Empowering Single Moms

Prayer:Heavenly Father,Thank You for reminding me today that fear is not my identity. I confess that at times I've let fear speak louder than Your truth. But today, I surrender that fear to You. I give You every anxious thought, every silent worry, and every place where fear has tried to take root in my heart.Lord, I receive the spirit You have given me—a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. I don't have to live paralyzed by what-ifs or afraid of what's ahead. You go before me. You are with me. And in You, I have everything I need.Help me to walk boldly, even when I feel uncertain. Let my faith rise and my fear fall. In Jesus' name, amen.

In this episode of the Empowering Single Mom podcast, Felicia discusses the transformative power of faith and the importance of renewing one's mindset. She emphasizes the need to fast from negative thinking and replace it with God's truth, encouraging listeners to embrace change and recognize their identity in Christ. Through personal anecdotes, she illustrates the struggles of overcoming negative thoughts and the journey towards healing and empowerment. Felicia reminds her audience that change is possible with God's help and encourages them to reject the lies that hold them back. TakeawaysTransformation is possible when God is involved.Fasting from wrong thinking is essential for renewal.Our thoughts shape our reality; we must think positively.Recognizing and calling out negative thoughts is the first step.Change starts in the mind and requires daily renewal.We are new creations in Christ; our identity has changed.Give yourself grace; change is a process, not an event.The Holy Spirit is our helper in the journey of change.Personal struggles with anxiety and negativity are common.Embrace the truth that you can change and grow daily.

In this episode of Empowering a Single Mom, Felicia discusses the importance of forgiving one's younger self. She emphasizes that many individuals carry shame and regret from their past decisions, but healing begins when we embrace who we are becoming. Through personal stories and biblical references, Felicia encourages listeners to release guilt and shame, recognize their growth, and understand that their past does not define them. The episode serves as a reminder that self-compassion and forgiveness are essential for personal growth and healing.TAKEAWAYYou do not have to wait for one day; today is the day.Shift your mindset from delayed thinking to faith thinking.Embrace today as a special gift full of opportunity.Start with little steps towards your big dreams.Respect the seed of your efforts; everything grows from small beginnings.Take action to reclaim your power and move forward.You are more than a conqueror; embrace your identity.Stop procrastinating; the time to act is now.Miracles are released when you step in faith.This is the day of healing and purpose.

TAKEAWAYYou do not have to wait for one day; today is the day.Shift your mindset from delayed thinking to faith thinking.Embrace today as a special gift full of opportunity.Start with little steps towards your big dreams.Respect the seed of your efforts; everything grows from small beginnings.Take action to reclaim your power and move forward.You are more than a conqueror; embrace your identity.Stop procrastinating; the time to act is now.Miracles are released when you step in faith.This is the day of healing and purpose.

In this episode of Empowering Single Moms, Felicia delves into the profound effects of childhood trauma on adult life. She emphasizes that healing is possible and that individuals are not defined by their past experiences. Through personal stories and biblical references, Felicia illustrates the journey of facing pain, forgiving, and ultimately finding freedom and hope. She encourages listeners to acknowledge their trauma, seek healing, and embrace their worth as children of God.TakeawaysChildhood trauma can have lasting effects into adulthood.Healing is a journey that requires facing pain with God.Forgiveness is essential for personal freedom.You are not defined by your past experiences.God sees and values you despite your trauma.Acknowledging pain is the first step to healing.Renewing your mind with truth is crucial for recovery.Inviting God into your memories can aid healing.Your story is not over; there is hope for the future.You are stronger than what happened to you.

In this episode of Empowering Single Moms, Felicia emphasizes the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ, especially for single mothers. She encourages listeners to reject societal labels and embrace the truth of being chosen, fearfully made, and deeply loved by God. Through biblical references and personal anecdotes, Felicia inspires single moms to recognize their strength, worth, and purpose, reminding them that they are more than their circumstances and that they have a significant role in their children's lives. The episode concludes with a powerful prayer and affirmation of identity in Christ.

In this episode, Felicia discusses the challenges of trusting God during uncertain times. She shares personal experiences of navigating through life's unexpected trials, emphasizing the importance of faith and surrendering to God's plan. The conversation highlights how to find peace and strength amid chaos, reminding listeners that God is always in control, even when circumstances seem bleak.

In this episode of Empowering Single Mom, Felicia dives into the story of Hagar, a biblical figure who represents the struggles of single mothers. Through Hagar's journey, Felicia emphasizes that God sees and knows each individual, offering hope and encouragement to those feeling unseen or forgotten. The discussion covers Hagar's complicated situation, God's pursuit of her, the promises made to her, and personal reflections on motherhood and faith. The episode concludes with a prayer and affirmation of God's presence in the lives of single mothers.TakeawayHagar's story is a reminder that God sees us.Single moms often feel invisible in their struggles.Your circumstances do not disqualify you from God's love.God pursues us even when we feel lost.Being called by name signifies God's personal attention.God has a plan for every child, regardless of circumstances.You are more than just a single mom; you have identity beyond that.God is with you in your wilderness season.Every effort you make for your children is seen by God.You are not alone; God is always present.

Sis, listen to me—God's silence doesn't mean He's absent.He may not be speaking, but He's still moving.You're not being punished—you're being prepared.And sometimes the waiting is where the breakthrough begins. So don't quit. Don't stop praying. Don't stop believing.God hasn't forgotten you—He's just working behind the scenes.”

A podcast created to uplift, inspire, and support single mothers on this incredible journey we call life. Single moms are some of the strongest, most resilient people out there. We juggle, we sacrifice, we love fiercely, and we make miracles happen every single day. So, if you are a single mom, if you know a single mom, or just want love and real conversation about strength, growth, and empowerment, make sure to subscribe and follow.

So, what do you do when life gets you down?You remember: • Being down isn't the end. • God is near, even in the darkness. • Your pain has purpose. • And you have the strength—through Christ—to get back up.Speak this over yourself:“I may be down, but I will rise again.”“I may be weary, but I'm still walking.”“I may not see it yet, but God is working.”Because when life gets you down, your comeback is in motion.

Have you ever had God tell you to let something go… but your heart just wasn't ready?That's the story of Lot's wife.God was about to destroy the city of Sodom. It was corrupt, toxic, full of sin—and He wasn't going to let Lot's family stay in that mess.So he sends angels to pull them out, like literally drag them out by the hand. And right before they run, they're given one instruction:“Don't look back.”It wasn't just about the direction they were running—it was about what their hearts needed to leave behind.Now, imagine this: she's running with her family. Her home is behind her. Everything familiar. Her friends. Her routines. The life she built, even if it was broken. And in that moment—her heart couldn't help it. She turned around.Just one look.And the Bible says, “Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)She didn't just turn her head—she looked back with longing. With grief. With attachment to a past, God was trying to free her from.And that look… cost her everything.Let that sink in: God was delivering her, and she died in between freedom and bondage—all because she looked back.How many times do we do the same thing?God is trying to bring us out—out of toxic cycles, old relationships, painful memories, shame—and yet we keep looking back.We keep replaying the past, holding onto what He told us to release.And here's the truth nobody wants to say out loud:Looking back when God says move forward will keep you stuck in places you were never meant to die in.Lot's wife didn't trust the future more than she missed the past. And I think that's where a lot of us get stuck.We're more comfortable with what hurt us than with the unknown of healing.But God is saying, “Let it go. Don't look back. What's ahead of you is worth it.”So here's the question for you today:What are you still looking back at—when God already said, “It's time to move on”?

