A Look Inside The Book: From Wilderness Chapter 7 One of the biggest blessings in defeating the false image Satan paints of God is getting to defeat the false image he paints of us. Regardless of whether you are a new believer or a seasoned believer, your identity is always subject to attack, because the enemy understands that if he can control how you see yourself, he can control the choices you make and the treatment you tolerate. We first see this in the garden when he tempted Eve to disobey God. When Satan implied that eating the forbidden fruit would make Eve more like God, he also implied that she wasn’t good enough as she was. She was created in God’s image, and yet she was made to believe she was lacking. From both a good place and a place of insecurity, she made a choice that disobeyed God. And that choice had consequences far greater than she ever could’ve imagined. We also see the Israelites struggle with identity in the wilderness. Even after God rescued them and called them His people, they still had a slave mindset and sought to return to their bondage because they did not understand what it meant to be an heir of the God Most High. Heir mentality—as well as righteous living—is exactly what God sought to teach them in the wilderness. Because God knows, our identity—our sense of self-worth—shapes our expectations and actions. A fractured sense of self-worth leaves us wanting, longing, and susceptible to seeking value and comfort in the wrong ways, people, and places. Dip Deeper Question: Have you ever made a choice rooted in insecurity or fear that you later regretted? Know Thy Enemy & Thy Father The enemy wants us to believe that we are: • not enough • forgotten, abandoned, or alone • defined by our past • a disappointment to God • unworthy of being saved or forgiven • incapable of change • too broken or too lost for redemption • set up to fail • stuck, hopeless, or cursed • pointless, without purpose • unloved God seeks to remind us that: • we are created in His image, perfect in His sight • we are never alone or forgotten • we are forgiven by His grace and our faith • we are His beloved, chosen children • our worth is defined by Him, and is not up for negotiation • we are His workmanship • we are sought after in our brokenness • we have power and authority over forces of darkness through the Holy Spirit • we are protected, provided for, redeemed, and healed • we are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven—given dominion over the earth and trusted with specific kingdom assignments • we are loved Dig Deeper Question: If you truly believed you are loved, protected, and provided for by the Almighty God in Heaven—if you truly saw yourself as an heir of the kingdom of Heaven—how might you have chosen differently in the past? An Example of Slave & Heir Mentality in the Wilderness Twelve spies—one from each tribe of Israel—scouted the Promised Land so they could plan an invasion strategy. But when they returned to deliver their account, the majority spoke and acted out of fear and insecurity rather than faith and obedience. “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.” Numbers 13:27-28 For reference, the descendants of Anak are said to have been giants. When the spies saw the challenge ahead of them, they refused to enter the Promised Land. “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” Numbers 14:3-4 After everything God had done over a prolonged span of time, the majority of the Israelites still chose not to trust and obey. Not only that, they thought so low of God that they believed He would lead them not only to death, but that He would lead their wives and children into captivity. It was then that God realized some hearts would never open to Him. Caleb and Joshua were the only two spies who had faith in the Lord to protect them and provide for them. They had adopted the heir mentality that the Father had been trying to instill in the Israelites. After the majority rejected God, the Israelites were forced to wander the wilderness for forty years so that the unfaithful generation could die off before the faithful entered the Promised Land. What we learn from this final part of the Israelites’ wilderness journey is: • An heir does not let fear or insecurity rule them. • An heir trusts, obeys, and heeds the voice of the Lord. • An heir knows that God is with them and will make a way for them. • An heir follows the Lord fully—even in the face of a great challenge. • An heir is a conqueror. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 This chapter continues in Wilderness, available to preorder now, and features sections on how to think like an heir, speak like an heir, and pray like an heir along with journal prompts like these: • Where in my life do I find myself saying, “if it’s God’s will” from a place of fear rather than trust? • Do I truly believe God desires to bless me, or do I secretly question His willingness? • How would my life—thoughts, speech, and actions—change if I believed God seeks to fulfill the desires of my heart? • Where is God asking me to move forward in faith instead of shrinking back in fear? • If I trusted that God is for me, what would I do differently this week, this month, or this year?

