The Anna Szabo Show

Surrender to God! James 4:7 instructs us. I personally struggle with this. How about you? Can you relate? My struggle with God is this: I want to have control but God wants me to surrender control to Him. God wants me to choose to trust His plan. And I want to trust God if He reveals to me what His plan is... So, we fight and argue me and God. And ... God always wins! https://AnnaSzabo.com/surrender-to-god-james-4-7 Today, let's discuss how to surrender to God and let go. Thanks so much for tuning in today.   My name is Anna Szabo.   I am the founder of OnlineDiscipleshipforWomen.com and my life's purpose is to help YOU create a joyful life by embracing God's word. This podcast for Christian women is all about living for God!   If you'd like to support my work, donate from the heart.     James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves to God.” It says:c “Subject yourselves to God.”   The Bible is clear: we must step out of our own power, strength, and wisdom and step into Christ's power, strength, and wisdom .    How? Through faith-based action.    It's hard to do. What is so hard about it? It requires complete surrender of control.    We must lean not on our own understanding in life. We must trust in the Lord with everything. This requires giving up control. And it is scary... it is hard.   Surrender feels like falling backwards into the arms of God trusting that He'll be there to catch you from crushing.    This is very difficult.     In 2014, I fell on my knees in the middle of my living room late at night, wept, invited God to take control, and gave my life to Christ that night. I asked Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior; and I surrendered myself to Him completely.     God controls my life.    God is the source of my blessings, faith, and strength. I am here alive and productive today not because of my own power but because of the power of Christ in me.      Submit to the authority of God - James 4:7 tells us. Place yourselves under God's authority!     I pondered and questioned everything when it comes to God. Today, I know that God is my creator, that I am God's child, made in His image, here on earth to do His work, the work He prepared in advance for me to do, and once I do His divine work, I will go to heaven to spend my eternity with Jesus when my time here is up.    These truths about myself and my life I received from God's word. After understanding that Jesus, who was fully man and fully God, came here on earth to surrender His life so that I could have mine, I was overcome with gratitude for my salvation .    Once I fully - intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and wholeheartedly - understood what happened on the cross, that Jesus was sacrificed for my sake... I wept, fell on my knees, and surrendered my life to Christ. What happened?    I accepted God's grace.    Not in theory but in practice.    I understood how broken and weak and powerless and hopeless I am on my own and how much I need a Savior - Jesus Christ. I surrendered myself to God.    Still, God and argue because I am human.     God took me from a lost and confused addict to a woman of God, a disciple of Christ, a helper to Jesus Himself.   Surrendering everything I had (my life, my habits, my identity, my desires, my control...) surrendering it all to God allowed me to become a woman of God.   Thanks to God's saving grace, I am who I am, how I am, and where I am.    I live a sober ad simple life of peace and joy.     God's grace is sufficient for me in all my circumstances and helps me endure adversity, persevere through challenges, and share my testimony with you to encourage and empower Christian women.   Biblical faith requires strength from us. Don't be strong in your own power, be strong in Christ. Biblical faith guarantees that we will have trials in life and asks that we surrender our own power and live in the power of Christ, through whom all things are possible.    To be strong during hard times, you must surrender your own power, admit that you are weak, and ask God for help because in your weakness His strength is displayed and perfected.   Here's what I know from my own experience and experiences of those who received Christ: When you truly understand who Jesus is and you genuinely believe that He died an unimaginably cruel death on the cross for your sins so that you can live a free life, you will fall on your knees in the act of surrender from a place of heartfelt gratitude for your salvation and redemption, and you will weep.   Have you surrendered to God?

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   In today's Biblical devotional for Christian women, we will ponder Isaiah 41:10 and its practical application in our daily lives as women who follow God and love Jesus.   In this Biblical devotional, I will share with you a very specific, unique, and breakthrough spiritual practice I perform regularly that causes many people to fear intensely, and in fact, there's a record of people being unable to benefit from this spiritual practice that goes back to 1929. Frankly, this very profound spiritual practice caused me to fear for my life initially, but now I perform it several times a month, in faith, with peace.   I'll share with you today HOW exactly I continue this uncommon and bold spiritual practice without giving in to my fears.   In this Biblical devotional for Christian women today, I'll help you examine YOUR fears and show you how confronting them courageously allows God to not only work IN you but also THROUGH you spiritually.   The examples of fears and the antidote to fear, which I'll share today, will be relevant to most of the Christian women listening to my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show and reading my Christian blog Onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com   This original and authentic Biblical devotional for Christian women will encourage and empower you with God's truth as we apply it practically to real-life experiences of fear and anxiety we all go through as His disciples and daughters.   I am Anna Szabo from AnnaSzabo.com/devotionals, and you are listening to The Anna Szabo Show Christian podcast for women who love Jesus. I make content to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. My passion in life is to help encourage and empower you by sharing testimonies of God's amazing glory revealed through my own adverse yet faith-filled life story.   Subscribe to my podcast and tell other Christian women about it to help me do God's work through this women's ministry.   If you'd like to support my ministry, please donate at the link is in the notes below.   There are three things you can expect from this Biblical devotional for Christian women today:   You'll hear the scriptures-based devotional I prepared for you There will be an exercise for you to do in order to ponder Isaiah 41:10 as it relates to your own faith journey I'll offer you a prayer to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion   Let's get started!   PART 1. BIBLICAL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10     As I'm sharing this Biblical devotional for Christian women with you right now, I have been without any food and any water for 24 hours. This is incomprehensible to many people, and the fasting book from 1929 reveals a story of a man who began fasting but quit when he felt overcome by intense fear for his life. He broke his fast.   I practice fasting regularly and have been doing it since early 2018, for three years now. I'm 38 years old, and enjoy the best health of my life after being very sick for decades. My height is 5'10”, my weight is 116 lb, my size is zero, my weekly, monthly, and yearly spendings include zero dollars on medical bills or doctors or hospitals or pills or diets. I'm able to do 10000 steps every day, perform handstands, backbends, jump on the trampoline, run, swim, hike, hula hoop, squat on a BOSU ball, exercise with weights, do all my own chores, travel as I wish, and do all the necessary handy work at home by myself.   I'll leave some links below for you to explore how I live my life free from illnesses, unwanted weight, and useless medical spending.   When I started fasting, I practiced water fasting: not eating and only drinking water for up to 5 days. Last year, in 2020, at 37 years old, I discovered dry fasting: no food, no water. I've been able to go fir 48 hours without eating and drinking anything, and this has been the most profound spiritual experience with God.   Dry fasting became my favorite way of fasting and prayer after I completed my first 24-hour dry fast in 2020. You can find out more about it at AnnaSzabo.com/dry-fasting where I share my diaries, insights, faith testimony, as well as breakthroughs.   Dry fasting is my preferred way to fast.   I've written thousands of words of helpful content to help other Christian women experience the profound spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical benefits of fasting. I'm going to link in the description box below my blog articles about the experience and the journey of fasting in the last 3 years.   As I'm sharing this Biblical devotional for Christian women with you right now, not only have I had no food and no water for 24 hours, but I'm getting ready to go to bed after this without eating or drinking.   Most people get scared when they hear or think about something like this. Yet, I've done it repeatedly because Jesus actually said in the Bible that He expected us to fast after His resurrection. If Jesus expects me to abstain from food and water, He will definitely help me through!   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   Why I trust that fasting is good for me has to do with an enormous amount of science I've personally studied and even shared on my blog. But most importantly, when I began fasting and got scared, I continued because of what Jesus said.   Mark 2:19-20 reports the expectation for  us to fast after His resurrection, which Jesus communicated clearly while He was a man on earth:   “Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.”   God's word expresses God's will. So, I began fasting three years ago and have been faithfully abstaining from food regularly for up to 5 days. I did it first because I heard God's voice guiding me in this direction when I was depressed recovering from narcissistic abuse and a very dramatic divorce. I had gained weight, was sick, and I wasn't able to function. God's voice is always in alignment with God's word, which reveals God's will. So I followed God's will, and He healed me, restored me, and blessed me!   But I was very scared initially...   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   There's no humans to comfort me when I am scared. I live alone, I'm single and celibate, and I rely fully on God for all the comfort I ever need. But even more importantly, I fast in secret, so no one ever knows when I am fasting. Why?   Matthew 6:16-18 explains: “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”   Do I feel hungry? Yes, and those hunger pangs are what really scares people when attempting fasting. The hunger pangs and the side effects of hunger scared me initially. However, this is no surprise to Jesus because, being fully human, He Himself practiced fasting and felt hungry.   Luke 4:2 explains: “For forty days, being tempted by the devil, Jesus ate nothing and He was hungry.”   Jesus expected me to fast, He Himself fasted and felt what I feel when fasting, and He called me to fast in secret to practice my faith and fellowship with God.   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   Has God stayed true to His promise? Yes. I've been fasting for years, and not only has God been with me, not only did God strengthen me and help me, but also He upheld me with His righteous right hand and blessed me with many blessings.   As I've been surrendering my fears to God, He hasn't just worked IN me (growing me, strengthening me, promoting me); He has also been working THROUGH me helping other Christian women. READ: http://annaszabo.com/fasting http://annaszabo.com/dry-fasting http://annaszabo.com/water-fasting http://annaszabo.com/how-to-have-faith   What is it in your life that you fear? Let's do an exercise to allow you to ponder Isaiah 41:10 in practical ways for yourself.   PART 2. ISAIAH 41:10  SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO GROW YOUR FAITH   I want you to think right now about YOUR journey with God and what it is that you fear. It can be one thing or many. Think about what that is that makes you feel overwhelmed with anxiety, preventing you from God's blessings and faith growth?   Once you identify what that is, go to AnnaSzabo.com/isaiah-4110  and let me know in the comments how you plan to courageously surrender your fears to God so that He can be with you, strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with His righteous right hand. Once you share it with me, I want to hold you accountable because your next step is this:   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   For this exercise, I want you to think about a time you surrendered your fears to God and He worked in you and through you. An example of this is how I surrendered my fears, God upheld and strengthen me, He led me to share my experiences with other Christian women who benefited from God's work in and through me, and now I'm sharing this Biblical devotional with you and you are benefiting from God's work in and through me. Have YOU had a similar experience? Recalling and pondering it through introspection can help you witness how God has already helped you whenever you felt scared. These testimonies from your own past can fuel your future faith growth.   Before I offer you prayer in a moment, I want to invite you to support my ministry: make a donation and also shop my Christian apparel collection with encouraging and empowering Biblical affirmations to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word.   Let's pray together!   PART 3: “DO NOT FEAR” BIBLICAL PRAYER   Father God, I am experiencing fear and anxiety in life. In my own power, I can do nothing but with Christ, all things are possible. God, I want to grow in my faith. You gave me a promise. Now, it's up to me to deploy my faith and take action courageously, trusting your promise.   “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10   Father in Heaven, I pray for courage to trust you and take actions courageously. Faith without works in dead. Help my faith survive and thrive through adversity. Help me take action in faith so that my faith can be tested, strengthened, and increased. God, bless me with your divine purpose, peace, provision, protection, and promotion throughout my spiritual journey. I am yours. I belong to you. My heart is focused on you. I want more of you. To experience you, God, I am committed to taking bold actions courageously in faith. Help me, God. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.   Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen   My testimony https://AnnaSzabo.com/my-testimony   My life story https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/anna-szabo     Subscribe to my Christian Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ov7nEByxO4i0KwtLTY6tw?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Poems: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QbWd_SW84W-VdWaF-0VTQ?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Devotionals: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbIxZQLVKQYQMtJcjALqzEw?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Meditations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhMhxk8x2qS9m9Qqc3StPA?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Prayers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYyRkw_vDeGpDm4hCoXubg?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3rjKvt8hXPe8dP9kcq1eQ?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my main channel  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1   Download my free ebook "52 Things God Says About You" http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS   Shop my merch for Christian women on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL   Shop my merch for Christian women on TeeSpiring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co   Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt   Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo    

In today's Biblical devotional for Christian women, we will ponder Proverbs 3:25-26 (how to not be afraid) and its practical application in our daily lives: “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” I will share with you an example from my life of how I stay mentally strong in the midst of a global pandemic, nationwide unemployment, and an economic crisis.  I will also explain why learning how to not be afraid is critical. We will review the consequences of allowing the fear of a sudden disaster and ruin to overwhelm you. At the end of my message, I'll offer you a powerful prayer. In this Biblical devotional for Christian women today, I'll help you examine your own faith journey with God. We will explore why it's so critical for us as Christian women, the disciples of Jesus, to always remember that it's the Lord who is at our side and keeps us from being trapped.  “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26. Fearing sudden disasters and ruin leaves you anxious, scared, mentally paralyzed, emotionally overwhelmed, physically exhausted, and unable to do God's work, incapable to fulfill His purpose for your life. That is why learning and practicing how to not be afraid is so critical. The CDC reports: “Communities have faced mental health challenges related to COVID-19–associated morbidity, mortality, and mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders. The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18–24 years (25.5%). This Biblical devotional for Christian women will be relevant and helpful to all of the listeners of my Christian podcast – The Anna Szabo Show – and all the readers of my Christian blog everywhere in the world. We all need to learn now how to not be afraid because being afraid is deadly in the midst of this ongoing global crisis. This original and authentic Biblical devotional will encourage and empower you with God's truth as we apply it practically to real-life experiences we all are going through all around the globe because we are all facing a continuous sudden disaster and have been affected by it for over a year already. I make content to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. My passion in life is to help encourage and empower you by sharing testimonies of God's amazing glory revealed through my life story. I personally have adjusted my life a lot due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I myself have a history of suicidal depression, and also during the pandemic, the number of women who came to my Christian blog because of their self-harm impulses has increased significantly. I have to practice every day how to not be afraid by leaning on God. I love you. When I was depressed and suicidal during my marriage with a narcissist a few years ago, as God was working in me to keep me alive in the midst of cruel abuse, I thought of you: the Christian woman facing challenges. I thought to myself: if I ever make it out of this abusive marriage alive, I'll dedicate myself to ministry and help other Christian women. And I've been doing this since 2017 when I started my Christian podcast for women and founded Online Discipleship For Women. Subscribe to my podcast and tell other Christian women about it to help me do God's work through this women's ministry. If you'd like to support my ministry, you can donate here. There are three things you can expect from this Biblical devotional for Christian women today: You'll hear the scriptures-based devotional I prepared for you There will be an exercise for you to do in order to ponder Proverbs 3:25-26 as it relates to your own faith journey (how to not be afraid) I'll offer you a prayer to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion Let's get started! PART 1. BIBLICAL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26  Many times in my life, I faced disasters.  When I was little, my mother molested me and would physically torture me by spreading dry toasted triangular grain over the bare hardwood floor and forcing me to kneel for hours at a time.  God protected, saved, and restored me.  When I was 25, I emigrated to America to live my happily-ever-after with a real-life Prince Charming. As soon as I arrived in 2008, I was beaten and enslaved. After 8 months of domestic violence, the Dunwoody Police Department conducted a rescue operation and helped me escape on April 9th of 2009. I was homeless in a foreign country without speaking any English. I had no money and no friends.  God protected, saved, and restored me.  On May 14th of 2016, I married an amazing Christian man, a seminary graduate who worked at a mega-Church in Alpharetta and officiated weddings, doing marriage counseling for couples. After our wedding night, he started disappearing, admitted to cheating on me, spent all my money leaving me without food, threatened me with violence any time I tried to talk to him about our marriage, and he filed for divorce twice in our first year of marriage, costing me $25k. I was diagnosed with Complex PTSD while married to him. He dehumanized, manipulated, gaslighted, stonewalled me, and staged circumstances to make me believe that I was crazy. I became severely depressed and suicidal. After our divorce jury trial, I was left with no energy, and with massive debt. Most of my friends were gone, and I had to start my life over.  God protected, saved, and restored me.  Today, I live a single and celibate life with God serving Him through my ministry for Christian women to share my powerful testimony and life story to give God all the glory. I was supporting myself by doing marketing contracts when the pandemic hit early in 2020. I felt so devastated… But … “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” – Psalms 40:1-2. I was patient in faith and because of my faith, I remained productive and proactive. “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26  Now, let me tell you exactly how to not be afraid. How do I stay faithful when faced with disaster and potential ruin? I pray and remain in God's word daily, and I share the fruit of this spiritual practice at AnnaSzabo.com/prayers I practice fasting from food and water at least 2-3 times a month for 24 hours to up to 5 days, and I explain it on AnnaSzabo.com/fasting I keep a gratitude journal where I ponder God's goodness and grace, and I explain my thanksgiving habits on AnnaSzabo.com/thanksgiving I don't force my emotions to build up and explode; instead, I cry whenever I want to, freely and intensely; and I explain it on AnnaSzabo.com/feelings I maintain healthy daily habits to practice meaningful self-care, and I explained it at AnnaSzabo.com/self-care I read helpful books that empower me, and my journey is shared on AnnaSzabo.com/reading-challenge I exercise every day and also stretch, which is explained in great detail at AnnaSzabo.com/fitness  I eat good food that promotes brain health, such as colorful fruits, vegetables, herbs, berries, nuts, and seeds. I elaborate on this topic at AnnaSzabo.com/food I leverage introspection to witness God's good plan for my life unfolding as I look back and document what happened, literally seeing God's glory throughout my entire life story. I am careful in choosing whom I talk to and to whom I listen and whom I allow to influence me. I've had a friend say the pandemic was a hoax. I haven't talked to her in months. I had a friend call me always panicked and telling me to practically save her. Of course, I'm not Jesus. I serve Jesus. But everyone must take action to practice their faith. No human can save another human. I can share my testimony with you and ponder God's word with you, but you are responsible for you. I am not responsible for you. I limited my communication with that friend because I am responsible for né and for my own mental health and God asked me to guard my heart for everything I do flows from it. Last week's devotional was about that.   “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26  While the Lord is indeed by out side, God gave us free will so that we can choose to do what's fight based on our faith. The Bible says “faith without works is dead,” in other words having faith but not mobilizing and deploying it every day through actions and decisions is as if having no faith at all. One of the comments I received on my recent YouTube video about faith during trials and tribulations is from a woman who goes by K R. She explained how terrible she feels and how much she needs hope, so I prayed for her as I often do on my YouTube and blog for Christian women. The next thing I know, she transfers her responsibility for her actions and thoughts on me!!! And she goes on to reveal to me her faith in a Santa Clause God who is supposed to grant her wishes through me. Here's a part of that conversation. “Anna, thank you for your words. I am so weak… I can barely function. My brain is foggy, and I am amazed at your clarity and energy level… 20 years with an evil narcissistic husband and a lifetime with a narcissistic mother – and I can't make good decisions. Why aren't your prayers answered and I am healed of brain fog, despair, depression, and suicidal ideation? I have believed for it. What am I doing wrong? How do you make yourself function?” To which I responded: ““How” is explained in detail in the free helpful resources I shared with you. Also, tonight's video at 7:45 pm expands on the “how” of the process of healing. It is definitely an active everyday process of taking productive action in faith as I described at AnnaSzabo.com/what-is-faith” and I gave her the Bible verse that's the most applicable in tis situation – James 2:26     As you can see from this example, having faith but not practicing it while expecting a Santa Clause God to make your life easy will never get you anywhere. God gave this woman my YouTube channel full of powerful testimony to encourage and empower her. God gave this woman my Christian blog with over 100000 words of Biblical content to encourage and empower her. God kept me up at night writing a heartfelt Biblical prayer genuinely lifting this woman up to encourage and empower her. Yet, she comes back and says: “Where is God? Why is my life not rainbow-univorny yet? Why have my trials and tribulations not disappeared after your prayer, Anna? Why is your prayer not working?” And this brings me to my main point. Have faith when you're dealing with adversity, be prayerful, and have a grateful heart, not an entitled one. Practice your faith through faith-based decisions and actions every day. That's HOW you demonstrate that you “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” PART 2. PROVERBS 3:25-26 SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO GROW YOUR FAITH  I want you to think right now about YOUR journey with God and what kinds of disasters and ruin you are facing. What is it that makes you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and hopeless, derailing you from God's purpose and His purpose for your life? Once you identify what that is, let me know in the comments how you plan to courageously practice your faith through faith-based decisions and actions now. Once you share it with me, I want to hold you accountable because your next step is this: “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26  Before we pray, I'd like to invite you to support my ministry by making a donation. Shop my Christian apparel collection with encouraging and empowering Biblical affirmations to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. Let's pray together! PART 3: “HAVE NO FEAR OF DISASTER OR RUIN” BIBLICAL PRAYER Father God, I thank you for your 3573 promises in my life, among which is this powerful promise to keep me from being overtaken by disaster and ruin. “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being trapped.” Proverbs 3:25-26  God, you gave me your promises AND my free will. You warned me that without works faith is dead. It's up to me to trust your promises. Trusting your promises is not a theory; it's a process through which is make decisions and take action. If I exercise my faith, I make decisions and take actions based on me believing your Proverbs 3:25-26 promise. It means that I'll have hope when faced with pandemics and other disasters, that I'll be productive every day knowing that the Lord is by my side, keeping me from ruin. Please help me, God, to  deploy my free will and stay actively faithful every day even during trials and tribulations. Help me be focused on you and productive for you. I pray this in the marvelous name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.    Enjoy the best Christian podcasts for women who love Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOphFuDzDaVZcWhri3Qg80QnzJ8BnHV45 Post your review for The Anna Szabo Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-anna-szabo-show/id1291722423 Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Subscribe to my Christian Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ov7nEByxO4i0KwtLTY6tw?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Poems: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QbWd_SW84W-VdWaF-0VTQ?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Devotionals: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbIxZQLVKQYQMtJcjALqzEw?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Meditations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhMhxk8x2qS9m9Qqc3StPA?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Prayers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYyRkw_vDeGpDm4hCoXubg?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3rjKvt8hXPe8dP9kcq1eQ?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my main channel for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Download my free ebook "52 Things God Says About You" http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Shop my Christian apparel on TeeSpiring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo  

“Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23. In this Biblical devotional for Christian women today, I'll help you examine your journey and witness how not guarding your heart leaves you overwhelmed, exhausted, paralyzed by anxiety, unable or unwilling to do God's work, and incapable to fulfill His purpose for your life. We will ponder Proverbs 4:23 and its practical application in our daily lives. I will share with you how I personally guard my heart and how I realized the deadly implications of leaving my heart unguarded, defenseless, unprotected, and exposed. The deadly consequences were a paralyzing anxiety and suicidal depression.   The examples of an unguarded heart, which I'll share today, will be relevant to most of the Christian women listening to my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show and reading my Christian blog Onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com This original and authentic Biblical devotional for Christian women will encourage and empower you with God's truth as we apply it practically to real-life experiences we all go through as His disciples and daughters.   I am Anna Szabo from AnnaSzabo.com, and you are listening to The Anna Szabo Show Christian podcast for women who love Jesus. I make content to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. My passion in life is to help encourage and empower you by sharing testimonies of God's amazing glory revealed through my life story.   Subscribe to my podcast and tell other Christian women about it to help me do God's work through this women's ministry.   If you'd like to support my ministry, you can donate at onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com, the link is in the notes below.   There are three things you can expect from this Biblical devotional for Christian women today:   You'll hear the scriptures-based devotional I prepared for you There will be an exercise for you to do in order to ponder Proverbs 4:23 as it relates to your own faith journey I'll pray for you to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion in your life   Let's get started!   PART 1. BIBLICAL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23   I was raised by a very abusive mother. This year, in 2021, I have been sharing my story as a scapegoat daughter of a narcissistic mother on my main YouTube channel every day. Every day, I post a new helpful video on YouTube to share what happened to me and how the narcissistic trauma affected me. I always mention that the best way to deal with abuse is to block the abuser. I blocked my abusive mother on social media everywhere even when I still had social media, before I permanently deleted my Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter in 2020. I also blocked my abusive, hostile, cruel mother on email and phone. But while those were effective measures, in February on 2021, as I went to my email trash can to clean it, I was stunned to see that, despite all the blocking filters I applied, almost 100 hateful, abusive, death-focused emails from my toxic mother made their way to my email. As I saw her messages terrorizing me, denouncing me, harassing me, and condemning me, I immediately spiraled down into a deep and very dark place.   It's important to disclose here something significant. My mother tried to kill me many times, and she repeatedly told me: I hate you and I just want you dead. This was the main theme of her 25-year long relationship with me while I lived with her on Russia. I'm 38 now, and I've lived in America for almost 13 years. I haven't seen my mother for this long but her hatred and cruelty are deadly.   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23   I became unable to work out or get out of bed many times before due to her hateful, cruel, evil, death-wishing attacks. This time, I knew that even technology is imperfect, and I needed to build guardrails around my heart in addition to blocking my toxic narcissistic mother with technology. Not guarding my heart, leaving it exposed to my mother's negativity, I attempted to kill myself twice.   When I protect my heart by guarding myself against hateful people, evil cookers, gossipers, manipulators, and abusers, I am able to be very productive, live a life of joy and peace, stay healthy, and focus on my future. When I don't guard my heart, abusers suck the life out of me, leaving me lifeless and depressed.   It happened to me many times: my abusive mother sucked the life out of my heart and my three abusive husbands did the same. Today, I live a peaceful and productive life with God. I am single and celibate, healing from all the trauma inflicted on me by cruel abusers. I did not guard myself from them very well.   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23   How do I guard my heart?   I pray and stay in God's word daily I have an attitude of gratitude I have a gratitude journal where I ponder God's goodness and grace I don't force my emotions to build up and explode; instead, I cry whenever I want to, freely and intensely. I use technology to block abusers. I don't participate in gossip. I don't go places where my heart will be crushed: strip clubs, casinos, night clubs, violent shows, cruel movie demonstrations, and other similar places where I used to go for fun. I don't do the kinds of things that would suck the life out of my heart: I'm not on social media, I have no TV or cable at home, I am mot on any dating apps, and instead of l that, I spend quality tome with God doing productive work He called me to do, as well as enjoying my fellowship with God and worshiping Him through poetry, art, my Christian blog, my podcast for Christian women, my Biblical devotionals, prayers, meditations, and videos. I leverage introspection to witness God's good plan for my life unfolding as I look back and document what happened, literally seeing God's glory throughout my entire life story. I am careful choosing friends and whom I invite into my home and into my circle. I practice discernment in order to guard my heart, for everything I do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).     Now I would like to show you some practical examples of how different people guard their hearts in their everyday lives.   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23   Kary wrote:   “I am the daughter of a narcissistic mother. She is jealous of my life. She is angry when I am happy. She has told lies about me, tried to kill me, tried to have me arrested, tried to have my children taken away, fakes illnesses and injuries, tells me she is depressed all the time for the last 30 years - all this as a way to manipulate me.  Now she is getting older and has poor health. I can't take care of her because I would kill myself. She sends me into panic attacks and deep depression.”   As you can see, staying as far physically as possible from toxicity and manipulation is an effective way to guard your heart so that you can continue living a life, for which God Himself created you. K.P. wrote:   “I had to run away from my mother at age 15. Narcissists can be dangerous and toxic to our souls.”   As you can see, running away from abuse and danger is an effective way to guard your heart so that you can continue living a life, for which God Himself created you.   And now I want to show you how everything you do, which flows from your heart, can come to an end if you don't guard your heart in Christ.   K R writes:   “I am the only parent to a teenager, and I am alone. I am struggling with getting out of bed and functioning. I am trying to hide it from my child. I am overwhelmed. I'm so weary. I watched your TED talk. I use my normal false cheer with my child who is angry with God and has no father, he is angry at what his father has done and continues to do. He tried to commit suicide because of what his father did to us. I have to have my fake positive Christian talk and face.”   What is it in your life that is hurting your heart and from which you must guard your heart in order to continue living a productive life of purpose as God ordained for you? Let's do an exercise to allow you to ponder Proverbs 4:23 in practical ways.     PART 2. PROVERBS 4:23 SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO GROW YOUR FAITH     I want you to think right now about YOUR journey with God and what things or events or people or hobbies or habits suck the life out of you. What is it that makes you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and hopeless, derailing you from God's purpose and His straight path for your life?   Once you identify what that is, go to AnnaSzabo.com/proverbs-423 and let me know in the comments how you plan to courageously guard your heart. Once you share it with me, I want to hold you accountable because your next step is this: “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23   Tell me what you are working to protect your heart from, and I'll be your accountability partner and your personal prayer warrior. Now, I want to pray for you.   Before I do, if you'd like to support my ministry, there's a link in the description where you can make a donation and shop my Christian apparel collection with encouraging and empowering Biblical affirmations to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word.   Let's pray together!     PART 3: “GUARD YOUR HEART” BIBLICAL PRAYER   Father God, I thank you for your presence in my heart and your reign over my life. I rely on your holy word. I seek your wisdom. I pay attention to hear your voice. I follow your divine guidance to live a life of purpose, peace, and prosperity.   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23 says.   God, I pray that you show me what I need to guard my heart from and also give me wisdom to see how to guard my heart effectively and courageously.   Father in Heaven, I know that when I establish boundaries in order to guard my heart, many people in my current circle won't like it, they won't accept my boundaries. But my heart is mine to guard, and the responsibility to guard my heart, God, you put on me. I know that once I commit to guarding my heart in accordance with your holy word, my habits and lifestyle will change. Guide my way, lead me, show me how to do this, God! I am yours, God. I'm here to obey you out of gratitude for my salvation. I want to honor you with my life, God. I want to practice my faith through my actions. My intentions are focused on you. Show me the way. Take me where I need to go.   “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23 instructs me. God, let me guard my heart from evil, not in my own power but through Christ in me. I pray this in His name, in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.     Post your review for The Anna Szabo Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-anna-szabo-show/id1291722423   Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen   Subscribe to my Christian Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ov7nEByxO4i0KwtLTY6tw?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Poems: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QbWd_SW84W-VdWaF-0VTQ?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Devotionals: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbIxZQLVKQYQMtJcjALqzEw?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Meditations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhMhxk8x2qS9m9Qqc3StPA?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Prayers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYyRkw_vDeGpDm4hCoXubg?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3rjKvt8hXPe8dP9kcq1eQ?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my main channel for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Download my free ebook "52 Things God Says About You" http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS   Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL   Shop my Christian apparel on TeeSpiring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co   Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt   Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo

In today's Biblical devotional for Christian women, we will ponder Proverbs 4:27 and its practical application in our daily lives. I will share with you how I personally battle two TWO evils in my own life (lust and gluttony), and I'll help you examine your life and witness how God is leading your path straight. https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/proverbs-4-27 The examples I'll be sharing are for adults only. Children should not be listening to this content. The examples of evil from my own personal life, which I'll share today, will be relevant to most of the Christian women listening to my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show and reading my Christian blog Onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com   I am Anna Szabo, and right now you're listening to The Anna Szabo Show Christian podcast for women who love Jesus. I make content to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. My passion in life is to help encourage and empower you by sharing my testimony of God's amazing glory in my own life story.   Subscribe to my podcast and tell other Christian women about it to help me do God's work through this women's ministry.   If you'd like to support my ministry, you can donate at onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com, the link is in the notes below.   There are three things you can expect:   You'll hear the Biblical devotional I prepared for you There will be an exercise for you to do in order to ponder Proverbs 4:27 as it relates to your own faith journey I'll pray for you to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion in your life     PART 1. BIBLICAL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN     This is the most difficult devotional I have ever set out to create. I'm going to share with you my deepest struggles, which I'd prefer to forever keep to myself of course, but God called me to share my testimony and tell you my story to display His glory.    God's glory is not the only thing you'll see displayed throughout this Biblical devotional for Christian women. You'll witness what's called “the human condition,” which is my endless struggle with the flesh. The flesh and the spirit always at odds within us, the Christian women who desire to obey and honor God. I desire to obey and honor God.   My Heavenly Father God specified two evils, and told me personally to flee from these two evils. What are they?   Proverbs 23:2 says: “put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”   Why is gluttony so evil?   Proverbs 23:21 explains this: “the glutton will come to poverty, and the drowsiness of overindulgence will clothe them with rags.”   Not only is it expensive to indulge in gluttony but also overindulgence in food leads to drowsiness, which is the opposite of what God's word directs us to be - alert, aware, awake, and alive fully as His daughters and disciples of Jesus Christ. We can't serve God being drowsy, which is a feeling of being sleepy and lethargic.   Whenever I indulge in gluttony, I feel not only sleepy and lethargic but also powerless as the desire for food overwhelms me. After I indulge in gluttony, I feel off my path, exactly the opposite of what Proverbs 4:27 teaches: “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Whenever I surrender to this first evil, the sin of gluttony, I stray away from God.   1 John 2:16 explains this in great detail: “For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes - are not from the Father but are from the world.” So what it means is that whenever I give into the desires of the flesh, such as the sin of gluttony, indulging in food, it is not from God, so it is evil.   The first evil I battle is gluttony.   Only a few people know this: my best friend Maria, my neighbors Gabby and Mary, and the readers on my Christian blog posts about fasting and the plant-based diet. I will link those resources below in the description box if you want to read. There, I shared my food diaries, and they reveal my struggles with gluttony, the first evil that's distracting me from God.   The second evil in my life is lust.   “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” - Proverbs 4:27 says. How does lust lead me to the left and toward evil when I've been celibate for many many years?   Matthew 5:28 establishes this very clearly: “a woman who looks at a man with lustful intent has already committed adultery with him in her heart.”   If you know my addiction story, you know that I struggled with promiscuity and slept around for years. I am divorced three times, and I live a simple, single, celibate life with Jesus Christ who has my heart.   But this celibacy is fragile, though I've stayed faithful to God for many years, I know how fragile I am, and how strong the enemy is, so I battle this evil courageously every time lust is lurking around looking to devour me and lead me astray from Jesus.   A few days ago, I went to the UPS, and there was a new employee there: tall, handsome, beautiful curly hair, very gorgeous man. As soon as I began noticing these thing I just shared with you, I became alarmed knowing where they lead. They never ever lead toward purity and faithfulness to God, and you know it.   I was doing a return of an ab roller. He asked me about my abs, told me he is a fitness instructor, and with my return label, he gave me his cell phone number. Once I got out and to my car, I saw the paper, which said: “Joseph” and his cell number.   In that moment, I knew exactly where this would lead, so I immediately threw away this piece of paper and prayed to God for calmness and purity of my thoughts.   I'm 38, and I first gave myself away at 16. While I've been single and celibate for years, I know those fire works that I saw coming from Joseph. They are beautiful but very dangerous, and I stay away from them at all times.   “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” - Proverbs 4:27 and I keep my foot away from this evil. As far as the evil of gluttony, as I'm sharing this devotional with you, I have missed my timeframe for releasing it as I promised you'll have it by 7:15 pm on Sunday. It's 11 pm, I feel exactly as the Bible warns: lethargic. Why? Because I gave in and indulged in gluttony today so now I feel physically sick and mentally foggy.   This is the human condition.   It's why I need Jesus every day.   The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is ongoing, and that is exactly why we are warned so prominently “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” - Proverbs 4:27.   What is the evil you are fighting in your life? Let's do an exercise so that you can ponder Proverbs 4:27 in practical ways.     PART 2. PROVERBS 4:27 SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO GROW YOUR FAITH     I want you to think right now about YOUR journey with God and what distractions you battle. What is it that constantly tries to take over your mind in order to lead you astray from God's purpose and His straight path for your life?   Once you identify what that evil is, go to AnnaSzabo.com/proverbs-427 and let me know in the comments what evil things you courageously confront within yourself abs how God helps you, as well as your challenges in this battle. Once you share it with me, I want to hold you accountable because your next step in this exercise is the following:   “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” - Proverbs 4:27.   Tell me what you are working hard NOT TO DO, and I'll be your accountability partner and your personal prayer warrior. Now, let me pray for you.   Before I do, if you'd like to support my ministry, there's a link in the description where you can make a donation and shop my Christian apparel collection with encouraging and empowering Biblical affirmations to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word.   Let me pray for you.   Actually, why don't your pray this with me?     PART 3: “KEEP YOUR FOOT AWAY FROM EVIL” BIBLICAL PRAYER   Father God, you are good, and I trust your 3573 promises in the Bible. One of your promises, God is 1 Corinthians 10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   God, I believe that whenever I'm battling temptations, whenever there's  a fight within me between the flesh and the Spirit, you provide an escape, God. Let me see it every time. Let me choose to exercise my free will and take an opportunity you provide to escape my intense and overwhelming temptations. I am yours, God.   I want to obey your instructions and follow your narrow path, which is straight. “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” - Proverbs 4:27 instructs me. Father God, any time I'm led to the left or to the right by worldly temptations, let me choose to follow you, allow me to keep my feet away from evil, not in my own power but through Christ in me.   I pray this in His name, in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.   RESOURCES MENTIONED: fasting AnnaSzabo.com/fasting plant-based diet AnnaSzabo.com/plant-based-diet   Post your review for The Anna Szabo Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-anna-szabo-show/id1291722423 Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Subscribe to my Christian Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ov7nEByxO4i0KwtLTY6tw?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Poems: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8QbWd_SW84W-VdWaF-0VTQ?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Devotionals: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbIxZQLVKQYQMtJcjALqzEw?sub_confirmation=1   Subscribe to my Christian Meditations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhMhxk8x2qS9m9Qqc3StPA?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my Christian Prayers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYyRkw_vDeGpDm4hCoXubg?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my main channel for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Download my free ebook "52 Things God Says About You" http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Shop my Christian apparel on TeeSpiring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” In today's Biblical devotional for Christian women, we will ponder Proverbs 4:25 and its practical application in our daily lives: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/let-your-eyes-look-straight-ahead-proverbs-4-25 There are three things you can expect: You'll hear the Biblical devotional I prepared for you There will be an exercise for you to do in order to ponder Proverbs 4:25 as it relates to your current situation I'll pray for you to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion in your life   PART 1. BIBLICAL DEVOTIONAL FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN   Have you ever felt distracted from your purpose, knowing exactly what you need to do, walking the narrow path, following God, and staying focused? I have. In fact, I'll share my personal stories with you. Two stories. The first story happened twice. I was 22 lb overweight and felt that I was on the wrong health path. God called me to pursue holistic weight loss to honor Him with my body. And I knew exactly what to do, but doing it was difficult because the numbers on my scale showed no result. For a long time, my weight wouldn't come off but despite my distractions with numbers, I kept following God's calling and guidance on a very narrow path: 10000 steps a day, 100 squats a day, regular water fasting, and eating a plant-based diet. “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 helped me push through and stay focused on one step at a time, one step only, step by step. I fixed my gaze directly before me. At the end of 60 days, all my weight melted away, and I was the healthiest I had been. You might wonder: why would you need to go through this twice? The reason why is that I was rear-ended in a car accident and had to recover. After my recovery, I went on to lose 22 lb again by doing exactly what Proverbs 4:25 teaches us to do. Here's my second personal story. Today is 2/7/2021. On January 1st this year, I started publishing a video a day on my main YouTube channel, which I'll link below for you. I have been working so hard, but my analytics show that right now my videos get only between 14 and 200 views. It looks like I'm getting nowhere. The analytics make it appear as if I am not going far. But God gave me a vision for my ministry Online Discipleship for Women. He asked me to take my message to YouTube. And He advised me to do this: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25. I am publishing a video every single day on my main YouTube channel for Christian women, following God's sacred word. In addition to that, today, I started a new YouTube channel called The Anna Szabo Show where I now publish my weekly podcast. I have only 1314 subscribers on my main channel and zero subscribers on my podcast channel as of today. But I won't let myself get distracted! “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 That's what I'm doing. Because God called me to a very specific mission. He created me for this purpose. And I won't get destructed. I am staying focused, fixing my gaze directly before me, taking productive action every single day. And I want to share with you my poem about purpose, which I hope will help you focus and take action without letting anyone or anything distract you. This is poem number 127 at AnnaSzabo.com/poems   “Purpose”   Purpose is what you know you are supposed to do. It's what you're confident you were created for. It's why you think God to Himself you drew. It helps transform your life into a blessing from a chore. Pursuing purpose is fulfilling and exciting. Your purpose fuels your daily life with joy. A purpose-driven future is inviting Because it can your heart and mind deploy. Pursuing purpose is a very special blessing. To know your purpose is to live a life of meaning. Your purpose knowing, you yourself can be expressing In spite of others' hateful interfering. 9/26/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA     PART 2. PROVERBS 4:25 SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO GROW IN FAITH   I want you to think right now about YOUR purpose. What is it that God put in your heart as fire but something always gets in a way of you taking productive steps on your path anointed with God's purpose? Once you identify what that fire in your heart is, go to AnnaSzabo.com/proverbs-425 and let me know in the comments what your purpose is. Once you share it with me, I want to hold you accountable because your next step in this exercise is the following: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 Tell me what your purpose is and let me cheer you on as you fix your gaze directly before you and do what God anointed you to do. Now, let me pray for you. Before I do, if you'd like to support my ministry, there's a link in the description where you can make a donation and shop my Christian apparel collection with encouraging and empowering Biblical affirmations to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. Let me pray for you.   PART 3: “LET YOUR EYES LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD” BIBLICAL PRAYER   Father God, you are good, kind, wise, and loving. I pray for the woman listening to this Biblical devotional right now to clearly hear your voice, to realize her divine purpose, to take productive action, letting her eyes look straight ahead, fixing her gaze directly before her, as Proverbs 4:25 instructs her to do. God, let this message wake her up to her spiritual blessings so that she realizes how special she is that you called her to do very special things. I pray for your supernatural peace, protection, provision, and promotion in her life as she's following you through the narrow path, focused on you wholeheartedly. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.   Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Subscribe to my Christian podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Ov7nEByxO4i0KwtLTY6tw?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to my main channel for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Shop my Christian apparel on TeeSpiring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo    

