can see, our eggs are very valuable, and this is the way we ought to view them. Placing all our eggs in a man’s basket without investigating the condition of his basket or his capacity to handle one, is not wise, and it often leads to heartbreak.

Is the heartbreak worth it?
Proverbs 4:7(NLT) tells us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Our Heavenly Father is a God of order, and He leaves nothing to chance. He’s set the priority that leads us to a fulfilling and meaningful existence, and this priority is wisdom. It’s the principal things, which means it must be the first step in acquiring all that God has for us. Proverbs 1:7(NLT) says, “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” We should never want it to be said that we will not listen and despise wisdom and discipline. Wisdom is more than just acquiring knowledge. It’s the right and proper use of the knowledge we’ve acquired; and honoring and reverencing God is where it all starts.

We must be wise, especially in relationships, and we must seek understanding from God’s Word so that we can accurately use the wisdom we’ve acquired. Without wisdom we make mistakes, and this is where heartbreaks makes its grand entrance. Without wisdom, we invest our resources and energies into a man that was never meant for us. We allow his baggage to become our baggage, and we become so weighted down that we can’t see straight. Then, when things inevitably crumble, and he decides he no longer values what we have to give, some of us use this as an excuse to fall apart. It’s important for us to know that we’re the ones to decide how we’re going to respond to heartbreak. We have a choice. We can continue to spiral, or we can release the baggage and choose to trust wholeheartedly in God. We can choose to believe in the strength and power He’s given us through Jesus Christ.

There can be no question that we learn from our mistakes, but there can also be no doubt that it’s best not to make the mistake in the first place. Mistakes often cause us to lose time, momentum, and stamina. This is especially true with heartbreak. It’s not worth it to put ourselves through heartbreak when it can be avoided. James 1:5 gives us a strategy for choosing the right person for our lives. It tells us that if we don’t know or we’re unsure, ask God, and He will not be upset if we keep asking for His wisdom and help. Our Heavenly Father will let you know what you’re working with because He wants you to avoid heartbreak and to have a blessed and bountiful existence.

Jesus Christ told the disciples in Mark 11:22-23(NLT), “22 Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” God is our everything, and no human being deserves or can handle the heft of that distinction. A human being can’t make you, and if the man leaves you tomorrow, that’s not going to break you. God is your sufficiency and the Source of your blessings. Have faith in Him. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from the destruction of sin. So, let go of the baggage. You might have thought it was a basket, but it was baggage you don’t need. Let it go, be more committed to grow in Christ, and always let God’s wisdom be your guide.■

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