When U Pray

What about those times in your life when you get knocked completely out? It’s rarely the big things that take you down—those, you’ve prepared for. It’s the little aggravating things that end up snatching your power. These small, seemingly insignificant moments can drain your strength in prayer, silence your voice, and stop your songs of praise.

Let me name a few and see if any of these keep you running in circles like me:

• Aching body parts
• Apathy
• Too many tasks in a day
• Children not listening
• A spouse who seems distant
• Earning enough money, yet it never stretches the way you hoped
• Aging parents

I may not have named your particular struggle, but I bet you get my point.

I came to say this: even when you lose your song or feel unable to pray—don’t give up and don’t give in. Our God has already made concessions for you. Remember, He knew you before He formed you in the womb. He has already prepared you for everything you’ll face.

So I ask—will you join me in trusting God, even when we feel defeated and discouraged? Because our God is able.

“Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words.”
— Romans 8:26 ERV

My Prayers

“God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. From a faraway land I call to you for help. I feel so weak and helpless! Carry me to a high rock where no one can reach me. You are my place of safety, a strong tower that protects me from my enemies.”
— Psalms 61:1–3 ERV

As I Sit: A Reflection on Grace, Growth, and God’s Faithfulness

As I sat staring at my past, I reflected on my journey. I took out my pain, held it in my hand, and reviewed it from side to side, trying to understand how I survived.

I looked at the times I missed the mark—the moments when nothing seemed to go right. I tried to reconcile my actions with my circumstances, and I quickly realized there was a direct cause and effect. My choices mattered. My decisions shaped my path.

I didn’t always have a relationship with God, but He always had one with me. I remember the quiet nudges, the gut feelings—yeah, that was God. When I followed the Spirit, things went well. When I went my own way… not so well. I often caused my own pain by choosing independence over obedience. But as I grew in my relationship with God, I came to understand His love for me. Even in my sin, He loved me. That truth humbled me deeply.

Now, here I sit, speaking as if those missteps are behind me. But the truth is, I still get it wrong—today, even with a relationship with God. When I resist His will, I’m refusing His wisdom and His plans for my life. I forget that He knows the plans He has for me. He knows me because He created me—formed me specifically for those plans. I act out in stubbornness, forgetting that the One who formed the earth saw a need for me. I have got to do better.

“The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.”
— Proverbs 2:6 (ERV)

So I will continue to challenge myself—to keep learning, to keep growing in God’s Word. I will walk out the Word He has given me, because I trust Him, I love Him, and I need Him in my life. His love gives me peace, joy, and hope to sustain me in any situation. God has been faithful to me, even when I have not been faithful to Him.

“I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.”
— Philippians 4:12–13 (ERV)

“Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it. I’m addicted to alien gods. I can’t quit.’”
— Jeremiah 2:25 (MSG)

We often think the enemy is attacking us when we face hardships, difficulties, and tests. But the truth is, he doesn’t always need to attack you directly. The enemy doesn’t care if you don’t worship him—as long as you’re too busy to worship God. He doesn’t attack you as much as he attacks your time.

Do you ever feel like you never have enough time—time to pray, time for family, time to be still? If you’re too busy to stop, praise, and worship, then you aren’t truly worshiping God. Mission accomplished.

My prayer is that you would slow down and be intentional about the time you spend with God. An intimate, personal relationship with the Father brings a peace that surpasses understanding. Walking with Him enriches every part of your life. His Word teaches us that if we seek Him first, everything we need will be provided.

“What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what He wants you to do. Then He will give you all these other things you need.”
— Matthew 6:33 (ERV)

Being in relationship with God builds your faith and strengthens your ability to trust Him in all situations. I’m not saying it’s easy to stop and slow down—but it is necessary for spiritual growth.

“Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to Him must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”
— Hebrews 11:6 (ERV)

So here’s the thing: I hope this encourages you, because in truth, I’m preaching to myself. I often fill my time with everything but God—and that has to change.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way—adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”
— James 1:5–8 MSG

Take all your troubles to the Lord and leave them there. Stop worrying about the things God has given you. He does not desire for you to worry—He wants you to pray to Him about your concerns, then trust and believe that He has ordered your steps. His plans are to give you a future and a hope.

Pay attention to the people who offer encouragement and positivity. They are reminding you not to give up, to trust God, and to know that He will help you.