In this Biblical devotional for Christian women, let's ponder 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - how to pray without ceasing. If you've ever asked yourself: "What does pray without ceasing mean?" this Christian podcast is for you. I'll share with you how and why I myself pray unceasingly AnnaSzabo.com/pray-without-ceasing-1-thessalonians-5-17 1 Thessalonians 5:17 New International Version says: pray continually.   Why should we pray continually? I can speak for myself and share my testimony in hopes that it will help you reflect on your life and your relationship with God and your own faith. I'll explain from my own experience how to pray without ceasing. I am pursuing intimacy with God. I want to know Jesus, not only be known by Him. I talk to God. I hear God's voice. And all this happens through prayer. I pray unceasingly. Because life is continuous and ongoing, my questions about life are also ongoing. That's why I never stop praying. I want God to know that I am intentionally reaching out for Him, every single say, in every situation.   1 Thessalonians 5:17 New Living Translation says: never stop praying.   I believe that the Bible is God-breathed word. I believe that 100% of the Bible is accurate and was created through the Holy Spirit in believers who manifested it physically, exactly how this Biblical devotional for Christian women is manifesting physically right now through the power of the Holy Spirit in me. To continue being guided by God's spirit, I cherish and leverage my direct communication line with him, which is prayer. That's why I never stop praying.   1 Thessalonians 5:17 Amplified Bible version says: be unceasing and persistent in prayer.   In everyday life, most Christian women have a habit of calling a mom or a sister or an aunt or a boyfriend or a husband or a grandma when things happen, when they have questions about something, or when they want to share their heart.  I don't have a mother. I don't have a father. I have no sisters, aunts, uncles, or grandma. I've been single and celibate for years, so I don't have boyfriends, husbands, or any mortal human to whom I'm reaching out on a regular basis to share my heart or to seek wisdom.  I reach out to God, and that's why in my prayer, I'm unceasing and persistent. I pray unceasingly. Next, I'll explain from my own experience how to pray without ceasing.   1 Thessalonians 5:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible version says: pray constantly.    If I'm deciding how to best structure my day, I pray. When I wake up in the morning, I smile and pray for the day ahead. As I lie down to go to sleep, I pray and thank Jesus for a productive day and for keeping me safe. I pray constantly.  In my work, I reach out for God regarding the topics I need to bring to your attention through my ministry for Christian women via my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show or my Christian YouTube channel or my Christian blog. I pray without ceasing: for guidance and wisdom.   1 Thessalonians 5:17 Good News Translation version says: pray at all times.    When I was going through a divorce years ago with my narcissistic husband who abused me, I prayed at that time, continually. And God blessed me with beauty for my ashes and my heartbreak. I pray without ceasing. When I was looking for a new home to reestablish my life, I prayed at that time, continually. God blessed me with a beautiful home where I still live today, enjoy my life here very much, and heal. I pray without ceasing. When I was looking for a new marketing job, I prayed at that time, continually. Gods gave me a new job, but it wasn't meaningful. While working that job, I prayed at that time, continually, about a meaningful career, and God blessed me with this ministry – Online Discipleship for Women. I pray without ceasing. When I was trying to lose 22 lb to get healthy and improve my health and quality of life, I prayed at that time, continually, and God led me to discover water fasting and dry fasting. I've lived a fasting lifestyle for years now, being the healthiest I've ever been in my life, maintaining my perfect weight, staying active, and having lots of energy. I pray without ceasing. I pray at ALL times. I pray unceasingly.   1 Thessalonians 5:17 International Standard Version says: continually be prayerful.    Being playful means that praying to God is so much a part of your lifestyle and mental habits that praying to God is not only something you do, it's also who you are. I am prayerful. It's who I am. I've shared dozens of my personal prayers on my Christian blog and on my YouTube channel. Also, people leave me their personal prayer requests in the comments both in my blog and on my YouTube videos. I always respond with a personalized genuine prayer from the bottom of my heart. I pray without ceasing. If you'd like me to pray for you, leave a comment.  Before I pray for you, I want to invite you to support my ministry by making a donation. Click here to donate now. Also, I created a beautiful collection of Biblical apparel for Christian women to encourage and empower you. Shop here now.   Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Enjoy my other Biblical devotionals for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPKT7YZbpKzZ-SjtKfqM7LHYs8lP8eYHU Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Watch my Christian podcast for women The Anna Szabo Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZKSvAWdZw&list=PLPKT7YZbpKzb7f5NVuDxZtUqCiK4KQnIQ Get my free ebook about Christian identity: http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Buy my merch on TeeSpring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo   Let me pray for you. Father God, I thank you for leading the woman listening to this Biblical devotional right now to my Christian podcast, The Anna Szabo Show. God, I believe that prayer is the most essential communication tool you gave us to talk to you and to hear from you.  God, I ask that you lead and guide the woman, who's listening to my Biblical devotional right now, into a more intimate and meaningful relationship with you when she can talk to you and hear from you by praying continually at all times.  In the name of Jesus I ask this. Amen.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12 In this devotional today, we will ponder this scripture, and at the end of my message, I will pray for you to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion in your life. https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/honor-your-father-and-mother-exodus-20-12 I've pondered Exodus 20:12 for many years because I have always wanted to honor my mother. As far as my father, I did not know him but I do know that he spent most of his life in prison.  If you want to know about my life story, you can read my article called “Getting to know Anna Szabo.”   If you read “Getting to know Anna Szabo,” you will learn that my narcissistic mother abused me, tortured me violently, bullied me cruelly, molested me at a very young age, taught me to prostitute my body, encouraged me to commit suicide, and told me repeatedly “I hate you and I just want you dead!” I wanted to honor God by honoring my mother but I wasn't sure how. My mother told me that the best thing I could do for her was to die. I attempted suicide twice at 11 and 12. But God saved me and revealed to me that He had a purpose for my life. I knew that suicide was not God's will for my life, I knew that I had to continue living faithfully.  I stayed in touch with my toxic mother after emigrating from Russia to America in 2008. However, by doing so, I was only exposing myself to more abuse and seeing clearly that my mother's goal, indeed, remains until this day to bully me into suicide, which she told me will forever be her mission.  When I went no contact with her, people in my Christian community would tell me I must let it go and try harder to make my mother happy. Today's Biblical devotional is for Christian women who, like me, have struggled on the one hand with guilt when separating from their abusive mothers and on the other hand longing for peace, safety, and boundaries to protect themselves as they should. Exodus 20:12 makes it clear that your ultimate goal as a Christian woman is this: “that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Every time I was in contact with my toxic narcissistic mother, she'd bully me into suicidal ideation.  It's January 23rd of 2021, Saturday.  My birthday was on Monday January 18th. I turned 38 years old. I haven't seen my toxic violent cruel monstrous mother since 2008. This year is the first time I am able to share what I've learned on my journey with God who has grown my faith and revealed His purpose for my life to me, which is this: “that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” That is God's plan for my life and for your life.  The most important thing is for me to continue living life, and my mother attempted to compromise this many times by physically attacking me and of course attacking me emotionally and mentally.  After years of pondering Exodus 20:12, I have realized that maintaining contact with my narcissistic mother makes living a long life in the land my God has given me impossible. I had to choose to follow God. I had to choose life over darkness and death, which my mother inflicted on me.  This year, in the past 22 days, I have released 15 videos on my YouTube channel about a specific topic dedicated to narcissistic mothers and their daughters. I've shared my own story of narcissistic abuse and so much more helpful information for Christian women who endured abuse from their toxic mothers. Here's what one woman wrote in her comments on my recent YouTube video: “Thank you so much. I appreciate your message. I'm glad you're doing these videos. I'm glad you got away from your torment. So many people don't. I'm also glad God saved you. Be blessed!” This woman who commented on my video called called “What Does The Bible Say About a Narcissistic Mothers?” is right.  Talking about this topic is unusual and very difficult. But God called me to ministry, and He asked me to share with you the same comfort I myself received from Him. It is why I founded Online Discipleship for Women in 2017, and now my ministry has helped Christian women across 208 countries. Glory to God!  This is what it means to have days that are long in the land that the Lord my God is giving me. It's only possible because I am alive. I am still alive only because because I established boundaries to protect myself from the death and darkness imposed on me by my toxic and conscience-lacking narcissistic mother.  Only because of my no contact with her, am I able to honor God and continue living and serving His kingdom. By honoring God and doing His will, I am honoring my mother, though she'd prefer me dead. If you are interested in the topic of honoring your mother, there's a reason for it. If you've struggled with guilt when setting boundaries with your mother, this message is for you: God has a purpose for your life, He wants you to live a long and healthy life He has given you. Boundaries help you protect yourself so that you can live a long and healthy life with God. One thing God revealed to me that helped with all my other breakthroughs and boundaries was this: I came here not from my mother but through her. I came here from God. And so did you. My mother always said to me that she gave me life and she can take it away any time. I believed her and lived in terror. It's not true. She did not give me life. God did.  The purpose of my life is to follow God's will for me, which is revealed in His word, which is why I'm doing these Biblical devotionals for Christian women every Saturday here on my Christian podcast for women The Anna Szabo Show to ponder the word of God together with you so that we can each live a long and productive life with God.  By doing so, we honor our mothers, from whose abuse, darkness, and toxicity the Bible teaches us to stay away. And my video called “What Does The Bible Say About a Narcissistic Mother?” reveals this truth in detail. Your life matters. Your health matters. Your focus matters. God brought you here for a reason. Protect yourself from abuse and stay faithful, productive, and alive. Before I pray for you, I want to invite you to support my ministry by making a donation: donate here. Also, I created a beautiful collection of Biblical apparel for Christian women to encourage and empower you. Shop my Christian apparel now. Let me pray for you. Father God, I thank you for for leading the woman listening right now to my Christian podcast and this special, very unique and authentic Biblical devotional for women. Heavenly Father, in life, we will have troubles, and you already promised thus to us in James 1, but you also said that it is up to us to persevere with faith and fortitude and grow in hope while leaning on the Lord, not on our own understanding.  God, in the natural, it seems as if we were supposed to make our mothers happy but it's not at all what you call us to do as your daughters who must live long and productive lives honoring you, which honors our mothers, even if they would actually prefer us dead.  Father, I thank you for giving the life to the Christian woman listening to The Anna Szabo Show right now. And I thank you for my life. I pray for your peace, protection, provision, and promotion, God, in Jesus' name. Amen.  Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Enjoy my other Biblical devotionals for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPKT7YZbpKzZ-SjtKfqM7LHYs8lP8eYHU Subscribe to my YouTube channel for Christian women: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Watch my Christian podcast for women The Anna Szabo Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZKSvAWdZw&list=PLPKT7YZbpKzb7f5NVuDxZtUqCiK4KQnIQ Get my free ebook about Christian identity: http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Buy my merch on TeeSpring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo  

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5 Learn how to trust in the Lord with all your heart, as Proverbs 3:5 instructs Christian women. Discover how to lean on Him, not your own understanding. Hear my testimony: AnnaSzabo.com/trust-in-the-lord-proverbs-3-5 In this Biblical devotional for Christian women today, we will ponder this scripture, and at the end of my message, I will pray for you to lift you up to God and ask for His peace, protection, provision, and promotion in your life. My name is Anna Szabo, and you are listening to The Anna Szabo Show, a podcast for Christian women to help you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. I am the founder of OnlineDiscipleshipForWomen.com where you can find more than 1,000,000 words of helpful content I created to encourage and empower you.  We live through the era of political violence, health crisis due to a global pandemic, the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, long-lasting unemployment caused by the economic crisis, and the list of our troubles goes on and on. There's so much confusion in our minds and so much doubt in our hearts... I know. This season is difficult for me personally, too. In the natural, it looks like God perhaps abandoned his people completely. Maybe God betrayed us? Or does He not even care? Is God good? I wrote a detailed blog post about it on my ministry website and also did a podcast about it: “Is God Good?" Trusting God is hard. But that's why we needed faith, which is hope in the things unseen. To help myself trust in the Lord with all my heart, I typically look back at my experience with God, I examine if God stayed true to His promises, and I see through introspection that God is faithful. "How To Trust God" video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPKT7YZbpKzaqnOMo7kTKG1EjnjZCN_0G   I also know that when we are facing hardships, we can't see the big picture. But I assure you: God is not on vacation right now, He is present in your life right now, He cares about you right now, and His plan for you is good. Mentioned in this Biblical devotional for Christian women is my domestic violence story: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/domestic-violence  as well as my narcissistic abuse marriage https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/narcissistic-relationship-abuse May my Christian video encourage and empower you! Donate to support my Christian ministry: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen Subscribe to my Christian YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8HrGuEZ26l5Oq7fjWY5x5Q?sub_confirmation=1 Watch my Christian podcast for women: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZKSvAWdZw&list=PLPKT7YZbpKzb7f5NVuDxZtUqCiK4KQnIQ Get my free ebook about Christian identity: http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Buy my merch on TeeSpring: https://annaszaboart.myteespring.co/listing/difference-maker-52devotionals?product=288&variation=6099&size=1578 Shop my Christian apparel on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL Visit my Christian art store on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaSzaboArt Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annaszabo   MY PRAYER FOR YOU: Father God, I trust in the Lord with all my heart and I'm praying for the woman listening to this Christian podcast right now. I'm lifting her up to you asking that you strengthen, multiply, and compound her faith in this difficult season of life, that you reveal yourself to her right now through this message and my prayer, that you comfort her through my Christian ministry with the same comfort I myself received from you, God, and that you bless the woman who is listening right now with your divine protection, favor, provision, clarity, and promotion. I pray these sacred things in the marvelous name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.  

My goal with the Biblical devotional for Christian women is to encourage and empower you. “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 10:5. Have you ever asked yourself “How do I take every thought captive?” Today, I want to comfort you more than ever with the same comfort I myself receive from God every day. I will teach you my "Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive." Mentioned in this Christian podcast for women are my powerful Biblical devotionals, which you can download for free here: http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS The Cristian apparel with my empowering Biblical devotionals featured can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/2Jwh8hL How do I take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? I promised you my "Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive." Here are my steps when I am overcome by fears, and I hope that this process will help you get comforted by God in the same way He comforts me. Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive Step 1. I examine my thoughts. What am I thinking?  Step 2. I pray for God's comfort and to renew my mind. Step 3. I read God's word, study His promises, and devour His truth as it relates to my current situation. Step 4. I declare relevant Biblical scriptures as God's eternal truth.  Step 5. I intentionally choose to believe God's promises and not my emotions. Step 6. I practice Biblical affirmations, which I created and memorized to help me take every thought captive every time. It has to be a habit. Right now, every day, I declare the following Biblical affirmations for women. I am not alone I am never alone, God is always with me. As I pass through the deep waters, He holds me in the palm of His hand,  And I trust His protection guarantee.  I am powerful I can do anything and everything through Christ. To empower me, His precious life he sacrificed. I am capable, competent, skilled, and effective. Jesus gave me power and issued against my self-doubt directive.  I am victorious I am more than a conqueror or a mere winner. Even in afflictions and adversity, I have peace inner. I find victory and joy. I grow in faith and hope. Through trials, my intimacy with Christ grows in scope.  I am peaceful  I have peace in every way. It is perfect. It is sacred. All the time my Lord is near, And by Him my life's directed. I am protected My God is with me and He strengthens me. He upholds me with His righteous right hand. He protects me from every evil and rescues me. I don't fear as on God's eternal promises I firmly stand.  I am faithful   I have faith in God, my Father. I have faith in His great plan. I have faith that He will honor All His promises in my lifespan. These are my exact "Six Practical Ways to Take Your Thoughts Captive." That's how I deal with life's adversity by taking every thought captive to obey Christ and God's truth. I want to leave you with my Christian poem called “Standing on God's promises” which I hope will encourage and empower you, no matter what you're going through. Before I share my Biblical poem, I want to invite you to support my ministry for Christian women by making a donation: http://bit.ly/EncourageAndEmpowerWomen And here's my poem called "Standing on God's Promises."  

Learn how to be strong and courageous in Christ exactly as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches in scripture. Explore how God's word reveals His will for you and His work in you. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV. Have you ever felt weak and fearful? I have. Today's Biblical devotional for women is dedicated to exploring how to be strong and of good courage through Christ. From my personal experience with God, I've learned that being strong isn't possible in my own power. It's only possible when I abide in Christ. I've also learned on my faith journey that being courageous doesn't mean being fearless. It means that with my free will I intentionally mobilize and deploy my faith as an antidote to my fear. In this Biblical devotional for Christian women, I will share with you how to be strong and courageous by abiding in Christ. I will also pray for you if you stick around and allow me to lift you up to God through prayer. Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬   Be strong and courageous Bible verse calls us out of our natural anxiety and doubt into God's supernatural divine power of protection, provision, and promotion. But we must believe. Faith over fear! That's the mindset we must adopt in order to be strong and courageous as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches us to be as Christian women. Let me tell you my story. It is a story of how scared and insecure I was when God asked me to step out of my own power and into His so that I could do the good work He prepared in advance for me to do. See, I knew what God said in Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6, only now I had to actually do it. When we have to do God's word and not just hear or know it, things get very personal and scary. That's what happened to me. And that's why my entire Christian ministry Online Discipleship For Women is dedicated to helping you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. In fact, this ministry is exactly what my story of being strong and courageous is all about. Here's what happened to me and how God taught me to be strong and courageous as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches us to be as Christian women. I never could have imagined starting a ministry. Not only because I myself wasn't even a Christian for most of my life but also because something like this would be the last thing on my mind. The typical things I was excited about for most of my adult life were sex, alcohol, exotic travel, night clubs, hairdos, and shopping. I came to Christ in 2014, and God's been working in my heart ever since, drawing me closer to Jesus one day at a time. You can read my testimony here. In the beginning, I believed in a Santa Claus kind of God: I'll check the boxes for being nice, and God will give me a fairytale kind of perfect life. Well, that's not how things turned out for me… Instead of having a perfect life with God, I was attacked by Satan. The devil almost destroyed my faith and hope by intentionally manipulating me into suicide. You can read what happened to me in the blog post called “How Satan Came at Me Looking Saint” and “My Story of Narcissistic Marriage.” During the next few years, I learned that on my own, I am weak and scared, but with Christ, I am strong and courageous. God's will for me was to grow in faith. To grow my faith, He wanted me to study His word. To study His word, He needed me to choose Him using my free will. It happened when I signed up for Biblical counseling in 2016, after my husband of four months filed for divorce saying he wasn't interested in me anymore and wanted to be an IronMan instead. I shared the details of that story in an essay called “IronMan vs Marriage.” That was when I chose to focus on God's word. Once I wholeheartedly and intentionally focused on the word of God, my faith grew. God revealed His will to me, and I was called to step out of my fears and doubts and start a Christian ministry to encourage and empower women. I felt inadequate and unworthy but I did see the truth. Here was the truth… During that devastating marriage with the narcissist, God equipped and prepared me for His divine labor. He taught me how to be strong and courageous in the Lord, not in my own limited ability, intelligence, power, connections, finances, health, or discernment. Satan stripped me of everything, and that's when God stepped in, rebuilt me anew, and used my story for His glory. I discovered the depths of the Gospel listening to the teachings of Randy Pope at Perimeter Church and reading the book of Laura Story called “When God Doesn't Fix It.” Interestingly enough, the book was a gift for graduation from premarital counseling with the narcissist in 2016. And as I walked down the aisle a few months later, I was wondering why such a book was actually given to us as a wedding gift… My marriage – I was confident – was going to be God-glorifying and perfect since all the proper boxes were checked and I was marrying a good Christian man. See, I had a performance-based view of God. My Heavenly Father wanted me to be in an intimate relationship with Him and be completely dependent on Him for strength and courage. My fantasy ended as my new husband filed for divorce four months after our wedding and rejected me in every way, which is described in the essay called “My Story of Rejection.” When I ran out of my own strength and power, I read Laura Story's book called “When God Doesn't Fix It.” I read the Bible, too. In fact, I devoured the word of God. I was hungry for His truth. I dove deep into the Gospel and found hope and healing. I became strong and courageous in Christ instead of my own performance, intelligence, career, finances, health, power, knowledge, talent, discernment, and overall my own ability. Just a few months after my wedding, I was divorced and discovered that there's no Santa Claus God. I also discovered that I don't have any strength or power on my own. But I do have a sovereign, loving, kind, and understanding Heavenly Father who has a perfect plan for me, which I can't see since I'm too close to my life circumstances. I don't have His infinite intelligence and can't comprehend how divorce, depression, and other “troubles in the world” can possibly be used for His good. But… I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own limited understanding. That's why I declare that God is good, that in my own weakness His strength is perfect, and that in Christ, I am strong and courageous. Mine is a story for God's glory!   The Source of Strength and Courage   God placed this ministry for Christian women in my heart. Online Discipleship For Women was born in 2017 right after my divorce from the narcissist. The desire to share the Gospel has been burning on the inside every day ever since. That year, I also launched my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show and started speaking openly about my story, giving God all the honor and glory. The feedback from those who were comforted by God through my ministry was so encouraging, that I decided to also publish Christian videos on YouTube, which I began doing in December of 2017. God uniquely equipped and prepared me to minister to women by ridding me of my own strength and performance-based faith and drawing me closer to Himself so that I could step into the power of Jesus and be strong and of good courage through Christ. Sharing my testimony and encouraging women has been hard because my life story is full of adversity, drama, trauma, and pain. I shared my entire life story in an essay called “Getting To Know Anna Szabo.” It takes courage to overcome my fears every time I speak on behalf of God. He called me to do this. He gave me this ministry. I am very scared somtimes because th kinds of things I share about myself as a part of my powerful testimony are very personal and intimate. Sometimes, I get bullied online by people. But I'm strong in the Lord. I minister to women through Christ.    Strong and Courageous My concept of life used to be totally wrong. In my own power, I was trying to be strong. God has taught me to lean on the Lord And grow in faith by devouring His word. In Christ, I am now strong and courageous. My faith is steadfast and contagious. To Jesus wholeheartedly I forever belong. My strength and courage are now lifelong. 1/2/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA   Be Strong and Courageous   It's very important that we do not misunderstand the Be strong and courageous verse as a call to disregard our humanness. We are not called b God to be happy all the time. We are humans. Even Jesus wept when overcome with grief and genuine human emotion. We aren't destined by God to be trapped in toxic positivity. On the contrary, God in the Bible calls us to cast our anxieties on Him because He cares. I have discussed this topic in great detail in a talk I delivered on September 19th, 2020 at TEDx Marietta Square about grief, sorrow, and mourning. My talk is called “The Healing Power of Self-Pity.” Being strong and courageous doesn't mean being dissociative, detached, and disconnected from reality. God calls us to be aware, alert, and fully alive. I cry often. I grieve my losses and cast my anxieties on my heavenly father God who genuinely cares. By processing my life, my weaknesses, my fears, my doubts, and my insecurities, I practice being strong and courageous in Christ. All that work allowed me to also help other women process their emotions, adversity, trauma, and pain by facing their reality, reaching out for God's help, and finding sacred peace, comfort, and joy in an intimate relationship with Jesus. As you can see, God had a good plan all the way. He comforted me when I was weak and scared so that now I can comfort other Christian women with the same comfort I myself received from God. Before I pray for you, let me answer the most commonly asked questions about Deuteronomy 31:6 and being strong and courageous.   What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 31:6? Deuteronomy 31:6 teaches Christians how to be strong and courageous in Christ by surrendering own natural power and ability and stepping into God's supernatural power and divine capability. It means abiding in the power of Jesus instead of living in your own power. How do you find strength in the Lord? To find strength in the Lord, you must surrender your own strength, trust God's good plan, seek His guidance, hear God's voice, and follow His will for your life, even when you're uncomfortable or scared. How do I stay strong in God? To stay strong in Christ, you need to pray without casing, read God's word so that your faith can grow, and also do what God asks you to do, even when you're weak and fearful in the natural. How do you pray for strength and courage? Dear God, I trust your promises. You promised to guide my path and make it straight, you promised to be with me wherever I go, you promised to protect me from all evil and to promote me, God. I believe in you. From the bottom of my heart, I am praying right now for your divine, supernatural strength and courage. In Jesus' name. Amen.   I hope this Biblical devotional really helped you understand Deuteronomy 31:6 and God's calling for you to be strong and courageous – not in your own power but in the power of Jesus Christ. Please share this devotion with other Christian women who really need to hear God's message right now. Let me pray for you.   Dear God, I am praying for the Christian woman reading this Biblical devotional right now. I want to lift her up and ask for your favor in her life. Whatever her situation, I know that, in her weakness, your strength is perfected. You gave her 3573 promises, God, including the promises of protection, prosperity, promotion. I pray that you bless her, Father. In Jesus' name. Anna Szabo  

