Author Darlene J. Conard

Some of the most powerful moments in Scripture come from the most unexpected people. Jael is one of them—a woman without a title, without a public platform, without an army… yet entrusted with a victory that changed the course of Israel’s history. Her story, found in Judges 4–5, is brief but thunderous. It reminds us that God often works through those who seem hidden, ordinary, or overlooked.

The World Jael Lived In

Israel was under the brutal oppression of Jabin, king of Canaan, and his military commander Sisera, whose iron chariots terrorized the land. Because Israel had turned from God, they suffered under this regime for twenty years. In this dark season, God raised up Deborah, a prophetess and judge, who summoned Barak to lead Israel’s army into battle. But Deborah prophesied something unusual:

“The honor will not be yours… for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)

That woman would not be Deborah. It would be Jael.

Who Was Jael?

Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite, part of a nomadic tribe living in tents. She was not an Israelite. She was not a warrior. She was simply a woman going about her daily life when history knocked—literally—on her door.

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Her name means “mountain goat,” a symbol of agility, sure‑footedness, and the ability to navigate dangerous terrain. How fitting for the task ahead.

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When the Battle Came to Her Tent

After Israel defeated Sisera’s army, the commander fled on foot. Exhausted and desperate, he sought refuge in Jael’s tent—believing he was safe because her husband had peaceful relations with Jabin.

But Jael discerned the moment. She saw what God was doing. She recognized that the enemy of God’s people had stepped into her home.

She welcomed Sisera with milk, covered him with a blanket, and waited until he fell into a deep sleep. Then, with the tools of her everyday life—a hammer and a tent peg—she struck the blow that fulfilled Deborah’s prophecy and secured Israel’s victory.

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Why Jael’s Story Matters Today

Jael’s story is not about brutality—it’s about courage, discernment, and obedience in a moment that demanded decisive action. She teaches us several powerful truths:

1. God Uses the Hidden and the Ordinary

Jael wasn’t a soldier. She wasn’t a prophetess. She wasn’t even part of Israel.

Yet God entrusted her with a national victory.

Your tent—your home, your daily life, your quiet obedience—may be the very place God chooses to move.

2. Courage Often Looks Like Stepping Into a Moment You Didn’t Ask For

Jael didn’t go looking for a battle.

The battle came to her.

And she responded with clarity, not fear.

3. Discernment Is a Weapon

Jael recognized the difference between a guest and an enemy.

Between hospitality and compromise.

Between peace and passivity.

4. God Honors Those Who Act in Alignment With His Purposes

Deborah’s song in Judges 5 praises Jael as “most blessed among women.”

Her obedience echoed through generations.

A Prophetic Reflection for Today

Jael’s story invites us to ask:

• What battles have come to my doorstep?

• What “tent pegs” has God already placed in my hands?

• Where is God calling me to act with courage, clarity, and conviction?

Sometimes the greatest spiritual victories happen not on public stages but in private spaces—inside our homes, our families, our decisions, our prayers. Jael reminds us that God sees the hidden ones and empowers them to shift history.

Closing Thoughts

Jael’s life is a reminder that God’s deliverance can come from unexpected places and unexpected people. Her courage broke the power of an oppressor and fulfilled a divine prophecy. And her story still speaks today:

When God places a moment before you, step into it with courage.

You never know how your obedience might change the course of a generation.

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J. Conard

Many churches today shy away from teaching the fullness of divine healing, even though it is woven throughout Scripture as part of our covenant inheritance. And so I often ask myself: Why is it easier for people—even believers—to accept a doctor’s report than to stand on what the Word of God declares?

The answer is sobering. From childhood, we have been conditioned to place unquestioned trust in medical authority. We are taught to believe a diagnosis simply because it comes stamped with a degree, a title, or a white coat. Our culture trains us to exalt human expertise above spiritual truth. But the Kingdom of God operates by a different standard.

Recently, someone expressed fear concerning my health. In that very moment, the Holy Spirit rose inside me like a mighty banner and said with unmistakable authority: “You do not come into alignment with this demonic contract.” That fear was not from God, and I refused to sign my name to anything authored by darkness.

People have said, “Darlene, you’re in denial.” And they’re absolutely right— I am in denial of anything that originates from Satan. I refuse to agree with the enemy’s narrative when God has already spoken a better word over my life.

The Word of God tells me plainly that by His stripes I am healed. The Word tells me that He is working all things together for my good. The Word tells me that He is my Deliverer. The Word tells me that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17

I choose to believe the report of the Lord. I choose to anchor myself in His promises rather than in fear, speculation, or human limitation. Healing is not a fantasy—it is a covenant reality sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This is why we must press in.

Press into prayer.

Press into thanksgiving.

Press into the declarations of faith that shift atmospheres and break chains.

