Never Ending Praise The Lord

The Battles Belong to God

August 17, 2026

Exodus 14:14 NIV The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Now that we’ve talked about our spiritual armor, you might be thinking, “Okay, great. But I don’t want to fight battles anymore. I’m tired.”

I get it. I’m right there with you.

It’s been a heavy few months. Every time I finished fighting one battle, it felt like another one had just begun. There were times I felt like I was being continuously knocked over by tidal waves.

I questioned everything– including my worth. I doubted, I feared, I worried. I cried- a lot. I prayed desperately, asking God if I even truly heard his voice.

My writing came to a standstill because I felt like a FRAUD. How could I possibly publish devotions to reach people if I wasn’t wearing the very armor I spoke of? Obviously, I wasn’t trusting the Lord, even though I tried.

I knew much of what I was facing was constant spiritual attack, but I also knew some of it was just life. Either way, it didn’t feel good. I knew one thing for sure though… God wanted me to keep writing about this very thing!

I finally got pretty raw and open with him on a walk one day. I had this strong feeling he was telling me to write this very devotion. The question I threw at him sounded a little like this; “How do you want me to tell your people to keep going when I don’t even want to keep going myself?”

God answered me the very next day.

I’m a firm believer that God knows each of so uniquely that he knows exactly how to reach us when he’s ready. If he has something to say, He finds a way! For me, it’s often through music.

I’d heard “Egypt” by Cory Asbury before, but I hadn’t thought much about the lyrics.. The chorus started, and I just knew it was God speaking. “You’re the God who fights for me, Lord of every victory, Hallelujah…” I can’t tell you how many times I listened to that song.

God reminded me that when he led the Israelites out of Egypt, they never just fended for themselves. He parted the sea, led them with a cloud in the day and fire by night. He heard their every complaint and had a solution…. he even destroyed enemies for them.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” This is not a call to stop all activity and stand in one place. It’s simply a command to surrender it all unto Him.

Sometimes, even with our armor on, we’re choosing to fight battles that God never expected us to fight.

So, if you’re exhausted…

If you’re weary…

If you’ve been fighting battle after battle and you’re running out of strength…

Lay down the battle that was never yours to carry. Stand firm, be still, and let God fight this one for you. He’s never lost a battle. He’ll even part waters for you.
Armed with Truth

August 10, 2026

Ephesians 6:17B “…And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”

Maybe it’s just me but when I think of words, I see pictures in my mind. The sword of the spirit sounds like an epic story of adventure to me. In my mind, I envision a person holding their sword- lit up with radiant light and thrusting it forward…except there’s nothing at the other end of that sword. Maybe in your vision there’s a fire breathing dragon, or a really evil person. Those examples are stories already told so my mind came up empty. I think, maybe nothing needs to kill or be killed…but then what’s the point of a sword?

Reading about the sword of the spirit brought up a couple of realizations. One, we actually need a spiritual sword. Two, we are provided with only the best. What I’m talking about here is the Bible. The Word.

The Bible is full of amazing history and some really flawed people that the Lord still had beautiful plans for. However, the Bible is also full of truth which combats the lies Satan tells us.

Here’s the most powerful thing about the Bible though. It reveals Christ.

Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness not because he’s powerful and mighty. He didn’t even have a weapon on him the way you might think he would. He did, however, win by answering every lie Satan spoke with Scripture. This worked because Jesus himself is THE WORD.

We fight a lot of internal battles. The world tells us we have to look a certain way, that we have to have x amount of money to be considered successful. We hear lies constantly about what we should stand for and accept. The list goes on, I’m sure you can think of a million things. These battles have to be conquered so that we can do the work of God.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word is a two-edged sword that divides soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Therefore, The Word does it’s work in us, so God can do his work through us. If we have a heart closed off to obedience, we can’t experience the fullness of his joy; serving others and receiving our eternal blessings.

We don’t wear the Sword of the Spirit; it is placed in our hands to stop the unseen enemy. So, learn it, meditate on and use it faithfully.
Helmet Of Hope

August 3, 2026

Ephesians 6:17a “Take the helmet of salvation….”

