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.

Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV)

the Bible says that if we meet our battles with peace and respond to the upsets in life with peace, we will experience victory. It’s a paradox; it doesn’t make any sense. How can we win if we stop fighting?

My husband used to make me mad because he would not fight with me. I was upset and angry, and I wanted him to say just one thing so I could rail on and on. But when Dave saw that I was just looking for an argument, he would be quiet and tell me, “I am not going to fight with you.” Sometimes he would even get in the car and leave for a while, infuriating me even more, but I could not fight with someone who would not fight back.

Moses told the Israelites not to fight when they found the Red Sea facing them on one side and the Egyptian army chasing them on the other. They became frightened, and he told them, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest (Exod. 14:13–14).

Notice that Moses told the Israelites to hold [their] peace and remain at rest. Why? They were at war, and it was necessary for them to respond with peace in order to win the battle. God would fight for them if they would show their confidence in Him by being peaceful. If you hold on to your peace, He will do the same for you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me face my battles with Your peace, and help me to always trust You to fight for me. Teach me to remain calm and confident in You. I know You are my strength and salvation.

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…Ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

John 16:24 (AMPC)

I often tell people that one of the things they can do to enjoy their lives is to simplify their lives—that includes their prayer life too. Now when I say “simplify” your prayer life, I don’t mean you should not pray often. The Bible says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV). We can and should go to God frequently in prayer.

What I mean is that if you try to sound too eloquent, you can complicate your prayer life to the point of it being unbearable. It is good to know that we don’t have to try to impress God with our prayers. Thankfully, we can just talk to Him like a friend; tell Him the way we truly think and feel. With God, you can always be sincere, and you can always be yourself. You don’t have to put on religious airs. You can be real with God and simply enjoy spending time with Him.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I thank You that talking with You is not a complicated process. I am so grateful that I can be myself with You and just pray what is on my heart. Help me to remember that prayer is a conversation and that I can come to you anytime throughout the day.

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Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.

Matthew 20:26 (AMPC)

A proud person finds it almost impossible to serve others, especially in small and hidden ways. The main reason Jesus teaches us to serve is not because He is unable to meet the needs of people, but because it is imperative for us that we do so. We benefit more than anyone when we serve. God is the ultimate Servant! Jesus humbled Himself and became a Servant! (See Philippians 2:7.)

Serving is not natural to my nature, so I choose to do it on purpose. I have to think about things I can do for other people, and I pray regularly, asking God to make me aware of ways (large or small) that I can serve—things like turning the light out in Dave’s closet, cleaning up a mess someone else made (with a good attitude), letting someone go before me in line if they are rushed, or providing an item that a family member or friend needs or wants.

Quietly serving others adds much joy and fulfillment to our lives. Focusing on serving others helps us defeat selfishness and self-centeredness. Purpose to look for ways you can serve others, and you’re sure to experience a greater intimacy with God, as well as with those whom you are serving.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I renounce selfishness and pride and desire with all of my heart to serve others according to Your will. Make me aware of needs around me and let me find joy in serving.

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But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth….

John 16:13 (AMPC)

When God sends His Holy Spirit to work in people’s lives, He condemns sin, not sinners. Throughout His Word, we see clear proof of His love for individuals and His desire to nurture people so they can leave their sin behind and move on in His great plans for their lives. We never need to be afraid to let Him show us and speak to us about what we are doing wrong. The Holy Spirit lives within us. His job is lead us, teach us, help us with prayer, comfort us, convict us of sin, and lead us as we fulfill God’s plan for our lives.

We can trust the Holy Spirit because He knows exactly what needs to be done in our lives and the right timing for it. You might say we are broken, and He knows how to “fix” us. I am sure The Holy Spirit is working in and with you on some area of your life just as He is with all of us. I encourage you to submit to Him completely because He knows what He is doing and will do it exactly right. If people try to fix us or we try to fix ourselves we often only make things worse, but the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. We may not always understand or even like what He is doing, but the end result will be glorious. Relax, enjoy the day, and thank God that He is working in you.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, please help me to trust You to guide me, help me to accept when You convict me, and continue to help me grow. I submit to Your perfect plan, knowing You are working in me for my good, amen.

