Treasured Devotions

Discerning Unhealthy Friendships (Part Two)

October 30, 2017 by Aliene

Last week we began our discussion on discerning unhealthy friendships and how we are called to be in community but not every relationship is healthy for us.

Love and respect is for everyone; but our close personal friendships are those that we should be wise about because “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

(Click here to read last week’s blog)

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20

We also talked about how sometimes discerning healthy and unhealthy is not easy but why walking closest to the Holy Spirit we can be wise about our close connections. Here are two reasons we discussed why this is true.

When I am walking closely with the Holy Spirit I can trust his discernment for our close connections.
When I walk closest with the Holy Spirit, I will be a woman of decision confidently directed by the Lord not vulnerable to the control of others.

(Click here to read last week’s blog)

Today, we move on to explore two additional reasons:

When I walk close to the Holy Spirit, my identity is rooted in my relationship with Christ – not my relationship with others and therefore I can see rejection from God’s perspective.

Facing Rejection and Understanding the Truth

There is nothing I hate more than being rejected – can you relate?

Now don’t get me wrong, rejection will always sting on some level because we are human, but when we allow the way others treat us to determine our identity that is when we get into trouble.

I lived this way for years – and to be honest I still have to remind myself of this truth:

We are not defined by how others treat us. We are defined by the truth in God’s Word.

Your worth and value is not defined by having everyone like you. In fact that is an unrealistic goal, and one God is not asking you to pursue. He is asking you to pursue him and love others – not please everyone around you. There is a big difference.

I faced rejection this week – and it still hurt. I am not going to lie. I cried in my pillow before I went to sleep. But this morning I brought all this to the Lord and gained his perspective on the situation. This is the key – it’s not that rejection won’t hurt – but that you can have God’s perspective.

In the past I would have gotten really mad at this person and unforgiveness could easily creep in. Or I would have tired extra hard for that person to like me to prove them wrong. This was a great recipe for unhealthy relationships.

But that was when my identity was rooted in my relationships with people rather than my relationship with Jesus. Now it is much easier to lovingly let go of others who have let go of me.

Here is what I have found: Often rejection is a form of God’s protection and redirection to a more healthy relationship. God does not want you to be close to everyone! So forgive others and gain God’s perspective on the situation. If you need to say you are sorry for something – do it. And if others have let go and you – let them go.

When I am walking closely with the Holy Spirit, my desire to be loved and secure can be entirely met in Him and from that place of abundance I find freedom to say no to unhealthy friendships, and open my heart to healthy relationships.

Loneliness and Insecurity Can Make Us Vulnerable

When we are lonely or insecure we can be vulnerable to become involved in unhealthy friendship.

Our hearts deceive us. We might perceive worldly strength, worldly influence, popularity or another character trait in someone we think we need and surrender our free will to that person to try to gain what they have. But often people who put on a good show of having it all together on the outside are a mess on the inside!

However, perfect love from Jesus casts out insecurity and means I am never alone. From this place of abundance, I look to people not to give me something – but to love. This frees my heart to let go in love those that are unhealthy and pray for them. It allows me to guard my heart so I can give it first fully to God and then to others as he directs in a healthy way.

God given boundaries are good and healthy. If you have trouble setting boundaries you are not alone. In a recent Treasured Ministries Podcast, I interviewed Michelle Nietert a Licensed Professional Counselor about HOW to set boundaries.

Saying no is sometimes one of the most loving things you can do. Your free will was given to you by God so that you could give it back to Him.

Free will is a precious treasure. Don’t ever surrender that to somebody who wants control over you. Guard your close friendships so that you can give your heart entirely to God.

Let’s review how walking closely with the Holy Spirit is the key to not getting involved with an unhealthy friendship.

I will have God’s discernment for my close connections.

I will be a woman of decision confidently directed by the Lord not vulnerable to the control of others.

My identity is rooted in my relationship with Christ – not my relationship with others and therefore I can see rejection with God’s perspective.
My desire to be loved and secure can be entirely met in Jesus and from that place of abundance, I find freedom to say no to unhealthy friendships, and open my heart to healthy relationships.

So how do you walk closely with the Holy Spirit?

One of the primary ways we do this is by, making room for the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart personally through God’s Word. The Nourish Bible Study Method can help you with that. Take our 21-Day Challenge and discover more.

Listening to his discernment, direction and divine love he will guide you to those healthy biblical close friendships -not with perfect people (they don’t exist)– but those with hearts for the Lord and for you!

