Encouragement for those in a dry prayer life. Everyone at some time feels like they are praying to a wall. There's no response, and your prayers feel like they are bouncing off the walls. To be clear, God doesn't change—ever. That leaves only one other person: you. Something has happened that has caused a shift in your mind, affecting your prayer life. Somewhere, your attitude changed, but God's thoughts about you haven't changed. He still loves you more than you will ever realize. He still wants to help you, and he still cares about your life. Often, words like shame, guilt, condemnation, 'not good enough,' etc., fill our thinking and change how we approach Father God. These are our words, not God's words. These are not the words of heaven. They are the vocabulary of our enemy and our unrenewed mind. We have changed our focus from being Christ-centered to self-centered, focusing on our shortcomings and lack. Which is precisely the reason we need our Father God. In Christ, we are forgiven, set free, and can boldly come to His throne of Grace without labels hanging over us. God is not withholding anything from you. He's not punishing you. He wants to help you. But to do this, He needs your help and cooperation. He needs your faith and confidence that He is on your side. Isn't it time for you to forgive yourself, see yourself washed in the blood of Jesus, and run into your Father's arms? They are open wide, waiting for you.   Scripture References: Hebrews 4:12 Colossians 3:16 1 Peter 1:23 Psalm 91:4

'Stay in your lane.' I heard these words in my spirit as I woke up one morning last week, and I knew exactly what God was talking about. I was getting too busy again, taking on more than I could handle. Saying yes when I should have been saying no. Can you relate? I didn't want to disappoint anyone, yet here I was, stressed out and tired because my brain couldn't switch off from my extra-long to-do list. And to top it off, when I stress, I eat, so there's that!   No, it isn't a swear word. It is a word that we all need to learn to say. There's no need to give a TED Talk on why you're saying no. No is a complete sentence on its own. NO. Try it. I learned that when I was saying yes to something, it meant I was saying no to something else that God wanted me to do. I had to stop pleasing people and only please my heavenly Father. Before you decide and say yes, consider whether you have the time and energy to do it. Stop, pause, and listen. It may be a good idea and even a good cause, but it may not be your cause. It's for someone else to do. There will always be a good cause and something worth doing, and you can't do it all. Find your lane and stick to it. Focus on your priorities. I encourage you today to be bold and learn that saying 'no' is okay. Stay in your lane and do what you know you have to do. Leave the rest to someone else.

How do you view the Word of God? Is it just an excellent storybook with incredible stories about great men and women doing extraordinary things? Or is it the wisdom of God written for you to live your life by? The word of God should be treated as a manual for life. Recognize the scriptures as God's intentions for your lives, informing your actions in various contexts. It is full of God's wisdom and direction in handling your day-to-day life. Read The Word regularly, and you'll live a successful, winning life—every day! God wants you to rest in the revelation of Jesus, the revelation of what His blood and death have done for you. The greater the revelation, the greater the rest. The more knowledge of Jesus you have, the more God's grace and peace will rest on you. Proverbs 4:7-8 He says, "For skillful and godly wisdom is the principal thing  (the main thing) … Praise wisdom and highly exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you: she will bring you to honor when you embrace her." This scripture applies to people who make God's Word their top priority. Read your Bible daily, study the scriptures, and let God's wisdom flood your life. The Bible is your personal handbook for life, God speaking directly to you.   Scripture References: James3:17 Isaiah 33:6 Luke 21:15 A MAN WITH GOD ON HIS SIDE IS ALWAYS IN THE MAJORITY