Here are two of my favorite scriptures:

“You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.”
— Matthew 6:27 ERV

“So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.”
— Matthew 6:34 ERV

These verses confirm God’s word: you don’t need to worry. Worrying won’t help you, and each day brings its own challenges. So don’t bother with it—just cast your cares on the Lord.

“Give your worries to the Lord, and He will care for you. He will never let those who are good be defeated.”
— Psalm 55:22 ERV

And now that I’ve thoroughly emphasized that point—trust the Lord and get some rest.

“Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
— Matthew 11:29–30 ERV

I wrote this in 2013 …

I looked across the room and there was a woman looking back at me, she beckoned me to her with a smile and a nod. As I approached the woman I made a few assumptions about her based on my limited life experiences. I assumed she was fairly well off because she was dressed well, had a nice bag and shoes (my favorites). I assumed she had no problems or concerns because she had a smile on her face with smile lines that indicated she smiled a lot. I had no idea what she could want with me but something inside would not allow me to turn away. I took one step then two, then a third and I stopped. My feelings of apprehension increased because there was something in the back of my mind telling me to run the other way. I stopped and stared at this woman because there was something oddly familiar about her and it made me uncomfortable, I was feeling dirty, abused and unloved. I had feelings of discontent and I was scared. How odd that I would feel this way when all she had done was beckoned me forward. My spirit leaped and my heart pushed me to keep walking, I took one more step and one more and there I was face to face with this woman, she looked at me with that smile and all my insecurities tried to turn me away, I felt as if she could see my damaged but patched up heart, my bruised but healing soul, my mind and all it’s confusion. I thought she could see me! She never said a word just reached out, hugged me and invited me into her life. It was then I that I realized I was looking at me, my adult self, the hurt and damaged little girl who had grown up, who had forgiven my tormentors and myself, the me who had turned her life over to the God of a second chance, the me who had been saved by grace, loved by God and given peace by the Holy Spirit! She loves me, she loves her youth, and accepts her into her womanhood with no regret, no hurt, no pain and I love her back, with my arms open wide, my heart squeezing me in my chest and my love shining for the world to see. I have learned to love Me!

Yes, you are the exception to the rules.
You are the one who messed up so badly that God will not forgive you.
Yes, you are the one person on earth whose sins are bigger than the Blood of the Lamb.

At least, that’s what the enemy wants you to believe.

We Complicate What God Made Simple

As humans, we have a way of making simple things hard. We complicate what was meant to be clear—like the love of God. But God has been very specific in His wording to His people. If you can believe a lie, why is it so hard to believe the truth?

I’m here today to encourage you to believe His Word.

“Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38–39 ERV

“I, I am the one who wipes away all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins.”
Isaiah 43:25 ERV

“We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.”
Romans 5:9 ERV

Even You—Yes, You

These scriptures are just a few reminders that even you, in all your mess, cannot stop the love God has for you. Your particular sin or misadventure is not the one that ends God’s love. He knows you. He created you. He understands the challenges you’ll face—and He made plans based on the challenges you have overcome.

You can’t help someone overcome something you’ve never overcome.
You can’t tell that young lady to stick with it if you give up.
You can’t encourage someone else if you stop believing yourself.

So here I stand, encouraging you to trust God.
Asking you to take Him at His Word—that nothing you do can stop Him from loving you.
Asking you to remember how many times He’s made a way out of no way.
Remember how He has loved you exceedingly and abundantly. He still does.

I’m asking you to continue in the faith that brought you this far.
You are His beloved. Give all your worries to Him.
This is not the time to fear or doubt—you are on the edge of your breakthrough.

Continue in the Faith

Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. His job is to confuse you, to make you feel as if you’ve done something so horrific that God would go back on His Word. But every word out of God’s mouth must come true. Every good thing God has said about you is still true. What God has promised for your life will be done.

“In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do.”
Isaiah 55:11 ERV
Read it here

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.”
Philippians 4:6–7 ERV
Read it here

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.”
Isaiah 41:10 ERV
Read it here

A Final Blessing

Here are the very last words in the Bible. These words are just for you.
May His grace comfort you.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all people.”
Revelation 22:21 ERV
Read it here

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

This morning, as I lay in stillness, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.
I thank You, Lord, for the gift of another day.
I thank You for my faith—the quiet assurance that You are near.
Your presence brings peace and quiet joy.
The gentleness of Your love embraces me and makes me whole.