In this empowering conversation, Felicia discusses the importance of recognizing and overcoming negative thoughts that single moms often face. She emphasizes the need to replace these lies with God's truth, renew the mind daily, and engage in prayer and affirmation. The conversation serves as a reminder that every individual has the power to overcome negativity and embrace their true worth as loved and valued by God. TakeawaysThe enemy uses lies to instill doubt and fear.Recognizing the source of negative thoughts is crucial.Replacing lies with God's truth is essential for healing.Daily renewal of the mind is necessary for mental health.Encouragement and support from others can help combat negativity.Prayer is a powerful tool for mental and emotional strength.Affirmations can reinforce positive self-image and faith.Social media can distort our perception of reality.You are not alone in your struggles; God is always with you.Freedom from negative thinking is possible through faith.Sound Bites"Renew your mind daily.""God loves me for who I am.""Freedom is calling you."

In this episode of the Empowering Single Moms podcast, host Felicia delivers a powerful message of hope and resilience for single mothers. She emphasizes the importance of faith, overcoming adversity, and the necessity of removing negative influences from one's life. Felicia shares her personal experiences with trauma and depression, encouraging listeners to rise above their challenges and embrace their strengths. The episode serves as a call to action for single moms to reclaim their power and purpose, reminding them that they are never alone in their strugglesTakeawaysEven when you're down, you're not out.There's still purpose in your pain.Remove negative influences from your life.God will not give up on you.You are not too far gone for healing.It's important to protect your peace.Isolation can be a preparation for growth.Your past does not define your future.You are strong and deeply loved.It's time to rise and take action.

I put on the full armor of God:    •    The belt of truth—I stand on Your Word.    •    The breastplate of righteousness—I am covered by the blood of Jesus.    •    The shield of faith—I block every lie, doubt, and fear the enemy sends.    •    The helmet of salvation—My mind is protected and focused on You.    •    The sword of the Spirit—I fight back with the truth of Your Word.    •    And my feet are ready with the gospel of peace—I walk in purpose and boldness.

The enemy's strategy is to distract and discourage us.Self-examination is crucial for spiritual health.Wearing the armor of God is essential for protection.Avoiding traps set by the enemy requires discernment.Resisting the devil is a daily practice.Spiritual warfare is necessary for victory.Personal testimonies can inspire and empower others.The battle against the devil is real but winnable.Faith and prayer are powerful tools against anxiety.We are built to win, not to live in defeat.

Be Honest with GodSurround yourself with faith-filled peopleGo back to what God already said

Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:1-4The question of directionTrusting before knowingWhat does it look like to ask God where to go?Obstacles to hearing God's directionGod will meet you on your wayHow to walk this outProverbs 3:5-6

Scripture Foundation Jeremiah 29:11The Cry of the HeartGod Want You to Become HisGod Want You to Become WholeGod Want You to Become FruitfulGod Wants You To Become a LightAsk Question Daily: God, what do you want me to become?

Point 1: God works in you before he works through you.Point 2: God's Work in you is often invisible before it's obviousPoint 3: God's work in you has a purpose beyond youReflection Moment:Where in my life do I feel confused, delayed or stuck?Could God be doing a deeper work in me that I just can't see yet?Am I willing to trust his process even when I don't feel his presence?

When David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, it seemed like he would get away with it. After he arranged for her husband's death, David married Bathsheba, and they enjoyed their new child together. The Bible has no record of anyone from David's inner crowd chastising him for his sin. Not the servants who sent for Bathsheba. Not the general (Joab) who put Uriah in a place where he would be killed in battle. However, there was a prophet of God who wouldn't let David get away with his sin.Nathan was wise in his approach to David—he didn't come right out and say what David had done. Instead, he told a story about a man who loved his ewe lamb and how a rich man (with many flocks and herds) selfishly slaughtered the poor man's beloved lamb in order to entertain company. David was outraged and called for the rich man's death. In response, Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”While we may not have done the same sins as David, we have fallen short and needed to hear correction from someone close to us. We need a Nathan to remind us that God has blessed us with many blessings so we don't covet. We need a Nathan to encourage us to live righteous and pure lives that are untainted by worldly living. We need a Nathan so our hearts don't become full of pride and selfishness because of our spiritual or financial increase.Being an active part of the body of Christ gives us much exposure. We are exposed of our own shortcomings as well as those of other people. A true Nathan in our lives won't look to judge us too harshly or quickly because they are always aware of their own faults. Yet they love us too much to let us wander in the darkness of sin.

May God show you how loved you are, just as you are. And may his love bring you freedom and life as we rest in his presence right now.The greatest testimony you could possibly give is to have the audacity to live honestly. It takes courage to be yourself. It takes security in the unconditional love of your heavenly Father to acknowledge not just your strengths and successes, but also your weaknesses and failures. But in doing so your life will proclaim the powerful, beautiful work of God. And in doing so you will experience the peace and joy only freedom from building a facade can produce.A facade is “an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.” So often, to cover up what we know to be imperfect we devote ourselves to creating a false picture for others. We even devote so much energy to building a facade that we try and deceive ourselves. We muster up our pride and look only at what we've done well, all the while ignoring what we need help with. As a result, we spend all our time living a life apart from reality. And to live apart from reality is to live apart from the grace and love of our ever-present, wholly real Father.In Matthew 23:27, Jesus passionately rebukes those who try and build facades: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.” God solely cares about the heart. He's not worried about perception. He's not worried about status or societal acceptance. He cares about what is real. He knows that any energy spent devoted to building a facade is energy you can't devote to receiving help, healing, and grace for what's real and important. He knows that all your efforts to be accepted aren't of value because the opinions of others are nothing in comparison to his unconditional love for you. And he knows that ultimately all facades will be torn down, and we will be seen and known by him for who we truly are.God longs for you to live fully known and fully loved. He longs for you to live out a revelation of his love and grace rather than striving for affection and acceptance by building up facades. Take time to experience his love and grace today. Assess your heart and tear down your walls. May freedom burst forth in your life today as you proclaim the glory of God's grace by being who you really are.

I'm back, and I'm back with a purpose. Jump on this journey it is about to get real.

