Reject Lies, Embrace Truth

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“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:5

It is hard to put into words how the lies in my mind can sometimes take over. For years, they had come uninvited. “You’re not loved. You’re irrelevant. Nobody cares about you.”

They were just thoughts—small, passing ones.  But over time, they started to sound like truth. I had never thought much about it until one day when I was talking to my friend Brenda.

We were sitting at her kitchen table, the scent of fresh coffee curling in the air, when I finally admitted it.

“I know God calls me loved, chosen, and worthy,” I said, “but… I don’t always feel like it.”

Brenda set her mug down and leaned in. “Lisa, have you ever left honey on the table?”

I frowned.

“Honey,” she repeated. “What happens if you leave it sitting out?”

I shrugged. “Flies come.”

She nodded. “That is what agreeing with the enemy does. When you believe the lies—even just a little—it is like putting honey on the table. It invites the swarm. But you do not have to feed them.”

Tears stung my eyes. I had been trying to fight off the lies for so long, but I had never considered that I was the one allowing them to stay.

Brenda smiled, her voice gentle but firm. “You need to stop agreeing with the wrong things. And start agreeing with the right ones.”

That night, as I lay in bed, the lies tried again. But instead of letting them sit, I whispered truth into the dark.

I am seen. I am enough. I am held by God.

And I will keep saying it—because agreement matters.

What have you been agreeing with? And what might change if you started speaking God’s truth instead?

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Hope and Victory in Jesus

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“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

The doctor’s words cut deep. “You will never fully recover.”

The stroke had left Eugene Bartlett weak, unable to travel, and unable to play as he once had. Music had been his life’s work—his way of sharing the gospel—so this news was devastating.

What was a man supposed to do when the thing he loved most was taken away?

At first, the grief threatened to crush him. But slowly, something else rose up—something stronger. Hadn’t he always believed that Jesus was enough? That victory wasn’t in having a perfect life but in knowing a perfect Savior?

He had watched war-torn families cling to that truth. He had seen broken men find hope when nothing around them changed. And now, it was his turn to live what he had preached.

If he could no longer stand before a congregation, he would find another way to share the truth. If he couldn’t sing, he would write.

And so, with unsteady hands, he put pen to paper. The lyrics flowed from his heart like a battle cry. It was a song of triumph in the face of suffering. He had victory in Jesus, and that was the truth.

Maybe you feel like you’re fighting a battle you can’t win. Maybe everything you counted on has changed. But the victory Eugene wrote about is not just for the strong. It is for the weary, the broken, the ones who are barely holding on. It is for you. Right now.

O victory in Jesus
My Savior, forever
He sought me and He bought me
With His redeeming blood

He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

 

LYRICS:
Chorus
Oh victory in Jesus
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

Verse 1
I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning
Of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sin,
Christ won the victory!

Verse 2
I heard about His healing
All His miracles revealing
That He alone can save a soul
And set the captive free
I’m happy in His promise
How soon He’s coming for us
And home with Him I’ll sing again:
Christ won the victory!

Verse 3
I’ll tell the old, old story
Till my Savior comes from glory
I’ll tell of all the Lord has done
To set this sinner free
That all who will believe Him
By Faith can still receive Him
And share in that redemption song:
Christ won the victory!

Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)
Words and Music by E.M. Bartlett, Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty

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Create in Me a Clean Heart

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“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

I stood in the garage, hands on my hips, staring down the mess.

Inside were towers of boxes, old furniture, and bins overflowing with things I had meant to deal with “later.” Later had turned into never, and now the clutter had taken over.

I reached for a random box and pried it open. Inside, a tangle of old cords, a pair of faded curtain panels, and a sweatshirt I thought I had lost. I held them up, remembering the season of life they came from. So much had changed.

None of this stuff was serving its intended purpose at all. Instead of being a space for something useful, like parking our cars, our garage had turned into a storage unit for things we didn’t need. So, we got to work—sorting, tossing, and making hard decisions about what to keep.

At first, it felt overwhelming, but as we worked together, we could see the transformation taking place. The more we cleared out, the more space we created, and the more we realized how much we had been holding onto things that weren’t serving us. By the time we finished, it was like we had a whole new space.

That is when it hit me: this is exactly what God wants to do in my heart. Over time, I let things build up like worries, grudges, and distractions. These are things that crowd out what He wants for me.

But just like clearing that garage, letting God work in my life takes effort. I have to choose to let go, to make space, and to trust that He is replacing the clutter with something better.

So, what about you? What’s taking up space in your heart that doesn’t belong? What could happen if you let God in to do the deep cleaning? The process might not be easy, but the freedom that follows is worth every bit of the work.

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God’s Lavish Love

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“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

1 John 3:1

Jon David was my early bird, and I was very much not.

Every morning, without fail, he would burst into my room with rapid-fire requests: “Mom, I’m hungry! Mom, I’m thirsty! Mom, read me a book!”