Thank You for allowing me to be, to exist, and to live in Your grace—wrapped in Your loving kindness.
Even in pain, I thank You for the faith that lets me believe You can heal me.
Even in uncertainty, I thank You for the faith that lets me rest, knowing You hold tomorrow.

I thank You for my life and the way You love me—with a complete love that heals my broken places.
I thank You for the faith that allows me to believe, even in moments of unbelief, because my faith is in You.
Lord, You have proven Yourself over and over in my life, and I am forever grateful.

Today, I woke up thankful.
And I just had to tell You.

Do you ever stop and think about why God has so many names? I was laying here minding my own business at 4:05 in the morning when the Holy Spirit woke me up to tell me it’s because we have to believe in God for so many things.

Jehovah Jirah, my provider, when things are rough and there is no end in sight, we believe God at his word to provide for us. ““Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.6.31-32.ERV

We know him as Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of our Peace, because when we want peace, there is no peace like that of our God.

“And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/php.4.7.ERV

Jehovah Rapha- The Lord who heals, because he is our healer. His word says by his stripes we are healed.

“Lord my God, I prayed to you, and you healed me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭2‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.30.2.ERV

“He said to him, “I am the Lord your God. If you listen to me and do what I say is right, and if you obey all my commands and laws, then I will not give you any of the sicknesses that I gave the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭26‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/exo.15.26.ERV

Emmanuel, God is with us! A shout goes right here, because we know that our God is with us in any situation we find ourselves.

““The virgin will be pregnant and will give birth to a son. They will name him Immanuel.” (Immanuel means “God with us.”)”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/mat.1.23.ERV

There are many other names of God and he answers to them all. If you need him, he will be there. He assured us in his word.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭12‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/jer.29.12.ERV

“When my followers call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them when they are in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭15‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/psa.91.15.ERV

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/406/isa.41.10.ERV

Hallelujah Amen

If this is your teary-eyed testimony, you’ve found your tribe!

Sing it with me:

I vow to praise You (when you gon’ praise Him, church?)
Through the good and the bad
I’ll praise You (whether happy or sad)
Whether happy or sad (I will)
I’ll praise You (thank You, Jesus)
In all that I go through (yeah)
Because praise is what I do
’Cause I owe it all to You
— Songwriters: William Murphy III
Praise Is What I Do lyrics © Lilly Mack Music, M3M Music

Sometimes in life, you just have to stop pretending—drop the façade, take the makeup off, remove the masks—and simply cry out to the Lord! Cry out to Him in joy or in sadness, in pain or in peace, in trust or in doubt—just cry out! Crying out to the Lord begins the healing process.

“In my trouble I called to the Lord. Yes, I cried out to my God for help. There in His temple He heard my voice. He heard my cry for help.”
— Psalms 18:6 (ERV)

There are times in life when crying to your best friend feels right—and other times when you don’t want to burden them. Sometimes sharing your worries with your spouse or significant other seems like the right move, but it can lead to tension or misunderstanding. But I can promise you this: crying out to the Lord is always the best bet.

“In my trouble I called to the Lord. Yes, I cried out to my God for help. There in His temple He heard my voice. He heard my cry for help.”
— Psalms 18:6 (ERV)

So I said all that to say: cry if you need to, but take your tears to the Lord. He is willing and able to get you to your expected end. Trust Him with your situation. Trust Him with your joys and your pains. Trust Him with your questions—because He has the answers.

It’s wonderful to have people in your corner, but it’s a blessing to have God on your side.

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 (ERV)

“Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7 (ERV)

“The glory belongs to God forever and ever. Amen.”
— Galatians 1:5 (ERV)

Some of the things we do are automatic—no thought, no planning, just muscle memory.

Muscle memory: the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired through frequent repetition.

I remember when I had a bowling coach who would have me throw the ball over and over again. “Step up to the line, aim between the two arrows, raise your arm and hold it.” We’d repeat the same motion for hours. I once asked him why we kept practicing the same thing, and he said, “Your body needs muscle memory. If you practice the right way, your body will know what to do without thinking.”

That conversation made me think about my relationship with Christ. Over time, by repeatedly trusting Him in every situation, I’ve developed spiritual muscle memory. The heart is a muscle. So is the brain.

When I face adversity—problems, concerns, difficult decisions, or challenges—I remember who my God is. My brain remembers, my heart remembers, and my spirit begins to recall His faithfulness.