In this episode of Empowering a Single Mom, Felicia discusses the importance of forgiving one's younger self. She emphasizes that many individuals carry shame and regret from their past decisions, but healing begins when we embrace who we are becoming. Through personal stories and biblical references, Felicia encourages listeners to release guilt and shame, recognize their growth, and understand that their past does not define them. The episode serves as a reminder that self-compassion and forgiveness are essential for personal growth and healing.TakeawayHealing begins when we stop punishing our past.Forgiving yourself is not weakness, it's worship.Your younger self was doing the best they could.God's grace covers even your younger mistakes.You are a new creation in Christ.Self-compassion is essential for healing.Release the guilt and shame from your past.Honor the woman you are becoming.You are not defined by your past mistakes.Be gentle with yourself and speak love to yourself

Have you ever been in a valley of despair? Our disappointments, regrets, and unmet expectations reside in the valley. Sometimes it takes a while to climb out of it and we can find ourselves getting tired of the journey. The valley experience wasn't what we anticipated when we began our Christian journey. We may have expected hard days, but not difficult years that a valley may bring. Yet, the valley experience will develop us into being more like Jesus Christ. It will help us with persevering under difficulty, overcoming sin, and depending completely on God. We may not immediately recognize our spiritual growth, but it will be evident to those in our homes, schools, or workplace. If we learn to worship God in the valley, our hearts begin to understand the joy in the midst of difficulties. If we learn to pray in the valley, our prayers become more discerning and powerful. If we learn to know God's word in the valley, our minds are well fortified against the attacks of the devil. If we learn to serve others in the valley, we immediately recognize that we aren't the only ones hurting and that there are people much worse off than us. The valley experience isn't for everyone. Many believers choose the easier path of living a surface Christianity that minimally requires church attendance, infrequent Bible readings, and hurried prayers. Yet, for those who are willing to go deeper in Christ to experience His amazing presence, the valley experience will be the toughest, but most rewarding part of their life. Our mountain top triumphs are even more celebrated when we remember where we've come from in the valley. Prayer Dear Lord, my valley experience is only worth it if You are with me. Help me to persevere through this season of my life and I will give You the glory now and forever more. In Jesus' name, amen.

When my son was young, he had a medical issue that was difficult to treat. As a young mother, I struggled with this in prayer and called out to God with all of my heart. In my mind during this prayer, I picked up my son and laid him on an altar for God's will to be done. I was blessed a year later with a correct diagnosis and treatment for him. This experience taught me the value of casting all of my cares on God instead of trying to carry the load myself. Casting everything to God means that we release Him to do His greater work. We let go of what we want and seek Him for what He wants for us. It's a risk to live this way because we aren't guaranteed that everything is going to happen in the way we want. Yet, we can experience the peace of God that calms our hearts and minds. Our faith is stretched leading to a greater capacity for spiritual maturity. On the outside, it can seem that putting everything on the altar comes to us easily. However, learning to completely trust God is a process. As we learn to trust Him for smaller things, we will begin to trust for greater. Putting it all on the altar isn't a type of forced resignation. It's a choice we make based on what we know about God's word. Putting our hopes, dreams, and prayers on the altar means that we accept the doors God opens and closes. We remain steadfast in our joy even we don't get what we want because the Holy Spirit comforts us. He has a plan and purpose if we would only lay it all on the altar—holding nothing back. Prayer Dear Lord, I lay on the altar this concern that I've been carrying. I trust You to do what is best and help me to grow in my faith from this experience. In Jesus' name, amen.

Being free in Christ is great gift to everyone who desires to know the Lord. Let's not forget this gift of freedom and remember to exercise thankfulness to Jesus Christ every day. What does it mean to be FREE?F – Forgiven of our sins. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1) Many people miss the beauty of being forgiven our sins. We are ALL sinners—not one of us is born without sin. And there's only way to be washed white as snow from the nastiness, ugliness, and filthiness of our sin—that is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and accept His sacrifice for our sins. R – Release from the heavy hitters of fear, anxiousness, regret, shame, and guilt. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Fear, worry, regret, shame and guilt have one thing in common—they are heavy burdens to bear. Without a release from these heavy hitters, we can find ourselves locked in a spiritual, emotional, and mental prison. Through God's love and grace, we are set free from these chains. Freedom is available for all those who call on God to help and rely on His word to change us from the inside out. E – Experience the grace and favor of God. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17) God's grace and favor hover everyone of us who puts our trust in Him. We totally don't deserve one once of it—it's given to us out of love and not our works. He blesses us in many ways we never see. And as we keep our eyes on the Lord, He grants us favor in our homes, schools, work, neighborhood, and communities. His grace is enough for us even when times are difficult. E – Excelled peace beyond our own understanding. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) The world constantly is seeking peace, but it remains elusive because of the hardness of men and women's hearts. Yet, in Christ—we have an incredible peace that we ourselves can never understand. He gives us peace in the midst of confusion, misunderstandings, disappointments, and chaos. God steadies our feet on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, who knows all and through the Holy Spirit calms our hearts and floods our minds with peace. Prayer Dear Lord, thank You for the freedom of forgiveness, release, grace, and peace. You alone are worthy of the praise for these wonderful gifts. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have you ever struggled with thoughts that cross your mind? It's not that you want to think bad things; however, your mind keeps trailing to places it shouldn't go. The scriptures teach us that there is always a battle for our minds. In order for us to guard our thoughts, we need to be vigilant and ready instead of passively allowing every thought to capture our attention. Our thoughts are powerful because our sin begins in our mind. (Romans 7:23) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can control our thoughts so that we don't become captivated by sin. It's not just a one stop intervention; rather, it's a daily discipline of being aware of our thoughts. How do we control our thoughts? Step #1) Stay sober minded towards Satan's attacks on our minds. (1 Peter 5:8)The devil can't read our minds; however, he can plant thoughts in our head. We need to keep aware of this so that we don't embrace his thoughts as our own. Step #2) Cast down any thought that goes against God's word. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)Once we recognize a unholy or unrighteous thought, we have the opportunity to use our spiritual weapons to drive it away from our minds. Step #3) Rehearse what God's word teaches in contrast to unholy thoughts. (Psalm 119:15)God's word is powerful and it can help us overcome the influence of evil thoughts. We have the choice to submit to the Holy Spirit's leading or submit to our own desires. Step #4) Seek God's peace to guard our minds. (Philippians 4:7)It's the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds from worry and anxiousness. Our role is to lay our petitions before the Lord and trust in Him. Step #5) Keep our minds stayed on Christ. (Isaiah 26:3)We keep our minds on Christ's love and sacrifice for us instead of allowing our minds to wander aimlessly. God sees our thoughts and knows our weakness—He can help us control them. Prayer Dear Lord, I want my thoughts to honor You. Help me to remain diligent to protect my mind from evil influences from within and without. In Jesus' name, amen.