Nourish Scripture: John 10:1-18

Discerning Unhealthy Friendships (Part One)

October 22, 2017 by Aliene

We are called to be in community but not every relationship is healthy for us. Friendships can either add to our lives or subtract. While we are called to love and respect everyone; our close personal friendships are those that we should be wise about because “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Over the next two weeks we are going to take a look at this topic in both our Treasured Devotions blog and our Facebook Live on Wednesday. Paying attention to the close company we keep has an impact on the course of our life.

Who we spend our time with matters.

In the past, I’ve struggled with setting boundaries. Sometimes it was hard to discern what is healthy and what is not because of outside appearances. Sometimes, especially inside of the church, I felt very guilty about setting boundaries. But here is what I’ve learned, the Bible encourages us to be discerning with our close associates.

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20

So how do you walk wise and discern those divine connection in your life? The way to be wise about those with whom you walk closely is by walking closest to the Holy Spirit.

When I am walking closely with the Holy Spirit I can trust his discernment for my close connections.

Pay Attention to the Holy Spirit’s Caution about Unhealthy Friendships

Have you ever been around a person and the Holy Spirit is giving you a caution? Pay attention to it!

Jesus is the gatekeeper of our heart, opening and closing doors. We may never know the reasons for the check in our spirit. It could be that WE are not ready for this friendship for whatever reason. But the reason we can know: Jesus knows and we can trust His discernment for divine connections in every season in our lives (John 2:24-25).

In the past, I was very confused about love and trust because I saw them as the same. But, they are different. Love is unconditional for all people. However, trust from people must be earned. Never rush intimacy in friendship or any other relationship.

The only person that we can give our automatic complete trust to is God Himself. And as we learned last week, our Good Shepherd will lead us to good healthy friendships we can trust, when we walk closely with the Holy Spirit in prayer.

Also, When I walk closest with the Holy Spirit, I will be a woman of decision confidently directed by the Lord not vulnerable to the control of others.

Gain Confidence in Walking with the Holy Spirit

Inside of the church today we have people that are “religious” only on the outside. (Acts 20:29, Matthew 7:15, Jude 12-16). They look like innocent “sheep”, but inside, they have ulterior motives. Often their motive is to have control over you to gain a following for themselves. They look for weaknesses in your soul to capitalize on and gain control. In 2 Timothy 3:5-7 from The Message translation, describes these types of people:

“They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they are animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of the unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself ‘truth.’ They get exploited every time and never really learn.”

If you are NOT a woman of decision, you could be unstable and a target to somebody unhealthy having influence over you. If you often call 50 people to ask for their input in your decisions, this may indicate that you don’t complete confidence in the Lord’s leading in your life and vulnerable to the control of others.

However, when you are confident in God’s still small voice, you won’t be influenced by every whim of teaching.

If you are a people pleaser, own that, turn a new direction and gain confidence to make your own decisions apart from people. You and I can walk with the assurance that the Holy Spirit leads us, guides us, and guards us. (Next week we’ll continue this discussion with two more ways walking closest with the Holy Spirit allows us to walk WISE!)

Want to leave indecision and people pleasing? The Nourish Bible Study Method can help you discern truth for your life through God’s Word so you can live with confidence in God’s direction not under the control of others. Take our 21-Day Challenge and become a woman of decision so you can be all God created you to be!

Nourish Scripture: Joshua 9

Perfect Imperfection

October 16, 2017 by Aliene

What do you look for in a friend?

What kind of friend do you want to be?

What does authentic friendship mean to you?

To me, authentic friendship means sharing agape love.

Authentic Friendship Is Based on God’s Agape Love

I used to try to develop characteristics that sparkled in the world’s eyes.

Popularity, perfection, position—worldly strength.

These qualities and the friendships that evolved from them gave me false security. I felt important, and I wrongly believed I could gain the worldly strength I saw inside these friends. I also accepted the lie that if I were perfect and popular, if I pleased others and had the “right” friends and a position inside my church, I could gain authentic friendship. And I cycled in and out of co-dependent friendships. I was rescuing each friend. I felt safe from rejection because I was needed. UGH!

Can you relate?

But God in his grace sent the winds of adversity my way. A storm of hurricane proportion swept into my life and washed away those lies to write on my heart what matters in friendship. God unearthed special friends who loved me despite my imperfections and pointed me to his perfection. That storm also washed away friends who were not so genuine—something for which I will always be thankful.

True friendship has the strength to endure storms because it loves even when life is not so lovely.

