Fear Not!

 Verse of the day

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

Isaiah 41:10

Meditation

Life can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows. We can feel buffeted by the storms of life, from illness to anxiety, job changes to relationship issues. Our faith may waver, but God is always with us, as promised in Isaiah. When the storm passes, we can find peace and rest in Him, just like the morning after a wild night- the sky is clear, the waves are gentle, and all is peaceful.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, be with us today, in times of difficulty and in times of peace. Let us be comforted by the assurance that You are always close. Amen.

My Thoughts

I love this verse in the bible because it is a constant reminder that God is always with me. When I'm doubting a situation and I've got so much fear in that moment I can reflect back on this and remember that I'm not alone and my God is bigger than the fears I have. Fear is a liar. Fear comes from the devil and the devil is a liar. We all go through things in this life but we can hold on to the hope that Our God is bigger than all things we face. God will never leave you or forsake you. We may have little faith in those hard times but it doesn't take much faith. Even the size of a grain of mustard seed is all the faith it takes. If you can "muster up" at least that much faith you're doing good. See what I did there. Find your peace in God today and rest in Him knowing that He is there for you and He loves you. 

Hope As The Foundation

So I decided it's time to get off the pity train and get back into reading and doing my devotional. I'm struggling but I know it's something I need to do. Just bear with me and show me grace as I navigate through my recent hurt and come to see God in my storm again. Let's put on our God vision goggles and keep pressing on.         

Verse of the Day

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;    Hebrews 6:19

Meditation

No matter what life throws at us, we can remain unshakable if we have hope in God and His word. Hope is the foundation of our faith, and it gives us the strength to keep going even in difficult times. We can't be promised that everything will be perfect, but if we stay positive and trust in Christ, we will see God's power at work. Work hard, pray often, and never lose hope- you will be blessed.

Prayer

Lord, we trust in You and Your power to do great things in our lives. We cling to the hope that difficult times will pass, and that You will give us the strength to endure. We know that with You, all things are possible. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Personal Reflection

We all go through hell every now and again in this lifetime on earth. Earth is not our forever though. All the battles and struggles we face here will not be in Heaven. It may look like you were dealt a terrible hand in life sometimes but have hope in your future with Jesus. Look forward to Heaven and being with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lately there hasn't been much hope in my life. My marriage seems to keep hitting a snag and taking a blow with the evil in this world. I've been too focused on other things and worrying about the things I can't control. I don't know why as humans we do that. We think we can do something about it and we can fix everything if we just do this or that. We end up driving ourselves insane instead of just bringing all of our worries and hurt to God. When that marriage looks like it has no hope we forget that we should have been putting our hope in Jesus. Trusting Jesus with all of it. I know God is real and Jesus is real but sometimes in our lives we forget to think about that. Sometimes we can only see how big the problem is in front of us and forget how big our God is and all that He is capable of. Trust is a hard thing for me. I've been burned alot in life and I carry some pretty big scars. I do not know what God is going to do in my marriage but I know I have to choose to trust Him no matter what the outcome is. No matter how hopeless it looks you will never choose wrong by trusting Jesus. What He has for you is so much more than anything you could ever hope for yourself. Let's pray for one another to have hope and be consistent in staying rooted in the word of God and trusting Him to take care of everything in our lives. 

The Struggle to Stay Consistent With My Walk With God When My Life is Falling Apart

 Yes, even I've been there and I'm there again. People look at the title of my blog, The Faithful Wife and Mama, and probably think this woman has it all together. But let's be honest, I'm just like everyone else. I'm human. I fall short too. I've been dealing with some issues in my life lately. You ever just have something going on in your life and start to wonder if God hears your cries and sees your pain. That's me the past week or so. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing well in my walk with God and then there are times like lately that I wonder why it is that I'm having to endure these same issues over and over again. I forgive and try to move forward each time and things seem to get better and then before I know it, the waves are bigger than I can withstand and I'm hit hard with the truth. I question it each time, "Is it ever going to change?" Will I always have to deal with this? I'm trying my best to use my blog to help others understand the things I've been through and maybe help someone else see that there is hope and things can be restored, but when the past is constantly changing from "past" to "present" how can I help someone overcome what is going on in their life if I'm constantly reliving the past on a loop? I feel stuck and I long for the day that God makes my past stay in the past. I want it to be something that never happens again. I want what everyone wants, to walk through motherhood without the pain in my life overflowing and showing up as anger and overstimulation towards my kids, to not let what's happening in my marriage keep me from being a good mother, and to not let the struggles I'm facing in my marriage keep me from obeying and following God and trusting in His plan for my life. God's timing is not like our timing but I keep wondering how long will this season last and what does all of this mean for my life. I'm sorry I haven't been as positive lately. I'm struggling to keep my mind off of it all. I try to pray and sometimes I don't even have the words to say what I need or what I'm feeling. Whoever reads this I hope you are praying for good things to happen in my life. I really need to see a bright side of things. 

