I’m still shocked when people move funny. Still taking offense at behavior You already showed me was coming. Still acting surprised when patterns repeat. And if I’m honest? It’s not that I didn’t see it. It’s that I hoped it would change. Sometimes God warns us … not to make us paranoid but to prepare our posture. And instead of adjusting… we stay open where we should’ve guarded. We stay soft where we should’ve been wise. We stay available where we should’ve stepped back. Then we get offended. But maybe the real issue isn’t them. Maybe it’s that we ignored discernment. Being a Christian doesn’t mean being naïve. Loving people doesn’t mean being blind. Grace doesn’t cancel wisdom. Sometimes the offense hits harder because deep down we knew. Let’s talk. Have you ever: • Been hurt by someone God already showed you about? • Ignored discernment because you didn’t want to seem “judgmental”? • Taken offense at something you were already warned about? No shame. Just maturity.

I don’t know who needs this… but I felt led to share it. If you’ve ever wrestled with discipline, grace, boundaries, or what “spare the rod” actually means in today’s world this devotional call might bless you. It’s called “Spare the Rod, We Claim the Child.” 🧡 If it’s for you, it’s for you.If not, maybe it’s for someone you know. https://www.bible.com/organizations/f16b484b-5323-4010-97ce-df2f5b9cb32c?utm_source=yvapp&utm_medium=share&utm_content=partner-page

Before we go any further into authority, bold prayers, and taking ground back, we need to ask a very real question: Where did you learn to pray the way you pray? Because nobody is born begging God. Some of us learned it from: - childhood trauma - being punished for speaking up - always having to “earn” love - church spaces where fear was louder than grace - homes where asking felt unsafe So begging didn’t start as theology. It started as survival. Psalm 82:6 says: “I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.’” But notice what happens right after that in Scripture people still live like they don’t know who they are. That’s the issue. You can have access and still act afraid. You can be loved and still feel unworthy. You can be a child of God and still pray like you’re hoping not to be rejected. This is where healing meets faith. Because God doesn’t just want to change your words He wants to heal the place those words come from. If your prayer life sounds desperate, ask: - What fear is speaking? - What wound is still active? - What memory taught me that asking is dangerous? This is not condemnation. This is clarity. And clarity brings freedom. Reflection - When did you first learn to shrink yourself? - Who taught you that love had to be earned? - What part of your prayer life feels rooted in fear instead of trust? - Declaration I am healing, not hiding. I release survival prayers. I pray from wholeness, not wounds. I am safe with God. Tomorrow we step back into authority with healed eyes because bold faith rooted in healing hits different.

Let’s talk about the quiet pressure most believers live under. The pressure to: - pray the “right” way - say the “right” words - read enough - serve enough - behave enough - get it right enough Somewhere along the way, faith turned into a checklist. And now a lot of people don’t pray because they’re unsure if they’ve qualified to. Ephesians 1:6 says: “He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” Read that again. Accepted.Not tolerated.Not conditionally welcomed.Not “on probation.” Accepted. Before you prayed.Before you cleaned yourself up.Before you figured it out. Box-checking says: “I’ll come to God after I fix this.” Grace says:“Come to God so He can help you through this.” Box-checking says:“I need to earn His attention.” Grace says:“You already have His heart.” Here’s the hard truth When approval is the goal, peace is impossible. You’ll always feel like you’re doing too little…or not doing it right…or one mistake away from losing access. But God doesn’t relate to you through performance.He relates to you through relationship. Jesus didn’t die so you could keep auditioning.He died so you could rest in belonging. Your obedience doesn’t make God love you.God’s love empowers your obedience. When you stop checking boxes, your faith becomes lighter.Your prayers become honest.Your walk becomes sustainable. Reflection - What boxes do you feel pressured to check before approaching God? - Where did you learn that love must be earned? - What would change if you truly believed you are already accepted? Declaration I am already accepted in Christ.I don’t earn God’s love...I live from it.I release performance and receive peace.I walk with God, not audition for Him. Tomorrow we’re talking about where begging actually comes from and why healing your past changes how you pray. Stay with it.Freedom is happening. 🔥

🖤🤎🤍