In 1938, Chicago Bears NFL star, Dick Plasman, suffered a severe head injury when he crashed into Wrigley Field’s brick wall. In that era of football, helmets were leather and uncomfortable. Dick Plasman felt the helmets obscured his vision, so he refused to wear it and instead relied on luck and skill. Unfortunately for him, his accident led to a scalp laceration, peeling back his entire scalp! There were concerns he would never play again, but he recovered and even played in the 1940 and 1941 championship games- helmetless! It wasn’t until 1944 when the NFL mandated helmet wearing that Dick Plasman finally wore a helmet.

This story makes me wonder why we ever choose to go through life helmetless. Honestly, who else feels like they need a helmet just to walk out the front door?

I’m certain that if Paul were around today, he’d be wondering the same thing. “Where is your helmet, and why are you chancing life without it?” However, he would be asking why we haven’t been wearing our spiritual helmet- The helmet of salvation.

Dick Plasman probably always had the helmet, but he felt he didn’t need it. We can make the same distinction here with our helmet of salvation. As believers, we have it. We have access to it, but we may not think about our direct need for it.

Your life is something God sees as PRECIOUS and because he does see us that way, we’re called to protect the very place that spiritual battles often begin- in our thoughts.

Paul is clear throughout Ephesians that believers are saved by grace [Eph. 2:8-9], sealed with the Holy Spirit [Eph. 1:13-14], and receive eternal inheritance in Christ [Eph. 1:18]. Therefore, we don’t lose our salvation without the helmet, but we do risk being unprotected. The helmet of salvation ensures that our peace, confidence and joy are covered!

When we put our helmets on, it’s a reminder to the enemy that negative thoughts and discouragement have to flee.

Remember, we’re not battling against flesh, but spiritual forces of evil [Eph. 6:12]. The enemy can discourage us so strongly that we lose hope. This makes our helmet of salvation even more powerful. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 connects the helmet of salvation with the HOPE of salvation– not just that we are saved by Christ’s death on the cross, but that someday we will be safe from even the presence of sin and evil.

.So, stop hiding your helmet in your closet! Dust it off, and place it firmly on your head. Remind the enemy that we have our armor in place and we can shake off his attacks. The helmet is our assurance that God is VICTORY.
Fiery Battles

July 27, 2026

Ephesians 6:16 NIV “In addition to all this,take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Let me ask you a question. How do you know when you’re in the midst of a spiritual attack vs. normal, every day life? This has been a question on my mind a lot as I’ve had a summer full of opposition.

I’ve been guilty of seeing everything around me as a spiritual attack, and often times it really is one. However, sometimes life is just what Jesus promised it would be: Trouble with a capital T. [John 16:33]

Life is messy, am I right? Maybe you have to wait for a long train when you’re already late, or perhaps you’ve blown a tire, broken your favorite dish. Or like me, you just didn’t get a job you felt called to, leading to confusion and a ton of questions. If you find yourself in a loop of lies, questioning your worth or worse yet, doubting God’s character, that is most likely the enemy at work.

So how do we know the difference and what do we do? The good news is, we don’t have to identify any of it. Not every battle is spiritual warfare, but every battle is spiritual. We can choose how to respond. Do we act out in anger, giving the enemy a stronghold? Or do we use the situation to respond in trust and obedience to God? If we choose the latter, the situation resolves quicker and peace follows.

This is why I really love the shield of faith.

Ephesians 6:14-15 goes over the armor we must always have as a foundation. The last few pieces of armor [Eph 6:16-18] will go over the armor we must take with us and always have ready to use. I think you’ll find every single piece of armor is worth having everyday.

Paul actually likens spiritual attacks to flaming arrows. In ancient warfare, these fiery weapons were launched in great numbers at the beginning of an attack. Not only did this injure the enemy but it caused mass confusion and created panic in him.

Likewise, Satan hurls deception, confusion, questioning and discouragement at us constantly. Luckily, we’re covered. We have a shield that covers our entire body from head to toe.