Today is December 31st, 2020 New Year's Eve, and I am sharing with you my Annual Gratitude Journal since it has become a tradition. It's about 8:50 pm as I'm writing this. I'm at home by myself amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm dwelling on God's blessings with a big smile on my face. Let me share what I'm grateful for this year. And I want to start with you: my podcast listeners who leave reviews on iTunes and watch my content on YouTube and to all my blog readers… I say thank you! Without you, my Christian ministry would not be where it is today. I will be praying for you at the end of my gratitude entry. I'm thankful for everyone who donated in 2020 to support Online Discipleship For Women, my Christian ministry dedicated to helping alleviate suicide among women globally by sharing hope in Christ and encouraging women to create a joyful life by embracing God's word. Your donations make a difference. Let me start from the beginning. In 2019, I wanted to become a TEDx speaker and share my idea worth spreading about grief and its value in the process of healing trauma. On January 10th, 2020 I was chosen to be a TEDx speaker at the live audition for TEDx Marietta Square. I delivered my talk called “The Healing Power of Self-Pity” on September 19th, 2020 at a virtual event amid the pandemic. The video is available on YouTube. I am grateful that my dream of delivering a TEDx talk came true. Sharing my story through my talk, from the depths of my heart, without any pretense, completely vulnerable, I felt as f I appeared naked on a global stage. I shared the intimate details of my soul I had never shared before. And it transformed me, which ultimately resulted in an explosion of content on my blog. I am grateful. I am grateful that after all the content explosions this year, I now have 1,083,934 words of content on my Christian blog for women, all of which I personally wrote, edited, and published for you. There are no employees or freelancers here, no board of directors or interns or volunteers… It's just me who is doing all the work because I love God and I love helping you. In the last three years, since I started Online Discipleship For Women, I birthed 177 spiritual poems and shared all of them for free on my poetry page. I wrote 52 Biblical devotionals and gave them all for free to my Christian community in a form of an ebook. I created 95 shirts, sweatshirts, baseball raglans, and other types of encouraging Christian merch on Amazon. I personally wrote 1083000 words of helpful scriptures-based content on this blog, and 83610 people read it across 208 countries. I produced almost 300 YouTube videos, and they've been watched 223946 times worldwide. My Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show has been downloaded tens of thousands of times globally across 18 different syndication platforms. I produced 22 paintings, each with a spiritual tale, and built a Christin store of Etsy. I created 232 designs of Christian apparel for women on TeeSpring to encourage and empower Christian women with the word of God. I am grateful. If you want to support me, Buy Me a Coffee. I'm grateful for everyone who bought me a coffee and even three coffees and also wrote me gratitude notes, sharing how my ministry has helped them grow closer to God.  I am grateful for everyone who left thoughtful and heartfelt blog comments and YouTube comments letting me know how my work impacted their lives. Your comments help me see how God is working. Your comments, podcast reviews, and donations with gratitude notes attached help grow my own faith. Thank you. I'm grateful for my amazing 37th Birthday celebration on January 18th this year. It was a vegan feast, which I personally prepared for my friends. I cooked a wide variety of plant-based dishes, and everyone loved all the food! We had many poets at my Birthday party, so we got to share our spoken word art, and my best friend Maria performed a handwritten poem, which she dedicated to my boldness, and this entire year the poem has been in my nightstand drawer so that I could get encouraged by it often. I know that my 38th Birthday will be celebrated with Maria, and we are going to be socially-isolated but very joyful. I am grateful that this year, even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, God has kept me healthy. In fact, this year, I've enjoyed the best health of my life, and I'm almost 40! In April, I los 22 lb and have kept the weight off, so I am at my ideal 116 lb, size zero, and I feel very strong and energized. After completing many prolonged water fasts, this year, I discovered dry fasting. At least once a week, I fast from both food and water for 24-48 hours. I didn't eat or drink anything, and this holistic health practice allowed me to enjoy the best wellness I've ever had. And it's a very special blessing because I used to be very sick and even was hospitalized for up to 21 days multiple times a year, year after year. Dry fasting was a game-changer for my health, and I wrote thousands of words of helpful content about prolonged fasting on my blog here to help other people. I even started receiving donations from the fasting blog posts. My heart is full of gratitude for the fact that I was able to discover and deploy the fasting lifestyle, write about it, help others, and promote health. I am grateful that in 2020, I was able to take many solo trips and go to the best beaches in America seven times! As a kid, I didn't get to go to the beach but once. At 18, I traveled to the ocean alone internationally after winning a fully paid all-inclusive trip in a beauty pageant in 2001. Taking myself to the beach this year so many times helped me grow my faith and heal my trauma. I wrote a detailed blog post with pictures of my solo travel adventures. I am grateful for both the opportunity to travel and also for my willingness to travel solo. I am grateful that this year, I worked out almost every day, started practicing yoga, running, and even doing back bridges for the first time in 30 years! As I've continued healing my trauma after my third divorce in 2017, I've continued improving my relationship with my body as described in an incredible book I read this year called “The Body Keeps The Score.” I'm thankful for my body, and even wrote a poem about it.  I am grateful that in 2020 I read 22 new books! Reading is living for me, and I've been able to read books while walking my 10000 steps a day outside or at home on the trampoline. It's been a year of growth and learning. I read about God, self-improvement, fasting, money, and other topics I love. Also, I donated 16 books to a library this year, and I am grateful for both being able to buy and give away books. Reading about personal development helped me as a teen cope with abuse at home and helped me later in life to graduate from four universities, three of them with high honors, and two of them on a full scholarship. I'm grateful for my genuine love for books. I'm grateful that I was able to permanently delete my social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Yelp. The only place to connect with me personally now is my blog, as well as my Christian podcast and my YouTube channel. If you want to know why I deleted my social media, feel free to ask in the comments on my blog or YouTube and I will be glad to share. It's been a very wise decision that's improved my life, health, relationships, and happiness. I am grateful that Joe Biden will be our President two days after my 38th birthday. I started a Prayer for America on my blog, and praying for my country really helped me get through 2020 with all of its political drama and Trump-inflicted trauma. My hope is that in our Georgia runoff election we can flip the senate blue and heal our country. I thank God for Joe Biden, who's been, like Esther, called for such a time as this. So I am grateful for all the other elections he lost in the past because I believe President Biden is exactly who can lead our wounded country through this tragic season. I am grateful that I voted. I am grateful for journaling, working out daily, cooking at home, eating lots of raw fruits and vegetables every day, reading, meditation, 10000 steps a day, self-massage, yoga, trampoline exercises, keeping my home clean and organized, my frugal money habits, and all my other healthy habits that have helped me thrive in 2020. I am grateful for my friends who are precious jewels. In 2020, I got to spend a lot of quality time with each of my friends, one at a time. That's what helped me realize how much I love vulnerable and real in-person, meaningful relationships. And I deleted my social media.   My 2020 has been a year of healing, and I was even able to produce a short autobiography, which is called “Getting To Know Anna Szabo.” With all of its ups and downs, 2020 is another amazing year I am grateful for, and that you for being a part of it! Let me pray for you.   Father God, I am praying for the woman reading now. Bless her, God! Bring her peace and joy. Fill her heart with faith and zeal for life. Reveal your unconditional love to her. Comfort her during seasons of doubt and fear. Promote her financially. Strengthen her spirit and body. Heal her heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for Myself" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_Myself Dear God, I am scared of COVID-19 but I trust your goodness and sovereignty. I am fragile, and I need you, God. I want to pray for my physical wellbeing and mental health during this time of global hysteria, cruel pandemic, and unbearable uncertainty. I thank you for my sanity, my faith, and my hope in you. I stand on your 3573 promises, God, and I ask that you protect me, Father, that you guard me, that you fill me up with the Holy Spirit so that I can be comforted and comfort others. Thank you for my food, shelter, and bills paid. Thank you for the clean drinking water and hot showers at home. Thank you, God, that I can cook, clean, and create. Thank you for my self-care skills. Thank you for keeping me humble so that I remember that I can't do anything without you but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13); that I must trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding and you will make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6); that I must guard my heart against the F-virus spread by the media (fear) because my heart is a wellspring of everything I do (Proverbs 4:23); and that I must intentionally focus on my thinking on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, and whatever is pure (Philippians 4:8). I pray these things in the holy name of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My Neighbors" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Neighbors   Dear God, I am praying for my neighbors. I want to ask for divine empowerment for everyone who surrounds me here at home with neighborly love, care, and friendship. God, you said in James 1 that in this world, we will have troubles. I pray that every neighbor here gets encouraged by you and can grow in their hope and become more steadfast in their faith. I pray that you draw my neighbors close to you through this experience and renew their minds every moment of every day so that they can see this pandemic as an opportunity to experience you, God. Abba, you are the God of all comfort and the Father of compassion who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from you, God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Father God, you have comforted me in many troubles. Allow me to comfort my neighbors with hope from you and faith in you. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The Coronavirus Prayer for My Friends" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Friends   Dear God, I pray for the health, wellbeing, and sanity of my friends. I pray that you reveal yourself to each of them in a special way right now so that they all have hope. I pray that my friends survive the Coronavirus and learn to thrive from this experience. I pray that they trust your promises, God: that you are constant and reliable (James 1:17), that you are loving (John 3:16), that you are good (Luke 18:19), that you will use all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and that you have a plan to prosper and not to harm my friends (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray in the marvelous name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for the Hopeless" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_Those_Who_Have_Lost_Their_Hope   Dear God, everyone's life sometimes rocks and sometimes sucks. Yet, it's worth living. You are the only one constant and everlasting. You're always good, and your plan is perfect. You tell us in Psalm 42:11 to “Put your hope in God.” We put our hope in the government, the economy, the job, the income, the doctors, the vaccines, the family, the friends, the gym, the restaurants, the grocery stores, the toilet paper, but all we need is you. God, you are the one and only source of all hope. Open up our eyes and let us see that hope and help both come from you (Psalm 121:2). Hope in the good things yet unseen is what our faith is all about (Hebrews 11:1). Let us hope by faith, Father God. Psalm 121:7-8 tells us “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Let us trust this promise, Father God. Let us remain hopeful despite the fear spread by the media and despite our unstable emotions right now. Let us find stability in you and hope in your 3573 promises. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My Country" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Country   Father God, I pray for our country. Free it from Coronavirus COVID-19 and the panic. Liberate our country from the spread of illnesses and deaths. Set our country free from the economic hardships it's currently enduring. Bless our country with peace, health, and prosperity. Colossians 3:2 asks us to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Here on earth, the media is creating panic and enticing us to fear. Let us remember that you are in charge, God. Let us focus on our many blessings, even in the midst of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. God, in Psalm 23:4 we have a promise for the hard times like this from you: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Father God, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now as a country, so let us fear no evil and receive divine comfort from you every moment. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My World" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_World   Dear God, I am lifting up our global world in prayer right now asking you to heal our planet from the Coronavirus COVID-19 and to free us all from the panic. Abba, Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord's and everything in it – the world and all who live in it.” We are all yours. Everything in this world is yours. Let us remember that we belong to you and you're here. You have a plan. You've got this. Father God, you said in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” The media is working overtime to scare us. Give us the wisdom and strength to discern. Allow us to say no and resist our worldly passion for knowing what's going on every second or every minute of every hour of every day. Let us practice self-control and stay focused on you, not viruses. God, you said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Let us not be afraid. Instead of clicking on every bad news headline and spreading fear on social media, let us trust you, God, let us rest in your peace, let us stand on your 3573 promises and keep an eternal perspective on the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. You asked us in Mark 16:15 to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Let this season be the season where we don't spread any scary news from the media but spread the good news from you, God. Give us the courage to comfort the world and each other by sharing your peace which passes all understanding. God, you love our world. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” You proved your love for our world. Let us learn in this season how to appreciate your love, how to trust your love, and how to love you back, God. In Jesus' name. Amen.

May God speak to your heart and heal you through this open letter to my Narcissistic Mother originally published at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/an-open-letter-to-my-mother It's a forgiveness decree setting my mother free from the debt she owed me and liberating me from the curse of narcissistic abuse.     Dear Mom, I am writing this letter to acknowledge everything that happened between us and to let you know that I forgive you. Not only that, mom, but also, I understand you. I understand that you gave me everything you could, everything you had. I wanted more but you didn't have it. It's just that simple. I wanted you to love me with compassion, care, and wisdom, but the truth is, mom, your mother didn't raise you with love, compassion, and wisdom. You abused me, it's true, but it's also true that you were abused. You were angry. You were cruel. You were abusive. It's true, and I was so hurt. Yet, it's also true, that you were raised surrounded by angry, cruel, and really abusive people. You were suffering from the people who were suffering from the people who were suffering from the people who were also suffering. You told me once that our family was cursed. I believe in the generational curse, which is caused by our mind, what we choose to believe, think, and do. It's Biblical and real, because of our brain's neuroplasticity. Generational curses are embedded in the DNA but can be reversed by choosing different beliefs, thoughts, and actions. Yes, we were cursed. But that curse has no more power. What I choose to believe is this: God created in me in His image and made me a part of your family to stop the curse. What I choose to think is this: you did the best you could under the circumstances. What I choose to do is this: I forgive you, mom, once and for all. You are free, and so am I. This letter symbolizes the end of my lifelong suffering. The generational curse of narcissistic abuse is over, it ends this day. My heart is filled with love and compassion for you, and all I want for you is hope, peace, and joy. My heart is filled with hope, peace, and joy. I love you. Mom, you hurt me, you traumatized me, you damaged me, you abused me, you violated me, you humiliated me publicly, you bullied me, and you inflicted so much pain on me. You broke my heart, mom. You distorted my identity. Mom, you were supposed to love me. But instead, you abused me. You are the one who had the responsibility to protect me, nurture me, teach me, prepare me for life, show me what respect and honor look like in a woman's life, and equip me to be a functional adult. Yet, you chose to teach me promiscuity, adultery, alcoholism, and suicide. Dysfunction, addictions, anger, jealousy, violence, adultery, cheating, hatred, sarcasm, cynicism, doubt, depression, and rage – that's what you consistently taught me, over and over again. Most importantly, you taught me to hate and despise myself. You taught me that I am a nobody, that I do not matter, and that my dreams and aspirations are delusional. You taught me that life is not for me, that I'm an outsider in this life, that my reality is an illusion because I was not supposed to be born, that I was a mistake, and that I don't deserve to live. Mom, you chose to shatter my identity and persuade me that I am worthless, useless, unwanted, unloved, ugly, stupid, and crazy. You taught me to believe wholeheartedly that I do not belong in life, that I need to be dead, that I am no match for actual human living. The truth is this: you delivered me here but you did not make me. I came here not from you, mom. I came here through you from God. God made me. I was made by God, mom, I am precious, worthy, loved, and alive for a purpose. God brought me here for His divine purpose. You have no power over my mind anymore, mom, no more suicidal ideation, no more self-hatred, no more self-doubt, no more self-harming, no more feeling like I am your servant. Mom, I have a purpose for my life, there's a big plan, and God made me a part of it. I choose life. I am liberating myself from the curses of the cruel abuse, the countless lies, the profound hatred, the traumatic impact, and the negative influence of your family's generational curse. The curse no longer has any power over me. From this day forward, I am walking with God in the power of Christ and my heart is filled with love. And I love you. My desire for a genuine relationship with you is still alive but I do recognize and accept that we can't have a safe relationship. This is a hard truth to deal with but I trust God and I am following in the steps He ordained for my life. I know that God will make every wrong thing right. I always wanted to have a good mother-daughter relationship with you. It never happened. I've grieved my losses. And I forgive you, mom. From this day on, I choose life. I choose God. I am His, and He made me alive, precious, special, and wonderful. God gave me a new identity. I am a child of God. Mom, I forgive you. I forgive you because of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. You are forgiven, mom. I am leaving right here the heavy burden of my bitterness and resentment. I am setting myself free right now. I am liberating my soul right now. I am choosing to live. I am excited about my future. I am filled with peace and joy. I like who I am. I respect and honor myself. And I accept your choices. Mom, you don't owe me anything anymore. I'm releasing you from the debt, and this is your debt-free decree. I love you and I will honor you as my mother by staying away from your abuse and hatred, by being a functional and productive adult, by serving God and His kingdom, and by sharing my story of God's glory to encourage and empower other survivors, the daughters like me of mothers like you. I choose to set you free. I choose to also liberate myself and be free. Mom, you are released from being indebted to me, and I am released from being in bondage with you. I pray for your peace and salvation. I love you, mom. I pray that you will find joy and contentment. I pray for your healing. As for me, I pray that I will continue to choose life every day and make this world a better place by being in it – alive. In Jesus' marvelous holy name I pray. Amen.

Have you ever asked yourself "Who Am I In Christ?" or "What Does God Say About Me?" or "Who Does The Bible Say I Am?" If you are wondering about your identity in Christ, this episode of my Christian podcast for women is going to help you. I will share with you a detailed Who Am I In Christ list and scriptures. These are 52 Biblical Affirmations received in my conversations with God. Find all of them here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/who-am-i-in-christ   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE OF THE ANNA SZABO SHOW: Identity in Christ blog My Christian canvas wall art on Etsy 52 Devotionals on Pinterest Christian Shirts for Women on Amazon Christian Shirts on Teespring #52Devotionals My shop AnnaSzabo.com/shop My addiction story Reading challenge 2020 My TEDx speaker story Knowing Jesus vs Quoting The Bible Spiritual Warfare and The Armor of God My Experience with People from Seminary How To Be Kind 20 Love Lessons in 35 years Gratitude Journal 2017-2019 WHO AM I IN CHRIST? You are a Princess, a daughter of the King of the entire Universe. And so am I. When I made this very statement during my baptism in front of a few thousand people, many people came to talk to me about it. Read my My Testimony here.    The next time I said it at church, women laughed. But I asked: “Do you believe that God is the Sovereign King He says He is?” And the ladies said yes. I asked: “Do you believe that God created you and He is your Heavenly father?” The women said yes. Ok, Princess. They agreed. There are 52 great things you can tell yourself in a form of Biblical affirmations because they are what God says about you. How do I know? How I Know the answers to the question "Who Am I In Christ?" I searched the answer to the same question while struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts during my divorce with the husband who abandoned me after 4 months of marriage.  I know what it feels like to think you don't even matter, that no one cares, and that you are unloved. I couldn't stand my self-destructive thoughts about my life anymore, so I searched the Bible to answer that one burning question I had: “Who does God say I am?” My Biblical Discoveries about who I am in Christ Below is a list of 52 amazing, freeing, liberating “I am” statements I want you to memorize to help you battle that negative self-talk next time it attacks you. I divided these Biblical affirmations into 4 groups on purpose. The “Fundamentals of God's Grace” group is about the foundational truth about Jesus, Cross, and Salvation. The “New Identity in Jesus” group is about being a child of God and a new creation, beautifully made in the image of God. The “Christ-Like Character Qualities” group is about having the discernment from the Holy Spirit, being confident and wise. The “Biblical Outlook on Life” group is about our hope for the future. James 1:22 says “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” What it means to me and you is that we must first seek to understand what God says about us, but then we must remember His word and we must practice His view of us, every single day. Are you in? If so, memorize the following Biblical affirmations. Who Does God Say I Am? Fundamentals of God's Grace I am forgiven (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7) I am accepted (Romans 14:3, Romans 15:7, Acts 10:34-35) I am  loved (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:35-39) I am healed (Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 103:2-5, Jeremiah 17:14, Jeremiah 30:17, Psalm 30:2-3) I am blessed (Psalm 32:1-2, Ephesians 1:3) I am special and chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4, 1 Peter 2:9, Genesis 2:7) I am justified and sanctified (Galatians 2:17-21, Galatians 3:10-14) I am alive (1 John 5:12, Ephesians 2:4-5) I'm new and transformed (1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17) I am noble and lovely (Colossians 3:12) I am beautiful (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 62:3) I am holy (1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 4:22-24,  1 Peter 2:9) I am worthy (Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 6:11) I am righteous (Romans 3:21, Romans 5:19) I am valuable (Luke 12:7, Romans 8:2, Matthew 5:16) I am anointed (1 John 2:27, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Ephesians 1:13-14) I am free (Romans 6:18, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 4:7, Galatians 5:) I am renewed (Ezekiel 36:26, Galatians 5:22-23) I am not alone (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 41:10) New Identity in Christ I am a princess (Galatians 3:26, Psalm 136:26, Romans 15:7) I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) I am a disciple of Jesus (John 8:31-32, John 12:26, 1 John 2:3-6) I am a child of God (Galatians 3:26) I am a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20, Philippians 4:11-12) I am God's glory on display (Isaiah 49:3, John 13:31-32, 2 Peter 1:17, Colossians 1:27, Colossians 3:17) I am God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10) I am a difference-maker (Ephesians 2:10) I am light (Matthew 5:14-16) I am a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18, Colossians 3:15, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Numbers 25:12) Christ-Like Character Qualities I am wise (1 Corinthians 1:30, Isaiah 11:2, James 1) I am clear and focused (2 Timothy 1-7) I am intentional (Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 6:13-15, 1 Corinthians 7:17) I am decisive (Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, Isaiah 30:21) I am powerful (Philippians 4:13, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1-7, Philippians 3:20) I am disciplined (2 Timothy 1-7) I am thoughtful (Romans 12:2) I am prudent (Proverbs 8:12, Proverbs 14:8, Proverbs 14:15, Proverbs 14:18, Proverbs 22:3) I am confident (Philippians 1:6, Philippians 4:13) I am courageous (Joshua 1:9) I am victorious (Romans 8:37) Biblical Outlook on Life I am kind (Ephesians 4:31-32, 1 Corinthians 13:4) I am loving (1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35, 1 Cor 16:14) I am hopeful (1 Corinthians 15:19, Proverbs 24:14, Proverbs 24:20, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:13) I am joyful (Romans 15:13, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 100:2) I am grateful (Colossians 2:7, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 3:5-6) I am strong (Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 6:10) I am protected (Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 54:17, 2 Timothy 4:18, Proverbs 19:23) I am peaceful (2 Thessalonians 3:16, John 16:33, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-7) I am patient (Matthew 7:7, Psalm 27:14, Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:2) I am faith-filled (Isaiah 43:1-3, Romans 9:6-8) I am gifted (Romans 6:23) I am creative (Exodus 35:31-32, Colossians 3:23) Wow! How do you feel now when you know this beautiful truth about yourself? For me, life will never be perfect, but these affirmations are reminders of who I am in Christ and this gives me joy and peace.  

