¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

When you are entering a difficult situation, take some time to put on the armor of God.Imagine you are a warrior princess, standing strong, confident in who you are and who God is. Although you may get wounded, you will still be standing. This person or situation will no longer have power over you or your worth.

Stand firm with the belt of Truth.“I am worthy.” “I am valued.”“God loves me.” “God is with me.”“I am strong.”

o Reflect and list the lies that our enemy the deceiver and accuser is throwing at you

o Write the truths that you’ve already found through your healing journey that negate the lies you’ve uncovered

o Bring any additional lies to group, to your spiritual director, to your counselor or pastor for assistance – allow them to help you carry this burden.

Stand firm with the breastplate of righteousness.The breastplate guards the goodness in your heart. Imagine an insult is like a dart that will bounce off the breastplate. It will no longer penetrate your heart like a sword.

o Reflect on how this crisis is a direct attack on you, your family, your healing journey – where is our enemy focusing his attention to take you out amid this storm?

o Bring this awareness to God, your Heavenly Father, who loved you into being, and desires your greatest ultimate good.

o Own that there is nothing you can do to change your worthiness, because you are wearing the breastplate of Jesus’ righteousness, and your worth was established at your conception, and you remain as precious to God throughout your entire life.

o Review what God calls you, and what He calls you to.

Stand strong with feet fitted on the ground. In those days, the ground would get muddied with bloodshed. Soldiers would slip and fall if they were not grounded firmly.Don’t let the bloody mess push you over.

o Reflect on the truths you are grounded in – God made the world and everything in it and called it good.

§God created man and woman and called them very good

§Man and woman sinned and rejected God’s goodness

§That doesn’t negate the goodness of our design and desire to return to God’s original intention.

o Reflect on the carnage that this crisis has called to mind for you.

o Reflect on how this has changed your self-image or the image.

o Ask God to reassert His original goodness for you and your life, and ground you into His marvelous works to fruition in you, for you and with you.

Stand firm with the Shield of Faith. Extinguish any fiery darts from the evil one who tells you that you will fail.

o Reflect on what God has already done for you to get you to this point.

o Reflect on the good He has brought to your loved ones.

o Contemplate the stories of the Biblical characters and others you’ve read along this journey.

o  Write a list of things you can have faith that God will accomplish for you and why you can stand in that faith based on what He has already done for yourself and others.

Stand firm with the Helmet of Salvation. You are a child of God. You are saved through Christ. Nothing can separate you from his love. Keep this helmet solid on your head, as whatever you think affects the whole body.

o Reflect on feelings of guilt or shame the enemy wants to trap you behind.

o Bring the guilt to Jesus, accept responsibility for your part in things.

o Bring your shame to the Father and allow Him to replace it with belovedness.

Stand firm with the Sword of the Spirit.Remember what God says about you through His Word. Know he has your back and is for you, not against you.

o Reflect on what your deeper need is in this moment?

o Which needs can you meet yourself through practices you’ve already learned?

o Which needs do you need to ask others to fulfill for you? Who can you rely on to meet them at this time?

o Which needs must you still rely on God to fill?

Choose one of these brief, powerful prayers to focus on each day. Let it be your spiritual anchor, returning to it whenever you need centering or strength.

Morning Ritual (2-3 minutes)

1. Find a quiet spot as you start your day.
2. Take three deep breaths.
3. Speak your chosen prayer three times, slowly.
4. Sit in silence for one minute, letting the words settle.

Evening Practice (5 minutes)

1. Reflect on how your prayer supported you today.
2. Write one sentence about a moment when you felt connected to your prayer.
3. Close with "Be with us" as a blessing for peaceful rest.

Weekly Structure

• Monday: "God, help me" - Starting the week with divine support.
• Tuesday: "Lord, give strength" - Building resilience.
• Wednesday: "Peace, Lord" - Finding midweek calm.
• Thursday: "Trust in God" - Deepening faith.
• Friday: "Change me, Lord" - Growing spiritually.
• Saturday: "God, be my refuge" - Seeking protection.
• Sunday: "I trust you" - Expressing gratitude and faith.

Tips

• Keep a small prayer journal to note which prayers resonate most.
• Create prayer cards with these phrases for your wallet or desk.
• Share your daily prayer with a spiritual friend for accountability.
• Shorten the prayer as needed – “Help”, “Strength”, “Peace”, “Trust”, “Change”, “Protect”, “Jesus” will provide the same effect. Remember: The power lies not in the quantity of words but in the sincerity and regularity of practice. These brief prayers can become anchors in stormy times and celebrations in moments of joy.
• Set reminders on your phone for 3 key times (morning, noon, evening).
• When facing challenges, use "God, help me" as an immediate lifeline.
• During moments of anxiety, repeat "Peace, Lord" with each breath.

This is a prayer offered to help fend off spiritual warfare that you may be entering into due to the crisis you’re currently experiencing. This can be said as frequently as you desire throughout the day, weeks, and months as you repair and rebuild your life with Christ.

In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, I speak in authority and command a hedge of protection to be placed around my home, my property and the property of my children, and my spouse. I ask Lord, that you permit warrior angels to stand guard around these hedges, and to protect any holes, or gaps or spots of weakness that are present or develop over time in these hedges. In the name of Jesus Christ.

I speak in authority to command that any free and unbound spirit to be exiled beyond these hedges now, and never to be able to return. In the name of Jesus Christ, and as a measure of his mercy, I ask that additional warrior angels to be placed at the doorways and access points of my home, and property today that will keep all free, unbound or wandering spirits that would try to access my home or property today and every day forward. I also ask that these angel warriors bind and separate from their function any demons attached to any individuals that may enter my home, or that have been in my home and that use or have used my property today, and every day forward.

