Today, I aligned my thoughts and words with God’s truth by reflecting on Matthew 27:27–31 and the example Jesus set. Even while being mocked, stripped, and beaten, He remained rooted in truth—He is the King, He has all authority, and He will reign—yet He chose not to defend Himself or react in anger. Instead, He surrendered to God’s will and responded in love. This reminded me that aligning with God’s truth is not about proving myself right, but about trusting Him and allowing His Word to shape my response. Today, I made the choice to quiet my own thoughts, resist reacting out of emotion, and instead respond with humility and grace, remembering that true power is found in surrender and obedience to God.

Forgiveness has been real for me because it’s not always a one-time decision—it’s something I’ve had to keep choosing. There have been people I’ve had to forgive, and honestly, the biggest step for me has been learning to release it and give it back to God instead of picking it back up again. Some days, that just looks like praying through it all over again, even when I feel like I’ve already dealt with it. And I don’t think forgiveness means we forget. It just means we’re not holding it against them anymore or letting it control our hearts. The memory might still be there, but it doesn’t carry the same weight or have the same hold on me.

This is a hard one… but it’s where freedom begins. As I have been reading Matthew 25, especially the parable of the servants, I was reminded that what has been given to us matters—and how we respond matters too. We’ve been given mercy, grace, and forgiveness through Jesus… and we’re called to walk that out. Forgiveness isn’t about saying what happened was okay. It’s about releasing what we’ve been holding onto so it no longer has control over us. Sometimes we hold onto hurt without even realizing it. But God is inviting us to let it go—not for them, but for our freedom. Just like the wise were prepared and ready, this is part of being ready—having a heart that is clean, free, and not weighed down by offense. Today, take a moment. Write the name down. Bring it before God. Release it. Because when we forgive… we step into freedom.

As we finish this week, this is a powerful reminder—God doesn’t just guide us, He protects us. And through Him, we don’t walk in fear… we walk in authority. This week has been about drawing closer, aligning our hearts, surrendering control, and allowing God to cleanse and transform us. And now we step into this truth: we are covered. Not because of who we are… but because of who He is. Today, I’m especially holding onto this as I pray over my husband as he goes into heart surgery. I’m choosing to trust God’s protection, His presence, and His authority over every detail. 🙏 Prayer: Father, You are holy, You are good, and You are my covering.Lead me in Your ways and deliver me from anything that is not from You.I declare Your protection over my life, my family, and every step I take. Today, I lift up my husband to You—surround him with Your peace, guide the hands of every doctor, and cover him completely.I choose to trust You over fear and stand in the authority You’ve given me through Jesus.Your will be done in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. ❤️

Today really brought this to life for me. Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about what’s happening in your heart while you wait. It’s choosing to trust God instead of reacting out of fear, frustration, or the need to control. As I’ve been studying in Matthew, especially in chapter 25, I keep seeing that God is looking for a heart that is ready, steady, and aligned with Him—not rushing ahead, not falling behind, but staying with Him in the moment. The wise weren’t scrambling—they were prepared and at peace because they trusted what they had been given. That’s what patience looks like. There were moments today when I wanted to react quickly, to fix things, to move ahead of God—but instead, I had to pause and remind myself to stay with Him. Don’t get ahead. Don’t let your emotions lead. Patience is love in action. It’s choosing to trust God’s timing over my own. And that’s something I’m still learning every day.