Keep On Keeping On

 God is not done in your life. He who began a good work in you will see it to the end. I know it feels like the closer you get to God and the more you seek Him it feels like nothing is going right and honestly it feels like things are just getting worse. You're having issues with your job, your marriage is falling apart, the car is trying to break down, your credit score just won't climb high enough for you to get out of the hole. It seems like when it rains it pours. You can't ever get ahead. You take 3 steps forward and 4 steps back. Don't give up. God is paving the way for you even when you can't see it. Keep trusting Him. He may take you through the valley for a season but your day on the mountain top is just around the corner. The devil would like nothing more than to destroy you and throw things your way to set you back on the journey but just keep pressing on. Your faith will go through the fire but keep it. You will be okay as long as you put your faith and trust in God.

Lately

 Sorry it's been a few days since I've posted anything. My emotions have not been well this week. Some stuff came up and I've just not felt like the reflection of what my blog is about. I'm going through something, and I've been praying for God to show me the way and what it is that I need to do. I hope you can all understand, not that many people even look at my blog. That's okay. I just needed to type this. I hope to be a light again soon and start posting some devotionals soon. I need prayer. Prayer for guidance on my situation. Prayer for clarity. Prayer for discernment from God. Prayer that I will make the right choices. I love you all and I shall post more when I'm feeling better. Thank you.

Betrayed

I'm just going to be real and raw here for minute. I wrote this at a time in my life when my heart was shattered. This poem still rings true.

Betrayed 💔

I gave you my heart and you broke it. I gave you my trust and you destroyed it. I gave you my body and you took it for granted. I gave you my love and you traded it for lust. I gave you my time and you spent it elsewhere. You are always on my mind, but your mind is not always on me. There's no amount of make up or weight loss or picture poses to satisfy your needs. I only look for you, but you aren't looking for me. I've given you multiple chances to restore what's lost with me but instead you used those chances to keep breaking me. When does the cycle end? When will the merry go round stop spinning? When will all that I've given, you be more than enough? My heart is still broken but i'm patching it up. There are cracks in the corners and blood keeps seeping. I want you to love me. I want you to need me. I guess it won't be long until you're leaving me. But I will become whole again and I won't feel as broken. I'm worth it to someone. Even if that someone isn't you.

Written January 2023

By: Destinee Clanton

The Triggers of PTSD From Infidelity

 Sensitive Senses After Betrayal

You are doing good. You're finally healing after the hurt. You can get out of bed again and not worry about it all. You get up to start your day; make yourself some coffee, turn on some music to get ready to clean and then that one song comes on. Instantly your heart sinks in your chest and beats so fast you think you just might pass out from it. That song might be a happy song that you've listened to a million times and enjoyed over and over but it just happens to be a song that was playing when trauma took place. Immediately it takes you to the place of the trauma and betrayal. It is a reminder each time you hear it of what you felt in that moment of hurt. I want to talk about the little things that trigger those moments in time and the haunting memories they bring up.

Sight

A picture, a person, a car, a building, a commercial on TV. Any of these things could be a trigger to your past pain. Sometimes all it takes is seeing something that brings up the emotions you experienced from your trauma to take you right back into that moment. For me, its the social media logos and any photo ever taken during that time period of when the infidelity was taking place. I see the person he was when I look at these photos. Even his eyes hold something in the photo that hurts me. The sight of the social media logos I see any time we are around friends that use those apps or the ones I see ads for when I'm just scrolling online. The eyes see things that pierce the heart and cause pain.