Do you know God isn't stopping you? He isn't testing you to see if you deserve the things you need. No, and again I say no. God's will is to bless you and give you an abundant life. This is something you will have to settle in your mind, heart, and spirit—God is not your enemy—the devil is. If you keep thinking God is your problem, you will never see the results you long for. God cannot be the giver and the taker at the same time. Just as you want the best for your children, God also wants the best for His children. He is not withholding anything from you. God is good and only good. Once you relate evil experiences to God, your faith will start wavering, and you will become unsure of His love for you. You have a free will, and if you keep thinking that God is doing bad stuff to you. Can you see how that will hinder God from helping you? Let me ask you this question: If God is killing and hurting people, then what is the devil doing? The devil isn't doing anything good for you. My sweet friend, this is all a lie that the devil has put out there to keep you down and defeated. The devil doesn't want you to be healthy. He is the one who wants your family to be in strife all the time and your life to be in constant turmoil. It is time to settle this. Otherwise, you will never walk in victory. Confusion will rule over your life when you are in two minds about who is doing evil to you. God wants to be your total and only source of supply. You don't need anyone or anything else but God. He has every area of your life covered with His promises of provision and supply. He only requires that you use your faith and complete trust in Him. He needs you to believe and have confidence in Him. This is an excerpt from my book, *Encouragement For The Weary Soul*. If you're interested in exploring more, feel free to check it out here." https://www.amazon.com/Encouragement-Weary-Soul-Through-Storms-ebook/dp/B0894QTD5R Scripture Reference: John 10:10 Hebrews 11:6 James 1:7-8 Hebrews 4:17 3 John 1:4 Galatians 6:1

As we gather to celebrate Easter, we are reminded of the miraculous gift of resurrection and God's profound love for each of us. This holy season marks a time of reflection, gratitude, and unfailing hope as we remember how Jesus triumphed over death, bringing us the promise of eternal life. Easter is more than just a day on the calendar; it's a powerful reminder that there is always hope, no matter our struggles or despair. Jesus's resurrection signifies the victory of light over darkness and life over death. Through this act of love, we are invited to renew our faith and trust in His plan for us. In these days of celebration, let us take the time to appreciate the blessings in our lives, cherish our loved ones, and extend our hearts to those in need. Easter teaches us the importance of love, forgiveness, and compassion, values we can carry daily. Let's rejoice in the incredible promise of new beginnings as we come together with family and friends. May this season inspire us to live out our faith boldly and to share the hope we find in Christ with those around us. I wish you a blessed and joyful Easter filled with the grace and love of God. May His light shine upon you today and always. God bless. Happy Easter! ✝️🌼

Sunflowers sway gracefully in a vibrant field, their golden heads turning towards the sun. As the day progresses and the sun journeys across the sky, they faithfully follow its warm embrace, embodying the essence of searching for light and growth. They do not compare themselves to each other. They do not criticize each other. They are not worried about how they look or if they fit in; they only keep their gaze on the sun and follow it. My friend, how we can learn a lesson from these flowers. If we keep our gaze on the Son and do not worry about what is happening around us or how we fit into the culture, measure up in fashion and on-trend, or let social media tell us if we are acceptable, we find freedom. Instead, we look to Jesus, the Son of God, and focus on His promises and what He says about our world and lives. If we do this, our world will become smoother, we will be much happier, and the peace of God will reign in our lives. The world is never going to approve of us. It cannot because it does not have the answer. Advertising tells us what we need and what diet will work for us, but how do they know? Each individual is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Only God knows what diet is best for us, where our team is, and where we will be accepted. The answer to all our questions and insecurities is in His presence. We lean in and let Him whisper in our ear how amazing we really are! Now, isn't that something to think about!

How would you assess the nourishment of your spirit? This isn't about what you eat in your daily diet; it's about the spiritual sustenance that fuels your spirit. Are you taking the time to enrich your inner self? Remember, we truly live from the inside out. Your Christian journey will be equally dynamic and fulfilling when your spirit is strong. Make it a priority to feed your spirit each day. Delve into the Scriptures, immerse yourself in their teachings, listen attentively to messages of hope and wisdom, and engage in heartfelt communication with God through daily prayer. Be mindful not to let the world's noise—alarming news, relentless social media updates, or idle gossip—fill you with negativity and anxiety. Let's be honest: who needs more stress in their life? When the Word of God takes root within you, it blossoms into the abundant victory Jesus promised. Each verse planted in your heart is a potent seed of triumph! So, carve out dedicated time to explore the Word daily, empowering yourself to lead a victorious Christian life. Let your faith be alive and thriving, growing stronger each day. Nurture it continuously, and don't let your circumstances dictate your beliefs. Stand firm in bold faith, rise up, and keep standing strong. Cultivate a faith that never gives up. The power of the Word is unleashed when you speak it out with conviction. Embrace it, live it, and watch as it transforms your life! Scripture References Psalm 32:8 Psalm 73:23-24 Matthew 6:33 2 Chronicles 15:2 Luke 12:29, 31