Authentic friendship is based on God’s agape love toward us. God looks at the heart and so should we. Agape love speaks truth, encourages, endures, and most of all sees us through the lens of the gospel.

^“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34–35 NLT, emphasis mine)

True Friends See Your Perfect Imperfection

One summer after a storm at the beach my son found a piece of red sea glass. Any piece of sea glass is a treasure, but red sea glass is the rarest gem of all. Storms often unearth such treasures and cast them to the shore.

Similarly, friends who love you despite your imperfections are treasures and often surface during the storms of life.

They are the ones who see you as beautiful sea glass instead of discarded shards of broken glass because they look at you through the lens of the gospel. They have received his grace, so they can share it with others—including you.

Like Jesus, they don’t see problems—they see this potential: Jesus takes the broken things in our lives and makes them beautiful.

When looking for friendship, seek not what sparkles in the world’s eyes but what matters in the eyes of your Savior. Like the rarity of red sea glass, deep authentic friendship will be rare in your life but very possible to find!

We find authentic friendship as we first become that friend ourselves by following the example of Christ’s friendship toward us. Healthy biblical friendship doesn’t just happen. It is something we must pursue and practice by taking proactive steps according to God’s principles. More on this in our Facebook Live this week.

How have you experienced grace from others during storms in your life?

Consider ways you can reach out to others and be an authentic friend. Today choose to be that friend by looking at others through the lens of Christ’s love.

Whom will you reach out to today?

Nourish Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Week One: Called to Companionship

October 5, 2017 by Aliene

The Christian life is not one made to be done in solitude. From the beginning of time itself God did not see fit for man to be alone even in the perfection that was the garden!

He has created us with the desire for companionship engrained in the makeup of our hearts. And try as we might, none of us are immune to that yearning.

The Glory in Christ-Centered Friendship

This summer I was put in a place to understand the glory to be found in a Christ-centered friendship with someone, even when I wasn’t looking for it.

When I found out that I would spending the summer in New York City interning it struck me that I was knowingly walking into a season of isolation. And the prideful parts of myself were even thrilled for the opportunity to “push myself” and have a “Summer with just God.” And looking back on that mindset now, how fortunate we are to serve a God so good that He does not give us the things we believe we want. And as I near the end of my time here it is my responsibility to look back at the graciousness of God, the promises He has so faithfully kept to me, and praise Him for it.

As I prayed over this summer and began to ask for His will to be residing over it, one unexpected promise became very clear to me:

There was someone waiting for me in that city, and not only that, but I needed to begin praying for her before I got there.

And honestly often the promises I hear from God seem too good to be true, and simply put, that’s because by all understanding of this world, they are too good to be true. But grace is what makes the goodness of God the utmost truth, and that’s the beauty of a life for Christ.

So here I found myself in the city of millions waiting on a promise from God that He would bring that companion.

The Faith to Pray into Promise

When God promises us things, it takes faith to pray into them, it takes faith to pray fearlessly with big prayers, but that faith is what He rejoices in.

And so one week later, there she was.

It was a random Bible study I had found on Google, the only college one that came up, and when I arrived there were 3 people sitting at the table, the leader, myself, and my answer to prayer. An hour later and we were separated by two bowls of over-priced ramen with faces lit by what was evidently the work of God.

And this is where it all comes together, halfway through our first time meeting she paused and simply said “this is going to sound weird…” and by this point I already knew, but I waited anyways, “I have actually been praying for you for a while now, and I think you are the answer to those prayers.”

This is the love of God made tangible in the gift of a friend, and how grateful I am to know a God that knows the deepest needs of this heart of mine.

Our Battle Isn’t Meant to Be Fought Alone

Independence is one thing, pride is another, the Christian life is a battle against everything this world tells us we must be, and it is not one meant to be fought alone. Do not allow the enemy to tell you the lie that you are better off alone. God does not want you to be alone.

Pray for God to bring you friends that are fighting the same battles you are.
Pray for a few trusted warriors that will hold your feet to the fire even while you kick, because those are the friendships that even if your lives call you apart from one another, you part from stronger.

Those are the bonds that Hell is afraid of. You are worthy of a friendship like this.

Today, as we begin our series on friendship begin to earnestly pursue friendship as you pray with great expectation and a heart open wide. Let the God who created you with the capacity for companionship fill that need in a way only he can.