Sound

The sound of a loud pickup truck driving by, the notification sounds from these apps that were once used sounding off all around me in today's society, the music that was playing when this or that happened to me. Sound can be powerful in bringing up old feelings. But silence, that can hurt too. It reminds of the times the phone went off but you couldn't hear it, the times we laid in bed and didn't speak. Sometimes the silence is so loud it hurts. Sometimes the choice of words used that you've heard time and time again like "It's nothing." Sounds and silence can trigger you to the point of heartache.

Touch

The way his hands feel when they slide down my shoulders and back, the way his clothes feel, the way my clothes feel because the fabric on me reminds me of the time he hurt me. You remember in that moment what he was wearing when he said or did this and seeing yourself in the mirror with those clothes on remind you that trauma lives in the stitches of those clothes that no amount of laundry detergent could ever wash out. 

Taste

Your once favorite ice cream flavor or drink you enjoyed or the fact that the very first week you found out about it you had tacos and for a while the thought of eating them made you physically sick and emotionally broken. I know that sounds silly but trauma creates details in your memory that you may never forget. 

Smell

The smell of that particular cologne, the air freshener being sprayed in the house, the smell of the shampoo you used during that week the betrayal happened again. The smell of the car freshener that was hanging on the mirror when you were fighting in the driveway. 

When someone has experienced trauma or betrayal, the five senses can become portals to pain, unexpectedly reopening wounds thought to be healed. A scent reminiscent of a moment of heartbreak, the brush of fabric that mirrors a past embrace, the sound of a voice or a song once cherished—all have the power to trigger emotional memories etched deep within. Trauma doesn’t just linger in the mind; it imprints on the body, stored like echoes within our sensory experience. Betrayal, especially, leaves a residue where once there was trust, and sensory cues can reactivate feelings of fear, confusion, or grief. Yet in these awakenings, we’re reminded of our need for sacred healing—a place where even what hurts can be sanctified through grace. 

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” — Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

This verse reminds us that nothing escapes God’s notice—not even the silent screams triggered by a smell, a sound, or a subtle touch. It suggests that our sensory responses to trauma are not weaknesses to be ashamed of, but sacred evidence of where healing is still unfolding.

Wholehearted Praise and Trust

 The Psalm of the day comes from Psalm 146:1-6

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.

Give the LORD God your praise!

You can trust God with all. Putting your trust in people will get you hurt, betrayed, and disappointed. Place all your hope in the LORD God, the one who made all of heaven and earth and all that is in the earth. Praise the one true God who is your creator. All the days of your life praise Him.

Warning

 Gospel of the day comes from Matthew 7:15-20

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

What does your fruit look like? 

When you are standing in front of the apple or pear tree you will notice there is fruit hanging from the branches but there is also fruit laying on the ground that has fallen off. When picking the fruit most people prefer it to be fresh with a nice color and vibrant. The fruit on the branch is healthier and appears more desirable. Sometimes the best pick of the fruit is higher up in the tree and you may have to work harder to get to it. Sure, there may be fruit on the ground that is easier to get to but what you'll find on the ground is usually no longer good to eat and most of the time it has become a food source to bugs and other insects. Its spoiled and no longer good fruit. You see the fruit on the tree and the ground can also symbolize people. Trees are rooted in the ground and if the roots are healthy and good the fruit on the tree will grow appropriately. It all starts with the foundation. When we are rooted in Jesus Christ we will continue to grow and flourish with good traits and character. Galatians 5:22-23 shows us that when we walk closely with the Holy Spirit good fruit is brought forth. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The Holy Spirit only produces good fruit. But when dealing with the works of the flesh we stand in direct opposition to the Spirit's fruit. Galatians 5:19-21 is what bad fruit or works of the flesh will look like. Sexual immorality, Impurity, Sensuality, Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmity, Strife, Jealousy, Fits of anger, Rivalries, Dissensions, Divisions, Envy, Drunkenness, Orgies, and anything else that reflects self-centered living over Spirit-led life.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. -Galatians 5:21