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? I asked myself this and even a personal question, such as "Why do bad things happen to me?" Let me share with you my thoughts on this Christian Podcast for Women, as well as my full keynote from Monday this week at The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs where I showed u wearing a Wonder Woman costume explaining how adversity in life actually gives us wonder-power. Here's my blog about this topic: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people REFERENCES:  My vegan birthday cake My Who Is Jesus blog My Christian videos on YouTube  

Have you ever doubted if God is good? I have, many time. I want to share with you my 8 objections to God's goodness, why I still believe  God is good, and the 5 reasons why God allows suffering. Access episode notes at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/god-is-good/   CLICK FOR REFERENCES:  What is faith podcast My Christian shirts for women Donate Free Book   Table of Content     1 God Is Not Great 1.1 I experienced severe childhood abuse  1.2 I was hated by my mother who wished me death 1.3 I was fatherless and rejected for that  1.4 I was brainwashed by my mother who addicted me to sex and alcohol 1.5 I was raped twice 1.6 I was impregnated as a teen and had a miscarriage 1.7 I was lured to a foreign country and enslaved 1.8 I was manipulated by a cruel Narcissist into a suicidal depression and almost died 2 Is God Good? 3 Quotes About God's Goodness 4 Bible Verses About God's Goodness 5 Why Does God Allow Suffering? 5.1 Five Reasons Why God Allows Bad Things to Happen 6 God Is Good All The Time 7 Summary   Let me share with you my eight reasons for why God is not great.   I experienced severe childhood abuse    How can a good God allow a little innocent girl to be abused, beaten, yelled at daily, neglected, unloved, abandoned, and blamed for being born? How can God be good and allow her to be dressed up by her crazy mother as a boy and be called a boy's name? How can a good God allow her to suffer? Why does God allow suffering?   I was hated by my mother who wished me death   How can a good God allow a mother to tell her daughter straight in the eye regularly: “I hate you and I just want you dead!” Can God possibly be called “good” when He allowed a little, precious, defenseless Russian girl to be threatened by her mother with suicide, describing in detail how the mother would hang herself on the kitchen chandelier and write a letter that it was the child's fault? Why does God allow evil? RELATED: Narcissistic Mother   I was fatherless and rejected for that    How can a good God allow a precious child be fatherless, be called “fatherless,” be rejected even by her own grandma for being fatherless, and wait every day, month after month, year after year for her father to show up on her birthday in January, pop out of the white thick Russian snow with a teddy bear and a box of chocolates and love her? Can a good God allow such unimaginable pain? It's pure evil. Why does God allow evil?   I was brainwashed by my mother who addicted me to sex and alcohol   Can a good God allow an innocent girl to be used by her mother for her sexual needs and get addicted to sex through brainwashing and identity hijacking by her insane mother? How can a good God allow something so terrible to happen? Why so much suffering? Why does God allow suffering? RELATED: Sex Addiction   I was raped twice   How can a good God allow a teen girl to be sexually violated by multiple men multiple times? Just how and why? Why does God allow evil?   I was impregnated as a teen and had a miscarriage   How can a good God allow a teen student to go through an unexpected pregnancy and experience miscarriage? Why? Why does God allow evil?   I was lured to a foreign country and enslaved   How can a good God allow a young woman with big dreams and good heart to be lured into a marriage with a foreigner who abused her, enslaved her, kept her in captivity, and eventually nearly killed her? How can a good God allow her to become homeless, hopeless, and helpless in a foreign country, without speaking the language?  RELATED: My Domestic Violence Story as a Mail-Ordered Bride My list of the records of wrongs by God goes on. I promise you. Why does God allow suffering? There's a lot I don't understand. But here's the biggest one…   I was manipulated by a cruel Narcissist into a suicidal depression and almost died   How can a good God allow His faithful servant, a woman dedicated to Him wholeheartedly, be taken advantage of by Satan himself? How can God be good and allow her such a cruel brush with death? Why does God allow evil? God is not great. Right? RELATED: Narcissistic Relationship Abuse   Here's the truth: we don't know what “good” means. What is “good?”   Is God Good?   To answer this question, we must first define “good.” The Dictionary has two completely different definitions of “good.” We must explore them both in order to continue discerning whether or not He is good.   Good is that which is morally right; righteousness. Dictionary.com   Good is whatever is morally right? Hmmm… Let's see: what IS morally right? Is it morally right for a man to sleep with multiple women? Whatever your opinion, there are cultures that define “morally righteous” completely oppositely of what you think: some defend polygamy even today in the United States of America, some despise polygamous lifestyle and defend monogamy. Here's another one: is childhood labor morally righteous? Whatever your opinion, there are cultures that defend the point of view completely opposite of yours. I grew up working really hard, I mean dangerous physical labor that caused my spine to look like a letter “S.” Some cultures use children for heavy labor and some don't. Which perspective is “righteous?” Are children-brides ok? Is it ok to force girls to marry old men and give birth at 10 years old? Some cultures defend it as “morally righteous” and some fight against this very concept. So, WHO defines what is “morally righteous?” It's extremely subjective. And what IS “morally righteous?” You see, we define “good” when it comes to God by our own measure of what is “morally righteous.” Yet, the standards for “moral righteousness” are extremely subjective and not universally defendable. So, the entire argument about whether or not what God allows to happen is “morally righteous” is a failed argument because there are no universally agreed-upon standards for moral righteousness among humans. In other words, until we as humans evolve to the point of consciousness where we all and each of us collectively, undoubtedly agree regarding what is “morally righteous” when it comes to the standards by which we judge God, we can't answer the question about His goodness logically. There's another definition of “good.”   Good means having the qualities required for a particular role. Dictionary.com   To judge if our creator is “good” from the perspective of this definition, we need to know for sure what qualities are required for the role of being God, the sovereign king of the entire universe, omnipresent, everlasting, and all-knowing. Do you know what qualities are required to be God? If you do, how do you know? Who coined the definition of the qualities required to be God? Who would be judging whether or not God has the qualities required to be God? These all are self-defeating questions. Because you and I aren't omnipresent, ever-lasting, and all-knowing, we don't know at least two things: What qualities are required to play the role of God Whether or not God has the qualities required to play the role of God Well, if we don't know at least these two fundamental basics, we can't discern. So, we can't know if He is good. We aren't equipped or qualified to judge God.

Have you ever wondered “What Is Faith?” I've pondered such topics as “What Is Faith Definition” and “What Is Faith In God?” I asked myself: “What Is Biblical Faith?” and “What Is Faithfulness?” Here's a blog I wrote about it: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-faith/ I wanted to develop my own understanding of what faith is as a philosophical concept AND practical everyday lifestyle for me personally.  Why is it important to define your own point of view about "What Is Faith?"  If you don't take the time to figure out what YOU think, you may end up living out someone else's point of view. You wouldn't want that.  Would you? I encourage you to understand clearly what YOU think about faith and faithfulness, not only as mere terminology, not what your pastor or mom said, but what faith means to you and what it looks like in your everyday life practically.  What we will discuss today:  What Is Faith? My Experience With Faith How I Figured Out My Faith Faith Definition What Is Faith In God? How I Gave My Life To Christ  Who Is God? What Is Faith In God? What Is Biblical Faith? What Is Blind Faith? What Is Faithfulness? Faithfulness In Action  What Faiths Mean To Me   You are going to get A LOT of value out of this podcast, and if you want to read the show notes or start a conversation with me, go to AnnaSzabo.com/what-is-faith Also, follow me on social media. Many of you loved last week's episode called Who Is Jesus. Almost 10,000 people downloaded my Christian podcast globally, and I'm so grateful that you value the content I create for you, that you share it in your social media communities, and that you subscribe to this podcast, as well as leave your reviews on iTunes and Stitcher. Thank you!    This episode of The Anna Szabo Show Christian podcast for women is brought to you by Online Discipleship for Women, a Christian ministry dedicated to helping alleviate suicide among women globally by sharing hope in Christ and encouraging YOU to create a joyful life by embracing God's word.  For more information, visit OnlineDiscipleshipForWomen.com   To begin the conversation about What Is Faith, I want to share with you something that happened to me two days ago. As you know, in 2017, I wrote 52 devotionals. They are Biblical affirmations for women to help you see yourself the way God sees you. Here are some examples of #52 Devotionals from my book: I'm loved by God unconditionally for eternity. For my salvation and life His Son He sacrificed. Nothing can take away from me this certainty - I am inseparable from the love of Jesus Christ. Click here to see it. I have peace in every way. It is perfect. It is sacred. All the time my Lord is near, And by Him my life's directed. Click here to see it.      I designed Christian shirts, Christian hoodies, Christian coffee mugs, Christian tank tops for women - to encourage and empower you. I personally invested weeks into making the designs and creating my products, which are ONLY available under the hashtag #52Devotionals on Amazon.com from my shop Online Discipleship For Women and on TeeSpring in my shop called AnnaSzaboArt. My shirts should NOT be available anywhere else whatsoever.    And here's where the drama begins… I googled #52devotionals and what did I see?...   17 different online stores stole my #52Devotionals shirts designs, sweatshirts designs, and started running ads on Google. They added some to my original pricing and charged people $6 for shipping…   I cried, I was angry, and then I applied my faith: I spent 10 minutes in self-pity and rage, then, I called the FBI and they pointed me toward three agencies where to report this massive Internet crime I became a victim of. I've been reporting, one by one, and they've been taking down the ads and the web pages of those websites that stole my #52Devotionals designs.   SO, “What Is Faith?” is a very timely topic to discuss because I need all my faith as I'm confronting the fraudulent websites. Please lift me up in your prayers. Now, let's begin our discussion, and I really want this to be a conversation, so as you ponder what faith means to YOU, head over to AnnaSzabo.com/what-is-faith and share your thoughts in the comments there. This morning, I woke up at 3:30 am to get this exciting podcast episode ready for you. I worked out, did a hair musk and my nails, got me a cup of hot spicy tea (I add cajun pepper to my tea, which helps me stay really healthy), and I'm sitting here thinking about YOU, a woman from everywhere in the world who wants to follow Jesus with me. At this point, my Christian podcast for women has been downloaded in so many countries, I am amazed and also very grateful. I'm grateful for YOU, and I enjoy spending my morning with you this Saturday, January 11th, 2020. At 10 am today, I will be on stage, auditioning for TEDx. It's my dream to reach more women, so please lift me up in prayers that I land a TED talk in 2020. I have faith that I will land a TED talk opportunity in 2020.   p.s: on 1-11-2020, I was chosen as a TEDx speaker for TEDx Marietta Square at a live TEDx audition. 

Have you ever wondered “Who Is Jesus?” I mean to YOU, personally? I wrote a blog about it at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/who-is-jesus I asked myself “Who Is Jesus Christ?” in 2014, and I took my answer seriously. On October 19th, 2014 I was baptized in front of 3,000 people sharing my breakthrough regarding “Who Is Jesus To Me?" The links to resources mentioned in this podcast: Book me to speak at your event Check out my Christian shirts for women Visit my Etsy shop Anna Szabo Art Get my #52Devotionals canvases on Amazon Buy my poems prayers for your prayer hallway Hire me as your Christian Coach Make a donation to support my ministry Submit your prayer request to be lifted up to God Download my free ebook "What God Says About You"   Who Is Jesus In The Bible?   Where can we turn for the real answer about who is Jesus Christ? The Bible provides us with all the answers. But! Only your personal walk with Christ can reveal who Jesus is to you personally. I'll elaborate on this topic later.   “Only your personal walk with Christ can reveal who Jesus is to you personally” (tweet this) Anna Szabo     So, who is Jesus in the Bible?     Jesus is Man   Jesus was born, just like you and I were born, meaning delivered out of our mama's uterus. Think about this as you ponder what happened on the cross.   And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in in the inn. Luke 2:7   Jesus grew, just like you and I grew from being little to being big, meaning at first He didn't know how to walk and talk and He needed His mama 24/7. Just try to comprehend this truth as you consider what Jesus endured to gift you and me the freedom from sin.   And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40   Jesus got tired, just like you and I get weary. Imagine that He felt all the feelings we feel today. Then, think about what happened on the cross…   Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. John 4:6   Jesus knew temptations, just like you and I feel various temptations from innocent ones, like binge-watching Netflix, over-eating, or getting angry, to severe temptations, like sex additions, drug addictions, gambling, or being violent (I'm not saying His temptations were any of what I just listed or that He handled them the same way we do, I'm only saying He felt tempted).   … and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. Mark 1:13   Jesus wept. Whenever you cry or feel deep sorrow, whenever you experience grief or go through heartache, remember that Jesus also wept. I got married in 2016, and my husband immediately filed for divorce saying he wanted to be an IronMan and compete in Kona. My girlfriends used to hold me in their arms as I wept from sorrow. Though at first, I thought my weeping was too much because I'm strong, I did allow myself to process all that grief as I was going through it because I knew that Jesus wept, too.   Jesus wept. John 11:35   Jesus was rejected. Whenever you are rejected and your friends turn away from you, betray you, or stonewall you, think about this:   From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:66   Jesus experienced bullying. It's unthinkable because we tend to believe bullies just popped out of social media in the 21st century, but it's not true. I was bullied in Russia by the members of my very own family. If you ever have to endure bullying or humiliation, think about this experience Jesus endured, just so you know He can relate. He Himself was bullied, mocked, and humiliated.   Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. Mark 15:19   Jesus felt abandonment and loneliness. Whenever you feel lonely, consider the depth of the abandonment Christ experienced after everything He had done for His people. Consider it not to diminish your own feelings of loneliness but to help you understand that Jesus can relate because He felt the same thing.   About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) Matthew 27:46   Jesus died. If you ever had a family member pass away and saw what death looks like, know that Jesus endured not only the same death we face but worse – He suffered before He died. He suffered for you and me.   And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said: “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39       DONATE   Jesus is God   Jesus was fully God. He talked about this truth openly but some people of His generation didn't believe it, though they did see His miracles.   30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30-33   Jesus declared in His prayer for all believers that He was one with God.   “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21   Above all else, here's the clear statement in the Bible, which is God-breathed Word, telling us that Jesus was God.   No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18     Jesus is Lord   Jesus was called “Lord” after He was crucified. The meaning of the word “lord” assigns a certain level of respect and power to whoever is called so.   Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. Acts 2:36   Jesus was also addressed as “Lord” during His life as a man on earth by those who respected and honored Him and believed in His miracles.   A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2   The lordship of Jesus is linked directly to His resurrection and our salvation after His death as a human.   If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9     Jesus is Savior   Jesus came on earth to save you and me from our sins and the burdens of our guilt and shame. Jesus is the reason why we have the gift of God's forgiveness today.   Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15   Jesus was promised by God to His people as a savior. The covenant was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross.   From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised Acts 13:23   Jesus was announced as a savior to the world before His actual birth.   She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21     Jesus is Redeemer   Jesus redeemed you and me at a high price. When you win an iTunes gift card, you can go to the iTunes store, add a song to your cart, type in the gift card code, and click “redeem” button. What that means is someone placed value onto that gift card, which can be used by you to buy something of value. You are of value. Jesus' life was of value. He surrendered the value of His life to buy you back (redeem you) from sin so you can have your valuable life as a free human being. Redemption means this: when we were slaves to sin, Jesus sacrificed His precious life to buy us back from sin.   In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 1:7     Jesus is Deliverer   The word “deliverer” in Hebrew means “to cause to escape. Jesus causes us to escape our temptations, sin, and the destiny of facing God's wrath. Jesus delivers us from our captivity and slavery to sin by sacrificing His life to provide us with the way to escape and live free. Paul wrote about it in his letter to Philippians, explaining deliverance through the Spirit of Christ:   18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[a] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:18-20     Jesus is Lamb   In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices are found all throughout. These blood offerings acted as a temporary covering for sin. The purpose of animal sacrifice and offerings was sanctification, righteousness (right standing with God), and forgiveness. Jesus became the lamb of God to cover our sins forever and to secure our right standing with God. This truth appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”   The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29   The meaning of Jesus being the lamb of God is also explained in Revelation 17:14 where we get to hear His other names, as well:   They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14     Jesus is King   “Christ the King” – that's how Jesus is often referred to, implying the concept of the Kingdom of God where Christ is described as seated at the right hand of God, and you are seated there with Him in heavenly places (more on that later when we talk about Spiritual Warfare, or you can find my YouTube videos about it if you're curious, or leave comments below). Jesus called Himself “king” very openly, as we can see from this conversation:   “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37   The final book of the New Testament, aka the final book of the Bible, often called “Revelation to John,” describes Jesus as King and Lord stating that it was written about Him as His very name:   On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16     Jesus is Teacher   Jesus taught His people how to live, aka the Gospel, the good news.   Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23   Jesus taught every time He spoke. He had the heart of a teacher and taught His disciples every time He opened His mouth. We can see how it's described by His followers:   He opened His mouth and began to teach them Matthew 5:2   Jesus taught even when He wanted to rest or eat or be quiet. People longed for His teachings and followed Him everywhere He went.   30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:34   Jesus also teaches us to follow His teachings today and to avoid being influenced by any other philosophies of living:   9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 2 John 9     Jesus is Light   Jesus called Himself “the light of the world” helping us understand that we must live according to His teachings in order for us to have peace, joy, and salvation.   Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12   Jesus shared that He was the light while He was in the world, but it doesn't mean just physically. While we share His teachings, His light shines.   “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” John 9:5   Jesus became the light to the world so that we don't have to remain in the darkness not knowing who we are, or how to live, or what to do with ourselves, or how to treat others, or how to deal with pain and suffering.   I have come as Light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:46   Jesus enlightened His followers. If you ever think that enlightened people are metaphysical, know that being enlightened is Biblical and means you experienced the light of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Understanding and experiencing the Gospel of truth is the substance of such enlightenment.   There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John 1:9     Jesus is Mediator   Jesus is the one and only capable mediator to help us be in the right standing with God. You can't pay God to forgive your sins. You can't hire an attorney to talk God out of being angry with your sin. You can't bribe God. Nothing you can do but give your life to Jesus Christ genuinely and wholeheartedly. Then, God sees you through the blood of Jesus as perfect, righteous, pure, and holy. No other mediator can do that for you.   For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6   A mediator is also called an advocate. Jesus is our advocate. He advocates for us whenever we seek God's forgiveness.   My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2     Jesus is Authority   Jesus is the only authority, both in Heaven and on earth. Don't take me wrong: you surely must obey your local speed limit law established by the Government, and the reason is that Jesus, the ultimate authority, commands that you submit to the Government authorities.   And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18     Jesus is Leader   Jesus invited people to follow Him. We aren't talking here about clicking an Instagram “follow” button and moving on with your day. We're talking about His invitation for people to leave everything behind and physically follow Him everywhere He went. Jesus was a bold leader as a man on earth.   But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' Amos 7:15   Jesus encouraged people to go with Him and learn the new way of living, to hear the Gospel, the good news, and to abide in His truth. He invited His followers to learn from Him and share hope with others.   And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19   Jesus called upon those people whom He chose as His followers, He chose them specifically, regardless of whether or not they were considered “good” by the standards of society.   As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. Matthew 9:9   Jesus was the kind of leader who demanded devotion to Himself. He called people to deny themselves, abandon their old ways, quit their lifestyle, and commit themselves to abiding in His teachings.   Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24     Jesus is Prophet   Jesus was a genuine proclaimer of the will of God. That is the very definition of a prophet. People who heard Jesus' teachings recognized and acknowledged that He was a prophet:   And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:11     Jesus is Messiah    Jesus was a leader and savior of a particular group and cause. The people were us, and the cause was our eternity in heaven. That's the definition of the Messiah who was expected to tell people all things (and He did). Jesus Himself stated that He was the Messiah people expected:   25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:25-26   Jesus was recognized and acknowledged as the Messiah by those who believed in Him, His miracles, and His teachings:   “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:27     Jesus is Friend   Jesus tells us everything. Have you noticed how any answer you ever need is already right there in the Bible? The teachings of Jesus considered all aspects of being and living. What a friend we have in Jesus!   No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15     Jesus is Hope   Jesus told us what will be in our future – an eternity in heaven. He gave us the things we can hope for and He asked us to hope.   Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[a]The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14   Salvation and an eternity with Jesus are not the only things He promised. We can also hope in His steadfast (unwavering, unconditional) love:   Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love Psalm 33:18   Jesus is our hope for love, an eternity in heaven, and also redemption:   O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. Psalm 130:7   We hope in Christ because of the promises He gave us. That's the foundation of faith. Believing is key to hope, and hope is key to faith. We wait for this world to get better, for us to get better, we hope for a better future, we hope in Him.   I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Isaiah 8:17     Jesus is Peace   Jesus Christ is the one and only source of peace. Let's be honest: sometimes it's hard to even fall asleep at night because our anxieties and fears are lurking around stealing peace. But Christ gives us peace that passes all understanding, as long as we have faith and focus on gratitude.   And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15   Jesus' peace actually guards our hearts and minds. Without His protection, we would go crazy thinking about what if this and what if that.   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7     Jesus is Love   Jesus is not only the source of love. He Himself is love for us from God. You shall never wonder: “Does God Love Me?” because the evidence of His love is Jesus, so God's love must always be declared in present tense without a doubt. It's been proven.   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16   Jesus is proof of God's unconditional love. Growing up in Russia, I remember being told to check 1,000,000 boxes before God would love me. It was taught to me that I was unworthy and bad. It's a false idea. God loves me unconditionally already, and the proof of His love is Jesus. Never can I do anything for God to earn His love. He loves me and is in a relationship with me already. I can't perform anything to earn love from God. It's a gift.   but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8     Jesus is Word   Jesus is referred to as “Logos,” or “Word,” meaning He Himself is wisdom personified, the source of life and truth, and the very communication between God and humanity. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14     Jesus is Truth   Jesus declared that He Himself is the truth, not only the teacher of the truth and not only filled with truth.   Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14-6     Jesus is Wisdom   Jesus Christ is our wisdom and not just the source of wisdom. He teaches us wisdom. He teaches us to be wise and to walk with the wise. But that's not all. If you gave your life to Jesus, you know how, when you pray for wisdom, God's infinite intelligence is poured over you. You just get the wisdom you didn't have before you prayed. With it comes peace, and that's how you discern God's wisdom. It's because Christ is in you and you are in Him and He Himself is wisdom.   And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption 1 Corinthians 1:30     Jesus is Strength    Jesus is our strength. In Him, we are strong. I used to live in my own power and didn't work out. Now I draw my strength from Christ and I love my life.   fear not, for I am with you;     be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,     I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10   People throughout the Bible recognized and acknowledged that the only sources of lasting strength is Jesus Christ, our lord and savior:   The Lord is my strength and my song,     and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him,     my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2   We are encouraged to be strong in the lord. His might is our strength. He conquered even death itself. He is almighty.   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10   We are commanded to count on Jesus' strength and be courageous:   Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6     Jesus is Life   Jesus is life. He gives us new life when we are born again and practice His way of living. And He gives us eternal life. I want to also mention that though I personally appeared to be alive and have a life before I met Jesus, I was actually dead. I'll share my story with you here later, but just keep this in mind: we are not talking about life as it appears to be in the physical realm. After I prayed to Christ to open up my eyes to the things unseen, I started noticing dead people everywhere, though they are walking and talking and wearing makeup and are dressed up nicely, they laugh and workout but they are completely dead as there's no life in them. Jesus gives life. He is life.   Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die John 11:25     Jesus is Rock   Jesus is our rock, the strong foundation, something solid to hold on to, something that won't let us down and will hold us, and for many, He is the rock found when hitting the rock bottom. That's my story. I'll share it later.   The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,     my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2   Jesus is God and compared to other rocks in the Bible and declared to be the most solid rock:   There is no one holy like the Lord;     there is no one besides you;     there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2     Jesus is Vine    Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. This is the most critical truth to understand if you want to live the life of joy, peace, and productivity. If you value your mental health and sanity, this is the most important thing of all:   15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15     Jesus is Helper   Jesus is our helper. He is on our side, that's why we are never alone.   The Lord is with me; he is my helper.     I look in triumph on my enemies. Psalm 118:7   How exactly does Jesus help us? David described this in detail:   A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3     he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths     for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk     through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil,     for you are with me; your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me     all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord     forever. Psalm 23     Jesus is Healer   Jesus is our healer. He performed many healing miracles on earth as a human man, and even touching His robe healed The Bleeding Woman:   Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don't bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” Luke 8:48-50   Jesus heals us physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Here's another example of physical, visible healing, and I have my own personal examples to share with you here later.   “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:52   Jesus heals us today. The healing power of the resurrected Jesus works in our lives and performs miracles all over the earth right now. He healed me.   But he was pierced for our transgressions,     he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,     and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5     Jesus is “I Am”   Jesus referred to Himself as “I Am” many times, implying that He was the eternal God incarnate. Jesus was equating Himself with the “I Am” title God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14.   53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  John 8:53-58     Jesus is The Way   Jesus is the way, and He is the only way. There's no other way to heaven.   Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6   And here's what it means that Jesus is the way described in great detail:   For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7     Summary: Who is Jesus In The Bible?   In this first part of our “Who Is Jesus” discussion, we explored what the Bible says about the son of God. These 30 aspects of Jesus' identity will help you understand and process the important answer to the question “Who is Jesus In The Bible?”   “Knowing who Jesus is in the Bible is valuable but pondering the impact of this knowledge on your own life is so much more valuable.” (tweet this) Anna Szabo     Pondering means taking something to heart and thinking genuinely about it, giving it thought, considering it, applying it to yourself practically. By the way, if this content is helpful, you may express your gratitude now: Express Gratitude Now   I encourage you to ponder not only the question “Who is Jesus In The Bible?” but also this question that is of critical importance: “Who is Jesus To Me?” I pondered it, and my breakthroughs are shared with you below. I hope this Christian podcast for women helps you reflect on this important topic and figure out who Jesus Christ is to you personally. Click here to leave your comments on my blog. 