Nourish Scripture: Matthew 17:7-12

Authentic Friendship

October 1, 2017 by Aliene

She found herself out of practice. Like trying to sit at the piano again and struggling to find notes after years of not playing, she seemed out of tune when she tried to practice friendship. Her heart held her back from giving her all to the keys before her and making beautiful music. Oh, she had many acquaintances. Company was not lacking, but her God-given desire for deep connections felt starved. She closed her eyes and prayed, “Teach me, Lord, how to start again.”

Real friendship. . . . Authentic. Vulnerable. Deep. Trustworthy. Christ-centered.

We are created for relationships.

…but often life becomes busy. We devote time to our children for a season. Our homes and careers demand our minutes and leave us with little margin to make time for friendship.

We are created for deep connections.

…but relationships get messy, and we’d rather not get messy again. We get hurt, so we protect our hearts. We trade being authentic for achievement. We limit ourselves to surface relationships so we don’t suffer heartache. And while acquaintances continue to accumulate, we miss the gift of a deeper walk with a few close friends . . . the gift of being true to ourselves and inviting others to do the same.

This is my story.

Can you relate?

Pulling Away after Experiencing Hurt

On the other side of two hurtful relationships, I found myself pulling away.

Keeping to myself.

Pouring my time and energy into my family.

And honestly–I am grateful for that season of special closeness to my family and the Lord. I needed some time and space—just to be with God for a while and heal from my hurt as I learned and grew. And I am grateful for that time concentrated on my boys as I know they will fly my nest soon.

But like God opening the door to Noah’s ark and telling him it was time to come out—that his set-apart season was over—so too my beautiful season of being pulled away was not meant to be forever. I learned a lot in my ark about authentic friendship. About boundaries, trust, and vulnerability. Also during that time, God put very special friends in my life who pulled me right out of my shell and showed me about Real Authentic Healthy Friendship.

Understanding Authentic Friendship

Here is what I learned and would love to share with you over the next seven weeks:

Healthy biblical friendship doesn’t just happen. It is something we must pursue and practice by taking proactive steps according to God’s principles.

This is the truth: You can have deep connections ordained by God himself! You are worthy to be loved. To belong. But you must practice . . . you must put yourself out there . . . and you must do it God’s way.

Welcome to “Authentic Friendship,” the next series from Treasured Ministries. Over the next seven weeks and on Facebook Live you will . . .

Discover God’s principles for practicing healthy friendship as you consider various passages on friendship in the Bible.
Be inspired to pray for God’s divine connections in your life and how to recognize them.
Gain wisdom on how to discern unhealthy friendships and set boundaries.
Find courage to be vulnerable with others in order to create deeper connections.
Abandon the insecurities that tell you to chase endless shallow friendships and find strength from the deep connections and accountability that can be found in a small group.

Looking forward to getting started? Why not invite someone to join you by forwarding this to a friend? That’s a great way to begin!

Blessings,

Aliene and the Treasured Ministries Team

God’s Love Letter

September 24, 2017 by Aliene

Before you were born . . . I loved you (Ephesians 1:4). Loving you brought me great joy (Ephesians 1:5). In fact, I loved you so much that I gave my son so you could be completely free to love me (Ephesians 1:6-8).

Sin cannot and will never separate us. Nothing you have done or will ever do could ever take away my love from you . . . and so you and I can have a relationship with no barriers (Ephesians 1:7; 3:12). No pretending.

You cannot lose me. Not even death can separate us (Ephesians 8:38).

I am a good Father—the perfect father (Ephesians 1:5 & 8). Do not look for an earthly father as an example of me—there is only one God. I am he (Isaiah 45:5). You can trust my love for you because not only am I loving . . . I AM LOVE (1 John 4:16). Not just any love—but AGAPE love. Perfect (1 John 4:18). Unconditional.

You Are Part of a Family…

You belong (Ephesians 1:3). You are a part of a family (Ephesians 1:5). You are never alone (Hebrews 13:5). Not today. Not ever (Ephesians 1:14). You have complete security in me. I am always here if you need to talk to me. I hope you will get to know me better and understand more every day about the depths of my love for you (Ephesians 1:16-17).

I am also the master planner (Isaiah 25:1; Ephesians 1:11). You don’t have to worry about your future. And sometimes I am a mysterious planner (Ephesians 1:9) My ways are so much higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is in the mystery of not knowing the full blueprint that you have to use your faith and continue seeking me—which is the best place for you to be (Ephesians 1:16).

Just trust and follow me. I am full of wisdom (Ephesians 1:8). You can be completely confident in that still small voice that is leading you (1 Kings 19:11-13; John 10:4). Don’t worry about tomorrow I always work out everything according to my plan (Ephesians 1:11). And the plans I have for you are to prosper you and not to harm you.

