Day 22: Do you love yourself as a woman?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

I grew up in a traditional Chinese family where men are deemed to be more important, capable and strong. The woman is supposed to carry an attitude of a servant, a follower, and needs a man to complete her life. I became what I was taught. I learnt to not speak up, quietly serve the needs of the family, and follow my husband when I was married.

When this question, “Do you love yourself as a woman?” came from the Lord, I knew He wants to change me from the inside out. My femininity was not a mistake. He loves me as a woman and He has given me a role and a position as a woman in this modern world.

God loves women just as much but uses them differently as seen throughout Scriptures. Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave birth to the world's Saviour when she was just a teen. Deborah, known for her wisdom and courage, led the people of God with compassion. Queen Esther saved her people with the power of prayer and bravery.

If we would step into the position that God has given to us and fully embrace the calling that is irrevocable, we too can be mighty warriors and overcomers in Christ! - By LL

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Pray Father, help me to embrace and step into the position that You have given me as a woman, and be a mighty warrior for Your glory.

Day 21: Let His peace guard your hearts and minds

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need and thank him for all He has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

I received a shocking phone call from my sister one Friday night as she told me that my dad was in coma. In tears, we thanked the Lord for giving us a good father and at the same time we released him to God if it was really God’s will for him to return to the Lord. I slept that night with such an assurance that God was in control.

As I was on my way to the office on Saturday, I asked the Lord what message does He want me to preach on? I heard this in my spirit very clearly, “Preach on the subject of “Peace As A Weapon”.

God’s peace is our weapon to stabilise our minds which could be full of fear, worries and unbelief.

A tremendous amount of grace and peace was released to my family. To this day, my dad is still alive, and we call him our walking miracle. All Glory to God! - By HM

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Pray Father, I pray that You will fill me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I commit the troubles in my life to Your hands and I choose to walk in Your peace.

Day 20: Revealing of the dross

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

Isaiah 48:10

The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown caught us all and my family by surprise and required us to adapt to changes and to embrace transformations. There was no running away during moments of conflict. Tempers flared frequently over the smallest things at home, and our patience began to wane as the days passed. It was hard. Most times these tensions between family members simply revealed deeper issues that had yet been resolved and swept under the carpet for years. They were just too uncomfortable to speak about.

It was as if the lockdown was a catalyst to the revealing of areas the Lord desires to see realigned and restored in our lives individually, and as a family. In Isaiah 48:10, the Lord tells Israel that He has purified her in the fire. He has tested her in the furnace.

The purification of gold or silver requires the refiner to place it into a furnace, and the heat soon separates the dross from the precious metal. What is left after the great heat is a precious substance – clean and pure, after it has come forth from the fire.

Indeed, He is not just revealing deeper issues to us in the fire, but also calling us to respond by allowing Him to remove the dross from our lives. - By EL

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Pray Father, come and deal with the dross in my life. I surrender my struggles into Your hands. May You give me a fresh impartation of Your grace.