October 11, 2025

If you are like me, your idea of who God is depends on what’s going on in your life. Some days, He’s a comforting Father holding you in His arms and quieting your spirit within you. Other days, He’s a fierce warrior, standing with you, helping you fight, and encouraging you when you are in the midst of battles. If you’re not running to Him for every occasion, how do you manage this life? I can’t help it; whether dealing with family or foe, crying out to Him in troubled times is automatic. Does he come to mind when you’re being crushed? Are you including Him in both the good times and the trying times? Share every part of your life with Him; He’s waiting for your attention and expecting you to come to Him for help. He is our rock and fortress, our shield and high tower; no one is more available than He is. Make Him your first thought when the arrows fly, whether friendly fire or enemy combatants. He wants to be our go-to for everything. People whose God is the Lord are the happiest; I can attest to that truth.

A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! orthe son of man, that thou makest account of him! Psalms 144:1-3

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. Psalms 144:15

October 10, 2025

God is your source for everything. David, who was on the run, likely absconding from Saul, hid in a cave. His friends had abandoned him, and he had no human to turn to for comfort, so, knowing where his help comes from, he turned to God. We sometimes find ourselves in need of support, but it is not always convenient or even appropriate for us to reach out to others for help. Even if we did, most people have their own problems to deal with and are not always available. There was a time when, like David, I felt abandoned by my friends, church people, and my only help came from the Lord. But know this, there wasn’t anyone who could have helped me the way God did. Don’t wait until you are at your lowest; solidify a relationship with the Almighty now, so that if ever there comes a time when your friends fail you, know that you will never find a friend who has all the resources God has. 

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou artmy refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Psalms 142:3-5

October 9, 2025

As a Christ follower, you have more enemies now than when you were of the world. Traps are set, just waiting for you to make a wrong move so they can blast your impropriety all over social media in the hopes of embarrassing God. When David was running from Saul, he prayed that he wouldn't fall into a trap; we should also pray that God will keep us out of the enemy's traps. Not only that, but David asked God to help him keep control of his own mouth; we would all do well to pray that way, too. Things aren't always going to go our way, but if we stay in touch with God and voice our concerns to Him, He will hear us and send His hedge of protection. Remember, every day is renewed and another chance to walk upright and in righteousness, reach out to God as often as you should, and ask Him to incline His ear to hear your request for His intervention and protect you from the enemy's snare.

But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. Psalms 141:8-10

October 8, 2025

When we honor God and put Him at the top of our list, we can count on His protection. That doesn't mean things won't go wrong, but it does mean that because your heart and soul belong to Him, He will preserve them. When we reach out to God with our request, it's okay to ask that our enemy receive what they justly deserve. David poured out his heart in prayers and songs for God's intervention, and he wasn't afraid to pray condemnation upon those who sought to destroy him. 

Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Psalms 140:10

Is it vengeance to pray like that? We are not seeking revenge of our own, but asking God to take control and help us to break free from our enemy's stronghold. When Satan is driving someone, I believe it is our duty to seek God and ask him to alter the course of events and surround us with his fortress. 

Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. Psalms 140:4

October 7, 2025

Spending a weekend with my daughters and having quality time with them made me realize that our children keep a lot from us. They told me stories of situations they’ve been in that you wouldn’t wish anyone to go through. You can never protect your children enough, so for those who criticize helicopter parents, you should probably zip it! We must never stop praying for them; when we turn them loose in the world, our only hope is for God’s protection. Tell them about Jesus, teach them His ways, so that when they are in situations that we cannot control, we can be assured that God will cover their hearts, rendering any damage done to them powerless, because their strength comes from Him. I know it seems weird, but we should praise Him for whatever happens to us, whether good or bad, because those experiences shape us into an image of beauty. Imagine never being challenged and having an easy life; how could we ever feel God rejoicing over us with singing when He scoops us into His arms and comforts us after we fall? If every day were just roses and butterflies, we might not love Him the way we do. One day it will be roses and butterflies, but we will have already decided to love Him with all our hearts, and He will take us to live with Him for eternity. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalms 138:7-8

October 6, 2025

It is essential that we remember the trials and tribulations from our past and worship and praise God for our deliverance from evil. Psalms 137 is in memory of the captivity in Babylon. Through this song, we can understand the difficulties faced by the children of Israel, who were exiled there, and their captors pressing them to sing to them a sacred song meant for worshipping God! 

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. Psalms 137:3

It is also a reminder that even though they settled in as servants of the Babylonians, they were still treated harshly and endured disturbing atrocities, as noted by the end of this psalm, where they seem to expect God’s vengeance upon the Babylonians by treating their babies the way their children had been treated; it paints a horrific image.

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Psalms 137:9

Although our country appears to be all about freedom, we must wonder who is truly free. It seems to me that the only ones free are the vile that run rampant. Who really is the Statue of Liberty, as seen with its chain broken off its foot? With my eyes wide open, I see a man who looks an awful lot like several paintings I’ve seen depicting Satan. History is not what we’ve been told. I concur with the captives of Babylon and wait patiently for the vengeance on those who claim we have freedom while continuing to press us down with heavy weights. 

To end this devotional on a positive note, we look to God for our freedom and find it within ourselves through the comfort of the Holy Spirit, who lifts our countenance and reminds us of the goodness of God’s grace. Find your freedom in Jesus, who sets us free from all the hostility of this world and leads us into the promised land of eternal life with him as King and conqueror over all evil. 

October 5, 2025

My daughters and I took a weekend trip to Atlanta to visit my niece and her family and to attend her baby shower. We visited the High Museum, which is filled with sculptures, old paintings, and even some contemporary art. We were exposed to some very dark art where some of the artists’ minds were clearly on brutal violence. I found it very interesting that there was no art dated before the 1700s, which came from all over the world, not just America; in fact, even the American artists were from other countries. We were exhausted by the time we left, which leads me to believe that there was some type of demonic oppression lying over that place. After a few minutes away from there, we all started feeling more refreshed. As the veil begins to thin and truth is exposed, you realize that the enemy has a strong delusion draped over our world. However, God is in control, and His mercy endures forever. We ended our day spending time with family and enjoying the love and energy of my precious two-year-old nephew, who kept us on our toes as we chased after him at a street festival. Sometimes we must endure the hardships of the world to truly appreciate God’s wonderful blessings. His mercy truly does endure forever.

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 136:23-26