Treasured Devotions

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. 

The battles we face in life go far beyond what we can see. The enemy of our soul is behind the evil that wounds us and leaves us with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. God wants to release his potential within each of us so we can walk in our authentic identity and bring the love of Christ to others. However, Satan, the enemy of our soul, would love to shut down our heart. When that happens, our world suffers and we all lose because every woman is created to bring value to this world.

God’s answer is to armor up and fight the war against the enemy God’s way. 

 “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17, emphasis mine).

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 have direct access to life-changing truths anytime and anywhere. 

Got sword? Godly girl power flows from a woman geared up with God’s Word. Defeat the enemy by dedicating five minutes each day to memorize God’s Word.

“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 Titus 2 relationship to change my life.  We gathered on a regular basis to pray, study the Bible, and read through a book together, but there was one thing in particular that the Lord taught me through her that stands out above all else.  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 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! 

Wise women train hard for the race of a life that glorifies God by gearing up with God’s Word.

For me this was the beginning of a marathon of different trials, but the Lord is 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. 

This is a battle, ladies, and we shouldn’t wait another day to evaluate our training plans! You can do it and you must! 

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

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20