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And that we may be delivered from perverse (improper, unrighteous) and wicked (actively malicious) men, for not everybody has faith and is held by it. Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].

1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (AMPC)

I grow weary of all the evil in the world today, and I would imagine that at times you do too. Yet you and I are living during this season of world history for a purpose. In order to fulfill that purpose, we must stay strong. Paul reminds us that the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen us.

God will set us on a firm foundation—one that is not shaken, no matter how much the world around us shakes. Regardless of how much the world changes, God is always the same (Malachi 3:6). We can totally depend on Him.

I pray that God will deliver and protect you from evil and perverse people, and that He will send across their path those who may lead them to Christ. Always remember that while we wait, God will protect us from the evil one. The enemy may win an occasional battle, but he will not win the war.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for everything You are doing in my life. Please strengthen me, protect me from evil, and use me to bring light to those in darkness. I trust You completely, knowing You are always faithful, amen.

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Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered and, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him.

Hebrews 5:8–9 (AMPC)

Have you ever tried to figure out how to make a gadget or an electronic device work properly? That kind of thing comes easily to people who know a lot about technology. But it can be very frustrating to people like me, who aren’t technologically savvy and who just want the device to work! I have learned that if I accidentally hit the wrong button on my phone and start having trouble with it, all I need to do is look for a young person to help me. Though I am older, and I have much more life experience than a sixth grader who can fix my phone, that child has something I do not have: specific experience with today’s technology. I may know a lot in some areas, but I can’t fix my phone; I need help, and the best kind of helper is one with experience.

Jesus has all the experience required to help us along our healing journey. Hebrews 5:8–9 speaks volumes to me not only about Him but also about my life and yours. Jesus needed certain experience in order to truly understand our pain and become our High Priest who can help us heal. My experience with Jesus’ healing power makes me a good person to boldly tell others He will heal their wounded souls just as He has healed mine, and your experience will do the same for you.

Jesus suffered greatly and gained experience as a result. His experience equipped Him to fulfill what God wanted Him to do. Hebrews 4:15 says He is able to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses (AMPC) because He has already gone through the things we suffer. I hope you will think about this verse often and allow it to give you hope and confidence that what you are going through will enable you to help others.

I encourage you today, even at this moment, to offer your experience to God for His use if you have never done that. No matter how confusing, painful, or difficult it may be, He can use it to provide the experience you need to help someone else. I vividly remember praying one day, “God, I am a broken mess, but I’m Yours if You can use me.” He did. He chose to use me in specific ways to help others, and I believe there is a specific way He wants to use you, too. Nothing we give to God is ever wasted, so give Him your pain today and see how He will use your experience.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, use my pain and experiences to help others. Teach me to trust You with my journey, knowing You can turn every hardship into healing for someone else, amen.

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But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol, like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

Malachi 4:2 (AMPC)

Around our world, horrible crimes and unspeakable acts happen every day to women and children who are powerless to stop them. Every act affects the life of a precious person, created in God’s image. Many women are hurt, wounded little girls trapped inside adult bodies, afraid to come out for fear of being hurt more.

I understand the feelings of these women. I was sexually abused by my father for many years. I also suffered abuse at the hands of other men throughout the first 25 years of my life. I developed a hardened attitude toward all men and adopted a harsh, hard manner.

But I want everyone to know that, through God’s Word and the help of the Holy Spirit, I was healed in my spirit, emotions, mind, will, and personality. It was a process that unfolded over several years, and I have enough firsthand experience to highly recommend God’s ways of restoration and healing rather than the world’s ways. It is much better to let God heal you than to spend your life being bitter about the past.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I rejoice today that You did not leave me to heal myself. I worship You alone, and I receive from You all the healing and grace that I need for this day, amen.

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But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol, like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

Malachi 4:2 (AMPC)

Around our world, horrible crimes and unspeakable acts happen every day to women and children who are powerless to stop them. Every act affects the life of a precious person, created in God’s image. Many women are hurt, wounded little girls trapped inside adult bodies, afraid to come out for fear of being hurt more.

