Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Surrender

Core Strength

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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 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 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).

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” than 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 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 

Legacy

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Hey brave heart, leave blessings in your wake for future generations and make a difference. You can spend a lifetime replaying your past or trying to change your family members. You can play the blame game. I know this – I’ve been there. This doesn’t solve things, and it gives power to people who cannot build God’s dream in your life.  

OR Brave heart, you can trust God your Heavenly Father and move forward. I like that better – don’t you?

Inside God’s design for family, wives are to be loved as Christ loved the church. This love was sacrificial. It was costly. It brought beauty. Daughters are to be valued and raised without anger through unconditional love. Wives are to respect and submit to their husbands. Indeed, inside God’s family framework we find a model of how God intends to relate to us. The family should be a place of rest, solace, love – a place where we are free to make the mistakes necessary to uncover our true potential – a refuge from the storms of life.

Sadly, under the weight of a broken world, the reality of a perfect family is fractured. Every woman has imperfections in her family. While God’s framework for family is perfect… we are not. The perfect family does not exist because there are no perfect people. But sometimes those fractures are so great, that our hearts can carry deep wounds. I believe this grieves the heart of God.

Be wise brave heart. As much as there is a God that loves us and wants us to have his design for family, there is an enemy of our souls who would love to destroy family. Don’t believe his lies that God’s framework for family doesn’t work – it was fallen humanity that was not there to love you.  

Never forget that Paul’s description of God’s family framework in the book of Ephesians, he writes about our war with the enemy. This order in scripture is no accident. The enemy knows that there is strength in family and would love nothing more than to destroy God’s design (Ephesians 5:21-6:20). 

God in his great redemption has a plan for restoration for our hearts through Jesus. You have a heavenly Father that wants to nourish your heart with truth so you can live the life you were created and redeemed to live. As God’s adopted children through Christ, we can reach out to our true Father and hold on to him.

The key is to turn to God, live by the Spirit, and allow Jesus to have the greatest impact in your life. Researching and analyzing our family can help us understand why we are the way we are, but only the Holy Spirit can change us from the inside out. This is godly girl power. ONWARD!

This is not easy. No one would question that our background shapes our character. The people in our lives influence the way we are. 

All of us have those negative cycles that may feel like inescapable realities. But the reality is we can break the cycles by making new choices. We can choose new life and new legacies for our children. God brings a solution that surpasses self-help, self-determination, and self-effort: God’s solution is found in sonship. God not only adopts you but longs for you to live “led” as his daughter.  

Through Christ, we are adopted into a new family and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to walk in a new way of life. It’s not an instant change. If you want to live in the freedom of this new family, God will lead you on a slow and deep journey of beautiful internal transformation. This journey is called discipleship. It’s a lifetime process directed by the Holy Spirit. Listen, follow, and watch God unravel cycle after cycle as you surrender to him. 

Cutting new paths is not easy and takes time. Cycles, even if they are destructive, feel comfortable, so moving beyond them is a process.

Leave blessings in your wake for future generations and see new legacies continue to emerge. Reestablish God’s framework in YOUR family and leave a legacy. (Be the first if you have to, brave heart. What an honor!) Could there be any greater blessing in life than that?

 While your family background may influence your character, it doesn’t define your God-given destiny. May the gospel of Christ, which brings you into God’s family give you hope to live beyond your broken family by living by the Spirit. You are a treasure.

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-6:9

How Does God Heal a Broken Heart?

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The Bible says that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).  Treasured One, do you believe these words today? 

There is an enemy of your soul who wants you to doubt these faithful words of God. But today, his lies are going to be exposed and you are going to walk away with the understanding that power of God heals a broken heart. 

How Our Hearts Break

There are many reasons why our hearts become broken. Behind every reason are words. Words matter. They carry a tremendous amount of power. While we’d like to think “words can never hurt me,” or don’t carry any weight, yet this often is not the case. In fact, hurtful words roll off the tongue of someone and hit the drumbeat of our souls. 

That drumbeat starts a pattern of negative thoughts. When we’ve experienced wounds from words, they can continue to haunt us, causing us to feel…

  • Insecure
  • Worried 
  • Fearful

When left untreated, the unseen scars repeat the hurtful words over in your mind like a broken record. The “You ares” you’ve heard spoken over you become the “I ams” for which your soul beats. 