HAS LIFE OVERWHELMED YOU? My mind raced at a hundred thoughts per minute. Everything weighed heavily on my heart, all the things that still needed to be done. Would my to-do list ever stop? It seemed like something or someone always wanted a piece of me. And all I wanted to do was take a nap. That wasn't going to happen. Nope, the washing needed to be hung up. I'd not swept the floor in days (no judging now), and I still had to change the sheets on the bed. Yes, I could go on and on, but I'll not bore you with the finer details. I know you have your stuff going on. I used to live on my last nerve for years, one step away from exploding and going over the edge and never finding the peace and joy Christians were supposed to have. Was there something wrong with me? Why couldn't I enjoy my life and have a smile on my face? Can you relate to this? Has life overwhelmed you, too? Our world is going wild now, and I want to get off. I found my answers and comfort at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha in the Bible, I'd been busy with far too much. I needed to take a lesson from Mary, her sister, who found her joy and peace sitting at the feet of Jesus. See Luke 10:38-42 for this story. So, I stopped everything and sat with Jesus daily. Just breathing in his presence and relaxing. Oh, how sweet it was to cast all my cares, worries, and concerns over to him. I wanted to be there all the time, knowing that God had my life in his hands, me just letting go of everything and giving him control over it. This was years ago. Today, I've stopped being a superwoman and have become more peaceful, joyful, and less stressed. I learned to say "no" without the guilt that always tried to come with it. I found there was no rush, rejection, or perfection in God's company, and I could just be plain old me. God was happy that I was there, and eager to love and accept me. I also found that many of the things that were pressuring me were trivial and did not need my attention at all. I was making "much ado about nothing." In God's presence, I calmed down, slowed my racing heart, and let him renew my strength. My focus changed from how much I still had to do to just sitting with Jesus and having fellowship with him. I encourage you to take time out of your busy day and stop everything. Yes, stop all the rushing about and sit at his feet. Let him feed your spirit and give you the strength and hope you desperately seek. You will feel like a new person in no time. You will find your passion and purpose in life. God will remove all your stress and replace it with his joy and peace. I still do this years later, and it has changed my life. Say "hello" to the new you!

You often hear the phrases' trust God' or 'have faith'; while true, these words can be challenging for a troubled heart. You sit in God's presence, and it's quiet—too quiet. You have questions, and you need answers right now! Can you relate? Suppose you have been focusing on your problems all day, your lack, what you don't have, and how disappointed you are. Suddenly, entering God's presence will be hard because your heart and mind are on high anxiety alert. You've been speaking lack and doubt all day and even for days. Now, suddenly, you want answers, but your heart is in turmoil. We have to learn to quiet our minds. To speak our faith, not our problems. The more we focus on our concerns and disappointments, the larger they become and the further the answer goes. We must focus on the One with the answers and the help we need. We must focus on the One who can make the impossible possible. We must speak to our problems rather than let them keep talking to us. Then, when you enter His presence, your mind will be more efficient, and your heart will be at peace, so you can see that a troubled heart cannot hear from God. Fear and faith can't rule at the same time. My friend, still your mind, know the God of the impossible and allow Him to work in your life. Cast your cares to Him. Mark 4:19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Are you letting the cares choke the very power that can help you? I encourage you to give your worries to God. If you could fix them, you would have. Allow someone wiser, bigger, and stronger than you to care for you. You will be amazed at what He can do!