I understand the feelings of these women. I was sexually abused by my father for many years. I also suffered abuse at the hands of other men throughout the first 25 years of my life. I developed a hardened attitude toward all men and adopted a harsh, hard manner.

But I want everyone to know that, through God’s Word and the help of the Holy Spirit, I was healed in my spirit, emotions, mind, will, and personality. It was a process that unfolded over several years, and I have enough firsthand experience to highly recommend God’s ways of restoration and healing rather than the world’s ways. It is much better to let God heal you than to spend your life being bitter about the past.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I rejoice today that You did not leave me to heal myself. I worship You alone, and I receive from You all the healing and grace that I need for this day, amen.

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He will not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting [confidently relying on and believing] in the Lord.

Psalm 112:7 (AMP)

When we find ourselves in the midst of a struggle or adversity, we often ask God, “Why? Why is this happening to me?”

Let’s imagine, for one moment, that God actually answered that question. Would His explanation change anything? The effects of the situation would still be with you. What would you have learned?

When we ask God that question, what we’re really asking is, “God, do You love me? Will You take care of me in my sorrow and pain? You won’t leave me alone, will You?” Is it possible that we ask for explanations because we’re afraid God doesn’t truly care about us?

Instead, we can learn to say, “Lord, I believe. I don’t understand, and I’ll probably never grasp all the reasons bad things happen, but I know for certain that You love me, You are good, and You are with me—always.”

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I trust in Your love and goodness. Even when I don’t understand, I know You are always with me. Strengthen my faith in You through every struggle. I love You, amen.

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A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (AMPC)

The more I ponder it, the more amazed I am that I can immediately increase or decrease my joy and the joy of others by simply choosing to say good things.

Joy is vital! Nehemiah 8:10 tells us joy is our strength. No wonder the devil works overtime trying to do anything he can to diminish our joy. Don’t sit by and let it happen to you. Fight the good fight with faith-filled words, releasing joy into the very atmosphere you are in.

Jesus came to bring good news and glad tidings of great joy, to overcome evil with good. He wants you to be as committed as He is to finding and magnifying the good in everything. Do yourself a favor and say something good!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me choose joy and speak words that release Your strength. I trust that through Your grace, I can magnify the good and bring joy to others, amen.

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By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 13:35 (AMPC)

Purposely forgetting about ourselves and doing something for someone else—even while we are hurting—is one of the most powerful things we can do to overcome evil. And thankfully, God can help us do that.

When Jesus was on the cross in intense suffering, He took time to comfort the thief next to Him (see Luke 23:39–43). When Stephen was being stoned, he prayed for those stoning him, asking God not to lay the sin to their charge (see Acts 7:59–60). When Paul and Silas were in prison, they took time to minister to their jailer (see Acts 16:27–34).

If we will wage war against selfishness and walk in love, the world will begin to take notice. We will not impress the world by being just like them. But how many unsaved friends and relatives might come to know Jesus if we genuinely love them instead of ignoring, judging, or rejecting them? I believe it is time to find out, don’t you?

Prayer of the Day: Father, I pray that You will give me the ability to put the needs of others before my own. Thank You that Your love has the power to change lives. Help me demonstrate that power today.

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Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.

Psalm 17:1 (NIV)

The importance of maintaining a clean conscience before God cannot be overstated. Paul spoke about his conscience confirming through the Holy Spirit that he was doing the right thing (Romans 9:1). We should be careful not to sin against our own conscience, because this becomes a heavy burden to carry. David invited God to examine and test him, for he was sure he had committed no evil, nor had he transgressed (sinned) with his mouth (Psalm 17:2–3).

