I was reflecting the other the day on some things God brought me through last year. Even though it was a celebratory year, it was not without challenges.

I was being attacked as I was still basking in the afterglow of my healing from two autoimmune diseases – Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.  I was celebrating the one-year anniversary of that very healing with the release of my book, God Did It. Right around that time, I was made aware by my team that an imposter used my ministry’s name and likeness to scam people.

That hurt me deeply. I didn’t want anyone’s trust to be taken advantage of by someone posing as me.

Not too long after that, I found out that a smear campaign (that I later learned through authorities was connected to the identity theft) had been launched slandering me and my family. I was suddenly caught up in a bittersweet whirlwind. On the one hand, God was busy blessing; on the other hand, the devil was busy messing.

Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it?

But thanks be to God, He worked in my favor. The perpetrators were caught, stopped and penalized, and all is well with the ministry and my family.

Experiences like this remind both me and you that living for Christ does not shield us from trouble, conflict, controversy and attacks, amen? Issues are bound to arise in the lives of believers.

In Philippians 4:2, a problem surfaced in the church at Philippi that deeply troubled the Apostle Paul. He was so bothered, he pleaded with the individuals involved to behave differently. The controversy centered on two women of God: Euodia and Syntyche. They were embroiled in some sort of feud that led Paul to address them by name in a letter written while he was on house arrest in the custody of the Roman government.

In his letter, Paul told the ladies to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” In other words, he was calling for unity between them. In verse 3, he asked a companion in ministry to “help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel…”

It is clear from these verses that Euodia and Syntyche were passionate about spreading the Gospel and doing the true work of the Lord. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop the conflict; it most certainly didn’t stop Satan from spreading seeds of discord.

1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace,” so we know that chaos and confusion is a work of the enemy. Satan likes to keep your environment, your mind, your emotions, and your life filled with chaos. He is an enemy of God and the Lord’s people, and doesn’t want you to have peace. So he will use whatever means necessary to rob you of your peace. Whether that comes in the form of anxiety, worry, stress, personal attacks, workplace drama, money issues, health problems, or family conflicts, Satan will stoke those flames of conflict internally and externally to consume you.

He wants you to focus on drama, issues and stressors. But refuse to do that. Instead, take the advice Paul offered in Philippians 4:8 NIV, which says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Let your thoughts be shaped by the word of God. Don’t let life and all its issues stress you out and steal your peace. Tell worry to leave. Tell anxiety it must go. Banish fear and doubt. You do that by meditating on scriptures and seeking the Lord.

In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul says don’t be anxious about anything, but pray about everything. That’s how you experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. That’s how you have joy in the midst of the storm. That’s how you remain confident in the faithfulness of God even when things are going wrong and breaking down all around you.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV, which is what I’m stirring into your cup of inspiration, says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, don’t let the cares of life weigh you down. Rather, do what Psalm 55:22 CEB says: “Cast your burden on the LORD— he will support you! God will never let the righteous be shaken!"

As you leave your burdens on the altar and believe God for breakthrough, please join me in praying for the individuals that asked to be included on our “Thoughtful Thursdays” intercessory prayer list today.

Wanda wrote:

My husband is not a believer. He has a severe drinking problem and gets violent with me and the kids when he’s drunk. We are currently separated for the safety of the family. Please God heal him from alcoholism. Amen.

Anonymous wrote:

I have not been living for God the way I know I should. I have made a mess of my life and I don’t know how to put the pieces together again. Please pray for me that God would lead and guide me and restore my soul. Thank you for your encouragements. They help me a lot.

Bridgette Sanders wrote:

This prayer request is for my mom. She struggles with low self-esteem and depression. Her mental illness has made her a danger to herself. She tried to commit suicide twice. My sisters and brothers have tried to do all we can for her. She doesn’t want to get help. We are believing God to help her and heal her.

Anonymous wrote:

Dear brothers/sisters in Christ kindly pray for me, for God to have mercy on me and deliver me from this ongoing wilderness season I've been in for years now. I lost my job, had to leave the states and move back to my home country with barely any savings to my name but yet, I remained hopeful that the Lord will restore. God has been faithful to me, truly but I still can't see why He had me land back home starting from the bottom again, where I feel I should be advanced career wise, spiritually, financially, relationally etc. I honestly feel stuck in a rut and need encouragement from God truly, He is my hope and I know He will never fail me so I ask that He help my unbelief in every area I may be doubting. My life is in His hands and I know He loves me and has a purpose for me. Please pray that I learn to trust God so much so that even when I can't see where the journey is leading me, I can remain certain it’s leading to greatness and strength and patience to endure faithfully to the end. Thank you guys, may God meet you at your point of need as you intercede for me in Jesus' name.

Precious wrote:

My aunt died of breast cancer a year ago. I was diagnosed a month ago with Stage 3. I am in constant fear that I will lose my life. I have 3 young children and a husband that need me. I have nightmares about dying in my sleep and not making it through this process. I know God is a healer. I need faith and peace. Please join me in prayer. I need it so desperately!

Amia wrote:

I got a new job and I am so excited that God made a way for me. I work with troubled kids with drug-addicted parents, incarcerated parents, all sorts of gang-related traumas. Their stories are heartbreaking and I am asking God for wisdom on how to handle my job and do it effectively. Dianna, your encouragements daily truly help me. I praise God for you and your ministry team and I appreciate your prayers.

Tish wrote:

I have a condition known as PCOS which is an imbalance in my hormones that makes it very hard to conceive. My husband and I have been trying for a few years to get pregnant but with no success. I am holding onto hope that God will heal me and favor me with a child. I believe the Lord can do anything. I am asking you and your prayer team to intercede for us.

Anonymous wrote:

I have been trying to get a job for more than a year and no one will hire me. Please pray that I get a breakthrough.

Now let’s pray.

God, I am going through some trials and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix these things and I can’t carry the weight alone. I pray against worry, stress, fear and doubt. I will meditate on Your promises and believe Your word no matter what it looks like. Thank You for giving me peace in the midst of it all as I put my total trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!