This morning, I sat down to pray, and no words came. My heart was too heavy, grieving, sad, and burdened. I sat there for about ten minutes, trying to find something to say, but nothing. I got frustrated and picked up my phone, deciding against prayer. Immediately, as I opened the phone, an article popped up with the answers to my unspoken prayer. The article was addressing everything I wanted to say to God but couldn't. It brought me comfort, relief, and peace. Even though I couldn't find the words to say, God was listening to the cry of my heart.
I don't know what you are going through right now, but God has not left you alone. He is there listening to the silent cries. He sees the tears, the pain, the heartbreak, and He cares. God is saying, if only you would cast your cares on me, If only you would sit in silence with me. I can make you whole. I can guide you, direct you, and give you my peace. My child, I have you in the palm of my hands, and I will never leave you.
Gillian Henriques

At two very significant points in my life, God showed Himself to me in visions as a Lion. The first time I remember feeling hopeless, I was praying and asking God for strength. Suddenly, I saw the vision of a lion. Jesus, the Lion of Judah. He did not open His mouth to speak, but His eyes spoke. I am your strength. He was telling me I didn’t have to fight my own battles anymore.
The second time was at an even lower point in my life. At that point, it felt like God was nowhere near, but still, I was crying out to Him. In the vision, He showed me The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah standing in a desert place with a crushed and bloody prey in its mouth. He had crushed my enemy and defeated him. He was standing in a desert, signifying that even at the driest, hardest point in my life, He was still there fighting for me.
What are you going through today? No matter how difficult it seems, the Lion of Judah is there. When you are weak and think you have no strength, when you are in that dry and empty place, when you feel that God is far away, He is right there, fighting for you.

There have been many heart-shattering moments for me lately. It's been one of those seasons of 'one thing after another'. I went before God to praise Him, and nothing came. The more I tried to praise, the emptier I felt. My heart was heavy. I began welcoming the Holy Spirit, telling Him He was welcome in my space and asking Him to help me praise. It was in the morning, about 8:30 a.m., a little bird came to my window and began to sing. Just then, I heard the Holy Spirit say, Your praise should be as natural as the bird sings. Suddenly, my attention turned to the singing of the bird, and something happened in me. Praises to God began flowing not just from my lips but from my heart. I was no longer burdened. The bird continued singing, and I praised God right along with Him. He stayed there a while, singing and teaching me how to praise.
It was not the first time God brought my attention to the singing of a bird, and ministered to me through this beautiful creature. The bird, I realise, was not worried about what was happening around him. He was not bogged down with doubt and fear. He understands that God has placed everything in nature for Him, and for that, he was grateful. If we truly understand the lesson Jesus was trying to teach us in Matthew 6:26, we would cast aside all our cares.
If God cares for the birds, how much more will He care for you? It doesn't matter what you find yourself facing; you are not alone. As I praised that morning, all my cares melted in the presence of God, and I was no longer burdened. In His presence, there are breakthroughs, so praise Him as naturally as the birds sing.

The Secret Place
It is always beneficial to be aware of what is happening around you, so I make it a point to listen to the news occasionally. However, it is not something I enjoy doing. The news is mostly depressing. If you follow the narrative, you begin to live your life in fear.
It is the constant assurance by the Holy Spirit that God is with me that keeps me at peace. His Word says, He will hide those that trust in Him from the conspiracy of men. Therefore, man can plot and plan as much as they want, but God’s people can rest assured of His protection.
The words, ‘hide them in the secret place,’ are fascinating to me. As a believer, you are hidden with Christ in God. In the secret place, you are assured of His protection. There, your adversary, the devil, do not approach. There, the pride of man cannot reach you.
You can have peace in the fact that you are hidden in God’s secret place. It doesn’t matter what is happening around you. It really doesn’t matter who may be against you; God is with you.
“You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” Psalm 31:20.
Gillian Henrique

WHY IS YOUR HEART SO SAD?
Psalm 42:11 “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!”
I was watching a video recently, and the presenter mentioned that loneliness is very real in our world. This was not her topic, but she diverted to make a point. She said that it is a growing trend for humans to form friendships and have emotional connections with robots and even fall in love with them. I knew this before, but it really hit home as she pointed out how loneliness has become a real issue. The Bible said there is nothing new under the sun. Loneliness is always something that humans struggle with. The Psalmists asked himself, “Why is my heart so sad?”
Many of you may be asking yourself the same question. You may not even understand why you are constantly sad. I don’t have all the answers as to what may be bothering every person, but I do know that a good portion of people are sad because of lack of fellowship/friendship. God designed us to fellowship, but the world has taught us to close our hearts and push people away. The Bible teaches us forgiveness and reconciliation, but the world says we must not allow our offenders near again.
Unfortunately, there are some who are not alone because of choice but because of circumstances. Then there are those surrounded by people yet still lonely. Whatever the reason you find yourself lonely, remember you are never alone. The psalmist said, “I put my hope in God.”
God is your hope. He will never leave you. The Psalmist’s perspective is: if I can just find it in myself to praise Him, to hope in Him, this sadness will go away. If we can truly understand that God is always near, sadness will flee from us. Look up and begin to praise Him. There is joy in the presence of the Lord. Why is your heart so sad? Hope in God.
Gillian Henriques

Allow Faith to Change Your Focus
The Bible states that God has not given us a spirit of fear, yet many of us remain enslaved by worries and fears? Your fear is impeding you from progress.

How can we proclaim that we know the God who holds tomorrow and be afraid of what tomorrow holds. God responds to Faith. Since you have no clue what tomorrow brings, your limitations are only imagined. What if you begin to change the way you think? What if you allow faith to change your perspective?

Faith knows no limitation, but allows you proof of that which you cannot physically see. The Bible says, faith is the evidence of things not seen. Therefore, if God tells you that He is your provider it does not matter what things look like, faith sees no lack. Rather, faith gives you the assurance that what you need is already provided.

It does not matter your present prevailing circumstance, faith pushes past what is happening in the present and sees the outcome. Jesus lay sleeping in the raging storm (Matthew 8:23-27). The storm was so great that the Bible says the waves covered the ship, but faith gave him rest. His disciples were afraid because they were focused on the present raging storm.

Allow faith to change your focus. Move forward knowing it is already done. You are the child of an all powerful and Almighty God. Break free of the paralysis caused by fear as you move forward in faith.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear..." 2 Timothy 1:7.