When you take up your shield of faith, you’re telling the enemy that God is bigger than anything that the enemy can do to you or throw at you.

The situation you’re facing may not be a spiritual attack, but the lie you’re tempted to believe because of the situation is! We may still see evidence of these flaming arrows in our hearts, but we can know with assurance that Jesus covers it.

So, take cover, tighten that belt over the breastplate of righteousness, and make sure you’ve got your shoes on.
From Barefoot to Battle Ready

July 13, 2026

Ephesians 6:15 NIV “…And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

I’m not sure why, but I’ve never been a person who likes to wear shoes. If I can go barefoot- count me in! I’ve been lectured many times- as a kid and as an adult about not wearing shoes. Fortunately, I’ve only been injured once. Now, you’d think after a trip to the ER for stitches I would have learned my lesson. However, being barefoot will always be my first choice. Besides, I have a cool scar to show off now and a story to tell! The bad news is that if there was an emergency, I would not be prepared to run!

As much as I hate to admit it, I obviously take a similar stance on spiritual footwear. Let me explain.

Just like with the breastplate, a soldier’s footwear was made to be sturdy, and it was studded for traction. Most of the military success seen in Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were because their armies wore footwear well fitted with sharp nails. This aided in their ability to take long marches with increased speed over rough terrain.

Here’s what stood out to me while I learned about this. Even if they had the best equipment in every other aspect… none of that would have mattered if their feet were wounded. That would have made them easy prey.

That’s what the gospel of peace does. It prepares us, makes us ready to take action, ready to share truth, and ensures that we are ready to GO when and where we are called. With our gospel of peace on, we’re also no longer easy prey.

I’m not always ready to share the gospel truth, or go where and when I am called. I stumble… probably because I’m barefoot spiritually- and literally.

While I’m getting much better at putting my gospel of peace on every day, I have to wonder how many times a day God thinks, “There she goes again without her shoes!” It reminds me of toddlers…you put their shoes on five hundred times a day and two minutes later, they’ve already taken them off.

I know my gospel of peace shoes are on because I’m ready. Ready to share the truth of the Gospel, and defend the hope in my heart that Jesus brings. I know it’s on when I walk into opportunity with peace flowing right through me with every step I take.

I tell you what… if “they” ever make me some fancy gospel of peace sandals, I might just be willing to compromise….
Perfectly Protected

June 16, 2026

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”

SURPRISE!

I’m back…

I’m finally returning to ‘The Armor Of God’ series [Buckle Up, Buttercup – Never Ending Praise The Lord] and I have to say… it’s almost like I needed to experience some major spiritual warfare for this next part to really click.

These past several weeks have been pretty difficult in so many ways. There has been several moments where I had to pray about and check my belt of truth and my breastplate of righteousness. As we delve into this part, I’m hoping to explain the connection.

I always thought our most vital organ was our heart. Afterall, if it ceases to beat and pump blood to other areas, we’re pretty much toast right? Imagine my surprise when our brain was actually listed as number one!

Truthfully, I had a little bit of a ‘duh’ moment when i realized why that’s true, but for the sake of this devotion, I think we can all agree that our hearts are still pretty vital, right? So let’s talk about the breastplate of righteousness and what it has to do with our hearts.

Both Roman and Israelite soldiers wore a heavy piece of armor that covered their chest and vital organs like the heart and lungs. It was usually made of bronze or chain mail and could weigh anywhere from 50-90 pounds! That is super heavy and when you think of how much the other pieces weighed, it makes you wonder how they were even able to breathe, much less move in battle! I’m not sure I’d even be able to focus on the task with all that stuff on me.

Interesting to note, they also needed help putting this piece of armor on.

Luckily, the spiritual armor doesn’t weigh that much, and yet it’s so solid and protective.

You know what held that breastplate in place? If you guessed a belt- give yourself a gold star! If that belt was loose, the breastplate came right off. Imagine running in battle and all of a sudden, 90 pounds of chain mail just comes right off. Not only do I believe I would stumble and fall, but I would be exposed to imminent danger.