But there is good news, Treasured One. God’s words are more powerful than your past, or the whispering lies of the enemy in the present. Connecting to God’s Word is what begins to heal our broken hearts. 

Good News—God Heals a Broken Heart!

To start healing from a broken heart, fill your mind with God’s Word. Understand this is a process—a process of identifying the lies, agreeing with God’s Word, and renewing your mind on His truth every day—moment by moment. 

Because God heals a broken heart through His words, here are 7 promises from God for you to meditate on today…

  1. “’I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.’”—John 14:27 (emphasis mine)
  2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”—Proverbs 3:5-6 (emphasis mine)
  3. “’And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.’”—Ezekiel 36:26 (emphasis mine)
  4. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”—Psalm 34:18 (emphasis mine)
  5. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”—2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (emphasis mine)
  6. “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”—Isaiah 43:18 (emphasis mine)
  7. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”—Romans 8:28 (emphasis mine)

Here’s How God Heals a Broken Heart

  1. God Heals a Broken Heart as We Are Aware of Our Thought Life

The more time you start spending in God’s Word, you will see glimpses of his glory inside this broken world. As you read passages—such as Ephesians 1:5 that says you are predestined for adoption through Christ, or Romans 6:6 that says the old self was crucified and is no longer a slave to sin—stop and identify the lies you’ve been told that say otherwise. 

The thoughts that go against God’s Word are begging for your attention. This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to destroy proud obstacles that keep you from knowing God. These negative thought patterns keep your heart broken and from seeing glimpses of God’s glory. 

But when we surrender our thought to God, healing begins to take place in our souls. 

  1. God Heals a Broken Heart When We Embrace Our Identity

Our identity in Christ is the key to your offensive weapon inside the battle of your heart. Your identity speaks words into every thought you have. This is why you must renew your mind and affirm your identity every day. 

As you may know, this is a key element of the Nourish Bible Study Method. We write down and affirm who God says we are, and we declare who He is. This shifts our thoughts to “forget about the past,” as the Lord said to Isaiah (Isaiah 43:18), because it is nothing compared to what he is about to do in your life. 

Aligning your identity with Jesus is like an eternal thread that connects you to heaven. The Holy Spirit’s voice will become louder in your life, leading you into healing and purpose. 

  1. God Heals a Broken Heart When We Agree with His Word

As God affirms our identities, the enemy will attempt an attack. At that moment we have a choice. Will we agree with…

  • The words from our past?
  • The words from the enemy?
  • The Word of God who gave you a new heart?

Whichever words you agree with will be the ones that rules in your thought life.

Treasured One, it is time to take hold of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and speak truth over your life. 

Beware—The Enemy Seeks to Attack the Heart That God Has Healed

This is important to understand: The enemy seeks to attack what has been healed. When you are tempted to fall back into negative thought patterns or to declare self-deprecating words, go back to God’s Word!

There is a battle for your heart. As much as there is a God who loves you, there is also an enemy who plays a tune, knowing the drumbeat of words in your past, waiting for you to start walking in tempo with it. 

But when you acknowledge the pain, identify the lies, and surrender it all to Jesus, God’s words will begin to restore and heal your broken heart. 

Know that this journey of faith isn’t easy, but it is blessed. Healing always starts with surrendering. Do you want to connect to the One who is faithful to heal?

Then start by surrounding yourself with his life-giving Word. Get the Nourishing Your Heart E-book today. It is a free resource from Treasured Ministries that walks you through each step of the Nourish Bible Study Method and shows you how to rely on the Holy Spirit for healing. 

Healing Past Hurts Through Prayer

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We read in the Bible that prayer is powerful. It has the power to break chains of anxiety, shame, and doubt. But what about healing hurts? Can prayer begin to heal your soul from past hurts? When those prayers are given to God, he will dispel the darkness of your past hurts by the healing hand of Christ. 

Why Past Hurts Won’t Heal

Past pain causes us to suppress our feelings. Satan’s goal is to cast feelings of shame and guilt about the hurt you’ve experienced. Ultimately, he wants you to hide it away, never giving it to God, which keeps you from experiencing the healing that comes from Christ.  

The Bible says that Christ makes all things new…

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”—2 Corinthians 5:17

Shame and guilt are the ways the enemy traps us into remaining voiceless. His whispers motivate us to hide. This can cause us to isolate ourselves even more, preventing the freedom we desperately need. Jesus is the only one who can heal past hurts and provide hope. 

