The Quiet Power of Pleasing God Over Provoking Darkness

I recall two years ago, the Lord had me praying between 9 pm and 11 pm. I was doing it faithfully. During those hours, I was giving God praise, praying of course, and reading the Word (out loud and in my head). I’ve heard sayings like, “Praise confuses the enemy,” “It makes the devil mad,” and “Ain’t nobody mad but the devil.” Those sayings were swirling around in my head during this prayer time, and I reached a point where my focus shifted from sheer obedience to trying to outdo the devil. I had to take a step back and ask myself this question:

WHO CARES?! Who cares if the devil is angry? Why is he a focal point in your time with God? Of your life with God? In your spiritual walk with Christ? Why do we care so much if he’s angry?

While I understand the sentiment—standing in spiritual authority, disrupting darkness, walking in victory through Christ—I’ve come to a quieter revelation: I don’t want to live my life to irritate the enemy. I want to live my life to please God. My reason for existence is to please God. I’m obedient because I want to please Him. I’m consistent because I want to please Him. I surrender and submit myself to Him because I want to please Him. That’s it. I don’t care how the devil feels…about anything.

James 4:7 (AMP) says, “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.”

We are called to resist the devil, yes, but first we must SUBMIT TO GOD. The purpose of this scripture is to let you know that Satan will send attacks in many forms, but you must resist. That’s the only “attention” he gets—to be resisted.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (AMP) says, “to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

(Some translations say his devices.)

 

You know how the devil will attack you. He doesn’t change the script until he sees what once worked doesn’t work anymore, then he tries something different. You know that’s coming, though. We know he will never stop attacking. But he is still not the center of attention.

1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) says, “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”

 

We are called to be on alert for his attacks, but they do not become the focus of our Christian lifestyle, our faith walk, or our daily devotion to God.

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Final Thought
Let the focus of your life be to please God. Fast to grow spiritually. Pray to deepen your relationship with Jesus. Worship to honor God. The devil doesn’t need your attention, which is what happens when you focus on him being upset with you.
News Flash: If you’re wholeheartedly serving God, he’s going to have beef with you. Obey God because you want God to be pleased with you.

Worship is not for warfare alone; it’s for intimacy with the Father.
Obedience isn’t just to confuse hell; it’s to bring joy to Heaven.
Words aren’t just weapons—they are offerings laid gently before the throne of grace.

I don’t want to be known in hell—I want to be known by the Father.
I want Heaven to recognize my voice in prayer.
I want angels to move when I speak because my heart is aligned with God’s.

Always remember that I love you and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.
Peace and blessings.

 

When Wisdom and Disobedience Collide

 Wisdom means nothing if you’re going to be disobedient.

In 1 Kings 3:1–15, Solomon went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord, presenting a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. That night, God appeared to him in a dream and invited Solomon to ask for anything he desired. Instead of riches, power, or long life, Solomon humbly asked for wisdom to govern God's people well. Pleased with his request, God not only granted him unparalleled wisdom, but also promised him wealth, honor, and long life—if he walked in obedience.

Later, in 1 Kings 4:29–34, we see how God’s promise was fulfilled. God blessed Solomon with unmatched wisdom, deep insight, and a vast understanding—so great it was described as measureless as the sand on the seashore. His wisdom surpassed that of all the people of the East and even the renowned wisdom of Egypt. Solomon was known throughout the nations, speaking thousands of proverbs and songs. He taught on everything from plant life to animals and the natural world. People from every nation, including kings, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon—wisdom that came directly from God.

Solomon was the wisest king to ever live, yet he became disobedient to God.
In Deuteronomy 7:3–4, the Lord had clearly instructed the Israelites not to intermarry with the surrounding nations. God knew that such unions would draw their hearts away from Him and toward the worship of false gods. This disobedience would provoke His anger and bring severe consequences.

Despite this command, Solomon loved many foreign women—women from nations the Lord had warned Israel to avoid. Though Solomon possessed divine wisdom, he clung to these women in love. He took 700 wives and 300 concubines, and as he grew older, they turned his heart away from God and led him into idol worship. Solomon built altars to false gods and did evil in the Lord’s sight. Though God had appeared to him twice and explicitly warned him, Solomon chose disobedience.

As a result, in 1 Kings 11:1–13, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon’s lineage. Out of honor for David, this would not happen during Solomon’s lifetime. His son would inherit only a portion of the kingdom, while the rest would be given to another. Eventually, Solomon’s son Rehoboam inherited the kingdom of Judah, while the northern tribes formed their own kingdom—Israel.

Solomon had more wisdom than any man could ask for—because he asked it of God. Yet, he ultimately did the very thing God told him not to do. Though God’s command wasn’t spoken directly to him, Solomon was still under the law because he was an Israelite. His disobedience cost him his legacy. If you read through 1 and 2 Kings, you’ll witness the ripple effects of this decision through the highs and lows of Israel and Judah’s kingdoms.

In his old age—the very time when biblical wisdom should be guiding every step—Solomon turned from God.
Wisdom without obedience is wasted wisdom.

We cannot claim to walk in spiritual insight if we choose to deviate from the One who gave us that insight. Solomon was able to settle difficult cases—like the dispute between two mothers claiming the same child—yet he fell because of the women he was never meant to marry. What have you allowed to illegally enter your life that has caused you to be disobedient to God?

We must remember to continually acknowledge God and follow Him. When we receive what we've prayed for, we cannot forget Him or misuse His blessings. Obedience to God is the ultimate expression of wisdom.

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FINAL THOUGHT
Always remember to be obedient to God. Anything you receive from Him will be useless without obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
How can we say we love God if we don’t obey Him?

Take inventory of your life. Are there any areas where you’ve been disobedient to God? Now is the time to fix it and make it right.

And as always, remember that I love you and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.
Peace and blessings.

The Cost of the Yes

 Luke 9:23 (NLT)

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’”

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Saying yes to God comes with a price.

Many of us who grew up in church have witnessed people at the altar, receiving prayer, and the pastor encouraging them to “give God a yes” or “give Him another yes.” We see the tears, the kneeling, sometimes even the lying prostrate at the altar. In that moment, the yes feels like a release, a weight being lifted. And in many ways, it is.

But there’s another side to giving God your yes.

Saying yes to God means complete surrender to His will—whatever that may look like. Many people hesitate to say yes, not because they don’t love or want to serve Him, but because they fully understand what that yes will require.

It means sacrificing your desires for the sake of God’s assignment.
It means exchanging your will for His.
It means embracing the trials that come with obedience to God, because they will come.

Saying yes to God is rarely neat or easy, but it is necessary. And ultimately, it is always for your good. This is the cost of following Jesus, and it is part of spiritual growth and true Christian discipleship.

I’m not trying to discourage you from following God—I just want you to be aware of what comes with the yes. Obedience is beautiful, but it’s also costly. It stretches you, refines you, and requires real sacrifice. My hope is not to scare you, but to prepare you.

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Final Thought
Take a moment to sit with God and ask Him to give you strength for the surrender. Your yes may come with a cost, but His grace always covers the price. Whether you're learning how to walk in purpose or deepening your faith journey, remember: obedience to God leads to transformation.

As always, remember that I love you and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.
Peace and blessings.

 

The Word We Eat, The Life We Become

“When you internalize—or ingest—God’s Word, you become God’s Word.” - Lauren Brewer

Since I was a young girl, I’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you eat, from your head to your feet.” I’ve even heard the catchy song that goes along with it. It was meant to teach us that our bodies respond directly to the foods we consume. If we feed ourselves a mixture of unhealthy food or junk food, our systems won’t function at their best. We end up feeling tired, sluggish, and unmotivated. But when we nourish our bodies with healthy food—like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—we experience greater energy, clarity, and balance.