Our breastplate of righteousness does not come from our own righteousness, but from God’s. This protects our hearts from evil and deception. Without this part of our spiritual armor, we are not just vulnerable to Satan’s attacks, we’re open prey. His attacks aren’t always physical, although they can sometimes show up that way. Read the book of Job to see how Satan’s attacks come in the form of doubt, shame, discouragement, spiritual compromise and even physical discomfort.

So when my world seemed to be falling apart the last several weeks, I was heavy hearted, discouraged, fearful, angry and even prideful and vain! [see? Even I struggle!] The thing is, I clearly did not have my breastplate of righteousness on, and even if I did, I also didn’t have my belt of truth on! So, the enemy acted accordingly and took his big opportunity.

What a blessing it is that God is so good at reminding us when we need to pause and pray. He’s also great at nudging us to seek his wisdom. In this case, I needed to make sure I put my spiritual armor on.

We are credited as believers with HIS righteousness, not our own. Apart from HIM, we can do nothing. So look to scripture and remember, heavy is the armor, and heavy is the armor of God, the battle belongs to him but he gives us his perfect armor for protection.
Perfectly and Purposefully Placed

May 4, 2026

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!“

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about spoiling the plans God has for us and how dangerous that is to our present lives. It recently dawned on me that when we look back longing for our past, it’s just as dangerous.

When I moved here to Texas, I wanted to be everywhere else. I thought maybe I would go back to Indiana, God said no. I thought maybe I would return to Florida but again, God said no. He shut the door on me three times when I tried to make plans to move. It was frustrating! I wanted the beach, the guy I thought I loved or the life I lived in Indiana.

All three times, I learned a couple things about God and myself.

First, God is great about answering prayers and later reminding you of what he did. For example, in Indiana, I had a whole tantrum wanting to get out of the circumstances I was in. I had zero patience and I was at the very end of my rope after a difficult period of life. While my actions and my very childish fit were…disappointing to say the least, God did remove me from my circumstances and after a short period, he removed me from Indiana altogether. It was difficult because I had great friends, mentors and amazing church, but he had plans. Those plans included a couple of difficult years back in Florida. Yes, I said years.

That’s the second thing I learned about God. His timing is so different than ours- that’s what makes it so hard not to want to know the ending! However, that short time in Florida- that seemed long at the time- was necessary for where I am today.

I came to Texas believing it was a short-term solution. I tried finding housing and employment in Indiana first and God really said, “I brought you out of that place and you’re not going back.”

Oh. Okay, Lord.

Then I thought I would either return to the New Smyrna beach area, and once again- God shut it down. He reminded me that while it was a beautiful place, there was nothing good for me there.

Then I went to visit that formerly mentioned gentleman, and I came back thinking ok, I’m going to get a job where he is and go be with him. I even had a job interview. In fact, I had several. I even had companies working to help me figure out the soonest I could be there. Except….

God said no… again. I didn’t get the jobs. I didn’t have the answers and not long after that, I realized that guy wasn’t for me.

I had to face the very real fact that God had something for me right where I am.

I want to remind you that once upon a time in a far away land…. Lot’s unnamed wife looked back at her former life too… after being warned not to! She looked back at Sodom, and she turned into a pillar of salt! [You can read about this entire account in Genesis 19]

Maybe you’re asking why God judged Lot’s wife so harshly for simply back.

God has been very gracious about answering this for me because the same is true for us today. When we look back on our past lives, it tells God that our hearts are not in the right place. As people belonging to God, we don’t want to long for a corrupt and passing world. We want to be longing for what he is preparing for us in the future. That doesn’t mean we have to rush to find out. It actually means we should be living our present lives, focused on sharing the love of God knowing that our future is planned- perfectly and purposefully.

Luke 17:32 even warns us to Remember Lot’s wife! A clear warning not to do the same thing. And Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us to forget what is behind and press on toward the goal.

I’m careful about the more secular quotes I hear and use because I want to honor God in every way. I do think this quote however, is something to keep in mind.

When you are depressed, you are living in the past.

When you are anxious, you are living in the future.

When you are at peace, you’re living in the present.