Each of our spiritual weapons are necessary for battle with Satan: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, readiness shoes, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. As warriors, we should be dressed in our spiritual armor every day, yet some of our weapons have to be picked up rather than put on. The shield of faith is a weapon that we have to remember to pick up in battle with Satan. Without the shield, we are exposed to the deadly weapons of discouragement, despair, and doubt. Our enemy will empty his arsenal primarily on those who are working diligently to build the kingdom of God. Therefore, as good soldiers of Christ, we have to be ready for battle at all times by taking our S-H-I-E-L-D: S – Stop entertaining evil thoughts from the devil. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV) H – Hold on to what we know is true about God's faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 7:9) I – Invest heavily into the meditation, memorization, and practice of the Scriptures. (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV) E – Engage in daily, consistent, and earnest prayer with God. (James 5:16, KJV) L – Let go of our past and press forward in faith. (Philippians 3:12) D – Don't ever let go of our faith in God. (Mark 11:22) When Satan launches his weapons at us, we throw up our shield of faith and swing back with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We can't swing back what we don't know—these weapons work together so that we aren't delayed in fulfilling our purpose. Destiny is in the grips of those warriors of Jesus who don't let evil powers hinder God's plans for their lives. Prayer Dear Lord, without You I can do nothing. Equip me with every spiritual armor so that I may finish my walk of faith in victory. Amen.

I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to live with joy in the midst of trials and challenges. It's so easy to let life dictate to us our emotions and state of being. But in God, there is a joy available to us right where we are, no matter how good or bad the situation may be. Today we're going to make space together to simply open our hearts and minds to receive the joy of the Father. I hope and pray that you find real, life-changing joy in God's presence today. The joy of the Lord available to us in the Holy Spirit transcends all circumstances, relationships, and possessions. It is an internal joy fed to our hearts by the wellspring of joy the Father has toward us. God longs to make us a people marked by his joy. He longs to fill us with the knowledge of how thrilled he is to be our Father. He longs to make us a joyful people in every circumstance and season. 1 Peter 1:6-9 says, In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. We can have joy in the midst of trial and tribulation because we have a genuine faith that this life is not all there is. Our hope reaches far beyond the confines of this fleeting age of sin and separation from God and looks toward the day when we will live in perfect, face-to-face relationship with our Creator. Every trial and tribulation is an opportunity to cling to the truth that this world is not our home and to be filled with joy at the thought of what awaits us on the other side of this life. James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” While God may not cause the various trials we face, he most certainly uses them to cause our joy to find its source in him alone. Our heavenly Father knows that if we place our joy in the fleeting and fickle circumstances of this life our lives will be an emotional rollercoaster rather than a reflection of how consistently good he is. Your heavenly Father has a compassionate heart toward the problems you face. He never desires for you to act or try and drum up faith that everything will be all right. He longs to meet you at the very core of your trial and fill you with abundant joy that's rooted in his love alone. He longs to guide you through the tough seasons of life that try and rob you of your allotted portion of joy. He longs to make your faith steadfast and sure so you can meet the tribulations of this world head-on with joy. Run to your Father today with every weight and problem. Ask him to guide you to the still waters that your soul might be restored. And receive all the joy he longs to give you today as you encounter his deep and powerful love for you.

It's easy for Christian women to get stuck in the sticky trap of perfection. We push ourselves to be the best wives, mothers, co-workers, sisters, daughters, and friends to the point that we think we can't fail. However, one misstep in our day can lead to the crashing realization of our incredible dependence on God. It's easy for Christian women to get stuck in the sticky trap of perfection. We push ourselves to be the best wives, mothers, co-workers, sisters, daughters, and friends to the point that we think we can't fail. However, one misstep in our day can lead to the crashing realization of our incredible dependence on God. Prayer Dear Lord, I surrender my failures to You. I pray for Your strength and wisdom to live out this life with peace and joy in spite of what goes on around me every day. You are my hope in success and failure. Amen.

Have you ever failed? It could a spiritual failure to failing a class or even failing to complete a project that you started. Many times when we have failed, we feel like our world is all over. Satan will pounce on our thoughts of failure to use for self-pity or condemn us for our weakness. Yet, when we are in Christ, failure isn't final. Even if we lose a battle here and there, we have victory in Christ Jesus. Through Him, we have God's grace or unmerited favor to help us get where we need to be going. Failure isn't final for the believer. The Lord can use every good or bad thing in our lives to work towards His plan for our lives. Our responsibility is to immediately look towards the Lord for help when we've failed. Perhaps we failed because of our sin, we can confess it to Him, receive forgiveness, and be cleansed of our unrighteousness. If we've failed because we've neglected the spiritual disciplines of prayer, studying God's word, or fellowship with other believers—we can get back on the right track immediately. Whatever the reason for our failures, God has a work for us to complete and He will give us the strength to continue forward. When we surrender our failures to the Lord, He releases us from the bondage of trying to be perfect in all things. He will use our failures to draw us closer to Him for strength, wisdom, and insight on our next steps. God has everything we need to overcome our failures as long as we humble ourselves to His perfect will for our lives. Prayer Dear Lord, I know my failure is not final in You. I pray for the strength to move past it and towards Your greater purpose for my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

I know that I'm not alone in having regrets about my past. There are so many things I would've done differently if only I had known the tremendous impact on my future. Yet, I can't go back and change what I did or didn't do in the past. The painful reality for many of us is that we are still living with the consequences of past decisions. Even though we've learned to live with it—every now and then there's that sting in our memory when we could've made better choices. However, God doesn't want us to live in the past. He wants us to leave the past behind and move forward in His plan for our lives. For many of us this means that we need to make peace with our past mistakes and failures so we can be used of God in the future. How do we make PEACE with our past? P – Pray for God's forgiveness and intervention.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) E – Expect God to be with you to deal with the consequences“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.” (Joshua 1:9) A – Ask forgiveness of those you have offended or deceived.“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24) C – Change our mindset to learn and grow from the lessons of our past.“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” (Romans 6:1) E – Entrust our destiny to God for a better future and hope.“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Prayer Dear Lord, I surrender my past to You knowing that there may be consequences. However, I ask for Your strength to do what is right moving forward. In Jesus' name, amen.

In this life, we have an ability to choose to worship which we will never have again. When God brings final restoration to all things and we live in perfect communion with him, we will see him and know him fully. In heaven, worship will not be a choice. It will be the natural response of all of creation to the full revelation of God. Revelation 5:11-14 depicts this image: Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. God loves our worship here. John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” Did you know that God is seeking your worship? It delights the heart of your Father when you desire to encounter him, know him, and give him your affections. There is nothing he loves more than communion with us. When we choose to worship God here on earth, we are declaring to the Father and all of creation that he is King of kings and Lord of lords, and that he is our true ambition. To worship God here is to crown him as Lord of your life, come underneath his leadership, and make him first priority. What we do with our limited time here on earth has the power to affect the heart of God for all eternity. And living a lifestyle of worship instead of choosing the things of the world has the power to guide others into relationship with the Father, thereby changing the nature of their eternities forever. Gathering together to worship with fellow believers is no small or fleeting task if we will take time to ask God what it does to his heart. Every time we gather together to worship, we can move the heart of our Father. We have the ability here on earth to delight our Creator. He sent Jesus to die that we might walk in communion with him. Our worship and pursuit of relationship with God is the reward for the unmerited suffering of our Savior. Every word we sing from our hearts matters. Every person we love is music to the ears of our Father. Every act of worship has eternal significance. Take time in guided prayer to allow God to reveal his longing for your worship. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to worship with your life. Crown God as King and Lord and live to satisfy your God's desire for continual, intimate relationship with you.