They are to give you a hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11).

When this broken world gets hard and bruises your soul, remember I have prepared a place for you in eternity–you have an inheritance beyond your comprehension (Ephesians 1:11). So when life gets hard—look up, find hope and live differently (Ephesians 1:18)

The Holy Spirit Will Bring You Peace…

The peace the Holy Spirit will bring you amid any storm is like a holy thread connecting you to heaven (Ephesians 1:13). Let it remind you that I am with you and will never leave you.

I am here as your Father to help you through whatever you face. In the midst of life’s pressures, pause and enjoy the presence of my Holy Spirit and taste of what is yet to come.

Most of all, I want you to understand that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same power that caused the Red Sea to split, is the power that lives inside you (Ephesians 1:19). So plug into this power simply by pulling away from the chaos and into my presence.

You are my masterpiece and I have a good work I planned for you to do before you were born (Ephesians 2:10). Becoming the woman you were created to be is one of the greatest gifts you can give this world.

Don’t use your faith just to survive. Use it to surrender and you will find my power is all you need.

So remember the greatness that is within you.

You are loved and accepted.

You are part of a family.

So stand tall and rise up. See your very weakness as a doorway to depending on me so you can do great things for my glory.

You are a treasure.

Core Strength

September 17, 2017 by Aliene

As you wait and spread the wings of your heart through complete surrender, the very breath of God fills you with quiet strength and lifts your life to soar. And from that eternal perspective, you are carried with strength beyond your understanding for a purpose for beyond yourself.

“But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

You were not made to strive in your limited strength. You were created to soar with godly girl power as you surrender to Christ and live for his glory.

Godly Girl Power Is Your Core Strength

Godly girl power is God’s all-surpassing power. This is different from worldly power. Worldly power is outward control dependent on other people and things and focuses on self. Godly girl power is the inner core strength of a woman led confidently by God to walk in love and live for his glory no matter what circumstances she faces.

Love is the most powerful force, and that is what godly girl power is all about.

Be wise brave heart by letting this core truth anchor you during seasons of waiting.

Disappointments can cause our hearts slowly to drift away as we pull up our self-protective measures. We take over the reins of our life again. Vow to pull ourselves up by our boot straps. Giving our whole heart to God seems risky, so while we might play the part by attending church, our hearts are far away from God. I’ve been there – how about you.

In our Nourish Scripture this week we see that this drift eventually happened to the church of Ephesus. They are reminded to reflect back to rekindle that love into action (Revelation 2:1-7)

Take Time to Pause and Reflect

Today is designed as a pause just for you to reflect and review the lessons we learned together on godly girl power through the book of Ephesians. Each truth is connected back to the respective devotion so you can linger longer on lessons that invite your attention.

What truth was your favorite?

Which one will you share with another that has been hit by a wave in life and needs to be anchored to truth so she won’t drift?

Above all remember you were created and redeemed to love God with all your heart and love others as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). Love is the most powerful force in the world, and that is what Godly girl power is all about.

Power always comes from a source. Godly girl power comes only from God himself. To plug into God’s power, we must pause and pull into his presence daily.
God’s perfect love casts out fear. She who is brave is free to live for Him.
When a strong current of emotions hits your heart, reach out to Jesus for clear direction to stay steady on the path of your purpose.
Godly girl power flows from great expectations laid at the feet of our mighty God, who can do “immeasurably more” that we could ever ask in prayer. EXPAND your prayer life to reflect the greatness of our Almighty God.
One of the greatest gifts you can bring to the world is becoming the woman God created you to be. Part of that journey part is to embrace your spiritual gifts and use them to love others and fulfill your God-given purpose.
Forgiveness carves a path for the mighty river of his love and power to flow.
Light overcomes darkness. Shine brightly. Love Bravely
Allowing Christ to redefine our identity and the purpose for which we were created not only impacts our life but the lives of those around us.
Wise women train hard for the race of a life that glorifies God by gearing up with God’s Word. Align your life with Godly girl power by putting on the armor of God.

Nourish Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Want more? Discover the key to connecting with God’s Word in a way that will transform the way you live! Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Got Sword?

September 10, 2017 by Aliene

You are God’s child. As his daughter, you can walk in the assurance that He can help you today with whatever battle you face—no matter what it is.

But like an unexpected wave, life’s battles can take us by surprise and we might find ourselves fighting for air instead of forging ahead in our God given-purpose. If that is you today – do not quit! Reach for the armor of God. Putting on the armor is proactive and requires action on your part.

