He humbles me—not to break, but to bend, To draw me near, not bring me to an end. In whispered winds, in trials set to test, He calls me gently to His place of rest.
He refines me—not with fire to destroy, But flames that clear the dross to birth new joy. Through pain, through pruning, through love’s deep demand, He shapes my soul with His own sovereign hand.
This is where a woman learns to stand— Not in the strength the world may understand, But in the stillness of a sacred place, Clothed in surrender, robed in grace.
I do not strive, I do not flee the flame, For in His presence, I am not the same. He sees, He knows, He lifts, He mends, And in His hands, the breaking always bends Toward beauty, purpose, glory that only His— A life redeemed, a heart made clean.
One day, the world will see—there’s no need to rush or strive. I’ll rest in Him, my shelter, my life. Humbled, refined, and deeply blessed— This is where a woman finds her rest.
I come to You weary. Worn from striving, tired from trying to carry what I was never meant to hold.
For months, I’ve tried to fix things on my own— tried to be strong, tried to be enough, tried to hold it all together.
But I can’t. And I finally see that I was never supposed to.
I’ve come to the end of myself— and that’s exactly where I need to be.
Because what I truly need… is You.
Not just Your help. Not just answers. Not just an escape plan. But You.
You are the Healer— the only One who can touch the places no one else sees. You are the Forgiver— offering mercy the world can’t give, grace I could never earn. You are the Restorer— bringing life to what was lost, renewing what was buried beneath my striving.
You transform hearts. You soften what’s hardened. Even mine. Especially me.
Lord, I confess— I’ve chased after things that don’t last. Recognition, Acceptance, Control But none of it satisfies. None of it gives life. Only You do.
So I let go. I lay it down. The pride. The doubt. The pressure to do it all alone. I surrender my need to be my own savior.
And I say yes.
Yes to Your refining work. Yes to surrender. Yes to being made new.
This is the end of myself, but it’s the beginning of You in me.
You carry much— not because you must, but because you can.
There is a strength within you, woven into your being, that makes space for burdens others may never see.
You were created to carry life— not just in your womb, but in your heart, in your prayers, in your silence.
You are the living proof that God designs with intention. Every fiber of you was crafted with purpose. You are not an accident, not an afterthought.
He formed you with wonder, with wisdom, with tenderness. He molded you in detail— down to the way your heart breaks for others, and still beats with hope.
He is your Father (King) first. Before titles, before roles, before expectations and scars— you are His.
A royal bloodline runs through you.
His daughter. His delight. His image-bearer.
Woman, you are amazing. You are seen. You are valued. You are deeply, endlessly loved.
Before the world ever whispered your name, He was already thinking of you— dreaming of your strength, your beauty, your purpose.
Here’s to the woman who loves to explore places she’s never been— Who finds joy in planning, packing her backpack, studying a map, and saying, “Tara, let’s go.”
You are not fearless. You simply long to experience life beyond your own, to witness the pulse of local days, To let your cup of curiosity overflow.
You’re not afraid to speak or laugh with strangers— Not because you’re reckless, but because you listen with intention and carry respect in your words.
You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re not running from anything. You travel with purpose.
Your journeys are filled with divine appointments— Moments when you’re led to listen, And when your own voice, too, has something meaningful to share.
You plan your trips, but you don’t follow the crowds. Your path is shaped not by trends, but by the soul of who you are.
“I travel alone not because I’m lonely, but because I wander— And in that wandering, I experience His unconditional love.”
You don’t travel to escape. You travel to tune into the voice your heart has been longing to hear.
And thank God— You have family and friends who aren’t afraid of where you are, Because they know Who you’re with.
And in the end, you find yourself in the same place, Yet experiencing it in an entirely new way— Refined. Transformed. Made whole.
After reading this book, I found myself meditating two deep lessons at once:
I. People outside my own square are not my rivals.
Why do I say “outside”? Because sometimes, I find myself avoiding people. There are individuals I feel uncomfortable being around, even if they haven’t done anything to me. I asked God, “Why am I like this?” I used to think it was normal to stay away from people that I didn’t have any real connection with, or those I thought had no connection with me.
But then He showed me: it was because of fear. A fear buried deep within——resulted to thoughts: That I wasn’t enough. Not good enough. Not favored enough. A fear that others might look at me and see someone lacking, someone less, someone poor.
I was carrying this fear without even realizing it. Or maybe I was just denying it. It stemmed from comparison—comparing myself silently to others and feeling like they were more blessed, more liked, more capable. They had something… and I had nothing.
But God revealed something deeper: That fear was rooted in a trauma I didn’t know I was still carrying. A trauma born from silent wounds and childhood experiences. I became the silent recipient of the “ripples” others threw out from their own unforgiveness and pain. And I didn’t even know where it started or why it was aimed at me. But I didn’t know I was just carrying it under.
II. That fear was killing the gift inside me.
Those ripples didn’t just hurt—they caused me to form walls, to develop unspoken judgment when I sensed similar energy from others—people who reminded me of those who hurt me— I may have been throwing those ripples back too.
Then I realized: I always tried to show love. I was present, available, kind. But no matter how much I gave, I kept receiving those ripples in return. Eventually, I withdrew—not because I hated them, but because I couldn’t carry the heaviness anymore.
And unconsciously, I had created dream that were actually rooted in the pain I carried. But God, in His grace, taught me to absorb those ripples—not out of weakness, but out of the strength that comes from Christ. He reminded me that this is what He did. He carried the weight of our hatred, our sin, our trauma—all the way to the cross.