I want to add that our present should be filled with peace from God, reading his Word and spending time getting to know him while we wait for our promised eternal future. You are perfectly and purposefully placed right where you’re at.
Such A Time As This

April 28, 2026

Hello all!

I thought I would be wrapping up my Armor Of God series by now, and I’ve barely even started! The truth is, God has been speaking into me in many other ways and sometimes that means the path I’m on isn’t just straight, but full of curves and peaks and valleys. Isn’t that true for all of us?

I’ve been doing something called Bible Study Fellowship [BSF] for a few years now. This organization is such a blessing. It’s very in depth and I encourage you to look into it if you’re interested in knowing God on a much deeper level. [mybsf.org]

This year, we studied the return of formerly exiled Israelites to their homeland in Jerusalem. I read tons of Old Testament books- so you already know I was invested!

As we’re wrapping up another amazing year in BSF, we’ve been reviewing everything we’ve learned. So, there I sat in my small group on Monday night, going over the book of Esther, and the conversation really nagged at me. “Esther was known for her boldness.” These were words spoken by my small group leader, and up to that point I had always nodded in agreement.

Quick note to tell you a little bit about Esther. Esther’s real name was Hadassah and she was a Jew living in Persia. Esther 2:7 gives us a lot of information about her. She had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Her cousin Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her mother and father died. It’s important to note that King Xerxes ruled at this time in history and well, if you haven’t read Esther yet- what are you waiting for?

King Xerxes was who I view as a spoiled brat. He showed off his wealth and riches for 180 days. He banished his wife, Queen Vashti, because she refused to be a trophy. Then he decreed a beauty pageant of sorts to find his new queen. Guess who got that title? If you guessed Esther… ding ding ding!

Now I don’t want to take anything away from Esther. She was truly bold, and she really inspired me to live in courage and boldness as well. [I’m a work in progress, ok?] She was able to save her people, the Jews, from being wiped out.

My question last night was that I wondered if she would have been nearly as courageous and bold if Mordecai hadn’t been instructing her. Through a messenger, Mordecai reported to Esther all that was being plotted against their people and urged her to stand up for them. Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Clearly, Mordecai’s words had an impact on Esther because she did approach King Xerxes and… spoiler alert, after quite a few chapters of suspense and adventure… the Jews were safe!

My own question had me thinking… what would it look like to be a person’s Mordecai? What would it look like to have your own Mordecai in your life?

Before I really expand on that more, I want to add something. God’s name is not mentioned even one time in the book of Esther. However, his work and faithfulness shine throughout the entire story from beginning to end. Another woman in my small group pointed out that Mordecai in some ways had characteristics similar to God. He was a protective, self-sacrificing, faithful provider for his people. His life truly mirrors a life belonging to the Lord.

To be someone’s Mordecai would mean we are wise and loving in our correction and instruction. It would mean encouraging a friend or family member to fulfill their calling from God. It would mean advocating for them, offering support, and keeping an observant eye.

I have found in life, that when we are blessed with our own Mordecai, it’s our responsibility to be someone else’s Mordecai as well.

And who knows… Perhaps you’ve been perfectly and purposefully placed for such a time as this.
Spoiler Alert

April 22, 2026

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the Plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope, and a future.”

Surprise.

I’m still here.

I’m still working on preparing Armor Of God devotions but the break has been a real curve ball.

I realized something recently and while it was something of an “Aha!’ moment, I didn’t feel inclined to share… until this morning when the Holy Spirit nudged me.

I have a tendency to look for spoilers. It’s especially difficult in TV shows and books. In fact, my friends and family have often teased me about this. I’ll just be reading a book or watching a show and my mind starts thinking of all the possibilities and then I have to know how things end. I’ve even started challenging myself to just enjoy the story and wait for the surprise.

I’ll be honest though. It drives me absolutely crazy.

Please tell me there is someone else out there that struggles with this because it’s getting just a little lonely over here.

