Day 2 – Tuesday, August 20, 2025
Theme: Understanding Fear Spiritually
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) — “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Theme: Understanding Fear Spiritually
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) — “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Sis, let’s go deeper. Yesterday we pulled the mask off fear, but today we expose it for what it truly is: a spirit assignment straight from hell. Fear is not just an emotion. It’s not just butterflies in your stomach or a lump in your throat. Fear is spiritual warfare. It’s a demonic tool sent to choke out your faith, mute your voice, and paralyze your destiny.
Understand this: if God says He did not give us a spirit of fear, then fear is illegal. It has no authority over your life unless you hand it the keys. Every time you bow to fear, you are agreeing with an enemy who already knows he’s defeated.
Fear thrives on lies. It whispers: “You can’t.” “You’ll never.” “You’re too broken.” But God declares: “You can.” “You will.” “I have chosen you.” Which voice will you believe?
Sis, fear doesn’t just keep you nervous—it keeps you bound. It is spiritual chains wrapping around your purpose, your relationships, your recovery, your future. That’s why you can’t treat fear like a guest. You can’t cuddle it, excuse it, or manage it. You must cast it out. Because where fear lives, faith suffocates.
But here’s the truth: the spirit of fear is no match for the Spirit of God. Inside of you is a Spirit that carries:
- Power — the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
- Love — perfect love that drives out fear and covers every wound.
- Sound Mind — a mind anchored in truth, unshaken by the enemy’s lies.
When fear rises, you don’t run—you stand. You declare out loud, “God has not given me this spirit. I reject it, and I walk in His power, His love, and His peace.”
Sis, today is the day you stop letting fear dictate your story. Fear may scream, but faith speaks louder. Fear may knock, but you don’t have to open the door. You are not a slave to fear—you are a daughter of the Most High God.
Declaration
Fear is not my portion. I renounce its grip and every lie it has planted in my heart. I walk in the Spirit of power, love
Day 1 – Breaking Free From Fear
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) — “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Sis, fear is something every one of us has wrestled with. Some of us grew up in fear. Some of us made decisions out of fear. Some of us stayed in situations we knew were breaking us because fear whispered, “You can’t do better.” Fear has a way of keeping you bound—bound to silence, bound to shame, bound to cycles you’re desperate to break.
But I came to tell you this: fear is not your portion. It is not who you are, and it is not from God. Fear is a spirit, an assignment sent by the enemy to paralyze your purpose. That’s why the Word says God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Which means when fear shows up, you already carry the authority to shut it down.
I know what it feels like to hesitate when God says move. To hear His voice but let the “what ifs” drown Him out. To wonder if you’ll fail again, if you’re enough, or if God really chose you. But listen to me—fear will always whisper, but it doesn’t get the last word. God does. And His Word says He will strengthen you, help you, and hold you up with His victorious right hand.
Sis, this is your moment. No more bowing to fear. No more shrinking back. No more rehearsing the lies the enemy planted in your mind. Today, I challenge you: write down one fear that has stopped you from moving forward. Rip that paper up as a prophetic act, and declare out loud, “God has not given me a spirit of fear!”
Fear may knock on your door, but you don’t have to let it in. Stand firm, because the same God who delivered you yesterday is still the God who’s holding you today.
Declaration: I will not live in fear another day. I reject its lies. I stand in God’s power, love, and sound mind—and I will walk in boldness from this day forward.
Day 6 – Never Let Go of Your Cross
Endure Until the End
Scripture: Matthew 24:13 (NLT) – “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Sis, this is the final day of our 6-day journey together, but carrying your cross is a lifetime assignment. The cross is not a one-time pick-up, nor something you set down when life gets heavy. It is your daily “yes” to Jesus. It is your badge of surrender, your weapon of victory, and your pathway to eternal life.
The truth is this: when you drop your cross, you drop your growth. You abandon the very process God uses to shape you into the likeness of His Son. The cross is not meant to destroy you—it’s meant to transform you. It breaks your flesh but builds your spirit.
For the women of Encouraging Her Resilience and every woman walking through pain, recovery, trauma, or the storms of life—hear this:
- If you’re weeping, remember joy will come in the morning.
- If you feel crushed, remember resurrection follows the cross.
- If you feel unworthy, remember Jesus already carried the weight of shame so you don’t have to.
Your cross is not punishment—it’s partnership with Christ. Every time you choose to carry it, you’re saying: “Lord, I want to be more like You, no matter the cost.”
Reflection
Think of the moments this week when you felt like letting go—when life seemed overbearing, when pain seemed endless. What would have happened if Jesus had put His cross down halfway to Calvary? There would be no salvation, no hope, no freedom. And because He endured, so can you.
Encouragement for Today
Do not drop your cross. Do not quit. Even if you stumble, pick it back up. Even if you feel weak, lean on Christ’s strength. Even if the weight feels unbearable, remember—it is shaping you, refining you, and preparing you for a crown that will never fade away.
Declaration
“I will carry my cross daily. I will endure until the end. I will never let go of the process that makes me more like Christ.”
Friday, August 15, 2025
The Cross That Changes Everything
Scriptures:
Psalm 30:5 (NLT) – “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Job 13:15 (KJV) – “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”
The Cross Is Not a Decoration — It’s a Death Sentence to the Old You
When Jesus carried His cross, it wasn’t for show. It was heavy. It was brutal. It was the path to death before the resurrection could come. That’s why your cross is not meant to be light or convenient—it’s meant to strip away everything in you that cannot enter the new life God is giving you.
Your cross is your place of surrender. It’s the weight of obedience when your flesh wants to rebel. It’s saying “yes” to God when “no” would be easier. It’s trusting Him when you don’t understand.
And it’s daily. Not just on Sundays. Not just when you feel strong. Every single day you wake up and say: “Lord, I die to me again today. I will follow You no matter the cost.”
Why Carrying Your Cross Makes You More Like Christ
- It Teaches You How to Endure the Night – Psalm 30:5 doesn’t say you might cry—it says you will. But those tears are not wasted. Every night you keep walking with your cross through pain, rejection, or loss, you are walking the same path Christ walked. And every morning that joy comes, you taste the victory He promised.
- It Builds an Unshakable Trust – Job’s words, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” are not for the faint of heart. That’s cross-carrying faith. It’s the kind of faith that doesn’t need to see the outcome to keep walking.
- It Kills What’s Killing You – Carrying your cross daily forces your pride, bitterness, fear, and addictions onto the altar. You can’t walk like Christ while dragging your old chains behind you. The cross breaks them for good.
What Happens If You Put the Cross Down
If you lay down your cross, you lay down your transformation. Without the cross:
- You’ll chase comfort instead of calling.
- You’ll become a believer in name only, with no power to stand when life hits.
- You’ll end up protecting the very things God is trying to kill in you.
The truth is, without the cross, we cannot be His disciples (Luke 14:27). And without being His disciple, we can’t truly know His power, His presence, or His joy.
Fitting Ourselves Into the Scriptures
When you read “Weeping may last for the night,” see yourself there—on the road, cross on your back, tears in your eyes, but still moving forward. When you declare “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” see yourself standing in the fire with faith that won’t bend or break.
This is the journey of becoming like Christ—not by skipping suffering, but by walking through it with Him and for Him.
The Purpose of the Cross
The cross is not punishment—it’s preparation.
- It prepares you for spiritual authority.
- It prepares you for true joy.
- It prepares you to reign with Christ by teaching you to suffer with Him first.
The cross crushes the old you, but in its crushing, the new you rises—stronger, freer, and filled with resurrection power.
Life Application
- Die Daily: Every morning, speak this out loud—“I lay down my will, my pride, and my fears. Lord, I choose Your way over mine.”
- Endure with Expectation: When the night gets long, remind yourself—joy is coming. It’s a Kingdom guarantee.
- Trust in the Silence: When you can’t feel God, carry your cross anyway. Trust that He’s working in the unseen.
Today’s Declaration
“I will not drop my cross. I will carry it until the old me is gone and the life of Christ fills every part of me. My night will end. My joy will rise. And though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Day 5 – Thursday, August 14, 2025
The Day You Put It Down
Scripture: “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:27 (ESV)
Devotional
Sister, let’s talk real for a moment.
What happens the day you put your cross down?
I’m not talking about physically laying something on the ground—I’m talking about the moment you decide “I can’t do this anymore.”
The moment you say, “I’m too tired to fight, too weary to pray, too discouraged to keep going.”
Let’s be honest—your cross isn’t pretty.
It’s not polished wood.
It’s rough, heavy, and it digs into your shoulders. Some days it makes you cry. Some days it makes you angry. And there are days you wish Jesus had never called you to carry it.
But here’s the truth—
The day you put it down is the day you start walking backward.
- Without your cross, you lose direction.
- Without your cross, you lose discipline.
- Without your cross, you lose the daily reminder that your flesh is not in control anymore.
Your cross is not a punishment—it’s your lifeline.
It’s the very thing God uses to keep your spirit alive and your old self buried. Without it, the woman you buried at the altar will start knocking at your door again.
Think about Jesus. He could have put His cross down at any moment. After all, He was innocent. He had every right to say, “I’ve done enough.” But He didn’t. Why? Because He saw you. He saw the addiction you’d need freedom from, the shame you’d need lifted, the future you’d need restored.
When you carry your cross, you’re not just walking in obedience—you’re walking in the same footsteps as the Savior who refused to quit on you.
And hear me on this: carrying your cross is not about being perfect—it’s about refusing to give up.
Some days you’ll stumble. Some days you’ll drag it. Some days you’ll need help to lift it. But the only real failure is laying it down and walking away.
Why We Can’t Put It Down:
- The Cross Keeps Us Close to Jesus – It’s a daily reminder that we can’t do life in our own strength.
- The Cross Protects Us – It kills off the sin, pride, and old habits that want to destroy us.
- The Cross Prepares Us for the Crown – Without the weight of the cross, you won’t have the strength to carry the victory.
Application Steps:
- Identify the moments when you’re most tempted to “put it down.”
- Ask God for endurance—not just to carry it, but to carry it with joy.
- Find an accountability sister who will notice when you’re slipping and remind you why you started.
Journal Prompt:
- What would my life look like if I stopped carrying my cross?
- How has my cross saved me from going back to my old life?
Affirmation:
“I will not lay down the cross that saved my life.”
Point to Ponder:
The enemy doesn’t need you to deny Jesus with your mouth—he just needs you to set your cross down and walk away.