Two Mothers, One Promise

 Mary, the mother of carrying Jesus, traveled to visit her relative Elisabeth, who at the time was also with child carrying John the Baptist. When Mary arrives and greets Elisabeth, John leaps in Elisabeth's womb. It's almost as if John could feel the presence of Jesus nearby. Elisabeth is then filled with the Holy Ghost and begins to prophesy saying, "Blessed art thou among women, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Even though not yet born, John responds to the presence of Jesus with joy. For anyone who believes that unborn children are not living, human beings you are most certainly wrong. When John the Baptist leapt in his mother's womb and she was filled with the Holy Ghost, that was confirmation for Elisabeth to tell Mary that she was carrying the Son of God. Elisabeth reminds us that those who trust in God's word will see its fulfillment. Even when you don't understand how or why, trust God to reveal it to you. I am most thankful for Mary trusting and believing in God and for her doing God's will by carrying and birthing the Son of God. Had Jesus not been born, there would be no salvation, no hope for mankind, and no one entering into Heaven through repentance and belief in Jesus Christ. Can you imagine an eternal separation from God? I never want to know what that is like. There is coming a day when the skies will be split open and Jesus will return for His people. It's important more now than ever to be ready for His return. Are you ready? Is your name written in the book of life? If not or if you are unsure, it's not too late. Give your life to Jesus. Step into eternal life. I pray this helped someone. 

Does Christ Dwell in Your Heart?

 Verse of the night is coming from Ephesians 3:17-19

As it reads: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Meditation

Christ's love is unwavering and unconditional. Christ's love never fails and fills us with God's fullness.

Pray

Heavenly Father, help us to understand the boundless love of Jesus and to share it with those around us. May we be filled with compassion and kindness. Amen.

Gospel & Psalm of the Day

 Today we are reading from the book of Matthew 17:22-27(KJV)

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and gibe unto them for me and thee.

Today's Psalm comes from Psalm 84:3-8 (KJV)

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O LORD God hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

God's Mercy

Verse of the Day

 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ephesians 2:4-5

Meditation

God's love is infinite, more vast than the sand on the beach. His love endures forever. No mistake can exhaust it. I'm thankful for His never-ending, never-failing love.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy. We are so grateful that You have saved us from our sins and given us new life in Christ. Help us to remember that it is not by our own works that we are saved, but by Your grace. May we live in a way that reflects Your love and mercy. Amen.

My Thoughts

God loves us more than we could ever think or imagine. After all, He did send His only Son to die on a cross to cover the debt of every sin we will ever commit. God has shown me more mercy in my short life than I deserve. We all sin and we all fall short of God's grace. Not one person other than Jesus that ever walked this earth was perfect. Keep praying and keep trusting God. He is always there for you.

Puzzled Thoughts

 Do you ever just miss the person you fell in love with? You may ask "But aren't you still with them?" Technically yes, it's the same person but this version has been changed over time. With each crack to the surface a new piece is revealed and eventually they are a new creation. Sometimes they are unrecognizable to the person you once knew. 

Betrayed, Broken, but Becoming Whole Again

 When Betrayal Turns to Brokenness but Brokenness to Breakthrough

I have believed in God since childhood. I was raised up in church for the most part. I have witnessed the Holy Spirit move within a church building among fellow Christians, so I knew what the power and presence of God looked and felt like. I've always been told to trust God with my life and that in my pain there is purpose. I grew up and strayed for a while but I always came back to what I knew; I knew who Jesus was. When I became a young lady at the age of 18, I started dating the one who I would marry later on when I was just 20 years old. I started married life pretty early on. We both attended church together and shared the same Christian beliefs. Of course, we had little spats here and there like all married couples do but the years on down the road is when things really got tough. On a normal day, 8 years into our marriage, a random text message confirmed my worst fears. The betrayal of infidelity. I never thought my 'I do' would lead me here, heart shattered and searching for where God was at this very moment. My thoughts racing, wondering, how did this happen? Why did this happen? I started to wonder if somehow it was my fault. But since I was raised Christian I knew exactly where to turn in that moment; God was there then and He was still here now. Sometimes God will allow pain and brokenness to come into our lives to remind us He is there to bring us back to the foot of the cross. I knew that there was purpose in my pain as I had been taught when I was younger. I had drifted away from God prior to this and I needed this to happen to bring me back. I wrestled with the pain of the betrayal for the next few years as I tried to regain my trust for my spouse. Sometimes the memories of my trauma still haunt me. But I'm also here to tell you that God will turn your betrayal and brokenness into breakthrough. Breakthrough in your heart, mind, spirit, and my marriage. God can turn any situation around. God didn't just patch me up. He began remaking me-stronger, softer, and closer to Him than I ever imagined. God changed my situation for the better. He changed my betrayal to redemption, my brokenness to restoration, and in my marriage, from what could have been divorce into a life rewritten. Ultimately, becoming who I was meant to be. God saved my marriage. No, it's not perfect and there are still days we struggle but instead of feuding against one another we are leaning on the promises of God. Below are some of the bible verses that helped me through it all. ↓↓↓

