By Paula Williamson, guest writer Some scoff at prayer, others question its purpose, and some have become disillusioned because their prayers have gone unanswered. That does not change the fact that scripture tells us to pray and records more than 600 miraculous answers to prayer. It Is Written JAMES 5:14 -16 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Prayer Changes Things Scripture records years added to a man’s life because of prayer. One account describes the sun standing still for a day in answer to prayer. The prayers of the barren brought forth children; wisdom was granted; territory expanded; deliverance from a whale’s belly occurred; the paralyzed were healed; Peter walked on water; demons fled; prison doors opened; the dead were raised; and numerous others. I’d rather pray about everything, as mentioned in scripture, and see some answers than pray nothing and see nothing. Our experience does not nullify the Word of God. Prayer Lord, in a world marked by so much criticism, backbiting, and judging, I want to align my heart and mind with the prayer of Jesus in John 17, where He prays that we would be one, just as He and God are one. Where there is division, I ask for unity. Help us continue loving others and treating them with respect and kindness, even when we don’t agree with them. Takeaway The prayer of faith will save the sick, forgive sins, and heal. It is powerful and effective.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer A home is pretty useless unless we are the ones who hold the keys and the right of entry. There are few memories that compare to someone placing a set of car keys in our hands for the first time. Remember the power and symbolism attached to that day? There is a transfer of power, authority, and freedom like no other. There is also a profound loss of that power when the keys are taken away. Keys symbolize power. It Is Written MATTHEW 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Our Authority Scripture says believers have been given great authority. We are the Ekklesia, God’s ruling body over the earth. Jesus transferred His authority to us when He conquered death and sat at God’s right hand. We have been given important authority, but if we don’t use it, we are not doing our part. Keys lock and unlock, and in Strong’s Concordance they are translated as forbid or permit. What should I be forbidding or permitting in the world around me? That’s a good question. Ask God to reveal it to you through prayer and observation. Keys are useless in the hands of one who does nothing with them. Prayer Lord, help me be a faithful steward of the keys You have entrusted to me. Your word in Luke 10:19 says I have been given all power over the enemy. I use those keys to bind and forbid any lies and deception over my family, school, church, world, and government, and to loose or permit Your truth to come to light everywhere. Your word says we shall know the truth, and the truth will set us free. Takeaway We hold the keys to the kingdom!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I have lived long enough to look back on my life and see the efforts I put forth that were barren. Those days were laborious and exhausting. There are other times when a thought drifted across my mind, as gentle as a drifting feather, but when acted upon, the fruit that was produced could be explained only as divine. It Is Written JOHN 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Divine Fruit Divine, fruit-bearing days are the ones I live for, days filled with God stories that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The more I intentionally make an effort to abide in Him and tune my spirit toward Him, the more stories I have. I dare you to make a conscious effort to follow Him and see what happens. Prayer Lord, I no longer want to do dead works. I want to abide and walk with You in ways that bring heaven to earth, a never-ending God story, days pregnant with fruit that overflows to bring You glory and honor. Takeaway When I remain and abide in Him, He promises that I will bear much fruit!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I’ve had the pleasure of being surrounded by preschool children all my life, and it has been a privilege. They have taught me a lot. It always surprises me how some children hug and kiss their parents goodbye and approach the classroom with gusto, as if it were a delicious feast, while others cling to their parents with a death grip and must be coaxed into trying anything. Why is that? Is it as simple as what we choose to believe? It Is Written ROMANS 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Our Belief System Scriptures say that believers in Christ are more than conquerors through HIM! What would it look like if we truly believed that? We can believe anything we want, such as the world is a bad place, corrupt, evil, and to be feared, or that it is a wonderful place God created for us to live, conquer, and overcome without fear. How’s your belief system working for you? I’d rather live as an overwhelmingly coqueror than a cowering, fearful victim. The good news is we get to choose! Prayer Lord, as I begin this day, help me to fully trust You as a good and loving God, a good, good Father who does not withhold good from His children. Help me to live as a conqueror, fearlessly, and to be full of faith in You. Help me to approach life as a victor, not a victim. Takeaway I am an overwhelming conqueror!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer The Person in the Mirror We can be our own worst critics. What we say to the person in the mirror can be brutally cruel. From personal experience, a counselor once asked me to name 10 good things about myself. I sat in silence until tears ran down my face. I felt like a total failure at the time. She asked me what I was good at. Again, silence and tears. She finally changed the word good to okay. My homework was to replace my critical self-talk with I am okay messages. As cheesy as it sounds, it changed my life. Scripture also sends me an “ I’m okay message. It Is Written PHILIPPIANS 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. I’m Okay There is something refreshing about accepting that we are imperfect and okay, just like everyone else in the world. It puts us in a position of grace, a commodity we all need. Knowing that we are imperfect work in progress helps us walk graciously with ourselves and others. The world doesn’t need any more critics, and we can all use a little more encouragement. Has anyone told you lately that you are valuable, precious, and loved? You are. Takeaway I am a work in progress!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer When we surrender our lives to the Lord, we have a target on our backs! Satan hates us and makes it his mission to destroy us. He came to steal, kill, and destroy. The good news is that Jesus came so we might have life and have it more abundantly. It Is Written EPHESIANS 6: 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Suit Up! God did not leave us defenseless. Believers are to walk in the full armor of God so they can stand firm against the enemy. Luke 10:19 says He gave us authority over all the enemy's power. We are engaged in an invisible war every day, yet we are victors through Christ Jesus. Prayer Lord, I ask you to help me place Your Word in my mind! It is my helmet of salvation. Help me place Your Word in my heart. It is my shield of faith. Help me wrap Your Word around me as a belt of truth and a sword. Your Word does not return void but goes forth and accomplishes much. Help me apply Your Word to every part of my life as I live, move, and breathe today. Takeaway I have been given authority over the enemy!