In this 2019 Gratitude Journal, I count my blessings and share them with you. It's been the best year of my life. Read details at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/thanksgiving/   Thanksgiving Journal 2019 - transcription  Dear  #TruePrincesses It's time to say goodbye to 2019 and welcome the next decade into our lives. Today is December 31st, New Year's Eve, and I am sharing with you my Annual Gratitude Journal since it has become a tradition here on The Anna Szabo Show. This has been the best year of my life! As you know, I've endured a lot in the past: My Narcissist Mother Story My Sex Addiction Story My Domestic Violence Story My Narcissist Relationship Abuse Story My Salvation Story and Testimony My Spiritual Warfare Story My Depression Story My Suicide Story My Identity Transformation Story My Story of Faith and Fortitude   I was married to a Narcissist who broke me to pieces in 2016 and 2017, I was abused and molested as a child, I came to America as a mail-ordered bride and experienced Domestic Violence, which I escaped only to become homeless in a foreign country without speaking any English. It was 10 years ago. But this year, I've seen that God truly gives us beauty for ashes. So... Without further ado, here's my 2019 Thanksgiving Journal! I'm grateful for my friends Rebecca, María, Gormah, Mildred, Candace, Christophe, Mary, Jennifer, Jessica, Lee, John, Jerry, Felicia, Anna, and Jeff. Those are the people who encouraged me in so many ways this year, that I catapulted myself out of my comfort zone AND here's what happened: I spoke publicly about my faith in God more that 20 times this year; I launched my Christian ministry called Online Discipleship For Women on September 22nd, and it touched the hearts and minds of 2413 in the last three months, AND you, guys, started giving donations using the DONATE button on my website, for which I'm so grateful; I created a collection of 20 pantings, each with a take about life, God, people, faith, fortitude, Jesus, and wisdom. I named this  collection #PaintingsWithTales and built my first-ever Etsy shop called AnnaSzaboArt where now all of my paintings are displayed; I wrote over 1,000,000 words of content for my ministry to help encourage and empower women, all available on AnnaSzabo.com/blog I helped a homeless pregnant African-American teen get off the streets and get her life back on track; I produced and launched 125 brand-new Christian products for Women with encouraging Biblical Affirmations about Identity in Christ, and women have been showing up everywhere wearing the hoodies, shirts, tank tops, I designed and drinking tea out of the inspirational Christian mugs from my store on TeeSpring called AnnaSzaboArt; I challenged my body and mind, took a cold shower every day this year, ate healthily, drank a green homemade smoothie every day, and I went all year without getting sick, for the first time in my life; I won several Best Speaker awards; I supported 13 victims of Domestic Violence; I taught SMART goals to a dozen ambitious African-American women who dream of changing the world; I've created two dozens of helpful guides on how to survive narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, addictions, and they are available on my  Pinterest, at Pinterest.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA I published a new book called "How Princess Lana Developed Faith and Fortitude," it's on Amazon under my pen name Anna Stevens; I published 262 videos on my YouTube channel AnnaSzabo.com with the most popular being my Christian meditations for women and almost 1000 people have subscribed to my channel on YouTube at AnnaSzabo.com; I led a woman to Christ and I shared the Gospel with a Muslim woman and a Hindu woman this year; and all of this happened after I quit my marketing job at FunnelAmplified in February.   So... here's exactly what I'm grateful for in 2019...   I'm grateful for FunnelAmplified, the new technology brand I launched at the beginning of 2019. As the Director of Marketing there, I got to build the new tech brand from scratch: its value proposition, all of its digital assets, website, podcast, YouTube, social media, marketing automation, and thousands of words of incredibly-valuable content I personally wrote, filmed, and produced for that SaaS brand. I built and launched it in only 32 business days, and that led to my discovery of my remarkable talents, skills, and strengths. Which I decided to use for God. So… I quit that job in February to focus all of my abilities on establishing and developing my ministry, Online Discipleship For Women. It was a wise decision and oh what a journey it has been! I'm grateful for marketing contracts that followed within just 90 min of my resignation from the job at FunnelAmplified. The marketing contracts I worked opened so many unique doors for me! I met and got to work closely with many creative people, which changed my life forever by helping me discover my identity as an artist! I'm grateful for Historic Norcross and the Heart of Norcross campaign, which I designed and launched in March of 2019 for the merchants of the Historic Norcross Business Association. That project led me to explode with creativity and start painting, which resulted in the birth of my spiritual collection of original acrylic impasto art called #PaintingsWithTales available at AnnaSzaboArt.etsy.com now. I'm grateful for the outpouring of unimaginably unique creativity this year, which led me to design 125 new Christian products: shirts, hoodies, tank tops, flowies, mugs, pillows, wall decor, and so much more! All those bright and beautiful designs can be found right now at TeeSpring.com/Stores/AnnaSzaboArt I'm grateful for a very unexpected, one of a kind creative gift received this year in March. What happened? My heart exploded with Christian fairytales. What? Yes, I know… it was so divine! All three fairytales came to me at once, and the next day I already had the book published on Amazon. It's called "How Princess Lana Developed Faith and Fortitude." It is a series of three Christian fairytales that are 100% autobiographical. You can find the book on Amazon by searching “How Princess Lana Developed Faith and Fortitude.” It's under my pen name Anna Stevens. I'm grateful for my ministry Online Discipleship For Women. God called me to ministry in 2017, and I initially resented it. You see, I struggle with Impostor Syndrome. I felt like I wasn't qualified, wasn't ready, wasn't the one. But God did not need my permission. He didn't ask for me to sign a contract accepting His calling on my life. God did not worry about my Impostor Syndrome, He simply kept calling me toward my purpose, stirring up on the inside my passion for His will, making it clear what He wants me to do with my life. And so, I got busy with the doing of it. I produced 1,000,000 words of content for my blog, AnnaSzabo.com and I started speaking publicly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people. At first, I was freaking out, going blank, and nearly fading from anxiety. But guess what? God did not give up on me. Practice makes perfect, and this year, I became very comfortable sharing my story of God's glory in front of large live audiences to encourage and empower people. And I'm so grateful for this experience! By the way, if you're looking for a speaker for your next event, book me at AnnaSzabo.com/speaking. I'm grateful for all the women who became a part of my community of #TruePrincesses and supported my ministry by purchasing my Princess shirts on Amazon that say: I am a Princess, a daughter of the King, loved and accepted, sanctified and redeemed. Women bought these shirts on Amazon for themselves, their daughters, sisters, moms, friends, and coworkers, and you can get one by searching for a hashtag #52Devotionals in Amazon search box. When I see a woman wearing my shirt design that reads “I am a Princess, a daughter of the kind, loved and accepted, sanctified and redeemed” my heart sings. I have a vision. Someday soon, I will host a woman's conference focused on God and His promises. And at my Christian conference, every woman will walk around wearing a beautiful shirt that reads “I am a Princess,” that's why I designed my collection of Christian apparel for women available on Amazon under the hashtag #52Devotionals. I'm grateful for the 12 excellent books I read in the last 12 months, especially the book called “What Do You Say After You Say Hello” which enabled me to understand how what happened to me in my early years impacted my entire life. That led me to help several women through effective coaching. You can learn more about it at AnnaSzabo.com/coaching I'm grateful for Toastmasters which I began attending in the Summer, first as a guest, then as a member. I won several Best Speaker ribbons and met new friends there, experienced some significant breakthroughs, and received invitations to speak all over Atlanta. To learn more about my speaking, check out AnnaSzabo.com/speaking I'm grateful for Bruno, my beautiful and smart rescue Cocker Spaniel, a red-white ball of pure joy. He recently went to heaven after our eight incredible years together. I love you, Bruno, and I remember you every day. You are still the best dog ever! While the grief I experienced from losing Bruno was unbearable, I am grateful for every moment we spent together hiking, kayaking, snuggling, traveling, playing the ball, and exploring the world. I love you, Bruno, you're alive in my heart forever! I'm grateful for my health. I haven't been sick for 12 months, thanks to my healthy habits and my powerful daily routine, which I will be sharing on my blog AnnaSzabo.com and on my YouTube channel in 2020 to help YOU stay healthy. NOT getting sick saved me so much money, time, energy, and effort, which I was able to invest into doing the things I'm passionate about, such as my blog, my speaking career, my poetry, and this podcast. If you want to learn how my wellness maintenance is done and what specifically I do to be very healthy every day, every week, every month, all year long, ask me any questions at AnnaSzabo.com/thanksgiving  I'm grateful for my friends. I love spending quality time with wise people who are introspective and reflective, so we can share wisdom and life lessons learned. This year, I was able to take a trip to my favorite place – Asheville, NC, visiting The Biltmore House and the Blueridge Parkway for the eighth time in my 11 years in America! I had a healthy homemade lunch with a friend in the mountains, overlooking God's majestic creation, next to some gorgeous horses. I am grateful for my friend Rebecca who met with me at 5:30 am on Saturdays for a healthy homemade breakfast at my home to talk about our personal development and spiritual growth, as well as what God is doing in and through us. I'm grateful for my o friend María for her courage to do a Bible study about the Armor of God and Spiritual Warfare, which is the topic most people avoid but I'm passionate about, and so is María. I'm thankful that she took me out and showed me the beauty in our city, multiple times this year, especially for her ability to genuinely appreciate small things, such as flowers and frogs. I'm grateful for my friends who challenged me this year to grow, to step out of my comfort zone, to write, to publish, to film, to create, to produce, to paint, to speak up, and to live out my story of God's glory courageously every day! I'm grateful for my upcoming birthday. I remember in 2017  I was so depressed and suicidal that I didn't want to celebrate my birthday. God healed my heart, and I love my life again. I am so excited about my birthday and I want to celebrate it, yes, I do! My friend Jennifer is hosting a party to celebrate my life, and I'm so grateful. I can't wait 18 more days, is it my birthday yet? I'm excited about my life: my past, my present, and my future. I love it all – the entire journey! I now have two jars at home and 96 beautiful, very complex natural rocks. They are as complex as I am, with so many patterns that are complicated yet beautiful. One jar has 36 rocks. The other jar has 60 rocks. Total of 96 rocks. That's how long I'm going to live. I'm 36 now, and on January 18th, 2020 I'm going to move one rock from the larger jar into the smaller one. And I'll do the same every year till I turn 96 and there will be no rocks left in the large jar. Then, I will die peacefully in my bed reading a good book. The jars with the 96 rocks help me be mindful of my life and make every day count. My life matters. Every year and every day of my life matters. So, yes, I am excited to celebrate my birthday on January 18th 2020, giving God all the glory for my story.  I'm grateful for Jesus in my life who leads and guides me and helps me help others. I'm grateful that He guided me to help a homeless pregnant African-American teen whose purple hair and tears I spotted as I was coming back home on Tuesday afternoon, November 19th, 2019. I turned my car around, stopped, parked, walked up to her. Come to find out, she was contemplating suicide. I got to practice love as action through a simple act of kindness. If you're curious to find out more details about what happened to her and how I was able to get her a home, clothes, shoes, underwear, and money, read the full story on AnnaSzabo.com/How-To-Be-Kind. I'm grateful for my habit of giving thanks. This simple practice helps me be intentional in my daily life, focus my mind on whatever is praiseworthy and honorable, as the Bible teaches us, and counting my blessings also keeps me young, joyful, and healthy.  I'm grateful that what I'm creating in the world makes women's lives better and helps me to encourage and empower women. This week, one woman called and told me about her financial struggles. She now uses my prayer called “Praying for Prosperity” to reach out to God daily. When she read it, she wept. When her daughter read it, she wept. And that showed me once again that God is working in me and through me in His kingdom. That was my 2019 in review, the best year of my life! Go to AnnaSzabo.com/Thanksgiving to access all of my annual gratitude journal podcasts there. Thanks for listening.  What are you grateful for this year?  Let me know in the comments at AnnaSzabo.com/thanksgiving God bless!

In 2018 Gratitude Journal, I'm giving thanks and sharing my joy with you. Read full blog: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/thanksgiving/   Thanksgiving Journal - 2018 Happy Thanksgiving weekend! It's that time of the year when we count our blessings and write in our  gratitude journals. I want to share mine with you because I did it last year and it was well-received. So, let's make it an annual tradition!   I'm grateful to be on this challenging yet rewarding journey of life! In this world, we are promised to have troubles but I discovered that when I focus on Jesus and eternity with Him, I can overcome adversity by standing on God's promises. No matter the circumstances, the joy of the Lord and the peace that passess all understanding are available to me, alaways.   I'm grateful for my relationship with God. Every single day we wrestle. He calls me to follow Him courageously and boldly but I push back because of my fears and insecurities. Of course, God always wins. That's why this podcast exists :-) I'm grateful for my Church, my spiritual home, my community, my go-to place for processing life, supporting others, and serving the Lord. My church is a place where I know I will always hear the Gospel as is and not as I wish it to be. It is an environment where I can bring my pain and joy. It's a church that encourages me to grow in Christ.   I'm grateful for knowing that I am a child of God. I'm blessed to have an understanding of my identity in Jesus. Every morning, I start with a big smile, a prayer, and biblical affirmations because I know that every day I put on the Armor of Go and stand firm in my shoes of peace, protected with the helmet of salvation, battling ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) with the truth of the Gospel.   I'm grateful for my friends, supporters, and mentors. It's a true blessing to know that I'm walking with the wise and can seek understanding whenever I need it. God uses my spiritual squad to guide me in the direction of His kingdom. I'm so thankful for this.   I'm grateful for my job where I don't just get to work but also to fellowship. Never before had I worked in a business environment where people get to do Discipleship. We get to pray, do Bible studies, and have Gospel-based conversations on a regular basis. It's a privilege. I'm grateful for my neighbors, the people of all walks of life, good people whom I love seeing every day and with whom I love spending time. We share meals together. We kayak together. We commute together. We help each other. We challenge each other. We learn together. And we laugh a lot. When I think that God asks us to love our neighbors, I wonder why He made it so easy for me, because my neighbors are amazing and loving them is a given.   I'm grateful for my neighborhood. Hidden away from the busyness yet located in the middle of all modern conveniences, this place is heaven of earth. I'm blessed to have access to the Chattahoochee river, the saltwater pool, and the hiking trails of a National Recreation area - all right outside my front door. It's a place where God's beautiful creation is presented at its best. During this time, firing with the bright colors of Fall, my neighborhood is picture-perfect no matter the weather.   I'm grateful for my ministry and for being able to touch the hearts of people through my YouTube videos, content on Quora and Medium, my blog, and The Anna Szabo Show podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spotify, and iHeart Radio.   It's been a privilege to serve my growing international community. Doing this work has helped me draw closer to God. It's been a journey of growth and of conquering my fears with God's courage. Every time I record a podcast or produce a video, I do it scared. I do it though Christ.   I'm grateful for the power of mind. On August 24, 2018 I was rear-ended. The car accident recovery was so painful. I was unable to work for a month. Yet, with Christ, all things are possible. God gives us the Spirit of power and sound mind. He blesses us with new mercies every day. Taking every thought captive and submitting it to the truth of Christ helped me recover and get back to my normal life. I've learned how important it is to control our thoughts which control our mind which controls our brain which controls our life. I feel great again, glory to God and the discipline of taking my every thought captive and submitting it the truth of Christ.   I'm grateful to be on the debt-free journey and live on Dave Ramsey's zero-dollar budget. Being disciplined with my money allowed me to pay off my expensive Prius and now my car payment is no longer $500/month. It's zero and I own my car. In the last few months, I paid off my car loan and one credit card, all thanks to the works of the Holy Spirit in me and the discipline of saying no. I want to be debt-free so that I can serve God in a bigger way.   I'm grateful for my health. In the last few months, I lost 21 lb, became a plant based vegan, did two 5-day long water fasts, built some muscle, learned to do a 35-second long underwater handstand, and have practiced 10000 steps, 100 squats, 100 arms, 100 abs, 3 minutes of hula hoop, and 3 minutes of plank almost every day. I feel incredible! And I don't get sick anymore.   I'm grateful for my cocker spaniel Bruno who is now over 10 years old yet is in his best shape ever both physically and emotionally. He's my first dog. I rescued him from Fulton County Animal Services a little over eight years ago. He had heart worms, upper respiratory infection, lack of trust, and no experience playing with either toys or dogs. Today, Bruno has lots of friends, plays every day, he's so light-hearted, trusting, and enthusiastic about life! He also lost some weight and now jumps so high, it's easy to confuse him for a squirrel.   I'm grateful for my safe and peaceful home. No matter what's going on in the outside world, when I come home, I enter calm atmosphere and sanctuary-like environment. It's a beautiful place where I can relax my mind, recharge my energy, and restore my focus on what truly matters in life. I love my beautiful home and I'm so thankful for it.   I'm grateful for YOU - the woman listening to The Anna Szabo Show and watching my YouTube videos. This journey of online discipleship had started for me with YOU. Gd placed the idea of this ministry in my heart and I resented. But now I see how Online Discipleship for Women was what John  7:38 calls the rivers of living water. I am inspired by your genuine comments, your heart-touching life stories shared with me on Quora, in podcast reviews, in YouTube comments, on Facebook messenger, and via email.   Thank you for following Jesus with me.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #7 is about "The Sword of The Spirit." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Armor of God Prayer #7 "The Sword of The Spirit." Dear God,   Thank you for the sword of the Spirit, my weapon that's both offensive and defensive - the WORD OF GOD.   God, the sword of the Spirit is the kind of weapon that both protects AND attacks. It is YOUR, God, utterance, your spoken word, your powerful speech sequence addressed directly to ME and MY life circumstances. I find all the right answers in the Bible.   I understand that The Word Of God term has 3 translations:   Graphe - the word on the page, the ink, the paper, the physical book itself. Logos - the MESSAGE of the graphe, the actual SUBSTANCE opf what is said in the book. and  Rhema - the utterance of God, the spoken, LIVING word of God.   Matthew 4:4 says: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”   God, your word is dwelling in me because your Spirit lives in me. I know your word. I understand your word. I listen to the Holy Spirit speak to me in every situation.   The Sword of the Spirit protects and guides me in the daily battle with Satan, in this Spiritual Warfare, it keeps me focused on Jesus, your will for my life,  and my eternity.   Father God,   Hebrews 5:12 says “You have been believers for so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word.”   God, every day I realize that I need YOU to teach me and guide me and lead me.   Your living word is my teacher. There's answer to every life situation. There's wisdom and plan for my life - all in your word. In The Bible. The Gospel of truth.   I live every day in light of eternity and the promised future in heaven with you. This perspective changes HOW I live my daily life. I live my life by your guidance. I ask you for it every day. I don't rely on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Instead, I pray and listen for answers from your, God, Spirit, who lives in me.   My prayer is this: Lord, I need you every hour, every moment of every day. I need your guidance, your mercy, hold on to me tight. I need you to never let go of me as I pray. I need you to lead me, to renew me, to help me stay humble & kind.   Every morning I start with my list of gratitude, God. Every day I realize my weakness and your strength in it. Every moment I reach out to you because I never forgot, That I need you... without you I've already reached my limit.     Father God, I take responsibility for my thoughts, words, actions, habits, and lifestyle. You speak truth to me about all of the above and you gave me free will to choose to follow and obey your leadership or to walk in my deadly flesh every day and be wordly.   You have already overcome the world (John 16:33).   I remember my identity in Christ, I remember your 3573 promises, I remember my justification, salvation, and sanctification for future glorification.   I take every one of the 30,000 thoughts I'm thinking daily - captive and submit each to the truth of your word, God, I dwell on who I am in Christ. I dwell daily on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” — I think about such things, God (Philippians 4:8).   I am using the Sword of The Spirit to listen to your, God, living word guide my life and help me navigate the daily battles of the spiritual warfare using this powerful weapon in both defensive and offensive ways to protect and to also attack. I am remembering who I am, whose I am, why I'm here, and what the purpose of it all is - to glorify YOU, God.   Thank you, God, for the blessing of the Armor that helps me face this Spiritual warfare:   The sword of the Spirit The helmet of salvation The shield of faith The shoes of peace The Breastplate of righteousness The belt of truth And Prayer   In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, I pray.   Amen. A