The Israelites never entered the promised land because when they saw the giants, they reasoned that their physical ability wasn't strong enough to conquer them. They determined they couldn't achieve this with their strength. God didn't tell them to fight the giants. He told them to explore the land. Don't you think God knew there were giants there? He told them He had given them the land with milk and honey. He had the plan, and they had to trust Him. Read the story in Numbers 13. Because they doubted God's promise, they couldn't enter the promised land. They refuse to rest in what God has said. Are you doing the same? When confronted with an issue in our lives, we immediately decide on strategies to overcome the problem and how to tackle the process. This causes us to worry and become anxious. Then, we meditate on the issue so much that it becomes a mountain in our lives. When all we have to do is go to God. We should go to God's Word to determine His promises regarding our situation and then cast our care of the situation on Him through prayer and petition. Once that's done, enter His rest and allow God to move on your behalf. When you take the worry back, God can't work on your behalf. We need to fight to stay in the rest. The circumstance will talk to us, but we must reply with God's word. The only fighting we must do is to remain in God's rest. And trust me, some days it will be a fight. And God will work on bringing about the answers. Labor to enter his rest. Scripture References: Heb 3:11 Hebrews 4:1 Hebrews 4:11

Most of your Christian life will focus on holding your position and not allowing your surroundings to move you. Consider Abraham, who was nearly 100 years old when God promised him a son. This promise seemed impossible; physically speaking, it was impossible. Yet, once God spoke that promise to Abraham, he did not falter in his belief. Not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), nor did he consider the deadness of Sarah's womb (Rom 4:19). This passage highlights how Abraham chose not to focus on his physical condition. He didn't let his body influence his faith in God's promises. Rather than fixating on his circumstances, he concentrated solely on what God had promised him. His heart remained unwavering and resolute. It's important to note that concerning his ability to father a child, Abraham's body was essentially lifeless—he could not fulfill this promise. Yet, despite his condition, God fulfilled the promise. Additionally, Sarah was past the age of bearing a child. Talk about a bleak situation. What about you? Do circumstances in your life make you feel like you have no solution and are lifeless? If so, don't let the sights before you shake your beliefs. Trust in God's word, even if your circumstances appear bleak or doubtful. Do not dwell on the circumstances. Ignore the discouraging situations; maintain your unwavering faith. Is it really impossible? Perhaps your circumstances feel dire, pressing down on your chest like a crushing weight or knotting your stomach. If that's the case, detach yourself from the immediate pressures of the situation. If God has placed a dream in your heart, He intends it to come to fruition. Throughout history, countless miracles and impossible events have proven Him to be the God who defies limitations. He has repeatedly done it—from Abraham to David, from Moses to Joshua—echoing countless generations. The most wonderful truth, a promise whispered in the wind, is that He will do it for you. He yearns to help you achieve your dreams; you only need unwavering faith. Ignore the buzzing of notifications, the chatter of voices, and the other distractions fighting for your attention. Instead, immerse yourself in His Word, letting the promises fill your mind and heart. What were His exact words? Focus intently on that one unwavering truth. Keep your mind concentrated on one task at a time. Plant your feet firmly, anchoring your mind and heart to your faith, and refuse to budge an inch. You are on the verge of achieving your dreams; the finish line is in sight, so don't falter—stay strong and determined! You are closer than ever.

Welcome to 2025! New Year, new zeal? Unfortunately, for many, it's just another day. Life goes on. Yesterday was 2024, and today is 2025. But your world only changed by one day. Can you relate? The big ado about another year often overwhelms us because life is the same the next day. I want to encourage you with one thing for the new year. Just draw closer to God. I have found in His presence the answers to every question and situation I face. Even my eating and not sleeping ones. God has the answer for everything. No one understands and knows you better than Him. Instead of trying to do more and being more. Just spend more time with Him. One Word for God can change your life. His Words carry power and will enable you to succeed. He will give you the right direction to go in. Not one steps forward, then two steps back. God knows how to handle each situation and person. He is knocking on the door, asking you to let Him in. He wants to help you. Make it your goal this year to draw closer to the one who cares and loves you. You will be so glad you did. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do something new; now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. I love the way it reads in the Passion Bible. Stop dwelling on the past. Don't even remember these former things. I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now, it sprouts and grows and matures. Don't you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert.