Devotionals for the Heart: How to survive the battlefield in your mind

Don’t Waste Your Mind
A devotional by Patricia Russell

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

This quote was the slogan for the United Negro College Fund that I heard on television commercials for years as a teenager. It stayed with me because the mind truly is one of the greatest places we can invest our time. Yet I am concerned when I see how many things can diminish the value of this incredible gift.

Our Creator (God) created animals, human beings, nature, and the entire world. When we consider the intricacies and details of how each part has been divinely created, it is astonishing. Take, for instance, the human brain. People spend years studying to become brain surgeons because of the complexity and importance of this remarkable part of our bodies.

A family friend once had a brain tumor, and as we walked alongside her and her family through that journey, we learned so much about the complexities of the diagnosis and the human brain. It was truly mind-blowing.

Our brain is like the hardware that houses our mind and thought processes that we cannot physically see. They are connected. When our minds become overwhelmed with stressful or negative thoughts, it can have a direct effect on how we function. During that difficult season of having a brain tumor, it became especially important for our friend to guard her thoughts.

I remain in awe of the way God created this part of the body. It reminds me that we need to be intentional about what we allow our minds to dwell on. We live in a world where our minds are constantly challenged to maintain balance. So, I’d like to encourage us to consider a few things in this daily battle:

Peace is a choice. We live surrounded by so many voices, opinions, and noises that can overwhelm us at times. Yet peace is something we can choose to pursue and enjoy. The Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 (NIV), “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” The key here is to keep your mind on the Lord.

Protect your mind. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul tells us to put on the armor of God because we are engaged in spiritual battles. One of those pieces of armor is the helmet of salvation. The Roman helmet was carefully designed to protect the soldier’s head and neck from attacks coming from different directions. When Paul tells us to put on the “helmet of salvation”, he reminds us that our understanding of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ provides protection as we face the thoughts, darts, and attacks of the enemy.

God has given us what we need to fight. We need to put on this armor through prayer, studying the Word of God, and meditating on Scripture daily.

Finally, the battle in our minds—with thoughts we didn’t invite, as well as the decisions and choices we have to make regularly—is an ongoing one. Yet it is one we don’t have to face in our own strength.

The battlefield of our minds is one we never have to face alone. We can withstand and push back against the enemy’s desire to overwhelm us and make us feel helpless, hopeless, and defeated. I can tell you that this is something I deal with on an ongoing basis. I have learned to stay alert and not rely solely on my own strength. Sometimes I need a supplement of positive self-talk, but I have found an even stronger dose in meditating on Scripture, praying, and stewarding my physical health.

Be strong. Be courageous. But remember, you were never meant to battle this battlefield alone. Call a friend who is willing to listen. Write in a journal. Pray to God. Take those thoughts captive, as the Apostle Paul exhorted us to do.

God loves you. He hears you, and He sees you.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that You see us, You hear us, and You know our every thought. Help me to think on those things that give life and are uplifting. Thank You for hearing my every cry, even when the darkness feels overwhelming. Strengthen me even now and teach me how to encourage myself and worship You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) | Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “You’re Not Alone” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Every Moment” by ForeverJones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “God Loves You” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “My Prayer for You” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” by Michael W. Smith. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Patricia is a worship leader, songwriter, speaker and compiler of her 2020 best-seller anthology "Stronger Resilience: Stories to Empower the Mind, Body and Spirit", as well as Lord I Trust You: Words of Encouragement to encourage readers and share life lessons during her cancer journey. 

Patricia writes, speaks, and teaches on the power of God’s Word to heal and empower you to become all that you are purposed for. She has traveled internationally and shared her gifts with audiences to encourage, empower and share life lessons through word and song. Patricia has sung on national television broadcasts and shared the stage with several respected speakers including Anne Graham Lotz and Rev. E.V. Hill.

Her greatest joy is being married to her husband, Wayne, for 34 years. Together they serve the community through their local congregation as well as providing premarital and marriage coaching. They have two adult children, Raquel and Benjamin. As a two-time breast cancer overcomer, Patricia coaches’ others to develop resilience and live life to their fullest.

Patricia has released two gospel music recordings: “Draw Me Nearer” and “Lord, I Trust You”. In March 2022, she launched her podcast “Becoming Resilient” which can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts and also seen on YouTube.

When not reading or studying, Patricia loves to eat Thai food and spend time with “Lucy” – her daughter’s Yorkie-poo who has taken up room in her heart.

~*~
Connect with Patricia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrussellsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.russell.98877/
Email Patricia: patrussellsings@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God calls you to be strong in heavy warfare

Be Strong: Why the Warfare Has Been So Heavy
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

—Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Early one Tuesday morning, the Lord woke me with a shout: “Be Strong!” I knew immediately what He meant and I knew it was not just for me.

I have been walking through a season of overwhelming challenges, the kind that leave you literally speechless. When I asked the Lord what was happening, He spoke clearly to me: The assignment of the enemy has been to silence your voice.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you, too, have found yourself muted by circumstances, overwhelmed by spiritual warfare, or quietly wondering why the attacks have been so relentless. The moment the Lord uttered those two words “Be Strong”, I was immediately anchored in Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) that says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Notice it does not say be strong in your own strength, your own resolve, or your own resilience. It says in the Lord, in the power of His might. That is where our strength lives. And the warfare we are experiencing is often the very sign that something significant is at stake.

Heavy Warfare Means You Have a Voice Worth Silencing

The enemy does not waste his resources on things that do not matter. If he has assigned a coordinated, relentless attack against your peace, your words, your confidence, or your ability to speak then it is because what flows from your mouth carries weight in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture confirms this in Isaiah 59:19b (KJV) saying, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

A flood is not a mild nuisance. A flood is an overwhelming force designed to submerge everything in its path. If you feel submerged, it is because the Spirit of the Lord is about to raise a standard and you are standing right in front of it.

Do not misread the intensity of the warfare. The enemy is not attacking you because you are weak. He is attacking you because of what God is about to release through you. Be strong!

Strength is Not the Absence of Struggle—It is the Decision to Stand

Being strong in the Lord does not mean you feel invincible. It does not mean the pressure is not real, or that grief is not heavy, or that the silence has not cost you something. It means that during all of it, you decide this: I will not lay down my assignment.

Ephesians 6:11-18 (NIV) describes the full armor of God. Let’s read it below: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Every single piece of that armor is meant to help you do one thing: stand. “Having done everything, stand” (Ephesians 6:13). God is not asking you to win the battle in your own strength. He is asking you to stand while He fights.

The wiles of the devil are strategies that are calculated, patient, and layered. What has felt like random hardship may be a carefully constructed attempt to wear you down until you sit down. This is the moment to put on every piece of God’s armor that He describes in Ephesians 6:11-18. Remember that our spiritual armor includes these elements: Truth around your waist. Righteousness on your chest. The gospel on your feet. Faith as your shield. Salvation covers your mind. The Word of God in your hand. And prayer that is unceasing covers it all.

You may be weary. Stand anyway. Be strong!

Your Silence Is Not Your Defeat

There are moments when God allows us to be brought low not to break us, but to strip away everything we have been leaning on outside of Him. The silence the enemy intended as a weapon, God is using as a wilderness. And wildernesses, in Scripture, always precedes a new dimension of power and purpose. Remember these Bible stories: Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). John the Baptist emerged from the desert with a voice that shook a nation. The silence you have endured has been preparing something in you that could not have been formed any other way.

Listen to this clearly: The enemy's goal was for you to stay silent. God's plan is for you to come out of this season with a testimony so undeniable, so forged by fire, that it breaks chains in the lives of people who hear it. Your voice restored, refined, and rooted in what God has walked you through is what the enemy feared all along.

Do not let the devil and his evil forces win. Open your mouth. Praise before the breakthrough comes. Speak the Word over your life even when your voice trembles. The flood is meeting the standard. Be strong!