We can see from today’s scripture that David felt sure he had held firmly to the Word of God and that God would answer him when he called on Him (Psalm 17:4–6). Sadly, too often we try to operate in faith while having a guilty conscience, so we can’t bear good fruit. We are to be led by peace, and Paul writes that anything we do that is not done in faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

When we repent of sin, God not only forgives our sins, but He removes the guilt that comes with them; therefore, we can always walk before God with a clean conscience if we pursue purity of life and are quick to repent when we do sin.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I love You, and I appreciate what Jesus has done for me. Forgive all my sin and cleanse me of all guilt and condemnation. I want to walk with You with a clean conscience at all times.

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All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

John 6:37 (AMPC)

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they tried to hide from God, and they sewed some fig leaves together hoping to hide their nakedness (see Genesis 3:7). I seem to be very impacted lately by remembering that we never have to run from God, we never need to hide, and we can be totally honest with Him about everything. In fact, instead of running away, He invites us to do the opposite and run to Him! He promises to never reject anyone who comes to Him, no matter their condition.

If you feel guilty about something or have failed miserably, run to God as fast as you can and get a hug from Him. He will forgive, restore, and set you right again. God is the only one who can help us in our times of discouragement, failure, and fear, so it is foolish to run away from the only help we have. Even if you are a little angry with God because of disappointments in your life, run to Him anyway. Tell Him how you feel and ask for His help.

Jesus is able to understand us because He was tempted, tested, and tried. He shared the feeling of our weaknesses and infirmities, and yet He never sinned (see Hebrews 4:15). Jesus knows exactly how you and I feel, and we have an open invitation to come into His presence anytime. We can come just as we are!

Prayer of the Day: : Father, I am so grateful for Your love and acceptance. It is wonderful to know that You will never reject me. I need You! Help me to always run to You and never to run away.

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And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV)

Sometimes the devil complicates the healing process because he bombards your mind with negative thoughts and accusations. He will whisper to your mind accusations such as, “You are so wounded you can never be healed.” Or, “You aren’t worth having a better life than you have right now.” Or, “You deserve the pain you’re going through.” The devil is a liar, and he wants you to feel guilty and condemned. He can put thoughts in your mind, but that doesn’t mean that they are true.

The mind is part of the soul, and for your soul to be healed, your mind also needs to be healed and renewed. The devil often comes against God’s people on the battlefield of the mind, and he will try to influence your thoughts and use them to stop or slow down your healing journey.

The way to overcome and conquer the accuser is to believe God’s promises more than we believe the lies the enemy puts in our minds. It is so important to remember that all of the thoughts that enter our minds are not necessarily true. Only God’s Word is truth.

Revelation 12:11 tells us how to conquer the accuser—with the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony, which means knowing God’s Word and letting it be your guide for life. It is also good to tell others what God has done for you. As a person whose soul is in the process of healing, part of your testimony is still being crafted. But part of it is already settled: You are a beloved, redeemed child of God, filled with potential! You are a miracle in the making, a masterpiece of God’s handiwork. While you were still in sin, Jesus died for you (Rom. 5:8), so just imagine what He wants to do for you now that you have been forgiven and desire to grow in relationship with Him. No matter what you think or how things seem right now in your life, God’s plans for your future will astound you!

God’s great plans for your life will unfold day by day as you continue to live by His Word and let Him lead you. Remember this when the devil hurls accusations against you in your mind. Remind him of the blood of Jesus and the word of your testimony, which is that God is healing you and strengthening you more and more each day. Open the Word of God and read all the wonderful things God says about you instead of listening to the enemy’s lies.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me trust Your Word and reject the enemy’s lies. Heal my mind and soul, and strengthen my faith in Your promises, amen.

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He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.

Proverbs 28:25 (AMPC)

Probably 80 percent of the places we visit in our ministry have church members who are riddled with strife. Strife is the devil’s tool against us. It takes personal self-control to stay out of strife.

If you want to keep peace, you can’t always say everything you want to say. Sometimes you have to control yourself and apologize even when there is nothing in you that wants to do so. But if you sow the godly principle of harmony and unity today, a time will come when you will reap the blessings of all it can bring to you.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me to immediately recognize and avoid strife, and to always walk in peace and self-control, amen.