We must decree what King Jesus has already spoken, not what the enemy whispers. Every law of the Kingdom, every promise of God, every healing word, every deliverance decree—all of it has been signed, sealed, and ratified in the blood of the Lamb. And when Heaven has signed it, no earthly report has the authority to override it.

He said to the woman with the issue of blood, “Your faith has made you whole” (Mark 5:34). Jesus also told the blind man in Matthew 9:29, “Be it unto you according to your faith.” Are our thoughts aligned with certainty? Will we thank God every day for our healing, or will we waver in our faith? God is not the problem; rather, it’s our mindset and how we use our words. When we complain instead of spending time praising Him for our healing, we give the devil a foothold. In the Gospel, we see a powerful interaction when Jesus tells the woman suffering from a bleeding condition, “Your faith has made you whole” (Mark 5:34). This moment highlights the profound impact faith can have on our lives. Similarly, in Matthew 9:29, Jesus addresses a blind man, affirming, “Be it unto you according to your faith.” These statements prompt us to reflect on our own beliefs: Are our thoughts and attitudes firmly aligned with a sense of certainty in God’s promises?

Each day presents an opportunity for us to express gratitude for our healing and well-being. We must ask ourselves whether we will actively choose to thank God every day for His blessings, or if we will allow doubt to creep in and lead us astray. It’s essential to recognize that God is not the source of our challenges; instead, the root of our difficulties often lies in our own thinking and the way we communicate.

When we focus on complaining or expressing negativity, we inadvertently open the door for the devil to influence our lives. Instead of indulging in complaints, we should dedicate ourselves to praising God for our healing and the good things in our lives. This shift in focus not only strengthens our faith but also reinforces our trust in God’s unwavering support and healing power. Embracing a positive mindset and using our words wisely can lead us to a more fulfilling and faith-filled life.

…  “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 KJV

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

The Battle for the Mind and the Quiet Sabotage Within

Author Darlene J. Conard

There’s a saying:

“No one can destroy iron, but its own rust can. Likewise, no one can destroy a person, but his own mindset can.”

It’s simple, but it cuts deep. Iron is strong, unbreakable in the hands of its enemies—yet it can crumble from the inside if corrosion is allowed to spread. The same is true for us. Most of the battles we lose are not because the enemy is stronger, but because our mindset is unguarded, unrenewed, or unprotected.

Scripture has been warning us about this long before the proverb was ever spoken.

1. The Mind Is the Battlefield

The apostle Paul makes it clear that the real war is internal:

• “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

• “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5

Transformation doesn’t begin with circumstances—it begins with thought patterns.

Victory doesn’t start with what happens around us—it starts with what happens within us.

The enemy cannot destroy a person who guards their mind. But a neglected mind, like neglected iron, begins to rust.

2. Rust Begins in Secret

Rust doesn’t appear overnight. It starts small—unseen, silent, subtle.

So do the thoughts that corrode our confidence, identity, and faith.

• A whisper of fear

• A seed of doubt

• A lie about who we are

• A memory that reopens an old wound

• A belief that God won’t come through this time

Scripture warns us:

• “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

Rust forms when iron is exposed to the wrong environment.

Our mindset corrodes when we expose our inner life to the wrong voices, wrong influences, wrong beliefs.

3. God Has Given Us Armor—But We Must Wear It

Paul describes the armor of God in Ephesians 6, and notice where the battle begins:

• “Put on the helmet of salvation.” — Ephesians 6:17

Why a helmet? Because salvation isn’t just about eternity—it’s about identity. It protects the mind from lies that corrode our sense of worth, purpose, and belonging.

The enemy cannot destroy what God has fortified.

But if we leave our mind uncovered, unguarded, unrenewed, rust begins to spread.

4. The Enemy’s Strategy Is Corrosion, Not Confrontation

The devil rarely attacks with force; he attacks with suggestion.

• “Did God really say…?” — Genesis 3:1

He doesn’t need to break you if he can convince you to break yourself.

He doesn’t need to destroy your destiny if he can get you to doubt it.

He doesn’t need to steal your identity if he can get you to question it.

This is why Scripture commands:

• “Do not give the devil a foothold.” — Ephesians 4:27

Rust begins with a foothold.

A foothold becomes a stronghold.

A stronghold becomes a prison.

5. Renewal Is the Cure for Rust

The good news is that rust can be removed.

The mind can be renewed.

The heart can be restored.

The inner life can be strengthened again.

God never leaves us to corrode in silence.

He speaks life, truth, and restoration:

• “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” — Isaiah 26:3

• “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5

Renewal is not a one‑time event—it’s a daily cleansing.

A daily choosing.

A daily returning to truth.

6. You Are Stronger Than You Think—When Your Mind Is Anchored in God

Iron is strong.