God reminded me of my identity—crafted in His original design. He imprinted in my heart that forgiveness is not just an option. It’s not just a good idea. It is a culture—a way of life—here on earth as it is in heaven.
‘’Because He reminded me of this truth:
I am a daughter, called to live a life without rival.
Loved by the Father without rival.
Alive in a time without rival.
Hailing from a nation without rival.
Serving a God without rival.
Bought by a sacrifice without rival.
Entrusted with a name without rival.
Empowered by His Spirit without rival.
Speaking a language without rival.
Part of a body without rival.
Given a commission without rival.
Equipped with a weapon without rival.
Called to prayers without rival.
Standing before opportunities without rival.
Positioned for a harvest without rival.
Destined for an eternity without rival.’’ – Without Rival by Lisa Bevere
Now I understand: By God’s grace, I will live this life without rival—not in comparison, but in freedom. Not in fear, but in love. And I will move forward with a new perspective, love flowing freely and forgive without limit.
2 Corinthians 5: 17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Do you believe that God has placed us exactly where we are right now for a specific purpose?
He knows our current status, our struggles, and our circumstances deeply. In light of that, we are called to reflect Him in our daily lives, no matter where we are or what we do.
The question we must ask ourselves is: Do we reflect His love, grace, mercy, justice and truth in our daily lives? Are we living as Kingdom ambassadors here on Earth, or are we merely living for ourselves?
In each moment, we have the opportunity to represent something far greater than ourselves—His image. It’s not just about the roles we play in our jobs or the challenges we face, but about how we allow the Holy Spirit bless others through us, regardless of our circumstances.
As we move through each day, let’s pause and reflect: How can we intentionally mirror His character in our actions, words, and decisions—through the guidance of the Holy Spirit? When we live with this mindset, our everyday lives become a living testimony of His presence within us.
I pray that God continues to reveal His divine wisdom to each of us.
Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (NKJV)
Have you ever found yourself reading a book and feeling bored? Some people might even label you as boring or too serious to befriend just because you enjoy reading. Honestly, I was late in discovering my interest in books. I used to think that reading wasn’t necessary aside with school handouts. But one day, I decided to start reading—not because I genuinely wanted to, but just to look cool and nerdy.
I picked up one book, then another, and before I knew it, I was hooked.
But then life got busy, and I lost the habit of reading. A few years ago, I decided to write again, but my mentor and editor noticed that my English wasn’t clear—I struggled to express my message in a way that made sense. I realized it was because I would think in my own dialect and then translate it into English, which didn’t always turn out well.
I was advised to start reading English books again. So, I began collecting books—not just to own them, but to truly read them.
I remember getting serious about reading again with John Bevere’s book entitled ‘’Good or God?’’, alongside with Bible and fasting. As the Holy Spirit led me, everything started to change.
At first, I thought I was just reading books, but I soon realized that God was using them to guide me step by step. The Holy Spirit led me to the right book at the right time, knowing exactly what my heart needed. It became more than just reading—it was spiritual revelation and instruction.
In early 2024, after nearly finishing my collection of John Bevere’s books, I was led to read Myles Munroe’s Rediscovering the Kingdom.
Sometimes, I feel the urge to read books recommended by others, but when the Holy Spirit leads, it’s a completely different experience.
I also want to share that the books I read are often the same ones my mentor reads. Sometimes, we read them together, or she reads them first and recommends them to me. It amazes me how the Holy Spirit knows the exact stages and conditions of our hearts.
And I’ve realized no matter how many books I read, I’ve learned that true wisdom comes through humility—allowing the Spirit to reveal the message within.
Now, I make sure to finish every book I start. After reading, I take time to meditate on it because I don’t want the enemy to steal what I’ve learned. God doesn’t want us to be ignorant.
The Bible remains my primary source of wisdom. It’s incredibly deep—every word carries meaning beyond what’s written. That’s why I appreciate my mentor, the preachers I listen to, and the authors whose books I’ve read over the past few years. I know they were sent by God, and I am truly grateful. The Holy Spirit has transformed my mind and heart.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit what book He wants you to read or who preachers He wants you to listen to. His leading doesn’t just help us grow—it removes the blindness in our hearts. Remember revelation is promotion.
At present, I have finished reading Myles Munroe’s Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer: Earthly License for Heavenly Interference. Now, my next book is Without Rival by Lisa Bevere.
Gracefully reading, joyfully leading.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Colossians 2:3
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6
Have you ever tried to ride a roller coaster? An extreme one?
Last month, I traveled to Singapore and visited Universal Studios. Little did I know I would be taking on some of the most thrilling rides there! Everything was so much fun—I felt like a kid again, young at heart. I’m beyond grateful for the experience of conquering those major rides.
Reflecting on it, I realized that life itself has been quite an emotional roller coaster for me these past few months. God has been leading me to evaluate the condition of my heart. It made me question: Am I truly living a Spirit-filled life?
In the midst of challenges, am I applying God’s Word that I’ve heard? Do I seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in how to respond in every circumstances? Even when dealing with difficult people, do I handle them in a way that Holy Spirit wanted to handle them instead of my emotion?
Emotions are natural, but they can sometimes cloud our decision. The Holy Spirit has been teaching me that when emotions start to take over, I need to hit the reset button immediately. In every situation, I should pause and ask myself: What would Jesus do?
Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV)
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 25:28 (NKJV)
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
Good day! Good night! Wherever you are in the world.
I’m just wondering—do my comments appear in the comment section of your latest blog post?
Since yesterday, I’ve been leaving comments on different posts, but when I read back, I don’t see them. Hmm… It makes me feel a bit sad, and I’m not sure how to fix it. 😦 Maybe my comments are in your spam?