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But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Hebrews 11:6 (AMPC)

For 10 years, Robert and Mary Moffat labored as missionaries in Bechuanaland (now called Botswana) without a single convert. Finally, the directors of their mission board began to question the wisdom of continuing the work. The thought of leaving their post, however, brought great grief to this devoted couple, for they felt they would see people turn to Christ in due season.

They stayed, and for a year or two longer, darkness reigned. Then one day a friend in England sent word to the Moffats that he wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like. Trusting that, in time, the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, “Send us a communion set. I am sure it will soon be needed.” God honored that dear woman’s faith. The Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of the villagers, and soon a little group of six converts united to form the first Christian church in that land. The communion set from England arrived on the day before the first commemoration of the Lord’s Supper in Bechuanaland.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, such remarkable faith and perseverance seems beyond me. Help me to trust You with the work You want to do through my life. I know that the day is coming when I will see the reward for diligently seeking You, amen.

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Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11 (AMPC)

God helps us as we put our trust in Him, not as we worry and fret about how we are going to solve our future problems. When we use today to worry about tomorrow, we end up wasting today. It is useless. Instead, we can come to God, trusting His provision, one day at a time.

Our walk with God is called a “daily walk” for a reason: We need His help every day.

We can get out of debt, exercise, lose weight, graduate from college, parent a special needs child, or be successful at anything we need to do if we will put our trust in God and take life one day at a time. Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow would have sufficient trouble of its own (see Matthew 6:34).

Prayer of the Day: Father, I trust You to grant me strength to face every difficulty I encounter. Help me keep a good attitude, filled with Your Holy Spirit, and always be thankful in every situation, amen.

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“…In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

John 16:33 (AMP)

Many people live lives far short of God’s best because they expect things to always be convenient or easy. But this false expectation will always cheat us out of the rewards God has for us simply because we want to avoid difficulty.

Jesus never promised things would be easy, but He did promise us victory, because He has overcome the world. If we don’t get weary of doing what is right, we will reap great benefits.

God is a loving Father, and He wants to bless you in so many ways. Sometimes you may go through difficulties first, but there are always blessings on the other side. Remember, you can always rely on His strength to see you through, because He has overcome the world.

If you refuse to give up, with God’s help, you’ll overcome every challenge and receive God’s best for your life.

Prayer of the Day: Father, anytime I feel discouraged or weary, help me remember that there is always hope for those who are diligent. Help me be filled with hope in You, knowing You have overcome the world, amen.

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And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.

Ephesians 1:19 (AMPC)

Do you ever hear people say, “I’m so tired,” or “I wish I had more energy”? This is not God’s best for us. God wants us to feel good and have the passion and energy we need to enjoy our lives.

Some people do suffer with conditions requiring medication or therapy due to things they could not avoid. But many times, our symptoms are simply a result of not taking good care of ourselves. You are valuable, and I urge you to invest time, energy, and finances in doing things that will keep you healthy. Whether you need to change your eating habits, sleep more, exercise more, reduce stress, or worry less—no matter what it takes—find out why you do not feel well and do something about it. Even if you feel good, you can avoid future problems by taking good care of yourself now!

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am grateful that You give me rest. Thank You for giving me the energy to do what I need to do, the desire to improve my health, and for the motivation to reduce stress and worry in my life, amen.

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For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

Matthew 7:8 (AMPC)

One day I woke up with a throbbing headache. I walked around with that miserable headache almost all day, telling everybody I met about how terrible I felt—until I finally realized that I had complained most of the day and had never taken the time to simply pray and ask God to take the pain away.

Unfortunately, that response is rather typical for some of us. We complain about our problems and spend a majority of our time trying to figure out what we can do to solve them. We often do everything except the one thing we are told to do in the Word of God: ask, that we may receive, and our joy may be full (see John 16:24 KJV).

Thankfully, God wants to provide for our every need. We have the awesome privilege of “asking and receiving,” and we should always pray as a first response to every situation.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am thankful that my confidence is not in my own self or my abilities; my confidence is in Christ Jesus. I believe that I have Your wisdom and Your discernment. Today, I am going to live a bold, confident life.

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