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Fear That’s a small word with big consequences. I shudder to think of a small boy standing before a giant, uttering blasphemies. That’s exactly what the Bible story says David did. But his reaction was not fear. He was filled with righteous indignation because Goliath was hurling insults at His God. Fear is a very normal response to adverse circumstances. We do not even have to give it a second thought. It just rises to the occasion. It Is Written EPHESIANS 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Fear Not Scripture mentions “fear not” over 365 times and says God did not give us a spirit of fear. It should have no place in the life of a believer. When the news and media report the latest imminent dangers, terror, or disasters as we speak, a believer's knee-jerk reaction should be faith. We should lift up our shield of faith and say, “But God!” Scripture says we are more than conquerors if God is for us. Who can be against us? Whatever you are feeling or facing, there is a scripture to counteract negativity. Prayer Lord, when I feel like a whimp or an insignificant person who matters not, remind me of who I am in You, and speak that to the mirror. Thank You for Your word and for being my strength and reminding me that the battle belongs to You! Takeaway I am strong in the Lord and the strength of His might! For further studies on the subject of fear, download Fearless Faith Walkers at coadwordbooks.com

By Paula Williamson, guest writer The more grounded we are in the Word of God, the better equipped we are to live a victorious life. It’s easier than ever to Google a scripture that addresses an issue you are experiencing. I have done this for over fifty years, and that is where these truths for the day and daily blogs come from. Whatever I am experiencing, I turn to God’s Word for wisdom. It renews my mind with truth. It Is Written EPHESIANS 6:12-17 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places . 13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Armed and Dangerous According to the Word of God, our struggle is not against people. We are fully equipped through prayer and His word to walk in victory no matter the circumstances. More than that, we were created to overcome evil with good and to make a difference wherever we go. Suit up and make a difference out there! Prayer Lord, help me recognize where the battle is and use the weapons You have given me. Remind me that I am not fighting people. We are all doing the best we can. Help me exercise the power You gave me in the real battle and turn my complaints into prayers that make a difference. Help me exercise my faith and stand on Your word. Takeaway I am fully equipped!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer That’s a deep question! So many voices shape our thoughts today. Social media, TikTok, YouTube, Hollywood, X, your choice of news, authority figures, church, and even invisible influences. Someone is always shaping your thoughts, often with an agenda. It Is Written JOHN 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. One Unchanging Thing In a world full of voices, it is comforting to know that God’s Word never changes, has never been proven wrong, and that He watches over it. Both God and Satan are invisible yet influence our lives. Our conscience and spirit lead us to truth, but Satan whispers lies, shames, guilt-trips, condemns, accuses, divides, and instills fear and destructive thoughts. Social media has its own agenda. Just Google who funds your favorite source of information, and you may be surprised. Prayer Lord, in a world full of hidden agendas, loud voices, and dynamic headlines, help me hide Your words in my heart so my soul is anchored in Your unchangeable Word. Thank You that there is always one place I can go for truth that silences all other voices. Takeaway Scripture is an unchanging news source.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Hollywood and the world make a mockery of those who believe in a devil and Hell. The Bible, which has not been disproven, has existed for over 3,000 years and tells quite a different story. According to scripture, both exist, and we are to armor up for the invisible war every day. It Is Written EPHESIANS 6:12 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Threat or No Threat If you haven’t fought any invisible or tangible battles in your lifetime, maybe you aren’t a threat. That’s something to chew on. Is the Ekklesia, God’s ruling government, the church, exercising her God-given authority? We have been given the keys to the kingdom. Look around. Who is winning in your territory? Prayer Lord, help me armor up, fight the good fight, keep the faith, and make certain You are ruling in the territory You have given me. You gave us authority over sickness and disease and over all the enemy's power. Help me to walk in a manner worthy of You. Takeaway If the Bible says to put on the full armor of God, then I must have an enemy!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer According to scripture, Jesus leveled the field. The ground is said to be level at the foot of the cross. There are no < signs in the Bible. Many scriptures do not favor those who think they are better than others. It Is Written GALATIANS 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Greatest Scripture goes on to proclaim a message completely different from the one we hear in the world. One of the last acts of Jesus was to wash the feet of His disciples. In Matthew 23:11, Jesus, the King of all Kings, said, "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." He demonstrated those words in one of His final acts by washing the feet of His 12 disciples. Prayer Lord, help me to have the right view of myself and others. Help me never to look down on anyone You created and help me to have a truthful view of myself. We are all sinners in need of salvation. Takeaway The greatest is the servant of all.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer People have told me they prayed, but God does not hear or answer them. Scripture tells a different story. It says that God is very near to those who call upon Him and submit their lives to Him. He hears our call. He is not far away. Perhaps God answered–just not the way expected. It Is Written EPHESIANS 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Direct Access Through Jesus Christ, we have direct access to God, a direct line. We can speak to Him at any time and know He hears us. We can have confidence in this because God keeps His word. Prayer Lord, thank You for Your word that says we have access to You through Jesus Christ. Thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You that we can pour out our hearts to You and that You listen. We trust You to answer our prayers in the wisest way for everyone involved. Takeaway We have direct access to God.