“Lord, I remember what you have done. I remember the amazing things you did long ago. I think about those things—all the time. God, everything you do is holy. No god is as great as you are.”
‭‭Psalm‬s ‭77‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ERV‬‬

It’s not always easy to surrender and let God take over. It’s not easy to lay down burdens—because those burdens begin to feel like close companions, and parting with them can be hard. Trusting that God will take care of it requires faith in action.

It’s easy to say we trust God. But walking that out? That’s where spiritual muscle memory kicks in.

That’s when I begin to quote:

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need.”
‭‭Psalm‬s ‭23‬:‭1‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
‭‭Psalm‬s ‭56‬:‭3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“Remember what happened long ago. Remember—I am God, and there is no other. There is none like Me.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭9‬ ‭ERV‬‬

And now, after years of trusting Him, I believe this to be true:

“So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭ERV‬‬

As I sit on my porch, watching the happenings on my street, I get to witness the splendor of the Lord.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV

In the early hours of the morning, I sit among the critters of God and marvel at how great He is. I watch the birds fly around, picking worms off the sidewalk. I watch the squirrels scurry and play, digging up previously buried nuts or planting new ones. I watch the wild cats run and play with each other, and I’m in awe of the freedoms they possess. Once in a while, I see the rabbits from my backyard neighbor hopping down the road. With birds chirping and the wind rustling through the trees, it’s the perfect place to read a good book or simply enjoy the quiet.

As I sit here, I get frustrated by a pesky problem: flies! Ugh—I can’t stand them. But while seeking a solution, I ran into God.

During creation, He knew exactly what He was doing. And as much as I dislike flies, they have their place on the earth. I was reading about natural predators in hopes of getting rid of them without pesticides, and I came across this note:

“One of the most common predators of flies, including fruit flies, is the frog. Although frogs eat a diverse diet, they feed on flies as often as they can. Spiders are also common predators of fruit flies. These arachnids spin their webs as traps for flies.”

Everything has a purpose, and sometimes we forget that when God created us, He made provision for everyone and everything. That thought brought me back to the scripture above: if He cares for the birds of the air, He will surely care for me. If He provides for the lilies in the valley, He will provide for me. God has given us everything we need—if only we trust Him.

I’m reminded, by the wonders of God, that I can rely on His love every single day.

“Lord, all living things depend on you. You give them food at the right time. You give it, and they eat it. They are filled with good food from your open hands… I will sing to the Lord for the rest of my life. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. May my words be pleasing to him. The Lord is the one who makes me happy.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭27‬–‭34‬ ‭ERV‬

Earlier today I was watching a comedian on TikTok and he was talking about the difference in his children, his son wanted to make it on his own but his daughter, she said unt unt. His daughter said she wanted to be a kept woman, and allow her daddy to take care of her.

My spirit shouted “ME TOO SIS”!

You ask how? Surely you jest, God is so amazing in my life I want to jump and shout. I’m not saying my life is perfect or that I don’t have problems but he keeps me in perfect peace in the middle of them. 

He keeps me quiet when I want to scream and shout because things aren’t going my way, and he gently reminds me. 

 “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.26.3.NKJV

He keeps me fed mentally, physically and spiritually!

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/php.4.19.NKJV

He keeps me filled with joy, even when things aren’t going my way. 

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.5.11.NKJV

He keeps me in all the ways that I need to be kept. 

He keeps me from falling, because you know there are a million stumbling blocks along the path. Not sure if you know it , but I’ve often been called stumblelina, because my feet often misspell a step. I give thanks to the God who looks out for me even when I am not worthy. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭I John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.1.9.NKJV

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.24.NKJV

I had  this conversation with myself because I sometimes forget and allow things to wear me down and make me forget who I belong too. I forget that God is able and willing to work things out for me. I thought I would share my thinking with you. 

I too am a kept Woman!

What do you do when the next steps in life are unclear? How do you move forward when you’ve lost your footing?

I’m not talking about life being hard and dramatic—one crisis after another. I’m talking about those seasons when everything seems “normal,” yet you feel lost. When you feel separated from God and can no longer hear His voice—how do you find your way back?

People will say: search the Word for answers, pray more, trust God, hang in there, talk to your pastor, ask others to pray for you.

Every single piece of that advice is true.

But here’s the thing—there isn’t one right answer. Each of us navigates life differently and carries different needs at different times. It’s easy to lose our way when the enemy steals our time.