In order to begin healing, we must bring our past hurts into the light of the Lord so he can begin the healing process. 

How to Start Healing Past Hurts though Prayer

In prayer, ask God to reveal what is hidden…

  • You may feel hesitant to ask God to begin revealing past hurts, but remember that Christ fulfilled the law, casting your sin away from you as the east is from the west. Satan cannot use your sin to condemn you or keep you from coming to the Healer of your soul!

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”—Psalm 103:12

… because the enemy wants you to hide.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.’”—Luke 5:31-32

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1

In prayer, confess to God what is on your hurting heart…

  • When you confess, you are declaring your dependence on God and stripping away the lies the enemy has used to hold you down. To confess is to speak openly. I know that it may seem awkward at first to speak openly in prayer, but this declaration announces to Satan that his lies will no longer condemn you.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”—1 John 1:9

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”—Proverbs 28:13

… because confession disarms the enemy.

  • The enemy wants you to remain quiet. When you announce your dependence on God, it activates his strength within you. Confession breaks the silence of the enemy, taking away his power over you.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”—Philippians 4:13

“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”—Colossians 2:14-15

In prayer, surrender your past hurts to God…

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”—James 4:7, 10

“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.”—Jeremiah 10:23

… because it is there that you will find freedom. 

  • After you have asked the Holy Spirit to reveal the past hurts that are holding you back from your freedom and purpose, you have a choice. You can embrace the freedom you have in Christ or listen to the words of the enemy that attempt to pull you back into hiding. 

The beauty of the Gospel is that God will take all things and use them for your good and his glory. But we must rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), choosing his way of surrender. 

This may be an hourly or daily choice for some, but over time, God’s Word will prosper in your life. Each moment of praise, prayer, and verse you declare to the Lord is a seed that will produce a great harvest. 

Allow the Spirit to water your soul and watch as God turns your pain into promises—for his glory.

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”’”—John 7:37:39

“’You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.’”—Genesis 50:20

Are you looking for a way to use God’s truth every day to counteract the lies of the enemy? Then download My Heart for His Glory for FREE!

It’s a PDF designed for you to use anytime you feel hurtful words of your past try to open wounds that have been healed by Jesus.

Get your FREE download HERE!

Soar

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Control is an illusion. An illusion of security, of safety, of comfort. Control is missing out on the best life, the one God designed for you.

When I am still at the helm, white knuckled on the steering wheel of life, I am fighting against the winds of the Holy Spirit that long to push my sails to adventure beyond what this world could ever offer.

If you lose your life, you’ll find it.

I hear Jesus calling softly to my heart . . . let go to live. Jesus is putting his finger on areas of misplaced faith that I never saw before.

Struggling with Control

I confess that the object of my greatest faith has been  . . . me. I wanted to stay in control. I thought I knew best how to protect me. I knew best for my children. I knew best how to solve problems. I was convinced that at times, my life needed to be about me and what I wanted so I would not get hurt.

I want to stop playing God. I’m not qualified. God’s strength is limitless. Trusting in His goodness at all times opens my heart wide to catch the winds of the Holy Spirit.

After all, I was called to soar. And so were you.

Eagle-soaring-on-yellow-backdrop-legal-eagle

How Surrendering Allows You to Soar

Controlling everything around us does not bring confidence. True confidence comes from allowing God to have complete control. If you want to soar . . . surrender.

Hey there brave heart. Yeah – that’s you! In this four week bible study, discover true unshakable confidence as you walk through the book of Philippians. No one likes those feelings of insecurity that creep up and call us into hiding. We’ve all been there – but we don’t have to stay that way.

  • Learn practical biblical truths to deal with insecurity.
  • Discover the source of true confidence to become the woman God created you to be.
  • Study the book of Philippians using the Nourish Bible Study Method.
  • Be encouraged to live the truth with our weekly teaching videos and audio messages. Subscribe to our podcast and like our Facebook page for all messages.

In our podcast this week, I’ll share my story of how control robbed me of confidence and increased insecurity. Discover practical biblical steps to rest confidently in God’s care instead of trying to control everyone and everything around you and find freedom and confidence to become the woman God created you to be.

Nourish Scripture: Philippians 1

Take the next step and download Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word that transforms the way you live.

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.