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." Proverbs 18:21 Today's post is inspired by a word God led me to about Job's wife. Job was a faithful man of God who suffered great loss. He lost his children, his wealth, his health declined, and his reputation came under attack. And while his wife suffered the same losses, she did so with a different heart posture that stripped Job of his final thing--his support system. Job's wife told him to abandon his integrity, curse God and die. She is an example of how not to speak to your husband or to anyone for that matter. We find other examples of what not to do in Michal, David's wife (2 Samuel 6:16-23). She speaks with sarcasm and contempt when she sees David celebrating before the Lord. Again with Jezebel, Ahab's wife (1 Kings 21:5-16). Instead of speaking with wisdom, she encourages his entitlement. Even Sarah, Abraham's wife, acted in a way that had eternal consequences when she gave in to fear, impatience, and doubt in the Lord, and told her husband to have a child with another woman to fulfill the promise the Lord had spoken over them. From this short list, we find both well-intentioned wives and wives who hated their husbands. And we find them with varying degrees of influence. Sarah, a loving and faithful wife, had influence over Abraham even when she was wrong. Thankfully, Job's wife, a woman who did not have the same strong faith as her husband, was unable to influence him to turn his back on God. But without question, a wife has influence over her husband. And we should all pray for husbands who are strong enough, faithful enough to not give in to our influence when we are misguided. But for the sake of this post, I want to discuss how to use your influence as a wife to speak life over your husband rather than death and destruction. Scripture Lesson Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and kindness governs her speech. Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her house rather than tearing it down. Ephesians 4:29 Speak words that build others up and give grace to the listener. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, while harsh words stir up anger. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be gracious and seasoned with salt. 1 Peter 3:1–4 A wife's respectful conduct and gentle spirit can be a powerful testimony. Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words bring sweetness and healing. A godly woman's speech--a godly wife's speech--is characterized by wisdom and kindness. SPEAK LIFE, NOT DEATH Proverbs and Ephesians reveals that a wife's words should encourage, affirm, and strengthen rather than belittle, shame, or discourage her husband. BUILD YOUR HOUSE, DON'T TEAR IT DOWN Proverbs and 2 Samuel reveals wisdom in marriage includes knowing how to express disappointment, disagreement, and frustration without contempt. SPEAK TRUTH, NOT JUST WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR 1 Kings and Proverbs reveals a godly wife is not called to blindly affirm her husband. She should encourage righteousness, offer wise counsel, and speak truth in love. STAND IN WISDOM WHEN YOUR HUSBAND IS FOOLISH Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:14-35 presents a different picture of a wise wife. Her husband, Nabal, is a fool. He has insulted King David and refused to share provisions with his men. The King is now on his way to slaughter them. Abigail responds with wisdom, humility, and courage without ever involving her husband. Not involving him is an act of wisdom. She goes to the King herself and makes matters right on behalf of her family, preventing bloodshed. Her story reveals an important lesson for women striving to be godly wives. Respectful speech does not mean silent submission to foolishness or sin. In summary, a wise wife considers what her words will produce in her husband, in herself, and in her marriage. She is aware of her influence and uses it to strengthen and love her husband and counsel him with godly wisdom. She does not feed foolishness nor does she discourage him. A godly woman is not only a portal of life from heaven to earth through her womb. She breathes life into her marriage, into her home, and into her husband through uplifting and loving speech rooted in biblical truth. Action Steps Pray over your speech. Ask God to control your tongue and give you the words to speak life and love over your husband. Ask God what your husband needs to hear. Ask God to guide your prayers so you can pray for the things your husband is struggling with that he may not have even shared with you. Never miss an opportunity to praise your husband. Whether it's something big or something small, encourage him. Show your appreciation for him and all that he does. Tell your husband you're proud of him and thankful for him. Pause before responding in a moment of anger. Bring your frustrations to the Lord and let Him give you a perspective that tempers anger and provides a calm path forward for you and your husband. Pray over your marriage and your communication together. Marriage is not a one-sided endeavor. A husband should pray for discernment on when to listen to his wife's influence and when not to. A husband also should speak with lovingkindness and wise counsel towards his wife. But you, as the wife, cannot control this. You can only encourage it. And I think that's the final message. Accept that you cannot control your husband, but you can do your part to influence and co-create a healthy and beautiful marriage where love and wisdom rule.

Last week, I started something new. I reached for my Bible and prayed for God to give me a word. "Lord speak to me through the words You've already written. Show me what You want to tell me through the words You've already spoken." God's word is His word. And yes, the Lord speaks to us in many ways including dreams, visions, and even through the Holy Spirit. But sometimes those words require discernment. Is this vision or dream from the Lord? Am I hearing correctly? I wanted a word I didn't have to question and so, I turned to the unquestionable word of God and He led me to Jeremiah 31. "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt." Jeremiah 31:3-4 God loves you. God is rebuilding you. "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble." Jeremiah 31:9 God leads us in the way of righteousness and prosperity. He leads us along the path of protection and provision. "Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all." Jeremiah 31:12 God tends our souls like a good gardener, removing the weeds and nourishing us so that we bloom beautifully and bountifully. "For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13 God does not leave us in our grief. He redeems it. "My people shall be satisifed with My goodness, says the Lord." Jeremiah 31:14 We are not called to blind obedience or forced satisifcation. We are promised we will be satisfied with the way God works in our lives and with the relationship He builds with us. "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord." Jeremiah 31:16 We are promised reward. We are promised we are not working in vain. Our faithfulness and obedience is not for nothing. "There is hope in your future, says the Lord." Jeremiah 31:17 There is reason to hope. His word says so. This post is about the practice of reconnecting with God. Practically speaking, you can pray a similar pray as I did and let God direct you to a specific message He has for you. And yet, I also want to speak on the message He gave me. Jeremiah 31 is a chapter of the Bible I'd never read before. These words--this truth--was hidden to me prior to this day. And yet, it is EVERYTHING I've needed to hear for so long. Yes, other verses in the Bible speak to the same truths. With God, there is always a reason to hope. Because of Jesus, our greatest sorrows are not permanent. And yet, to see so many words of reassurance written in a single chapter of the Bible is a powerful experience. I didn't have to go searching for hope. It was right there--compact and concise. And unlike other verses of encouragement that may come from a disciple led by the Holy Spirit or be inspired poetry, these are the words of the Lord directly from the Lord. Jeremiah 31 isn't just a message God gave me. It's His word, His promise left for us all. I pray this word speaks to you the way it did me. I pray that through this practice of letting God direct you to specific words He's left for you to find you will feel more connected to Him, more loved by Him, and more in-tune with Him.