Most mornings, I barely cracked my eyes open before mumbling something like, “Give me five more minutes, buddy.”

But one morning, he woke me up in a way I will never forget. Instead of his usual boisterous entrance, he stood quietly by my bed. He brushed my arm, and in the softest voice, he said, “I love you, sweet angel. You are a gift from heaven.”

Then he kissed my cheek and whispered it again!

I opened my eyes to see his face beaming at me, and my heart melted on the spot. I barely had time to gather my thoughts before he skipped off, leaving me lying there, stunned by the purity of that moment.

Later that day, as I drove home after dropping him off at kindergarten, I could not stop thinking about it. Then it hit me—he had repeated my words. The ones I had whispered to him night after night. The ones I had spoken over him when he was scared, when he was sleepy, and when I just wanted him to know how deeply he was loved.

Somehow, those words had settled into his heart. And now, without being asked, he had given them back to me.

And that is exactly how God loves us. He does not just hand it to us in small, measured doses. He pours it over us—like an unstoppable waterfall with waves that never stop crashing onto the shore. He delights in us, treasures us, whispers over us, “I love you, sweet angel. You are a gift from heaven.”

I don’t know what your morning looked like today, friend. Maybe it was chaos. Maybe it was loneliness. But I do know this: you are deeply and lavishly loved. And do you know what the most beautiful thing you can do with that kind of love is?

Let it pour back out.

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Unburden Your Heart Today

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“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22

I walked through the front door and immediately regretted it.

Our house wasn’t just messy—no, it was chaos. There were baby items everywhere. My normal “clutter” was nothing compared to this, and I was not sure how to handle it.

I took a deep breath and retreated to my bedroom. I should have known better. Half of the room was filled with newborn gear; the other half was a mess of my own making. And my closet? I was almost afraid to open it.

But I did anyway.

Clothes were packed so tightly I could barely move a hanger. Shoes stacked on top of shoes. Things I had not worn in years, just sitting there, taking up space. I stood there, frozen, staring at the mess. Why had I let it get like this again?

And then, I had a thought. Do I even need all of this?

So, I started with my closet. I reached for a dress I had forgotten about, a sweater that never quite fit, and some shoes that were two sizes too small. One by one, I started a “donate” pile.

Then another thought came. Why am I holding on to so much?

And I was not just talking about clothes.

How much have I been carrying that no longer fits where God is taking me? Worries I do not need, expectations that only weigh me down, or frustrations that serve no purpose other than keeping me stuck.

Jesus did not want me to live overwhelmed. He was inviting me to release the things that do not belong—so why was I still clinging to them?

While I worked, I prayed through those thoughts. As the mess faded, so did the heaviness I did not even realize I was carrying.

I do not know what you are carrying today, but I know this—if it is weighing you down, it is not from Him. It is okay to let go. In fact, it may be the only way forward.

What could God do in your life if you made space for Him today?

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God Believes in You

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“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

The idea that we are supposed to believe in God is a pretty common one. But what about the idea that God believes in you?

Some years ago, I was walking through a season of discouragement and doubt. One evening, I went to church searching for a touch from God. The service consisted of great worship and solid teaching, but I didn’t get anything out of it and left feeling even more defeated.

I questioned God’s love for me. Why had He not shown up in the way I needed? Deepening darkness crept in and I cried out from the depths of my heart with a simple, desperate prayer.

“Lord, please help me! If you don’t help me now, I’m not sure I’ll recover.”

The response I heard in my spirit shocked me. “I believe in you.”

Did God really believe in me? And if so, what did that mean?

I searched the scriptures and began to realize that in the same way a parent believes in a child, God believes in His children. He created us in His image and likeness, entrusting the Earth to our care.

You don’t entrust something to someone you don’t believe in. While we failed in the garden, and have failed time and time again throughout history, He still chose to give His only Son so we could partner with Him in the fulfillment of His will.

The reality is God could have done all of this by Himself, but instead, He calls us higher, uniquely gifting each of us to represent Him. The good news is, we don’t have to do this in our own strength.

No matter how difficult things might seem, God is still for you. God believes in you. God is counting on you. Will you let that truth sink into your heart so deeply that it not only changes your own life but also compels you to carry that message of hope to others who need to hear it?

—Danny Gokey

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Trusting God in Chaos

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“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans 8:24-25

“What are those blasted dogs barking at?” I hollered, setting my coffee down hard on the table.

Robin bellowed from the back door, voice full of urgency. “There’s a big ole white rooster flying around in our backyard, and Harley’s got a mouthful of feathers! But I think it’s okay. It ran under the house.”

I blinked. “A what?”

“A rooster!” Robin was already halfway outside.

I shot up from my chair, my peaceful morning gone in an instant. “Robin, we do not have roosters in town!”

“Well, tell that to the sucker flapping around out here!”