I used to view my relationship with God as a straight line of spiritual progress. My goal in spending time in the secret place with fellow believers at church and at work was to try and make the movement across this line of spiritual growth as quickly and painlessly as possible. I would get frustrated any time I got hung up on some issue or sin and couldn't experience freedom quickly enough. My time spent with Jesus was more about how he could change me than how deeply he already loves me. We unfortunately live in a day and age where speed and progress is everything. We lose our patience as soon as a waiter takes too long to get us our check, a light takes an extra thirty seconds than we want it to, a driver holds us back five minutes from our destination, or a conversation interrupts the jam-packed schedule of our day. And painfully, we have allowed our culture to shape our perspective of God's heart for us rather than allowing his word and Spirit to reveal how incredibly patient he is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Every one of these aspects of love finds its perfect fulfillment in the heart of our Father. Our God is patient and kind. He bears our imperfections with love and grace, believes wholeheartedly in us, is filled with hope over who we are, and joyfully endures our process of sanctification. You see, our heavenly Father cares deeply about you presently. He isn't waiting until you get a little holier to pour out the full depths of his love and joy over you. He isn't holding back the satisfaction he feels in simply living in relationship with you until you finally get over a certain sin. He loves and longs for unveiled communion with you right now. If we wait until we have it all together to settle into the pace of this life, find peace, and fully enjoy God, we will never experience the wealth of abundant life available to us this side of heaven. Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Have patience for yourself and others the way your heavenly Father does. Take time to receive his perfect perspective for today. Give your relationship with him all the energy you have and waste nothing on the frivolous cares of tomorrow. Take time in guided prayer to allow your Father to overwhelm you with the love he feels for you right now, as you are. Experience today the peace and joy that can only be found when you surrender the entirety of your life, spiritual development, and future plans to your faithful Shepherd and simply follow him to green pastures and still waters. He promises there will be more green pastures tomorrow. He promises to guide you faithfully every day to the fullness of life he died to give you. Your only job as his sheep is to trust him, let him love and care for you, and follow his perfect leadership. May you drink deeply of the living waters of God's love today as you rest in the presence of your loving Shepherd.

The ways of God are radically different than what we experience in the world. The world tells us that only the strong survive. The world values those who can take care of themselves. We're taught to look to our own strength as our source. We're taught never to let others see our weakness. But God values those who acknowledge their weakness in humility. His heart is for the destitute, the needy, and the lost. Jesus spent his valuable, limited time with the prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, and sinners. And as a result, we who can never be perfect, who even at our best still can't cut it, have renewed hope. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” True growth and transformation aren't the result of working in our own strength. We can't change ourselves no matter how hard we try. Transformation is only possible when we declare the truth of our weakness, stop living in our own strength, and receive the power of a loving, present God. Transformation comes when we make room for the Holy Spirit to fill us, empower us, and set us free, not because we are deserving of his help, but because he loves us. Psalm 103:14 says, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” God doesn't expect perfection from us. He knows perfection is unattainable. And instead of perfection he asks for honesty. Instead of valuing our strength he values our humility. What he asks of us, all of us can give. All of us can boast of our weaknesses as Paul did. All of us can look at our lives and declare our need for God's grace. And in doing so we receive power from on high. In acknowledging that “we are dust” we gain the help of an Almighty, all-loving, ever-present God. Stop trying to attain perfection in this life. Stop finding your value and identity in what you do. And look to God as your strength. Allow his love, power, and help to be your source. Live in light of the truth that his strength is both able and available to you. May you enter into a season of peace founded on the limitless grace and power of your heavenly Father.

No Christian practice can take the place of experiencing God. It's in experiencing God that we begin to live in response to the unconditional, unfathomable depths of God's love. It's in experiencing God that we learn to discern and trust his perfect, pleasing will. And it's in experiencing God that our hearts are transformed into powerful reflections of his wonderful character. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” When we see God face-to-face everything changes. You can't see God and stay the same. Encountering him always requires something from us. Experiencing his holiness always calls us to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Experiencing his love always calls to love because he has “first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And experiencing his heart for transformation always calls us to surrender our lives to him as a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing” (Romans 12:1). In Isaiah 6:1-6, Isaiah's encounter with the living God speaks to the truth of transformation through experience. In response to seeing “the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up” and hearing the Seraphim calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,” Isaiah's natural response was, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” And upon declaring the truth of his depravity a seraphim touches his lips with a burning coal and says, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah was transformed through experiencing God. If you want your life to be transformed you must set out to seek the face of God. You must respond daily to his invitation to meet together. Your life must be centered around the fact that perfect, blameless Jesus gave his life that you might simply have relationship with the Father. If you do—if you give your life to experience the fullness of God's love, power, and presence—you will never be the same. May you “[behold] the glory of the Lord” today as you enter into a time of guided prayer (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Oftentimes we see transformation as a one-time act. We find a problem and work on it until it gets better, then we go back to living life as normal. But the heart of God is for continual transformation. God longs that we would be so open and aware of the desire of the Spirit that we allow him to transform us every moment of every day. Too often we just accept that we are who we are as if the God we serve didn't have the power to continually set us free. We live as if the Holy Spirit is a God who only shows up every now and then to shake things up then retreats back into the heavens. But God is both loving and present. He is always there for us. He is always filled with desire for us. And the Holy Spirit is constantly ready to lead us, in love, out of the darkness and into the marvelous light of abundant life. So what does continual transformation look like? How do we live in sync with the Spirit who can constantly change us from the inside out? Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Continual transformation will come when we decide to stop living for ourselves and instead become a living sacrifice to God as our “holy, acceptable” act of “spiritual worship.” You see, when we live for ourselves we naturally take control of our own lives and therefore subjugate God and his desire to transform us. When our limited perspective on what's good in life guides us rather than the perfect, transcendent perspective of God, we will only receive transformation from God when we desperately need it. But, when we seek to be a living sacrifice to God at all times our hearts become open to all the Spirit is doing, saying, and feeling in every moment. If you want to be continually transformed by the powerful, life-changing love of God, you have to choose every day to center your life around the will and desires of God. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” May David's prayer be our prayer today as we enter into a time of guided prayer.