 

Mark 10:9

Psalm 34:18

Romans 8:28

James 1:2-4

1 Peter 5:10

2 Corinthians 4:17

Job 13:15

Job 5:18

Job 42:10

 Being a Good Mama When Your World is Falling Apart

Dishes in the sink, laundry overflowing, kids fighting, and I'm just there sitting on the brink of complete and utter insanity. There is a current war going on in my marriage and just when I think I can't take one more break in my heart, the tiny arms of my children wrap around me and it's then I know I have to keep going. I see you, Mama. Forcing yourself out of bed with a heart as heavy as an elephant from all your daily battles. Wondering if today will be the day things change. 

Truths About Being a Good Mama

Being a good mother isn't about being perfect because let's face it no one is perfect. It's about being present even when you don't feel like it. It's about giving love and showing grace even when you are in a deep, dark hole yourself. The fact that you worry, "Am I a good mama?" means that you are one. Just because you are in a bad place doesn't make you a bad mama.

Lean On Jesus; Look to God

God's presence is always near in your storms of life. In Isaiah 43:1 it says "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine." God is there for you always. In Lamentations 3:22-23 it says "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases...His mercies are new every morning." God tells us that we can face each day like it is new. So get up, Mama. Don't throw in the towel just wash your face and keep going. God will be with you every step of the way giving you the strength you need to press on.

Grace for the Day

-Take a few minutes to just breathe and pray.

-Let go of one task; you can't do them all.

-Speak kindly to yourself-like you would to your child.

Motherhood is sacred even when life is messy. God is always with you through every phase of life. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 Hang in there, Mama. This isn't the whole story, it's just another chapter. 

Gospels & Psalms of the Day

 Gospel of the day comes from Matthew 13:47-53 in the KJV Bible

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Psalms of the Day comes from Psalms 24:1-6 in the KJV Bible

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Link to the bible app: https://www.bibliaconsigo.com/h5/

His Love Is All You Need

 Today's devotional is coming from 1 John 4:7-8

As it reads, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 KJV

Meditation

God's love for us is unconditional and everlasting. He gave us the ultimate gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could be saved and spend eternity with Him. His love is so great that He sent Jesus to die for us, even when we were sinners. We don't have to do anything to earn His love; it has always been there. He gave us the greatest gift of all, and we are forever grateful.

Pray

Lord, your love and grace are infinite. Your righteousness and mercy come together at the cross. Help me to comprehend more of your reconciling love. I know you don't love us without condition, but because you are Love. You made us to be in relationship with you and gave your Son to restore it. I'm thankful for your love that I can feel every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Link to my bible app: https://www.bibliaconsigo.com/h5/

Gospels and Psalms of the Day

 Gospels of the Day

John 13:16-20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know who I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I will tell you before it comes, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Psalms of the Day

Psalms 1:1-6

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Angel on My Left and The Devil on My Right