Coffee forgotten, I ran out onto the porch, only to be greeted by pure chaos. The pups were going wild losing their ever-loving mind. Robin crouched down, peering into the darkness beneath the house. “I swear I saw it run under here.” m

So, naturally, we searched. High and low. Around the yard, in the shed, and under the porch. Not a cluck. Not a feather. Not a thing.

Robin finally stood up, baffled. “I don’t get it. It was right here!”

And just like that, the search was over. No rooster and no explanation. Just us, standing smack dab in the middle of our backyard, exhausted and empty-handed.

And suddenly, it hit me—how often do we do this? We demand answers, chase clarity, search for a perfect explanation when life throws us something confusing. And when we come up empty-handed? We panic.

But faith isn’t about always understanding. It’s about trusting the One who does.

Maybe today, instead of demanding explanations, we trust that God sees the whole picture—even when we are standing in the middle of our backyard, scratching our heads.

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Uplift Every Day

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“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Hebrews 3:13

I was never much of a baseball person, but my nephews? They live for it.

So when my oldest nephew had a game, my husband, daughter, and I found ourselves packed into the stands at the Ruston Sports Complex, surrounded by the unmistakable sounds of spring—bats cracking, kids laughing, and parents shouting a few “helpful” suggestions to the umpire.

As my nephew stepped up to the batter’s box, I felt a surge of pride, knowing he was giving his all on the field. With each swing of the bat, we erupted into applause.

The opposing team was really good, and they gave our athletes a challenge on every play. As innings passed, the score remained neck and neck. When the game concluded, the scoreboard showed a tie, and the audience applauded from both sets of stands.

And as we gathered our things and headed home, it dawned on me. The real victory was how these families encouraged those kids.

Every day, people around us are stepping up, trying, pushing forward. Some are facing battles no one sees. And just like those little leaguers, they need someone in the stands cheering them on.

Who in your life needs to hear, “I see you. You are doing great. Keep going”? Maybe that is the most important thing you will say today.

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A Deeper Experience of God

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“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!”

1 Chronicles 16:9

Darlene Zschech had always loved leading worship, but this was different. God’s presence felt closer than ever. Every time she opened her Bible, every moment of prayer, every song she sang—it all felt alive in a way she could not explain.

She was not the only one feeling it. Her church leaders had noticed a shift. People were desperate for more than just another song. They wanted to know God in a way that was personal and transformative.

So, when Darlene and the worship team met, they kept circling back to the same question: How do we lead people into a deeper experience of God?

They did not want to write songs that just filled a setlist. They wanted to create something that made space for real worship—something that could be sung in living rooms, in cars, and in quiet moments alone with God.

That night, as Darlene sat with her guitar, she let go of all expectations. She was just worshiping and pouring her heart out before God. And as she lifted her voice, the words and melody began to form together.

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name” 

What happened next took her breath away. The song “Shout to the Lord” did not stay within her church. It spread like wildfire. Because people everywhere—no matter their denomination, their background, or their struggles—were desperate for the same thing: a real encounter with God.

Maybe you are, too. Maybe stress has dulled your joy, and you are longing for something to break through the noise. Worship is not about singing; it is about surrender. It is about lifting your eyes and letting your heart remember who He is.

Right now, in this moment, will you worship?

 

Lyrics
Verse 1:
My Jesus
My Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

Verse 2:
My Comfort
My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath
All that I am
Never cease to worship You

Chorus 1:
Shout to the Lord
All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your Name

Chorus 2:
I sing for joy
At the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You
Forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to
The promise I have in You
—
‘Shout To The Lord’
Words & Music by Darlene Zschech
© 1993 Hillsong Music
CCLI #: 1406918

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Let Go of the Struggle

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“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”

Psalms 28:7

I wiped my forehead, squinting up at the sun. I had only mowed half the yard, but my arms already felt like jelly.

It was a game I played with myself—how long could I go before flipping on the automatic drive? At first, it felt like a challenge, something to prove. But now? Now, it felt ridiculous.

“This is for the birds,” I muttered, flipping the switch.

The mower surged forward like it had been waiting for me to give in. Effortless. Smooth. I barely had to touch it.

And that is when it hit me.

How many times had I done this in life? How often did I push through and strain under the weight of stress, worry, and control—when all along, there was power far greater than my own, just waiting for me to surrender?

I had wasted so much energy. So much time fighting battles in my own strength, when God had never asked me to.

I finished the yard, but I could not shake the thought. Because the truth was, I was not the only one struggling.

People all around me were pushing through life exhausted, just like I had been with that mower. And maybe they just needed someone to remind them that there was a better way. That God’s power was not something to reach for as a last resort but something to rely on every single day.

Maybe you have been pushing too hard, too. Maybe someone you know is quietly struggling, thinking they have to handle life alone.

But they don’t. And neither do you.

Let go of the struggle. Flip the switch and show others they can too because God’s power is already here.

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