We often picture the enemy attacking us head-on. While that may happen, his most cunning strategy is distraction. He doesn’t always tempt with blatant sin—sometimes it’s just… busyness. He keeps you constantly in motion: running errands, signing up for one church committee after another, cooking, cleaning, or tending to your favorite hobby.

He’ll whisper that it’s “just a season” when Sunday games replace church. He’ll nudge you to take that Sunday overtime—“you could use the extra money.” It’s not that those things are meaningless—but they quietly pull your focus away from the Lord. And that’s the trick.

So here’s my prayer:
Stop. Look closely at your daily routine.
Where are you spending your time?
Is that why you feel lost? Empty? Disconnected?

If any of that resonates, ask the Lord to show you how to return to Him. The first step is acknowledging where you are—lost, alone, or maybe afraid.

If you trust in the Word of the Lord, He will guide you.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
— Matthew 7:7 NKJV

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.”
— Psalms 119:105 ERV

“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
— Psalms 61:2 NIV

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
— Philippians 4:6 NKJV

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”
— Jude 1:24–25 NKJV

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
—Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Trust, by definition, is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

In the Bible, “trust” literally means a bold, confident, sure security.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people.”
—Psalms 118:8 (ERV)

What a concept: bold, confident, sure security! To me, that means you can walk boldly, knowing that God has your back. It’s one thing to depend on people—knowing there’s only a 50/50 chance they might come through—but trusting in God is a sure thing. You can be confident. I get goosebumps just thinking about that.

I found this scripture that literally says trusting in the Lord brings blessing:

“But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what he says.”
—Jeremiah 17:7 (ERV)

And here’s another scripture that confirms the Lord will help you:

“Depend on the Lord. Trust in him, and he will help you. He will make it as clear as day that you are right. Everyone will see that you are being fair.”
—Psalms 37:5–6 (ERV)

And if you add this scripture to the mix, you’ll know you’re covered. With bold assurance, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish—no mountain too high, no valley too low. When you internalize these scriptures and let them shape your life, trusting God becomes like breathing. You just do it.

Soon, you start to realize that all the events in your life are preparing you for what God has prepared for you. Things that once seemed random begin to make perfect sense. You’re reminded of that old Southern hymnal: “You will understand it better by and by.”

“We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.”
—Romans 8:28 (ERV)

I’m not trying to suggest that trusting the Lord is easy. I don’t want you to think I take that lightly—it’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever be asked to do. I’m asking you to trust a God you cannot see, even when the people you can see have hurt you. I’m asking you to live like you’ve never been wounded. I’m asking you to surrender your will to a divine one.

But, baby, when I tell you—there is freedom in this. It’s the best feeling in the world, knowing God has your back. That’s when you’re free to truly live.

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.”
—John 8:36 (ERV)

Well, I’m a week late with a Father’s Day message—almost on purpose. Last week we took time to celebrate and honor our earthly fathers, and I wanted to be intentional about setting aside time to celebrate our Heavenly Father.

Our Father in heaven is worthy to be celebrated, worthy to be praised, and worthy to be honored. I was looking for a scripture to begin with, and this came to mind:

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
— Matthew 6:9 KJV

Our Father—this phrase alone sends me straight into worship. “Our Father” speaks to the loving relationship we have with Him. It reflects the kindness He shows us, our willingness to surrender to His authority, and the deep truth that He belongs to us and we belong to Him.

Hallowed be Thy name reminds us to keep His name holy, and to live out a relationship with Him that reflects that holiness.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
— 1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV

This isn’t about judgment or condemnation, but about honoring the Father whom we all—purposefully and thoughtfully—chose to follow. Think about it: no one can make you be in a relationship with God. You walked down that aisle and gave your life to Him. You chose Him in your heart. You decided to give Him a try. Honor your choice.

“For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
— Psalm 95:3 KJV

“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.”
— Deuteronomy 10:17 KJV

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”
— Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
— 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

I think you get the point—Our Father, who art in Heaven, is an amazing Father. He keeps His word and keeps us—even when we are disobedient, even when we’re willful, even when we don’t get it right. Like any good father, He cheers us on, teaches us, and allows us to grow and flourish. But whom He loves, He also disciplines.

“The Lord disciplines everyone he loves; he punishes everyone he accepts as a child.”
— Hebrews 12:6 ERV (Proverbs 3:11–12 referenced)

So today, let’s celebrate a Father who loves us and cares enough to correct us—a Father who cared enough to send the very best.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16 ERV