The same is true when it comes to spiritual nourishment.

When we feed our spirits with the Word of God—daily, consistently, and with intention—we begin to feel the difference. The Scriptures don’t just inform us; they transform us. Digesting God’s Word means more than skimming a few verses. It’s about lingering with it. Letting it settle into our hearts. Letting it renew our minds. Letting it become us.

📖 “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, Lord God of Armies..” — Jeremiah 15:16 (CSB)

The Word becomes part of the very fiber of who we are. We begin to reflect the heart of God, not just in our prayers, but in our daily decisions. It becomes the way we speak, the way we respond, the way we love. We become living testimonies, walking examples of the Word at work.

Just as physical food sustains the body, the Word sustains the soul. And just like a poor diet can lead to weakness, a neglected spiritual life can leave us vulnerable—spiritually weary, emotionally drained, and disconnected from purpose.

But when we commit to daily Scripture reading, when we invite God’s Word to dwell richly within us (Colossians 3:16), we are filled with divine strength. Wisdom begins to flow. Peace becomes our portion. And our spiritual immune system is fortified.

This is more than Christian living. This is transformation.
This is not just reading—it’s receiving.
Not just hearing—it’s eating.
Not just knowing—it’s becoming.

Let us feast on the Word of God like our lives depend on it—because they do.
Let us trade fast food for faith food.
Let us ingest His Word and reflect His image.

Final Thought

What we consume—physically and spiritually—shapes who we become. Let’s choose to feast on what gives life. May we not only read God’s Word but also receive it, digest it, and let it transform us from the inside out. Because when His Word lives in us, we begin to live more like Him.

As always, remember that I love you and I want you FREE IN CHRIST. 

Peace and blessings. 

Hurt People Hurt People, Healed People Help People

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I’ve learned through experiences with people that when someone does something hurtful to another (abuse, manipulation, being unkind, harsh words, etc.), it’s sometimes because they are hurting themselves. Whether we’re talking about trauma, emotional pain, or spiritual brokenness, it’s often the result of unhealed wounds. Whatever they’ve done to a person has been done to them, so it has become their norm. Alternatively, if something else hurtful has happened to them, this is how they treat others. I’m not justifying their actions—I’m saying there’s a reason for said action. Every “villain” has a backstory. Including you.

 

As we go through this healing journey with God, we learn to be a help to others instead of hurting them. We learn to speak kind words instead of spewing daggers of destruction. We learn to listen to understand, rather than listening to respond or react.

 

Spiritual growth and emotional healing in Christ mend our hearts in ways we don’t even understand. This allows us the ability to aid others in their walk so they can become healed as well. It becomes a pay-it-forward situation. You help someone, then they help someone, and so on and so forth. This is how true Christian transformation multiplies.

 

But it’s a choice.

You will either be healed and help, or stay hurt and in turn inflict hurt.

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Final Encouragement

 

Let’s choose to be healed today. There’s an old saying that says, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” This is a reminder that gentleness, patience, kindness, and positivity tend to be more effective when dealing with people than criticism, anger, or negativity.

 

But we must choose to be healed.

We must choose to allow God to do the work in us.

 

Philippians 1:6 says,

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

If you allow God to do the inner healing, the growth will come daily. You’ll be able to help more people as you continue your faith walk. Healing isn’t just for you, it’s meant to overflow.

 

Choose healing today.

And as always, remember that I love you and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.

 

Peace and blessings. 

 

BAMN – By Any Means Necessary

One morning in prayer, the Lord gave me this:
“Satan will attack you by any means necessary, so we must praise God by any means necessary.”

A few months later, my husband wrote a song called God BAMN – By Any Means Necessary.

The phrase “by any means necessary” means to achieve a goal using all available methods—even those considered extreme or undesirable. It implies a powerful commitment to overcoming any obstacle. Another way to say it is simply: “Whatever it takes.”