Our conscience is a window revealing how we view ourselves and, most importantly, our relationship with God. One of the worst effects sin has is distorting our view of ourselves in relation to God. The devil's plan with sin was always to separate us from God, so Jesus came to the earth to destroy the power of sin in our lives. He came so that we might have restored relationship with our heavenly Father. But still sin persists. Even though the power of sin was broken, its effects destroyed, we often still live with an unclean conscience. We feel that God is angry with us, that he doesn't want to be with us, or that we can't come before him and sit at his feet. Your conscience affects your relationship with God either negatively or positively. It will either lead you to God's throne room or away from his presence. Your heavenly Father's desire today is that you would come to see yourself as he does, that your conscience would be wiped clean, and that sin and lies would separate you from him no longer. Hebrews 10:19-23 contains an important truth for us today. Scripture says: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Let the truth of Scripture sink into your heart. Hebrews tells us that our confidence to come before God is found in the blood of Jesus. Through his death, Jesus paved the way for you to come before the throne of God with confidence and full assurance of faith. God's desire today is that your conscience would be “sprinkled clean” with the powerful blood of your Savior. So, let's dive even deeper into how God sees us today. Let the truth of his word further mold your identity until it is perfectly aligned with his perspective. Galatians 3:26-28 says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says, “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” And Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Your heavenly Father sees you as he sees Jesus. Many Christians believe that while they are clothed with Christ, they're still dirty and sinful on the inside. But don't be deceived today. At salvation you were made completely new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” God didn't trick himself with the death of Jesus. He sees you completely. And when he looks at you, he sees the blood of Jesus running through your veins. He sees you as his clean and holy child. Through the death of Jesus, you can see God with unveiled face. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says, “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” You can see and know God freely and fully. In fact, that's God's greatest desire. He longs for us to know him. He longs for us to encounter the depth of his love and affections for us every day. Sit at the feet of your loving heavenly Father with the knowledge that there is nothing in the way of you and him. Spend time with him allowing the truth of how he sees you to renew your conscience. May your conscience, renewed in him, lead you freely and consistently to the throne of God.

Today we begin a brand new week of devotionals, creating space every day for God to transform us more and more into his likeness. And in today's devotional, we're starting with a broader view, looking at what it means to truly seek transformation. May God do a mighty work in our hearts this week as we make room for his presence every day. As humans burdened and suffering from both our sins and the fallen nature of the world around us, we are in desperate need of transformation. We are in desperate need of help from a God who has the power to not just clean us up on the outside but to transform us at the core of who we are. But this God doesn't force transformation on us. He works when we make space for him to do so. If we're going to experience the freedom, joy, and purpose that can only come from the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we must be those who seek transformation. Psalm 51:10-12 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Here in Psalm 51 David exemplifies the heart of one who seeks transformation. He models for us a posture of humility that will lead to powerful encounters with God's transformative love. He doesn't sit back and merely live with that which plagues him but goes to God with his problems that he might be changed. David begins as we all should in asking for God to do a mighty work in his heart. And in this act of asking God to create in him a clean heart, David opens himself up to receive the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. To receive transformation from God we have to come before him humbly and honestly that he might have space to do the impossible in our lives. Often we spend a majority of our efforts trying to convince others and ourselves that we don't need help. We work tirelessly to build up a facade that we have it all together. We do everything we can to maintain a sense of control in our lives—even in regard to our spirituality. But in doing so we place appearances above reality. We allow that which is destroying us from the inside to persist simply because we are unwilling to acknowledge that we have need. It's as if we tried to cover up an external wound with jewelry expecting the surface-level beauty of something to contain the power to heal what's underneath. We don't need that which covers up. We need the healing that comes from going with an honest, open heart to the one true Healer. God's heart for you and me today is that we would put down our guards, take an honest look at our hearts, and recognize our need for transformation. He longs for us to take a moment and call out that which is robbing us of the abundant life he so willingly died to give us. Your God is willing and able to transform you. That which has plagued you for so long will be healed and broken off your life if you will continually seek transformation from your loving heavenly Father. May you experience powerful transformation today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

May the Holy Spirit reveal within us the true reason we were created, and guide us down the path of purpose today in his presence. we're going to invite God to renew within us a true sense of purpose. Throughout the day I find my heart wandering to all sorts of purposes, some good, and some bad. But every day life teaches me that the one purpose that leads to the greatest measure of life and joy, is the pursuit of God. Not the pursuit of religion, but the authentic pursuit of relationship. May the Holy Spirit reveal within us the true reason we were created, and guide us down the path of purpose today in his presence. You and I were born with a deep desire to live with purpose. As children, we dream of doing something significant with our lives. We dream of being a person who makes a difference in the world. Inherent in all of us is a longing to make a deep and lasting impact. Our longing for purpose only becomes a problem as we begin seeking out its source. Most of us live our lives in constant pursuit of finding out why we're here, seeking the answer to the question: “What am I uniquely made for?” And we look for the answers in all the wrong places. We look for our purpose in each other, in the ever-changing whims of society, or internally, in what seems to make us feel good in the moment. But God has a better purpose for our lives than we could ever find in the world. He has a purpose so great, so powerful, and so lasting that when we get a glimpse of it, we will forever be changed. God has a page in his grand narrative written just for you, to use you to make a unique and eternal impact on the earth. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Let us not miss the importance of what God would reveal to us today because we've heard something before. Instead, let's dive in deeper and see what God's word would reveal to us about that purpose. In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” You are chosen by God. You aren't secondary to someone else in God's kingdom. He has formed you and chosen you to “go and bear fruit.” And Jesus desires that our fruit would “abide.” He has chosen you to make a lasting impact on the earth. So, what lasting fruit does God intend for you here? Answering this question should start with the words of Jesus. Allow God's commandments to lay the defining foundation of your purpose. In response to the question of what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replies, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Your purpose here on earth is to love God and love others. God has chosen to use love to bring about salvation. He's chosen to use love as the catalyst for spiritual awakening. It's love that is God's driving force, and it's love that he longs to instill in us as our highest goal. Understand today that you are formed and called to love above all else. Scripture also tells us that we have been chosen to be carriers and ministers of the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” God's kingdom is here on earth. And Revelation 5:10 says, “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” We are not purposed to merely suffer and wait for heaven. God's kingdom is here on earth, and we are his workmanship. We are his priests. Acts 26:16 says, “Rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Your life here is of eternal value. A life spent simply waiting for heaven is a life wasted. God has placed an eternal purpose on your life, a purpose meant to be pursued and lived out every minute of every day. You don't have time to waste. And the compelling truth is, you will never be satisfied until you devote your life to ministering this incredible gospel of restoration and love. Until you pursue seeing God's kingdom come through your job, relationships, and time, you will never experience the joy and passion only God's purpose can bring you. God doesn't have a cookie-cutter mold he tries to fit all believers into. He's formed you for a specific and unique purpose no other believer will be able to accomplish. His plans for you are your own and no other's. So choose today to live your life for your heavenly Father. Work with him in all that you do. Love him and others with every fiber of your being. And experience the joy of making a deep, eternal impact with all that you do. May God renew your sense of purpose today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