 Spiritual Growth Stirs Spiritual Resistance

Temptation: A Christian's Spiritual Battle

What is temptation and what does it mean in particular to Christians? Temptation is defined as the desire to do something, especially something that may be wrong, unwise, or against your values. It can also refer to the thing itself that lures or entices you. For Christians, this means a spiritual battle between following God's plan and falling prey to the devil's plans to destroy you. A constant fight between flesh and spirit. But what do you do when you are tempted by the thing that once broke you? That social media account you once used that destroyed you and almost destroyed your marriage. That same group of friends that pulled you away from God. Why does it seem to be pulling you back in? Well, for Christians it's probably obvious why. You have started to become closer to God and getting in a deeper walk with God and now all of sudden you are tempted by what could ultimately cause you to fall. The closer you get to God and the deeper you grow in your relationship with Him, the harder Satan will fight you. I know what you are probably thinking. I got saved and now life seems to be even harder. Why is it so hard to be a Christian and stay faithful to it? Shouldn't it be easier once you start following Jesus? No, because you are no longer sinning daily and following the path to Hell anymore. The devil don't want you on the path to Heaven so he will seek out every possible way he can to take you out and cause you to fail to the point of wearing you out so you will finally just quit. But don't quit. Don't give up. It is hard to be a Christian in this world, but the destination of Heaven and our reward is so worth the struggle we face here on Earth. You may be in the deepest and longest valley, but the mountain top is just ahead. Hold on because Heaven will be worth it all. Anything you endure on this earth will be wiped away once you reach the finish line to Heaven. You have nothing to lose here on earth but everything to gain in making it to Heaven. Eternal life with Christ. 

The Heart Deceives but God Directs

 Today's Devotional comes from Proverbs 16:9 of the King James Version Bible and it reads: A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. 

Meditation

Trust in the Lord and He will guide you. Seek His will and He will show the way. Commit to doing what He desires, and He will reveal His plan for you. Don't be discouraged if you don't understand things right now. Keep searching and He will lead you to where you belong. Ask for His help and He will provide. Walk with Him and He will show you the path to success.

Let Us Pray

I put my trust in You, Lord. When I'm feeling lost and don't know which way to go, I remember that You will guide me. I'm not afraid to take steps and discover what You have planned for me. Please show me the way and let Your will be done in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 How To Stay Faithful in Your Marriage Even When Your Spouse is Not

Picture this: You have just discovered that your husband or your wife aren't being faithful in the relationship and anger, or heartbreak immediately overtakes you and your first instinct is "I'm going to get revenge on them. I'm going to hurt them like they hurt me, so they know how it feels!" We have all felt that way once or twice before. I have to remind my flesh sometimes that my heart and soul is a Christian. I can't be getting out of character like that. How does me getting back at someone solve anything? Does it change the hurt they caused me? What does God say about how to treat others? Especially your spouse. The Bible says it like this, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12 KJV 

Some would say, "Well, what does that mean?" This verse emphasizes treating others as you would want to be treated. How did you feel when you found out about the betrayal? Sadness, heartbreak, anger, just plain and simple: HURT! What would hurting them the same way change? Not a thing. You would still feel hurt and betrayed. Here are some ways to stay faithful to your spouse when they are not always faithful to you.

First things first; Pray for them.

The very best thing you can start with is prayer. If they can easily betray you like that and breach trust in the marriage, then they may need the prayer more than you think. God can handle revenge far greater than we can. There's a reason He said vengeance is mine. Just talk to God about how the betrayal made you feel and ask for help to overcome this. Pray for your spouse and forgive them. Notice I said forgive not forget. It's going to take some time to not have that memory of the betrayal on loop in your brain. 

Be the bigger person. WWJD?

Do not allow yourself to sink to their level of distrust and dishonesty. Be truthful always. What did the bible say to do again? Do unto others what you would have them do to you. If you didn't like the pain the betrayal caused you then don't do it back to them. I promise you that it will not make you feel better about yourself. Trust me, I've been there. It still didn't change what my spouse did to me or how it made me feel. If anything, I felt even worse for doing it to them. Put all of your faith and trust in God to make things better. Let Him have the full control because can't nobody restore things as beautifully as God can.

Confront them and address the betrayal.

As painful as it may be you and your spouse need to have a conversation about what happened and why it happened. Find the root problem and yank it out of the ground. Discuss the emotions each of you are having and find a solution. Most people would instantly think divorce is in the works and sometimes that is what happens. Most people are ready to throw the towel in right then and there. As Christians, we have strong beliefs about marriage and divorce. Marriage is of God and divorce is a sin. I hold those two words highly. Marriage is very important to me. I love having a forever best friend. Divorce is a very scary word for me because it reflects on my childhood with my own parents. If you can remain married and resolve your issues and lean on God, I believe that is best. If you can't overcome what happened, then this is one of those times I believe God allows biblical grounds for divorce. 