Let’s Pray:

Father God, I come before You in the name of Jesus. I thank You that You are not surprised by this season and that before I ever felt the weight of this warfare, You already had prepared a way through it. You woke me with Your word telling me to “Be Strong!” You have not left me to face this alone.

Lord, I confess that there have been moments when the pressure silenced me and when the enemy's flood felt higher than my faith. But Your Word declares that when the enemy comes in like a flood, You raise a standard. Today I stand on that promise. I receive that standard. I declare that what the enemy meant to silence; You are about to amplify for Your glory.

Strengthen me now not in my own might, but in the power of Your might. Let my mouth—the very thing the enemy came after—be opened wide and be filled with Your praise, Your Word, and Your testimony. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Trust in God” (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)” by Tori Kelly. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Stand” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

~*~
Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: God can help you overcome the past

Overcoming the Past
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”—2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV)

The past can sometimes contain lingering reminders of our mistakes and failures. Perhaps things done in sin that led to regret, or accidents brought on by missteps or miscalculations. God doesn’t want us to live in the past, nor be taunted by the enemy (Satan) from anything in it.

When we receive the gift of salvation provided by Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and accept Him as our Savior, His love transforms us­. He makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). But, because of our worldly flesh, it is often difficult to forget or let go of the past no matter how hard we try. This might also include family and friends in our lives who also have difficulty forgiving our “past selves” or letting go of the past.

In our weakness of flesh, Satan will try to use the sins of our past against us. He tests our strength in Christ by poking at our weaknesses, often by using someone we love or care about to do it. Not long ago a friend of mine, Joe, came to me for prayer because of present day negative and chastising comments he received from family members regarding his past mistakes before Christ changed his life. Through a lot of work and dedication, Joe was healed from his past. Today, he is a very different person. For him the “old passed away”, but not for some of his family members. It was difficult for Joe to experience such an attack, which caused him pain and feelings of anger and resentment.

I reminded Joe that, while the negative comments were hard to take, they were not the truth. The truth is he belongs to Christ, so he is a new creation. He is a son of God! He is loved and covered by God. I prayed with him and told him to keep praying until he felt at peace. Only the power of prayer can overcome what we cannot do ourselves in our fleshly weakness. We cannot overcome the devil or anything else without calling on God, who is our defender in the faith. He will come to our aid and rescue every time.

Next, I encouraged Joe to forgive those who wounded him. What they did was in their own flesh and, as we are one with Christ, we must not regard it (2 Corinthians 5:16). Matthew 6:14 (ESV) also says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Forgiveness in Christ has the power to not only set us free, but also those who hurt us. We may not be able to change their fleshly actions or response, but we can rest assured that God takes control of any situation we put back in His hands through forgiveness.

Finally, I encouraged Joe to resist Satan, to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18), and tell the enemy to take his lies back to the pit where he belongs. We must know who our enemy is! Joe wasn’t fighting his family members, he was fitting against Satan, who wants to destroy him with lies about his past. When we resist the devil, he must flee from us (James 4:7)!

So, if you’re struggling with things from your past, take heart and do not be discouraged! God is with you (1 Chronicles 28:20)! You can be still and know that the Lord will fight for you (Exodus 14:14). His great love can and will sustain you. He will bring you through the storm to the other side because He is in you and “behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Glory be to God!

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, though I struggle against flesh and blood, I know you fight my battles. You will overcome my flesh because in you I am a new creation. Thank You for overcoming my current circumstances and setting me free from anything the enemy tries to use against me. I am not my past, and any mistakes in it no longer have a hold on me. In you there is always victory over my enemies! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Battle Belongs” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer currently residing in Northern Virginia. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, ACFW, ACFW Virginia Chapter (Treasurer), The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint. 

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. Her first historical fiction novel is set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England. She loves horses, cats, dogs, and all things peppermint!

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirachellecanada/
Email: mirachelle@mirachellecanada.com