MY DIARY

INSTEAD OF SHAME, A DOUBLE PORTION Isaiah 61:7 “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” — Isaiah 61:7 Introduction Beloved, there are seasons in life when we feel ashamed. Sometimes we are ashamed because of our mistakes. Sometimes because of what people have said about us. Sometimes because of our past. Sometimes because we failed, lost something, or made a wrong decision. And sometimes the greatest battle is not what happened outside us—it is what happened inside us . We begin to think: “Maybe I am finished.” “Maybe God cannot use me anymore.” “Maybe my best days are behind me.” But today, the Word of God gives us another message. God says: “Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion.” Hallelujah! Your shame does not have the final word. Your failure does not have the final word. Your past does not have...

The Greatest Victory Is Victory Over Yourself “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” — Proverbs 16:32 In this world, strength is often measured by how much power a person has, how many battles they can win, how loudly they can speak, or how many people they can influence. But the Bible gives us a completely different definition of strength. Proverbs 16:32 tells us that the person who controls their own spirit is stronger than the person who conquers a city. A warrior may defeat an enemy, but a person who can control anger, words, emotions, desires, and reactions has achieved something even greater. 1. Winning Against Others Is Easier Than Winning Against Yourself It is sometimes easy to identify the mistakes of other people. When someone hurts us, insults us, misunderstands us, or treats us unfairly, our natural reaction may be to defend ourselves, answer back, or fight. But Proverbs asks us to look in another direction: Can I control...