Have you ever struggled with thoughts that cross your mind? It's not that you want to think bad things; however, your mind keeps trailing to places it shouldn't go. The scriptures teach us that there is always a battle for our minds. In order for us to guard our thoughts, we need to be vigilant and ready instead of passively allowing every thought to capture our attention. Our thoughts are powerful because our sin begins in our mind. (Romans 7:23) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can control our thoughts so that we don't become captivated by sin. It's not just a one stop intervention; rather, it's a daily discipline of being aware of our thoughts. How do we control our thoughts? Step #1) Stay sober minded towards Satan's attacks on our minds. (1 Peter 5:8)The devil can't read our minds; however, he can plant thoughts in our head. We need to keep aware of this so that we don't embrace his thoughts as our own. Step #2) Cast down any thought that goes against God's word. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)Once we recognize a unholy or unrighteous thought, we have the opportunity to use our spiritual weapons to drive it away from our minds. Step #3) Rehearse what God's word teaches in contrast to unholy thoughts. (Psalm 119:15)God's word is powerful and it can help us overcome the influence of evil thoughts. We have the choice to submit to the Holy Spirit's leading or submit to our own desires. Step #4) Seek God's peace to guard our minds. (Philippians 4:7)It's the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds from worry and anxiousness. Our role is to lay our petitions before the Lord and trust in Him. Step #5) Keep our minds stayed on Christ. (Isaiah 26:3)We keep our minds on Christ's love and sacrifice for us instead of allowing our minds to wander aimlessly. God sees our thoughts and knows our weakness—He can help us control them. Prayer Dear Lord, I want my thoughts to honor You. Help me to remain diligent to protect my mind from evil influences from within and without. In Jesus' name, amen.

May God guide each of us down the path to renewing our minds in his presence, and through his word today, that we might experience a greater measure of abundant life in him. Our minds are the gateway to our emotions, decisions, and perspectives. How we see the world around us, the assumptions we live with, the lies we believe, and where we choose to focus our attention, make all the difference in our daily experience. May God guide each of us down the path to renewing our minds in his presence, and through his word today, that we might experience a greater measure of abundant life in him. How great is the love of God that he would give us the incredible gift of his word to mold and shape us! Your heavenly Father loves you too much to let you stay where you are. Every day he has a plan to lead you into more and more abundant life. When you wake up, take a minute to ask yourself what you want your day to be like. What sort of life do you want to live today? Then ask the Spirit to help you renew your mind to God's truth so you can live that life. Walk in freedom today. Live with your mind set on the Spirit. And experience the incredible life God has planned for you as his child. You'll never have a better day than one where your mind is renewed to the truth of God's unfathomable love.

Sometimes it's hard to face our fears. If we do that means we can't avoid nor deny their existence. Yet, if we don't face our fears they will continue to stalk our minds, weigh heavy on our hearts, and make us ineffective in the faith. How do we F-A-C-E our fears? F – Focus our thoughts on God's promises not our fears.“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) When fear creeps into our minds, then we remind ourselves of God's promise to hear our prayers and answer according to His will. A – Accept that greater is God within us than all of the evil in the world.“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) When fear of this world attempts to overtake our hearts, we can breathe in peace because God is in control and He will be with us. C – Choose to believe God's word in faith in spite of our circumstances.“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) When fear paralyzes our ability to move forward, we step out in faith—not seeing with our eyes, but knowing in our hearts that God will take care of us. E – Expect God to show up in His perfect timing and way.“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) When fear tempts us to doubt God's goodness and grace, the Holy Spirit within us will lead us into all truth. Prayer Dear Lord, strengthen my faith so that I can face my fears and move forward. In Jesus' name, amen.

Many of us have suffered through brokenness at different times spiritually, and financially, relationship break ups, job loss, death of a loved one, etc. What we do in our brokenness impacts the timing of our healing process. My divorce broke me into a million little pieces and God healed me even though it didn't happen overnight. In fact, it's been a long and difficult journey. However, I'm finally sensing level ground and readiness to step into a different season of my life. How do we recover from being BROKEN? B – Be still in the Lord.“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) This is the time we need to keep the course by what we know is right—praying, reading our Bible, fellowship with God's people, etc. It's not easy to push past our brokenness, but we will find our peace if we don't give up. R – Reach out for help.“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15) It's not always easy to reach out for assistance to make it through our pain. However, God uses other people to hold us up through the painful times if we are willing to humble ourselves. O – Open up to a change in God's plan and purpose for our lives.“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19) We can get tunnel vision and only see one way for our purpose to be fulfilled. However, God's plan is always much deeper and broader than what we can know in our finite human abilities. K – Keep the faith that this brokenness is working for our good.“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28-31) We may not have expected this time of brokenness, but God knew it from before we were born. He's predestined us to get through this time and work in us His good pleasure leading to a greater purpose. E – Expect times of difficulty, but recognize that we don't have to stay there.“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5) We will have times of weeping and sorrow in our brokenness. Our comfort comes from the hope and peace through the Spirit of Christ—He relates to our sorrow just as He wept on the earth.N – Next thing…moment by moment.“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” (James 4:14-15) Sometimes looking toward the end of the day, week, or month feels like an eternity. We take each moment by moment trusting in the Lord to provide, protect, and meet us right where we are in this season. Prayer Dear Lord, I'm broken in this season and need Your help to lead me. I know that my hope and strength reside in You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Sometimes life is difficult even when we've done everything we know is right to do. Some of us have lost jobs, our marriage, suffer through illnesses, or have lost loved ones. In these times, the holidays and other celebrations may not be such a great time for us. If we aren't careful, our mindsets, emotions, and attitudes can lead us down a dark path of hopelessness. Yet, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we know that nothing in our lives is a random act of fate. We have the King of kings and Lord of lords who hears and answers our prayers whether we see the immediate results or not. What should we do when life gets H.A.R.D.? H – Hope in God.“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalms 42:5) When we struggle with hardship, we can place all of our hope in God. He sees everything that has happened to us and He is able to help us get through it. Our hope is restored when we discipline ourselves to pray to God and seek His word for daily renewal. A – Accept life can be difficult.“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)This world is full of trouble regardless of where we live. Our hardship is rooted in the fact that sin entered the world thousands of years ago. Yet, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—we will get through the tough times. Because of His death and resurrection, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit Who gives us the strength to press on.R – Remember God's faithfulness in the past.“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalms 77:11). A mindset of hopelessness has a short memory, but a mind focused on God's goodness and grace is at peace. We can change our mode of thinking about what's wrong with our life to meditating on the blessings that God has given us in the past. When we intentional focus on being thankful—there's an incredible sense of joy that God is able to above and beyond what we expect. D – Do the right thing.“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). Sometimes we can give ourselves permission to sin because of our hardships. Yet, we were bought with a price and given power over sin; therefore, we can do better than that. It's the daily choice of choosing what is right over wrong that will get us across the darkest valleys. Prayer Dear Lord, it's hard right now, but I trust You to take care of me. Help me to refocus my heart and mind on You rather than my difficult situations. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have you ever faced a situation in which you felt inadequate? It could be an upcoming test in an area you are completely unfamiliar with? Or perhaps you have a work project that you can't seem to wrap your mind around. In these situations, most of us cave into the thinking that we will fail or that our efforts will be fruitless in the end. It's in these times we must change our mindset about the situation. Instead of thinking about how hard the test is, we can instead focus on asking the Lord to enlarge our understanding and begin to study with the hope that we will accomplish the task. Instead of allowing the work project to overwhelm us, we can turn to God, Who knows everything, and ask for wisdom and insight to resolve the issue. Many times we fall into the negative mindset because we feel that we aren't smart or savvy enough to figure things out. However, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given grace to overcome our weaknesses if we turn to the Lord. He allows us to experience the places of difficulty so we can know Him and His power to help us in our time of need. This doesn't mean that we sit back and do nothing. We have to do our part, which will mean opening the book and reading it for a test or assignment. We will have to study the work project more thoroughly and do our research. We will have to resist the temptation to be paralyzed by fear and instead push ourselves past the mental roadblocks of negativity. Prayer Dear Lord, I need Your grace to overcome my weakness in this area. Help me to have the mind of Christ to push past negative thoughts and to embrace your peace onto accomplishments.