Here’s the shocker though. I’m like that with everything in life! I realized this the other day when I went down my typical google rabbit hole, trying to figure out something about a TV show I was watching. Does a certain couple end up together? Is there a love triangle? Does so and so have what’s-his-names child? As I sat there googling questions about Sullivan’s Crossing, I started thinking about how I wish I had google for my own life too.

I think I would ask questions like, “Do I become successful in life? If so, how?” and “Do I get married to an amazing Christian man?” or “Does this guy like me as much as I like him?” I think I would also ask google questions about heaven. What it’s like, what I’ll do there, and if I’ll recognize everyone I love.

Here’s the conviction I received from the Lord…

If I continue wanting to rush to the end, If I keep looking for all the answers, I won’t get to enjoy things as they unfold. Needing to know what happens only drives me crazy. There’s truly a beauty in enjoying what’s in front of you without having to know the end.

I’m going to be completely transparent here… my aha moment faded over the last several days. This morning however, in my prayer time, God gently reminded me again… “You’re too eager to know the plans I have for you. I know them. Trust me. Take a deep breath and just enjoy.”

My need to know all the things shows my lack of fulfillment. That fulfillment won’t come in the things of this world, but in Christ himself. That’s who my eyes should be on. When they’re focused on him, I get the blessing of enjoying God’s creation and all the things he’s doing in my life.

So if you struggle with this too, let me be your gentle reminder that God has you in the palm of his hand and he definitely has a plan. We just get to be surprised by how it all turns out, and there’s a peaceful joy in that.
Crushed In Spirit

April 14, 2026

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.”

In my prayer time this week, I found myself quoting this scripture back to God. My prayer time has included a lot of tears and honesty. I’ll be frank here; it’s a rough season. I am struggling with a lot of uncertainty, confusion, overwhelming sadness, and a really low sense of self-worth.

I’m struggling with all the things I write about, the things I long to help others with.

For weeks the alarm bells have been ringing, and I have ignored them. “I’m just busy!” I say. “God will work it out!” and “I will eventually get to rest from everything.” Now here I am asking God for a life preserver- the one I should have asked for weeks ago.

I couldn’t think of anything to say, how to ask for help, but the above verse came to mind, and it left me wondering about our idea of brokenhearted and crushed in spirit versus God’s idea. I also had to question, “Am I really broken hearted and crushed in spirit?” I don’t want to be dramatic because it could always be worse. However, my inability to sleep and my tears leave me to believe that yes, I am crushed in spirit. The downward spiral of questioning my worth and allowing the enemy to be louder than God’s truth led to me being crushed in spirit.

I know someone else out there feels the same way. So I want to tell you right here and right now- God is near. I think sometimes we forget that when the enemy is loud, we can ask God to be louder. We can also tell the enemy to get behind us and flee. [Matthew 16:23, James 4:7]

When David wrote Psalm 34, he and his friends were experiencing fear, vulnerability and uncertainty. Yet, David wrote beautifully about God’s faithfulness in the midst of adversity. They were in the wilderness fleeing from King Saul. I would say that definitely left them crushed in spirit.

As I think about what it means, I think it’s less about how we’re crushed in spirit. There’s no comparison math here. We all have different stories and circumstances in life that feel turbulent. It’s more about God meeting us where we’re at.

“He saves the crushed in spirit.” the word ‘saves’ indicates that God provides deliverance, restoration and hope in all ways.

If life feels messy right now, remember God is close and wants to give you rest. It may look like realizing we’re not machines and we can’t live life on autopilot. It may look like stepping back from toxic relationships or learning to say no to things. It may look like crying out to God multiple times a day and then being still. It may even look like asking him to show you what needs to be changed. Sometimes we have to repent and ask for forgiveness, which is what I had to do.

I realized that a lot of how I’ve been feeling is due in part to my treating worldly circumstances and ‘things’ like idols. Even work for God can become an idol. When we prioritize busy-ness and allow it to distract us, it starts shaping us more than God himself. Truth be told, I want God’s word and his truth to be a mirror that reflects my life. What about you?

Psalm 34 goes on to say in verse 19-20, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”

I think that is a beautiful follow up to the promise of drawing near to the broken hearted and saving the crushed in spirit.

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