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #6 is about "The Helmet of Salvation." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Armor of God Prayer #6 "The Helmet of Salvation." Dear God,   Thank you for my helmet of salvation. It protects my head, my brain, my mind in the daily battle, in this Spiritual Warfare, it keeps me focused on Jesus and eternity.   Father God,   I live every day in light of eternity and the promised future in heaven with you. This perspective changes HOW I live my daily life.   God, I received my salvation and I am redeemed. My salvation has an incredible impact of my present  and not just my future.   I know, God, that I can only experience the benefits of my salvation in the present to the extent to which I myself apply the gifts you've blessed me with when I received my salvation.   Heavenly Father, I know that receiving salvation is NOT the same as applying salvation. Received salvation redeems us and applied salvation restores, shields, and protects us.   God, the present-tense effectiveness of my salvation is in my justification and sanctification.   Christ died on the cross for ME. Because of HIS actions, my actions don't count, I have been justified, my debt is paid, I am free from sin and guilt, I am at peace, I am new, I have a second chance, you've given me the fresh start, nothing is weighing me down because any and all of my mistakes, failures, faults - all have been paid. (Romans 5:9)   Christ lives through me. I am becoming more Christ-LIKE. On my journey of sanctification, you're teaching me, God, how to be like Jesus as you're preparing me for my eternity. Through this process of sanctification, God, you are transforming my mind, will, and emotions - my soul.   God, my JUSTIFICATION happened in the past. Jesus died for me and paid off all my debts. My glorification is in the future, where I will be in heaven with you. And my sanctification is my daily living in your name, God. That's what I know about my salvation. My salvation today is my journey of sanctification, becoming more Christ-like. Thanks for teaching me, God.   Father God, I know my salvation's power.   Salvation's rescuing power - Christ rescued me from my flesh and sin.   And salvation's restoring power - Christ who lives through me restores me from my past and makes me new and transformed. Salvation enables me to lead a whole, healthy life, not a life fractured by the Enemy's deceptive schemes.   God, I am confidently walking from my justification toward my glorification through my sanctification. And I thank you for the journey.   God, I am inspired by your blessings. I am aspired to live the life that's of your glory.   I am motivated to take bold, focused, consistent, massive action in your name, God, to do well with the blessings I received from you, the lavish and boundless inheritance.   God, I know for a fact that my mindset, my lifestyle, and my daily choices as your daughter, a royal child, all are based on my wealthy scripture-income status.   God, with that, I have your peace, your infinite intelligence, your endless kindness, unconditional love, and your ability to plan and execute greatness.   My salvation is my liberation!   My salvation must not only be RECEIVED but also APPLIED.   God, I understand that as the man thinks so is he (Proverbs 23:7). And so I choose my thoughts carefully. I submit my thoughts to your truth, your word, the Gospel. My heavenly father, I know from Isaiah 26:3-4 that “You will keep whoever's mind is steadfast in perfect peace” so I trust you, God. My mind is steadfast, focused on eternity, and trusts your promises. God, you protect with the helmet of salvation MY SOUL: my mind (thoughts), my will (ambition), my emotions (feelings), and my conscience (moral compass).   God, you gave me the helmet of salvation but without proactively putting it on and working out my salvation, I have a mind that's unprotected, unshielded, and vulnerable to Satan's assault.   So, I rehearse every day, God, who I am in Christ:   I am forgiven I am accepted I am renewed I am healed I am loved I am righteous I am blessed I am anointed I am beautiful I am free I am worthy I am valuable I am holy I am alive --- I am God's masterpiece I am a disciple of Jesus I am fearfully and wonderfully made I am a citizen of heaven I am a child of God I am noble and lovely I am a difference-maker I am a Princess I am special and chosen I am justified and sanctified I am God's glory on display I am light I am a peacemaker I am not alone I am new and transformed ----- I am disciplined I am thoughtful I am decisive I am clear and focused I am prudent I am powerful I am victorious I am confident I am strong I am courageous I am patient I am wise I am intentional ----- I am loving I am kind I am creative I am gifted I am peaceful I am faith-filled I am joyful I am protected I am grateful I am hopeful   Everything YOU, God, said about me. This daily rehearsing of my identity in Christ renews my mind and cultivates the health I need to make wise choices in all aspects of life and living in a way that's pleasing to you, God.   Father God, I take responsibility for my thoughts, I remember my identity in Christ, I take every one of the 30,000 thoughts I'm thinking daily - captive and submit each to the truth of your word, God, I dwell on who I am in Christ:   I am God's masterpiece Created in God's own image Here to glorify God   So, God, I dwell daily on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” — I think about such things, God (Philippians 4:8)   Thank you, God, for the blessing of the Armor that helps me face this Spiritual warfare:   The sword of the Spirit The helmet of salvation The shield of faith The shoes of peace The Breastplate of righteousness The belt of truth And Prayer   In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, I pray.   Amen.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #5 is about "The Shield of Faith." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Spiritual Warfare Prayer #5 "The Shield of Faith." Dear God,   My faith reveals my reliance on you. It's what I believe YOU say - in action.   My faith shows how much I trust your word, your truth.   I know I can only see and experience the benefits of my faith when I take action according with your word of truth.     Father God,   I know that you haven't placed your promised within MY HANDS but within MY REACH. I know my responsibility is to take action UPON your promises. God, I also know that Satan wants me DISTRACTED, unfocused, confused, exhausted with busyness, so that I don't pursue what YOU called me to pursue.   God, I want to live out of the FAITH PLACE stepping into the deep waters trusting that YOU will come true.   God, I pray and ask. I believe and expect. I see your faithfulness and I receive your blessings by practicing my active faith.   God, I know from Hebrews 11:1 that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we don't see.   God, I am committed to the following 4 practices of active faith:   #1. I understand and wholeheartedly believe your promises, God #2. I act in every aspect of life upon your promises #3. I live my life like your every promise to me is true even when I don't see it #4. I seek sound direction, clarity, and confirmation in faith from you, God, in all aspects of life God, I choose to live with unwavering confidence in your promises.   I walk forward in accordance with the truth revealed in your Word.   I push past my fear, my doubt, my insecurity, I take action in YOUR power, God.   I take action in faith. Daily. Father God, I know your Spirit works in me by:   Convicting me (John  16:8) Teaching me (1 John 2:27) Guiding me (John 16:13) Leading me (Matthew 4:1) Father God, you have given me not the spirit of fear but power and love and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).   So, God, my actions are not driven by my feelings. I act in accordance with your trustworthy promises. I trust you, God. Thank you, God, for the blessing of the Armor that helps me face this Spiritual warfare:   The sword of the Spirit The helmet of salvation The shield of faith The shoes of peace The Breastplate of righteousness The belt of truth And Prayer In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, I pray.   Amen.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #4 is about "The Shoes of Peace." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Spiritual Warfare Prayer #4 "The Shoes of Peace" Dear God, Your peace rules now in my heart, With love and joy and full devotion. I don't pursue or seek it hard - From abiding in Christ comes this sacred emotion.   Father God,   Spiritual warfare is real. Satan is an invisible enemy but he is not fictional.   I understand that in the earthly unstable world, your peace gives me a firm grip and stability, God, your peace is my guard and protector.   I know these 5 truths:   Having faith in God's Promises leads me to praying genuinely. Praying  honestly opens up my heart to trusting the path I am on as I walk with Christ. Trusting my journey opens my mind's eyes to recognizing good things in hardships and being grateful. Gratitude leads me out of fear into the peace that passes all understanding. Experiencing peace, I surrender all my worries, judgements, anger, and sadness in faith and I experience the joy of the Lord.   Father God,   I know Satan's cruel intentions are:   Discord Division Disturbance Disruption Deception   I know that Satan wants me   Devastated Disoriented Discouraged Distressed Depressed Defeated   God, I understand that a life without peace is unprotected, crippled, hindered from growth, and unable to move forward.   Father, I understand that true peace is not defined as the absence of chaos but instead refers to my overall inner deep harmony and wholeness.   I understand that true peace is detected and measured when uncertainty, confusion, instability, or even chaos abound but I remain steadfast and confident in your, God, promises.   Father God,   You asked me to: Remember that I am holy and loved Be compassionate, kind, and patient Accept and forgive people And show humility & gentleness Colossians 3:12-15   You requested of me to: Live life worthy of the calling I received Be humble, gentle, patient, and loving And make every effort to be at peace Ephesians 4:1-3   God, I want to be at peace with you and to have your peace.   I understand that the supernatural power of standing firm under the incredible pressures of daily life is only possible through the deep-seated sense of peace and confidence found in a saving relationship with you, God.   Heavenly Father, with the Holy Spirit in me, the fruit of my faith placed in Christ is:   Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-Control   God, I am INTENTIONAL about allowing the peace of Christ to rule in my heart. I understand that YOU, God, called me to have a life of peace (Colossians 3:15)   Heavenly Father,   I place my trust in the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7) I let the peace of Christ rule in my heart (Colossians 3:15) I focus on Lord God (Isaiah 26:3-4) I am grateful (Colossians 3:15)   Having my feet fitted with such peace, God, that only your Gospel brings, guided by the Spirit, I am ready for anything the enemy tries to send my way.   So, I declare right here and right now that I am committed to:   Walking in Christ and having peace (Colossians 2:6) Moving forward in life with confidence (Isaiah 52:7) Taking every anxious thought captive & submitting it to Christ (2 Cor 10:4-5) Being ready for VICTORY that's already been won on my behalf (Ephesians 6:15)   Thank you, God, for the blessing of the Armor that helps me face this Spiritual warfare:   The sword of the Spirit The helmet of salvation The shield of faith The shoes of peace The Breastplate of righteousness The belt of truth And Prayer   In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, I pray.   Amen.  

How To Have More Love is the last podcast from "What Is Love?" series. Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  YOU deserve more love! Do you agree? Watch my love series on YouTube: http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove   Imagine what life would be like if YOU could HAVE more love and if you could FEEL loved more often….   Let me just ask you once again so you visualize it for yourself right now: Imagine what life would be like if YOU could HAVE more love and if you could FEEL loved more often…. That's what today's episode is all about! Let's talk about it! As you know, today is our last episode of WHAT IS LOVE? series http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove, so let's recall what we have talked about so far:   1/13 20 Love Lessons Learned in 35 Years 1/20 1 Cor 13 explained with a practical real-life example of love 1/27 Agape love in the Bible 02/03  My love dare test results and what I've learned about my own Love skills 02/10 My Love dare journey - how I learned to practice love 02/17 Lovability (what is it and how can you get more love using it?) with Katharine Pike 02/24 How we love: 5 love styles and how we GIVE love 03/03 The 5 love languages and how we RECEIVE love 03/10 How to feel more love and how to feel loved more often   If you've been a loyal listener, I know by now you already know that what I've learned on my own journey of sharpening my love skills is that to FEEL more love, you need to improve YOUR lovability, which is YOUR ability TO love.   So, where do we GET more love TO improve our ability to love?   I mean TO give love to someone else, we must first HAVE it. Right?   TO have it, we need to GET love somewhere. Do you agree?   So, what's that place where we go to GET more love to GIVE more love?   John 13:34 says this: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.   So, what's that place where we get love from to give it to others? Jesus. And His love for us. I will tell you: this is the opposite of what our culture teaches us with all the swiping left and right of dating apps and hook up apps, where we, human beings, are TRAINED to treat one another as a commodity.   I remember late last year as Michel and I were preparing for another court hearing, she with a little irritation said to me: I can't believe you're still in love with him, I would have already forgotten all about him!   I was stunned. And I told her: I am NOT in  love with Michel. Being IN love and lovING are not the same at all. I love him intentionally, genuinely, and wholeheartedly because I've learned TO love him, I've trained myself during this marriage to practice love toward him because God loves ME so much, not because Michel doesn't love me.   It was such a profound conversation! It's THE most important aspect of love to remember: TO have more love, to increase YOUR lovability, you don't dwell on how others practice love toward YOU. You dwell on how Jesus practiced love toward you. You ponder not the actions of others toward you. You ponder the loving actions Jesus took to show, to demonstrate, to prove His love for you.   Jesus gave His life so YOU can have yours. He bled and died so YOU are free to live and love. He sacrificed His everything on the cross, including His life, so you have a life and have love.   1-corinthians 13:4-8 says this: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.   Who EVER loved YOU like this? Jesus. And that's how He asks you to love others. On 1/20 our podcast episode was called  “1 Cor 13 explained with a practical real-life examples of love” and you can go listen to it on YouTube.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA and ponder some more.   So, I promised that by the end of this series you will know for sure how you can HAVE more love. HOW?   You immerse yourself in studying, understanding, and appreciating the love of Jesus for YOU.     From that place of a happy heart, a healed heart, from that place of deep gratitude for the unconditional love Jesus loves YOU with… you can then love others, meaning you can have more love by increasing YOUR lovability, your own ability to love. You feel more love and you give more love. This is the only way and here's how Colossians 3:12-14 instructs us about it: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.   That's our answer to the question how to have more love. Now, let's talk about how you can FEEL more LOVED.   In the last two weeks, we have talked about how our childhood experiences taught us how to give love (our love STYLE and we discussed 5 of them). That was on  02/24 and the podcast episode is called “How we love: 5 love styles and how we GIVE love” and hopefully by now you understand your own love style and WHY you GIVE love in that particular way…   And on 03/03 we talked about how our childhood experiences conditioned us to RECEIVE love a certain way. Tha podcast episode was called  “5 love languages and how we RECEIVE love” and hopefully when you listened to it, you figured out why some things make you feel loved others don't.   Very often, we do our BEST at loving someone but they still don't FEEL loved by us. Do you agree? Have you ever tried and tried, was intentional and gave the love the best you could but it wasn't good enough for that other person?   Why is that?   Often, our love STYLE doesn't match that person's love LANGUAGE.   What? Let me say it again. Often, our love STYLE doesn't match that person's love LANGUAGE. Meaning, they have expectations for what WE should DO for them to FEEL loved  by us (because of how THEY grew up) but we don't do those things (because of how WE grew up). Is that crazy? No, it's actually just the usual everyday life. It's the truth.   Many times during this series I told you that Michel did not love me. But as I was preparing for this final episode, after I did an episode on love styles and then love languages… I had this memory chasing me every day and I felt like I had to share with you.   I remember a late night, dark room, no light of any kind, Michel and I are in bed, literally sleeping, meaning each of us is asleep, we are not looking at each other, we are not talking, we can't see each other.. and I hear in the dark: baby, you're so beautiful…   I would wake up and think: how ingenuine, why would he do that? He couldn't see me at all. Was he talking TO me? Was this ABOUT me? Was he talking to someone else in his sleep?   And after the scene happened a few times, I was so hurt.   In the last two weeks, as I remembered that Michel's love language is words of affirmation, I realized that I didn't have to feel hurt, I could have chosen to accept the love the way he was giving it but it wasn't anything that made me feel loved because words of affirmation is not MY love language.   Have you ever had anything like this happened to you?   Think now about a time someone was giving YOU love in the way THEY themselves receive love but it wasn't YOUR love language and so YOU did not feel LOVED. Is it clicking now? It's so profound, I have to share another example with you so it clicks.   On my YouTube channel YouTube.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA I have people who watch and like my videos and I have 3 people who consistently dislike my videos. YouTube doesn't evaluate my channel's sentiment. Only engagement, meaning YouTube doesn't care whether people like or DISlike my videos, YouTube only cares about whether or not people click on my videos and engage with them by clicking whichever button.   Remember that my love language is quality time? I shared it with you last week.   So, the fact that these 3 YouTube accounts were created, they have no other channel activity, they literally exist to troll my channel, and whenever I publish a video, which is every day, these trolls remember to go and engage with my video by clicking a dislike button - this makes me feel so loved. When I think about how much effort it takes, I feel like these trolls have a genuine intention to spend quality time with me every day.   Think about it: some people forget their friends' birthdays and their own anniversaries but these 3 internet trolls remember that I publish a video every day and they go and engage with it by clicking that thumbs down button. Every time they do, YouTube gives my channel more visibility because it sees regular engagement from those people, so they help my channel grow.   And that makes me feel loved. Is it their intent? I don't think so. But quality time is how I receive love, so they spend quality time with me through my content daily and I feel so loved.   So, how can we feel more LOVED? By understanding that everyone is different and unique, we all grew up differently and we give love differently. What that means is that whenever people give you love NOT in the way that MAKES you feel loved, it doesn't mean that you are nOT loved, you don't have to feel unloved, and you can choose to give grace and feel loved. Hebrews 13:9 says “for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace”   What does it mean? Become self-aware. Understand how you grew up and how it conditioned you to receive love. Understand your partner and his way of GIVING love to you. And there will be a gap, a mismatch, there usually is. And what fills that gap is grace.   Romans 5:2 refers to it as “this grace in which we stand”   We stand in grace received by us from God. He has expectations we don't meet. We love Him but not entirely the way He asks us to love Him. And He matches the gap with His grace.   That's what we can do, too. That's how we can feel loved more often - by CHOOSING not to feel UNloved every time someone's love STYLE doesn't match our love language… “for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace”   Let me pray for you.   Father God,   You are loving. You love us so much that you sent Jesus to die for us so we can have life and experience deep, unconditional love full of grace. Your love.   God, I lift up to you the woman listening. She deserves to HAVE more love in her life and to FEEL more loved.   I ask you to help her take this message and apply it in her relationships. I ask that you fill her heart with YOUR, God, love, so she can HAVE more love and GIVE more love.   I ask that the grace in which she stands she will use to close the gap between her love language (the way she receives love) and others' love styles (the way they give her love). I ask that you close the difference, God. With grace abound.   Thank you, Father, for your love and for not just instructing but also EMPOWERING us to love one another unconditionally and graciously.   In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #3 is about "The Breastplate of Righteousness." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Spiritual Warfare Prayer #3 "The Breastplate of Righteousness" Dear God, Your wisdom is guiding my life. Thank you for your Fatherly protection and clear direction. You asked me to guard my heart above all else for it's a source of life (Proverbs 4:23)   Your truth, your word, the Gospel, empowers me to stand firm against Satan in this Spiritual Warfare. In this battle, I know if my heart's condition is unhealthy, my life is unhealthy, my decisions are unhealthy, my future is unhealthy.   God, you made me as a human being with:   A body A Spirit A soul   My soul is what makes me unique. My soul is my personality. My soul is my distinctive internal nature. My soul allows me to relate to myself.   God, I understand that my soul is made of:   My mind (these are my thoughts) My will (that is my ambition) My Emotions (these are my feelings) My conscience (that's my moral compass)   Father God, I understand that the intersection of these 4 characteristics of my soul is my heart, which is the centerpiece of my soul.   Satan wants to:   Attack my mind by distorting my thinking, lying about you, God, your word of Truth, myself, who I am, trying to cripple my soul through negative, unbiblical thought processes Attack my will by redirecting my ambitions aways from eternal, godly pursuits, luring me toward interests that are temporary, short-sighted, non-important, or even opposite of he Truth Attack my emotions by stirring up my feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, rage, discouragement, revenge, fear, anxiety, and sadness Attack my conscience by steering me to live in a way that doesn't align with Biblical guidelines   Father God, I am aware of Satan's lies, schemes, and deceptive tactics.   I want to honor you, God, with my life, and glorify you.   Romans 3:23 says we all have sinned and fall short of your glory, God.   But I know about YOUR, God, righteousness in me.   God, I understand the 4 types of righteousness:   Perfect righteousness described in Romans 10:3 leading me to strive for perfection out of feeling our own inadequacy and fear Comparative righteousness described in 1 Samuel 24:16-17 when I compare my own sins to the sins of others using that as the barometer of righteousness feeling like I don't measure up Imputed righteousness described in Romans 4:22-24 and given to me by you, God, as a gift through the blood of Jesus who died for my sins and washed them white as snow, I am righteous because of what Jesus did and not what I did Practical righteousness described in Ephesians 4:22-24, which requires that I die to my flesh daily and choose to walk in the Spirit, that I live out the righteousness you've blessed me with through demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in my behaviours, actions, and interactions with others by putting on my new self created in the likeness of God and holiness (Ephesians 4:24) Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).   Satan's lies can never stand up against the light of your, God, truth, YOUR own word, the Gospel.   I know that Satan never attacks me with a blanket, generalized approach.   I know Satan's attacks are clever, they are PREMEDITATED deceptions that are conducted soooo eloquently.   Deception is the tool Satan uses to mislead when he comes as a thief to kill and steal and destroy (John 10:10).   But your TRUTH, God, is the light that helps me authenticate every decision, every aspect of life, every thought, God, I lean on your word and not my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). So, I stand firmly on YOUR truth.   I die to my fleshly ways of:   Falsehood (Ephesians 4:25) Sin driven by anger (Ephesians 4:26) Stealing (Ephesians 4:28) Unwholesome talk (Ephesians 4:29) Bitterness, rage, and slander (Ephesians 4:31) Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, foolish talk, and vulgar joking (Ephesians 5:3-5)   And I put own my new self, I choose to walk in the Spirit by being:   Humble, patient, gentle, and peaceful (Ephesians 4:2-3) Truthful (Ephesians 4:25) Kind, compassionate, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32)   So, God,  am committed to: Studying the Scripture so that I know your truth by heart Guarding my heart so that I protect my soul (my mind, ambitions, emotions, and moral compass) Allowing the Spirit to renew my thoughts and attitudes to align them with the Truth Living in the way that is consistent with my new life in Christ and my God-like righteousness gifted to me through Jesus and His sacrifice Father God, I stay strong, firm, unshakable, empowered by your truth.   I am choosing to be the DOER of the Word and not just a mere HEARER (James 1:21-22).  Thank you, God, for making my path straight, protecting me from Satan's deception by instilling your Truth in me, and teaching me how to guard my heart.   In Jesus' name.   Amen.