To wake up every morning is a gift from God. Even on Mondays when many of us start the work week! There's joy because the Creator of the universe found it fit to give us breath and life. Our enjoyment doesn't always mean that we need a vacation—although some of us may need to take time off for rest and relaxation. Enjoying life works best when we are rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun. To wake up every morning is a gift from God. Even on Mondays when many of us start the work week! There's joy because the Creator of the universe found it fit to give us breath and life. Our enjoyment doesn't always mean that we need a vacation—although some of us may need to take time off for rest and relaxation. Enjoying life works best when we are rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. God has given His children the ability to enjoy the life He has given them. This doesn't mean that we are to seek enjoyment for ourselves above all else—similar to the hedonism of the world. Rather, it means finding contentment and joy in our lives in the present moment instead of waiting for some significant event in the future. Our Father in heaven created nature so that we could pause at the beauty of the sky and clouds as well as the roar of the oceans. We find our enjoyment in the relationships with our family and friends through times of laughter and connection. As we grow in the Lord, we find a spiritual depth and maturity that expands our joy beyond the situations and circumstances of our lives. Enjoying the life that God gives us has to be intentional—not circumstantial. The circumstances of our lives are everchanging. If we're not careful, we can get bogged down by the evil and trouble of this world. If we stay too long in this—our joy can be quenched. Yet, through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's word, we can renew our joy in knowing Him and finding enjoyment in the life He gives. Prayer Dear Lord, sometimes it's difficult to enjoy life because it gets difficult. However, I want to enjoy and take advantage of the blessings You've placed in my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

As our culture moves further away from God, we are seeing an increase of hopelessness and despair leading more people towards suicide as an answer for their pain. Many are deceived into thinking that suicide is their only option. It's a tragic trend impacting all socioeconomic, racial, and cultural lines. Suicide leaves more questions than answers that drills down throughout the generations of families. The breath of life from God is a true gift. He gives us the strength and mercy to push past our physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. If we would humble ourselves and trust in Him—He will provide the healing, direction, and peace that passes all human understanding. The Lord—our Jehovah Jireh (God who provides) has everything we need. And He always provides a way beyond suicide. The gift of life comes to us because God has a purpose and plan for every single individual born on earth. No life is disregarded or ignored by our Creator. The destiny that He plans is for our future and hope so that we can have fulfillment in living. It's up to us to make the most of this life by first accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives. No one is perfect, every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God's glory. When we believe in Jesus' birth as the Son of God, His death as the crucified Savior taking punishment for our sin and His resurrection that gives us victory over sin and death—we become a part of His kingdom. The life God gives isn't to be taken for granted. We shouldn't waste it on fruitless acts of selfishness or godless living. We have a responsibility and we will stand before God to give an account of what we did or didn't do with our lives. Even in times of difficulty, we aren't alone because God will never leave nor forsake us. There's hope in this life and suicide isn't the answer. God will help us get through the darkest times of living as we put our hope in Him. Prayer Dear Lord, sometimes life gets hard and I can't figure a way out of the pain. I pray for your grace and strength to live this life in a way that brings glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, amen.

What is taking your thoughts captive? 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Taking your thoughts captive simply means gaining control over what you think about yourself and life. Here are 6 ways to take your thoughts captive:1. Accept responsibility for your thoughts.  You have the ability to exercise control over your thoughts. God warned Cain to focus his mind on the right things, but Cain chose to think about the wrong things - anger and jealousy - which led to his murderous actions. Are you willing to admit that you can, with God's help, regain control of your thoughts - and think enabling thoughts instead of disabling ones? God calls us to change sinful behavior that does not honor Him. Instead of focusing on your outward behavior, work on disciplining your mind - from which the behaviors stem. Allow God to transform you by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2). 2. Your mind - not just your behavior - must change.  3. Think through your problems rather than just react to them.  When you experience difficult challenges, you can react to them and think yourself into despair every time. Or you can look forward to the next opportunity and ask yourself what you learned from this failure. Is your first thought I'll never do anything right? You don't have to get trapped by disabling thoughts. You are capable of getting out of your shame, despair, hopelessness, and anger - by taking control of what your mind focuses on - taking your thoughts captive. Paul urges us to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (Rom. 12:21). Confront your disabling thoughts. Turn them over to God and become who He sees you can be. It will take work to take your thoughts captive each time they pop into your mind. But it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.  4. Take your disabling thoughts captive through confession.  5. Choose to focus your thoughts on the right things.  We are to think about those things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable" (Phil. 4:8). When we think about those things, God promises to give us His peace. What a contrast that is to the thoughts of millions of people today. Don't look to a movie, TV show, or how-to formula to accomplish this for you. It takes personal discipline and commitment. One of the easiest ways to take your thoughts captive is to fill your mind with the things of Christ. It is not easy to retrain your thoughts or to respond in new Christ-like ways. Take heart: as God empowers you to focus your mind on the right things, it will become easier. You can develop a new frame of reference, based on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It is possible to live a life aware of our thoughts and taking them captive! God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us. Start following these steps today to gain power over your mind and thoughts. 6. Believe it is possible to take your thoughts captive. 

Proverbs 13:5-6 Psalms 9:9-10 1John 4:4 Joshua 1:9 Pslam 27:1-3 Jeremiah 17:7-8 Philippians 4:9 1 Corinthians 10:13 Isaiah 54:17 Struggle you have dealt with now yo can face and move on in faith. Hidden Secrets Getting to the Heart of the Issue