Father God, I ask for a spiritual umbrella of protection for me and (any additional person of your family/friends) and a spiritual hedge of protection around me my children, and my husband. With the authority you have granted me as a wife and mother, I place the full armor of God on me and my family. I ask that the light of the Lord Jesus and the love of the Holy Spirit shine through us this day, and every day.

I ask that this full armor of God allows us to stand our ground, and provide us the ability to do everything we can to stand - even to submit to being buried by Your might and bolstered by Your hand, so that I might stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, the breastplate of righteousness protecting my heart, with my feet fitted with readiness to move into the gospel of peace, and holding the shield of faith that can and will and has already extinguished the flaming arrows of the evil one, and allow me to bear the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, Jesus Christ. Let me be ready to allow You, Lord Jesus to fight my battles for me.

Lord, I confess that I am healed and whole and flourishing, long-lived, stable, durable, incorruptible, fruitful, virtuous, full of peace, patience, and love. I confess that what I set my hands to do this week, this month, this year shall prosper for You, my Lord, supply all my needs. And I ask your anointing on me to bring to fulfillment the work You have called me to do for you. Bring me to my home safely, refreshed, and revived with You at my center.

Amen

Lectio Divina is the practice of seeking God’s guidance and direction through the prayerful reading of Sacred and spiritual texts. The focus in not so much on getting the text read rather than acknowledging that God has a message for you – just for you within the text today.While you are Tagging Out of your Phase Work it’s important to recognize God is still here with you in the middle of this crisis, and He is still guiding, directing and speaking to your heart.

Choose a scripture to read – suggested is only to read 2-3 verses at a time, and you may only read 1 verse at a time.

1.Read your passage slowly.

2.Listen and look for any word or phrase that “jumps out” and leaves an impression on you. This can be compared to when you’re taking a bite of food – what flavors do you pick up on as you chew it?

3.Read your passage slowly the second time.

4.Reflect on any images, feelings, memories, or sensations that this passage stirs up within you. You can compare this to remembering other dishes you’ve tasted with similar flavors or ingredients or people who have cooked it or who have enjoyed it with you.

5.Read your passage slowly the third and final time.

6.Listen for an invitation from God.This can be a call to let go of a false assumption, or to grab hold of a truth.An ask to do something or to stop doing something.A call for more reflection or to stop ruminating. His message is unique just for you, and can come in many ways.This can be compared to your body using the food you’ve eaten to complete millions of different things as the food nourishes your body and the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates are all routed where they are needed the most and where they can do the most good for your body in the moment.

7.Rest in God’s presence and give thanks for His message. This is like taking a nap after a meal, allowing yourself to wake up refreshed and ready to embrace the rest of the day.

Scriptures you may want to use:

Psalm 112:7

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Mark 4:39

Philippians 4:6-7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31

John 14:1-2 ;Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Matthew 6:25-26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^[a]

1 Peter 5:6-7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11

Psalm 91:2-3 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

Isaiah 40:10-11
See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

When we experience a new crisis in our lives, it can stir up many sensations, memories, emotions, etc. that we’ve experienced before. This can make navigating a new crisis much more confusing, seemingly impossible, and terrifying.

When we’re able to take the time to journal—to capture what has happened, our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions—we can start to separate what was from what is and to get our feet underneath us.

The first goal of journalling is simply to write—to give yourself 5-10 minutes where your pen is moving and your mind “dumps” whatever it feels it needs to, whether it’s deep, meaningful events or trivial topics and facts. Allowing your mind to have time to decompress and to “let it out” whatever “it” is in the moment is good for you.

The second goal of journaling is to reflect on what you’ve written. This happens AFTER you’ve written, not in the moment – it’s not able criticism or judgments, or desire to change the behavior. It is about gaining deeper understanding of where you where in those moments when you wrote those words.

That brings us to the third goal of journaling, reflecting on what steps you can take with God to allow Him to bring you where you desire to be.

Examples –

When I’m reflecting on my writing, I’m noticing that all I’m writing is commentary on other people, I may notice that I’m avoiding my own experience, emotions, and actions.I can then try to tap into these aspects of the events, and see where I need to grow, gain deeper understanding or broaden my perspective to move me forward.

When I’m reflecting on my writing, I notice that I have short concise sentences that state facts and cause-effects I may ask myself what I was feeling, and my emotional state in those moments, what needs were not being met, and how my desire to get them met affected the outcomes of the day.

If I’m writing about everything someone else did wrong and how they constantly bring me suffering/pain etc. Then I can reflect on why I’m giving them so much power over me, rather than acting emboldened and protecting myself better.

The final goal of Journaling is to remember where you’ve been so that you can give thanks for where God has brought you. Going through your journals from a year ago or longer can encourage you to remember that God was with you then and He is with you now. He got you through that, and He will see you through this.

Finally, customize the phrase to have more meaning to meet your needs and add at the end, “in a healthy and positive way.”

Example

1.I have enough energy to do everything I need to in a healthy and positive way.

2.When I am at home with my kids, I am calm in a healthy and positive way.

3.God always sends me the right people to support me in a healthy and positive way.

4.It is safe for me to be vulnerable and share my needs with my husband in a healthy and positive way.

5.I can focus my attention on others while at work in a healthy and positive way and continue practicing self-care.

Spend 3-5 minutes focusing on these statements in the morning, before a stressful situation, after the stressful situation, and in the evening. Adjust your affirmations as needed – try to only work with 5 at a time.