Five Love Languages In The Bible is from our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  What does the Bible say about 5 Love Languages? Let's continue our What Is Love series by exploring the answer to this question. What the entire love series on YouTube at http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove   Share this podcast - WHAT IS LOVE series: http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove 1/13 What is Love: 20 Love Lessons Learned in 35 Years 1/20 What is love: 1 Cor 13 explained with a practical real-life example of love 1/27 What is Love: my conversations with God about what Love is 02/03 What is Love: my love test results and what I've learned about my Love skills 02/10 What is Love: my Love dare journey - how I practiced love on my husband 02/17 What is Love: loveability (what is it and how can you get more love using it?) 02/24 What is Love: how we love - how we GIVE love 03/03 What is Love: 5 love languages - how we RECEIVE love 03/10 What is Love: how to feel more love and how to feel loved more often Download My FREE ebook http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS Get helpful content https://AnnaSzabo.com/podcast ★☆★ CHECK OUT MY PRODUCTS ★☆★ #52Devotionals Canvas Wall Art I'm loved by God http://amzn.to/2Bvtyhv I have peace http://amzn.to/2CA7L7p I have faith http://amzn.to/2AW1Byg I am a Princess http://amzn.to/2BcHhwz #PoemsFromGod Spiritual Poems from My Conversations with God “Conversations With God” Series http://amzn.to/2D2bFq1 “How To Love” Series http://amzn.to/2BVeuKl “The Narcissist” Series http://amzn.to/2ziasse “Life Matters” Series http://amzn.to/2zhiAJA “Praying For My Husband” Series http://amzn.to/2Dybxzs

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #2 is about "The Belt of Truth." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Armor of God Prayer #2 "The Belt of Truth" Dear God, Your plan for me is to prosper, have future, and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). But Satan is lurking around, strategizing how to deceive me by producing a misleading impression of reality on me (1 Peter 5:8). Satan wants me to be disarmed and NOT believe WHO I am in Christ: An heir of the ruler of the Universe A daughter of the King God's special child A  Princess   Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).   Satan's lies can never stand up against the light of your, God, truth, YOUR own word, the Gospel.   I know that Satan never attacks me with a blanket, generalized approach.   I know Satan's attacks are clever, they are PREMEDITATED deceptions that are conducted soooo eloquently.   Deception is the tool Satan uses to mislead when he comes as a thief to kill and steal and destroy (John 10:10).   But your TRUTH, God, is the light that helps me authenticate every decision, every aspect of life, every thought, God, I lean on your word and not my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).   Father God, you are my loving Daddy, and your boundaries are loving. You set rules to protect me and you asked me to honor your boundaries SO THAT you can protect me from being deceived by Satan.   Father God, I call you Abba, I trust your protection guarantee (Psalm 91:7).   So, I stand firmly on YOUR truth. I take every thought that comes to mins every day in every aspect of life - CAPTIVE and I submit it to YOUR truth  (2 Corinthians 10:5).   I know from Ephesians 6:10-19 that you  have already given me strength to declare the spiritual victory that has  already been won on my behalf.   I know that I can stand strong against the enemy because you've armed me.   Your armor is my protection, I put on the 7-piece Armor of God daily (Ephesians 6:10-18):   The belt of truth The breastplate of righteousness The shield of faith The helmet of salvation The shoes of the Gospel The sword of the Spirit The prayer without ceasing   I know that every day my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12) Therefore, I put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground. God, your truth protects me from Satan's deception. Understanding WHO you are, God, and HOW you work makes me resilient to stress, stable in trials, resistant to spiritual injuries, and enables me to sustain significant pressure in adversity.     So, God,  am committed to: Studying the Scripture so that I know your truth by heart Setting your Word as my benchmark for my decision-making Submitting to your teachings every day in every way and not my emotions, feelings, impulses, or ambitions Father God, I stand straight, upright on your 3573 promises I stay strong, empowered by your truth I set out to exercise my discernment daily to honor you with my life and to be protected against Satan's deceptive schemes. God, I know the TRUTH: your Spirit lives in me. Because of this, I can live in a way that is honoring to you, with  RIGHTEOUSNESS. God, because I know that your plan for me is hope, future, and prosperity (Jeremiah 29:11) and because I know you work all things together for good (Romans 8:28), I can have PEACE that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). God, I believe in you and I abide in your word, I live in its light and I have FAITH. God, I know my eternity is secure with Christ, I thank you for every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), for my status as royalty and King's heir (Romans 8:17), and for my identity as your daughter, a Princess, a child of the King (Matthew 25:34). Thank you for my SALVATION. God, your truth is relevant, present, and alive, it's renewed every day in meaning as I face new life challenges. The Holy Spirit makes the Gospel fresh and new for me each and every day and in all aspects of life I lean on my mastermind - The Trinity, confronting Satan's deceptive lies with THE WORD OF GOD. God, I talk to you through PRAYER daily. You hear my prayers & answer (Psalm 116) Father God, thank you for this wisdom and awareness. I refuse to trust culture, ambitions, aspirations, assumptions, emotions, feelings, or anything else but your word, the truth of the Gospel..   I am choosing to stay present, here with you, strong, grounded, aware of this spiritual warfare and Satan's clever deceitful ways, alert in my mind, and armed with the armor of God.  I trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding and you, God, are making my path straight, protecting me from Satan's deception.   In Jesus' name.   Amen.

How We Love: 5 Love Styles is from our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  As we continue talking about What Is Love, let's discuss How We Love and the 5 Love Styles: Avoider, Controller, Victim, etc. This is a part of the series which you can access at http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove

Spiritual Warfare Prayer #1 is about "The Weapon of Prayer." Get all Armor of God Prayers here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/spiritual-warfare-prayers/ Armor of God Prayer #1 "The Weapon of Prayer" Dear God,   You are always good. I trust your promises of protection. I know from Ephesians 6:10-19 that you  have already given me strength to declare the spiritual victory that has  already been won.   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything - to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. And pray...   Father God, I know you are omnipresent, sovereign, eternal, and can read my mind, but Satan is not and cannot.   I know victory for me is peace that passes all understanding The joy of the Lord And contentment from knowing you provide for all my needs   I know that while I live here on earth, I also am in heavenly places where every spiritual blessing is given to me (Ephesians 1:3) Redemption, forgiveness of sins, wisdom and understanding are given to me (Ephesians 1:7-8) The Holy Spirit is given to me (Ephesians 1:13) And the riches of God's glorious inheritance are given to me (Ephesians 1:18-19)   Father God, I call you Daddy, you are affectionate, loving, gentle, and kind, but firm and strong, protective, you give me my armor, and you have opened up my eyes to see so that I   Know how to recognize the enemy - by confusion, self-doubt, depression about sadness of the past and anxiety about the fears of the future Know how to confront the enemy - with Biblical truth and prayer And Know also that the enemy is clever, his deception is premeditated, so you are giving me wisdom to be aware, alert, and prepared   Heavenly Father, I know this spiritual battle is against:   The rulers of the darkness The powers of the darkness The world forces of the darkness The spiritual forces of the darkness   But in the heavenly places where I am with you I am blessed Christ is risen sitting victorious at your right hand And I am seated there too with Christ   I know Satan is lurking, he is clever, he is evil, his intentions are cruel, he comes to kill, and steal, and destroy   Satan is a liar and the father of lies, his every word is lie. He tells lies about you, God, his goal is to mislead me.   But you opened up my eyes to see your strength and wisdom and protection and victory.   So, I know to: Be strong in the Lord Put on the full armor of God And stand strong against the schemes of satan God, you've given me every spiritual blessing but I know it's my job to take your blessings and use them.  I know it's up to me to: Be alert Be of sober mind Be proactive about using Lord's strength Put on the Armor of God Stand strong And pray at all times   Father God, I know the enemy is here and he is strategic.   He has a strategy against my identity, he magnifies my insecurities leading me to doubt what you, God, say about me (Ephesians 1:17-19) He also has a strategy against my confidence: Satan constantly reminds me of past mistakes and bad decisions, hoping to convince me that I am under your, God, judgement rather than under the blood of Jesus (Revelations 12:10) Satan also has a strategy against my calling, God, I know that. He amplifies fear, worry, and anxiety until they are the loudest voices in my head, causing me to deem the adventure of following you, God, and inviting others to follow (Joshua 14:8) And satan also has a strategy against my heart… He uses every opportunity to keep old wounds fresh in my mind, knowing that anger, hurt, bitterness, and unforgiveness will continue to roll the damage forward (Hebrews 12:15)   So, Father God, thank you for this wisdom and awareness.   I refuse to dwell on the sad and negative things of the past.   I refuse to dwell on the possibilities of sad and negative things happening in the future.   I am choosing to stay present, here with you, strong, grounded, aware of this spiritual warfare, alert in my mind, and armed with your armor.     In Jesus' name.   Amen.

Love Dare Journal is a part of our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  Happy Saturday! And Valentine's Day is coming. What's a better topic to talk about than LOVE? Full series at http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove Are you ready to continue our Love Dare Journey together? As promised, today, let's chat about how I practiced love dare on Michel in our marriage.

My Love Dare Test is a part of our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/ My love dare test results were pretty bad. What is true love? Really, what does love look like? And doesn't... What is NOT love? It's as important to understand as what love is. How do we love? How should we love? How to love and how not to love ar my favorite topics. The love we will be discussing is AGAPE love, Christ-like love. Share this podcast with friends to invite them into the conversation about LOVE and subscribe at YouTube.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA to receive DAILY videos I publish for you.  WHAT IS LOVE series playlist and topics: http://bit.ly/WhatIsAgapeLove 

Christian Guided Meditation for Complex PTSD offering Biblical Affirmations. Access more Christian Meditations for women: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/   You feel fear. The panic is real, I know. You expect that something bad is about to happen. But YOU are SAFE. You're not alone. I'm here with you. You can get all my PTSD meditations here: PTSD meditattion playlist.  What you can expect from this guided Christian meditation is this: Soft music will play and you will hear my voice with some pauses for processing. I will share helpful affirmations with you and I will invite you to repeat them with me if you choose to do so. At the end of the last biblical affirmation, I will pray for you and then I will no longer be talking and the music will continue playing, so you can reflect on what you heard and relax. If you drift to sleep, that would be wonderful. Biblical affirmations used in this Christian meditation are all original and were created based on Scriptures. These positive affirmations can be downloaded for free at AnnaSzabo.com The goal of this Guided Meditation for Complex PTSD is to offer you a natural relief  of emotional pain you're experiencing right now. I can relate to your pain. You're not alone. I am also coping with Complex PTSD every day. You deserve some time for yourself. So, let's silence your electronic devices and get comfortable. Enjoy the biblical affirmations for healing I am about to share with you.

"Agape Love" is a part of our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. Agape love is sacrificial and unconditional. That's exactly how WE want to BE loved. But remember, this series is how WE can DO love better. And that's what we will focus on today.

Christian PTSD Meditation is a 5-min guided meditation for anxiety from the Free Meditation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/  will help you regain your peace and calmness. This anxiety meditation is under 5 minutes. Give yourself the gift of meditation. You deserve it. This short anxiety meditation will help your body and mind relax, release tension, and regain focus and clarity needed to be healthy.  Enjoy more meditations here

This PTSD Anxiety Meditation for Women called "Identity in Christ Meditation" has no music. It's from the Free Christian Guided Meditation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/ has no music and contains only spoken word guidance. It is a Christian Meditation that offers original Biblical Affirmations I wrote in 2017 http://bit.ly/52DEVOTIONALS This PTSD meditation contains only spoken word guidance. It is a Christian Meditation that offers original Biblical Affirmations I wrote in 2017. This week, I am publishing a Christian meditation every day, per request of my listeners who suffer from PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). This guided Christian meditation for women will remind you who you are in Christ: loved, accepted, special, chosen, wise, forgiven, and worthy.  Enjoy more of my Biblical affirmations  

This Christian PTSD meditation for peace from the Free Mediation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/  has no music and contains only spoken word guidance, per the request of my listeners who suffer from PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). This guided Christian meditation for anxiety and fear will help you regain peace and remind you that God cares for you, He loves you, He protects you wherever you go. Access more Christian Meditations here.

This forgiveness meditation for PTSD from the Free Meditation Libary at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/  has no music and contains only spoken word guidance, per request of my listeners who suffer from PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). This guided meditation to forgive those who hurt you will help you release yourself from the prison of bitterness and resentment and allow you to have peace again, so you can move on. This how to forgive meditation is designed to help forgive anyone who caused you pain. More forgiveness meditations here.

This Narcissistic Abuse Healing Meditation for Women without music lasts 1 hour, ending with a prayer. Courtesy of the Free Meditation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/ This guided meditation for women who experienced abuse was created per a request of women with PTSD and OCD who don't like music in the background and can only focus on 1 type of content (spoken word).   If you want this meditation with music, please listen here: Recovering From Narcissistic Abuse 

1 Corinthians 13 Love podcast is a part of our series called "What Is Love?" Access all episodes here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/  Happy Saturday and we are continuing the conversation about What Is Love. Today, we will discuss what does love mean from a Biblical perspective and how to love. I have some amazing news for you! We now have listeners in Japan, Germany, Austria, and Cambodia in addition to all other countries I previously shared with you. Let me know how this new ministry has helped you. I want to hear from you. You can leave a review wherever you're listening (Spotify, iHeart Radio, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher...) I'm so excited to hear from you! Especially, knowing that we have a global community now. Ok. Let's talk about love, my favorite subject! Everyone wants love. What is love? That's our oficial series for the next several weeks. We kicked it off with a special treat: I shared last week with you the 20 love lessons learned in my 35 years. Today, let's talk about what does love mean?

Identity In Christ Meditation from the Free Guided Meditation Libary at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/  will remind you about your true identity from the eternal perspective.  Welcome to this Christian Meditation for Healing. "Who Am I In Christ?" affirmations help refocus your mind from the skewed and biased perspective of worldly lies. You can enjoy this Christian Meditation playlist I created for you: http://bit.ly/ChristianGuidedMeditation We often experience pain in life that causes us to feel lost, unloved, unworthy, and hopeless. Romans 8:18 says ... the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Today we will focus on God's glory and who God says you are in Christ. If you ever wondered WHO AM I IN CHRIST, these affirmations will make this Christian meditation for healing very helpful for you. All Biblical affirmations used in this guided meditation are original and can be downloaded for free at AnnaSzabo.com I will say a Biblical affirmation to you and then we will together repeat it slowly. At the end of our last Biblical affirmation, I will leave you with some calm music so you can enjoy the peace and reflect on who you are in Christ.

"20 Love Lessons In 35 Years" is an episode from our What Is Love series. All content here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/ Happy Saturday and Happy Birthday to me! I'm turning 35 on 1/18/2018 and wanted to give YOU a special gift for my Birthday. https://www.youtube.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA Everyone wants love. What is love? That's our official series for the next several weeks: So, what will the WHAT IS LOVE series cover? 1/20 What is love: 1 Cor 13 explained with a practical real-life example of love  1/27 What is Love: my conversations with God about what Love is 02/03  What is Love: my love test results and what I've learned about my Love skills 02/10 What is Love: my Love dare journey - how I practiced love on my husband 02/17 What is Love: loveability (what is it and how can you get more love using it?) 02/24 What is Love: how we love - how we GIVE love 03/03 What is Love: 5 love languages  - how we RECEIVE love 03/10 What is Love: how to feel more love and how to feel loved more often So, these are the topics we will discuss in the upcoming weeks during our WHAT IS LOVE series. Are you ready? Let me share with you as a gift for my 35th Birthday these 20 Love Lessons I learned in My 35 years.   Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/AnnaSzaboJDMBA       Mon - DAILY DEVOTIONAL http://bit.ly/DailyDevotionalMonday Tue - GOD'S PROMISES http://bit.ly/DailyDevotionalTuesday Wed - WORDS OF WISDOM http://bit.ly/DailyDevotionalWednesday Thu - BIBLICAL EMOTIONAL HEALING http://bit.ly/DailyDevotionalThursday Fr - CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD http://bit.ly/DailyDevotionalFriday Sat - CHRISTIAN PODCAST http://bit.ly/TheAnnaSzaboShow Sun - CHRISTIAN MEDITATION http://bit.ly/ChristianGuidedMeditation         Online Discipleship For Women community founded by Anna Szabo is a place for Christian women to get encouraged and learn how to stand on God's promises in adversity.    If you love Jesus Christ and want to grow in your faith, welcome and please subscribe to get new videos. Content includes Christian podcasts, Christian meditations, Spiritual poems, and daily devotionals for women.    Topics include faith, prayer, wisdom, love, forgiveness, surrender, peace, patience, and joy.     We discuss here how to apply the teachings of Jesus to our modern life, how to have faith, how to pray, how to forgive, how to deal with rejection, how to give and receive unconditional love, how to deal with depression, how to have helpful conversations with God, how to achieve a natural anxiety relief, and what does God say about me #52Devotionals to share with you all the great things God says about you.    

Christian Wisdom Meditation from the Free Meditation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/ will help you remember that you have access to God's wisdom and you are capable of making wise decisions. This guided Christian meditation can help you make be wise. Listen to this Bible-based meditation for guidance. Abide by God's word: "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." ~ Proverbs 4:5-9   Free Christian Meditations here. 

"What Is Love?" is a podcast series about Agape love in the Bible. Show notes available at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/what-is-love/ In the next few weeks, I prepared a special treat for you. We will be talking about love. What is love? What is NOT love? How do we love? How should we love? How to love and how not to love ar my favorite topics. The love we will be discussing is agape love, Christ-like love in the Bible.  

This Do Not Fear anxiety relief meditation for women is from the Free Meditation Library at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/christian-guided-meditation/ It is based on the Gospel. Isaiah 41:10 says: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my right hand.” Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Do not fear! This Christian mediation will help relieve anxiety.