If you can trust God to heal you and restore your marriage that in itself is incredible. Be vulnerable with God. He is always here to listen, guide, and comfort you. He will never leave you nor forsake you; He will always be with you even until the end. Sometimes it takes being broken to remind us who to look to again. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV Keep fighting in faith and trust God that all is going to work out for the best. Thy Will Be Done.

 Faithful, Still: What Infidelity Taught Me About Myself and God

My marriage started out just like any other marriage. Full of love, full of joy, full of happiness. Yes, we had arguments and disagreements about a plethora of life issues such as our finances and raising children. Most days were what others would call a perfect marriage. At least that's what they could see from the outside view of things. Most people would see us and think they are a happy, Christian couple with beautiful kids. A couple that went to church together and worshipped God together. A couple who always seem to be smiling and so in love with one another. Let's be honest though, all marriages have conflict and struggles. Without struggles there would be no hope to hold onto. For many years, I would say that we were just like all marriages that had little fights but nothing to be big to be alarmed about. Until one day, a single text shattered my entire being, my heart in a million pieces. At this point in our marriage things had been great, or so I thought. Our baby girl had just turned 1 year old 4 months prior. Things were good with us. But I had become comfortable in my role as a wife and mother. Sure we didn't have as much time to spend with each other like we used to but we did have 3 rambunctious children to keep every single second of my attention. Yes, we still had nights we could find a babysitter to go out alone and enjoy a few hours together without the overlapping little voices and the constant "Mommy, I need..." moments. Up until that very moment I had never had a problem with trusting him. From that one moment on my life and my whole identity changed and the foundation of trust we had built over the last 8 years of our marriage had been destroyed. In the moment I wanted to leave right then and there but I was also a Christian that had a firm belief in marriage and not getting divorced if possible. I never wanted that to be an option for us because we had both came from divorced parents. I never wanted my children to feel the way I did as a child when my parents left one another. Divorce drastically changed my entire childhood and changed the way I could have been raised up. I was prepared to tell him to get out and leave tell him I'm done. But right before I could get the words out of my mouth a still small voice spoke to me and said don't leave. I knew it was God but I had no idea why He would want me to stay after I had just been betrayed like that. I had it in my head that if he done this to me once he would do it again. You know the old saying, "Once a cheater, always a cheater." That moment that I decided to stay is the moment that I had no idea what God was working on in my life and what kind of plan did He have for us. I forgave my husband and things were okay for a while until they weren't. It had happened again just like I knew that it would. I was heartbroken all over again and yet I still believed that God had a plan and I needed to just trust Him. This went on for about 3 years and it still hurt every single time but it had gotten to a point that I was growing numb to it. I was expecting it to happen over and over. I was living in a way that I had just accepted it and dealt with it when it came. Through all of this we experienced Hell on Earth together. Many things almost took us out: divorce, abuse, death itself. Let me be clear about something though. All of this was the result of cyber cheating. I know there are many who don't believe cyber affairs count as adultery or cheating but they hurt just the same if not more than the act of physical cheating and they leave everlasting effects like paranoia, anxiety, stress, depression, and trauma. I still struggle everyday to overcome each of these and I still struggle with trust. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get the same amount of trust back that I had before it was ever broken. But God can change people and He can change situations. I believe that these last few years of heartache, brokenness, and sorrow was God reminding me that I needed to come home. I needed to draw closer to Him again and to start living like a Christian again. We had got into a cycle of going to church and quitting then going back again and it was like getting on and off a rollercoaster for years. We were part time Christians and part time sinners. We were what the older generation called "straddling the fence." It wasn't until I rededicated my life back to Christ and truly relied on Him for my strength and trusting Him to take care of me no matter what happened next in my marriage that I started to find joy again. I started to find peace again. Things are not perfect in my marriage, but I know God is at work every day and I'm praying every day that He will make a way to keep my marriage intact.