What does that mean for Christian living? How do we praise, serve, obey, believe, and trust God by any means necessary?

We do just that—whatever it takes to grow in faith and stay close to God.
Do I need to wake up at 4 am to strengthen my prayer life before my day begins? By any means necessary. Should I consider letting go of certain people or distractions to deepen my relationship with God? By any means necessary. Will I need to fast and seek God more intentionally to mature spiritually? BY. ANY. MEANS. NECESSARY.

Whatever it takes to be one with God, that’s what it takes. We can’t let anything stand in the way of our spiritual growth.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

 

This walk of faith isn’t always easy. One of my former pastors used to tell a story about when he was building his spiritual discipline. One day, he grabbed his Bible, sat down, opened to the book of Psalms, and told God:
“I’m going to read every Psalm out loud until I feel Your presence.”

That was his BAMN moment. There are 150 Psalms—and he sat there, reading them out loud until something shifted in his spirit.

We stand on business when it comes to God. No matter what it takes, we’re all in.

 

Final Encouragement

Ask yourself:
What does “God by any means necessary” look like for me?

Take a moment today to reflect. If you feel led, share your heart in the comments. Let this be part of your daily devotion—your intentional step toward trusting God and overcoming spiritual attacks through faith and obedience.

 

As always, remember that I love you, and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.

Peace and blessings.

 

From Trust to Peace: Believing It’s All for Your Good

 

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the events of late 2024 and early 2025 (I can’t believe it’s already June!). 2024 brought many challenges for my husband and me. We encountered several trials, had conflicts with family members, faced trauma, and endured significant struggles. It was a season that tested our faith during trials. Then, at the start of 2025, we suffered betrayal from someone with whom we had developed a close connection. It was one of those moments that makes you question everything—and yet, it’s also where healing from betrayal begins.

My husband managed to forgive and move on much sooner than I did. I wanted to forgive, but I couldn’t get past what had happened. It felt like I was losing my mind, and I sensed that my feelings weren't being acknowledged properly. This built up my anger. I found myself repeatedly asking, “What in the world was that?” I even posed that same question to God. I didn’t realize it then, but this was part of my Christian forgiveness journey, where true surrender and transformation start.

A few months back, my pastor mentioned that the Lord was awakening me and preparing to reveal the purpose behind my experiences. Recently, I’ve found myself in a place where I’m tired of the trivialities and just want Jesus. While church and music are wonderful, my immediate need is for Jesus. I long for a personal relationship with Jesus, not just religion, but a deep connection that brings true spiritual growth.

This morning, I was praying in the car, and this overwhelming feeling of gratitude came over me. I began to tell God that I was thankful for all the trials because I know they strengthened me and equipped me for this next chapter of my life. I understand now that it was all for my good. This is part of my Christian testimony, and it has helped me find purpose in pain.

Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

When you truly understand and accept that everything in your life is working for your good, peace begins to rise, and it may not make sense to others, or even you. No matter what the situation looks like, you can rest in this truth: somehow, even this is working for your good. The goal is not to figure out how it’s working, but to trust that it is. Your God will never allow anything to come into your life to destroy you or overtake you. He is working it all together for your good. If you’ve been trusting God’s plan through uncertainty, take comfort in this unchanging truth.

Rest assured that whatever you are facing is for your good. God sees it, knows it, and is working it out in your favor. No need to worry. He’s got your back, and you win in the end! Let His peace in the storm carry you. Trust that His hand is over every detail.

Final Encouragement
Take a deep breath, release the weight of unanswered questions, and lean into the truth that God is both sovereign and intentional. What felt like breaking was actually building. What seemed like a detour was divine direction. From trust comes peace, and from peace comes the strength to keep walking—knowing your story is still unfolding, and God is writing every word with love. Your life is full of divine purpose, and in trusting God’s timing, you’ll find the rest your soul has been craving.

 

Always remember that I love you, and I want you FREE IN CHRIST.
Peace and blessings.