Facing a battle?

You are not alone.

Find inspiration through Brooke McGee’s story to BE PROACTIVE instead of REACTIVE. Gear up for battle with God’s armor to gain godly girl power. Find confidence in the middle of your storm.

Brooke’s Story

“I was 28, married, great job, loved the Lord, had just gotten back from another overseas mission trip, and was at the end of the first trimester of my first and long-awaited pregnancy! Life was great, and it was easy to say “blessed be the name of the Lord.” I meant it with all my heart, but it was easy because my life was easy.

A week after seeing my baby move around on the ultrasound, I was completely and utterly devastated when my baby’s heart stopped beating, and I would go in the hospital as a pregnant, hopeful, future mommy and leave empty-handed and heart-broken. This was my first brutal taste of suffering in a sinful world.

All of a sudden, I was forced to face what I had been taught, studied, and believed. Was God really sovereign? How would this be worked into good?

At the same time as this deep sorrow, I also was experiencing the abundant grace of the Lord and the peace that passes all understanding that I had read about and sung about all my life. I had experienced a valley, and there was no going back to who I was before. I felt that I was experiencing such an intense growth spurt as well as a new level of attacks from the enemy all at the same time.

When we are walking through suffering with the Light of the World, Satan hates the glory that the Lord receives as we cry blessed be the name of the Lord and show Christ to the world. The lies of the enemy are crafty.

He would want me to believe this was my fault.

He would want me to withdraw in shame and sorrow without hope and cover my light.

He wouldn’t want me to share with the world the reason for the hope that I have and why I can in my pain lift my hands to my Lord and rejoice.

There was a battle going on and I was a new warrior.

I sought the wisdom of a well-respected friend and asked her to mentor me through this process, and the Lord used this relationship to change my life. She encouraged me to meditate on scripture and to memorize it. I had grown up in church and had memorized verses here and there (and of course knew the key gospel verses), but memorizing chunks of scripture at a time was a daunting challenge. She encouraged me to pick of a book of the Bible and just go for it one verse at a time.

I, of course, was flooded with excuses of limited time and poor memory, but she said to me,”if I can do it, you can do it”. Well, I humbly gave it a go. It took a little bit to figure out what version worked best for my memory and to find a technique that fit me. I was slow, but it got easier and easier.

Then, the most amazing thing happened!!!! As I carried around the sword in my mind and on my heart, it was suddenly relevant all the time! It was relevant in conversations with friends, coworkers, and it was my weapon in the times when I was alone and the enemy would whisper and seek to discourage.

About six months later, I found myself back in the hospital toward the end of the first trimester of my second pregnancy. What appeared to be another devastating miscarriage ended up being a sub chorionic hemorrhage that would resolve, and eventually, I would give birth to my little boy. However, while laying in the hospital waiting for the ultrasound, I thought I had lost him. I remember so clearly praying that the Lord would give me strength and grace to get through this again.

This time was different though- I had my sword!

I had the first few chapters of James already in my head and was able to meditate on it while laying there feeling anxious and afraid. GAME CHANGER! WARRIOR!

For me this was the beginning of a marathon of different trials, but the Lord was teaching me to fuel up with His word and run hard. He is teaching me how to prepare for battle!

My next 7 years would include more miscarriages, an overseas move, the sudden death of my mother, and many other ups and downs.

No matter the season, whether mountain or valley, studying the Word and memorizing the word will always produce fruit that glorifies God and points others to the Light of the World.

Run hard and carry your sword! If I can do it, you can do it!”

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil….. take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13 & 17, emphasis mine)

Take the Sword with You

God’s Word is our offensive piece of armor in the battle against the enemy of our soul. Jesus drew from the scriptures to defeat Satan’s manipulative tactics of temptation so he could stand firm (Matthew 4:1-11). You too can walk in victory, as you “take the sword with you” through memory and speak it out loud like Jesus. Memorization allows us to “take the sword with us” by having direct access to life-changing truths anytime and anywhere.

Got sword? Godly girl power flows from a woman geared up with God’s Word.

In this week’s podcast Brooke shares an effective strategy to memorize God’s Word in 7 simple steps. Listen to the podcast, and discover how to “take your sword” with you to be strong in any battle you face. We will tackle every piece of armor and discuss what it means to “put on” the armor of God in our Facebook Live on Wednesday…. See you there!

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Want more? Learn how to apply the Nourish Bible Study Method and develop a deeper connection with God’s Word by downloading Nourishing Your Heart.