You are stronger.

But strength is wasted if the mind is unprotected. It’s amazing how much power we give to a lie.

The enemy cannot destroy you.

People cannot destroy you.

Circumstances cannot destroy you.

But your mindset—if left unguarded—can sabotage everything God intends for your life.

So today, choose renewal.

Choose truth.

Choose to guard your inner life with the same seriousness that a warrior guards his armor.  The battle is not won by force—it is won by mindset.

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

This morning I woke with a song already breathing in my spirit —

What a friend we have in Jesus.

Before thought could rise, before daylight could settle, the melody wrapped itself around me like a quiet visitation. I lay still, eyes closed, letting the words move through me like a warm current:

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.”

And as I whispered those lines back to Him,

I felt the truth settle deeper than memory —

we carry needles of pain

that He already bore on Calvary.

We clutch burdens He has already lifted.

We nurse wounds He has already healed.

We hold grief He has already carried to the cross

and left there.

In that stillness, I sensed Him saying:

“Let it go.

You don’t have to hold what I have already redeemed.

You don’t have to bleed where I have already bled for you.

Bring it to Me — all of it —

because friendship with Me is freedom.”

We carry our mishaps like private burdens, as if we’re supposed to fix ourselves in secret. We act as though our struggles are ours alone to untangle. But has God ever asked His people to walk alone?

Did He not stand with the children of Israel when the desert stretched endlessly before them?

Did He not pour mercy over them again and again, even when they wandered, doubted, and rebelled?

His patience became their shelter. His faithfulness became their compass.

And if that wasn’t enough, He painted His love in the most startling colors when He told Hosea, “Go, marry Gomer.”

A prophet bound to a woman who would break his heart —

all so God could say to His people,

“This is how deeply I love you.

This is how fiercely I pursue you.

This is how faithfully I stay, even when you run.”

So why do we think our failures are too complicated for Him?

Why do we clutch our shame as if He hasn’t already shown us the lengths He will go to rescue, restore, and redeem?

The God who carried Israel,

the God who chased after Gomer through Hosea’s tears,

is the same God who carries us now —

not reluctantly, but relentlessly.

We are not different. My friend, if you feel you can’t approach Him, do not believe the lie that comes from the enemy.

He first loved us…

Before we ever reached for Him,

He was already reaching for us.

Before we learned His name,

He had already whispered ours.

Before we took our first trembling step toward grace,

He had already run the whole distance of Calvary to meet us.

His love didn’t begin with our obedience,

our repentance,

our devotion,

or our understanding.

It began with Him —

with a heart that has always burned for His children, with a mercy that outruns our failures,

with a tenderness that refuses to let us go.

He loved Israel in their wandering.

He loved Gomer through Hosea’s heartbreak.

He loved humanity while we were still tangled in our own darkness.

And He loves you —

not because you are perfect,

But because He is love.

Because loving you is His nature,

His joy,

His eternal choice.

So when we say, “He first loved us,”

We’re really saying:

“I am held by a love older than my mistakes,

stronger than my fears,

and deeper than anything I could ever offer back.”

“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 KJV

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J Conard

There are moments in life when the world around us is enveloped in a cloud of uncertainty—when circumstances unexpectedly change, when people we trust let us down, and when the future appears as a foggy landscape, difficult to navigate. Amidst this whirlwind of instability and unpredictability, however, one unwavering truth shines brightly: the promises of God remain steadfast and reliable, offering hope and reassurance in even the most tumultuous times.

Not “likely.”

Not “possible.”

Not “hopefully.”

Sure. Steadfast. Unmovable. Guaranteed by the character of the One who cannot lie.

 A Promise From God Is Not Like a Promise From Man

Human promises, even well‑intentioned ones, can falter. We forget. We change. We grow weary. But God’s promises flow from His eternal nature. He doesn’t make promises based on our performance—He makes them based on His covenant love.

When God speaks, He binds His word to His own integrity. When He declares, He commits Himself to completion. When He promises, He already sees the fulfillment.

His promises are not predictions. They are declarations from the God who stands outside of time. His Promises Stand Even When Our Circumstances Don’t Agree

Sometimes the gap between promise and fulfillment feels like a wilderness. We wonder if we heard correctly. We question the timing. We wrestle with the silence.

But the silence of God is never the absence of God.

The delay of God is never the denial of God.

The mystery of God is never the failure of God.

Every promise has an appointed time.

Every word has a season of unfolding.

Every seed has a moment of breaking through the soil.

And while we wait, God is working in ways we cannot see.

Promises Are Kept in the Heart Before They Are Seen in the Hand

Faith is not pretending everything is perfect. Faith is holding onto what God said, even when nothing looks like what He said.

Abraham believed before he saw.

Joseph trusted before he was elevated.

Hannah prayed before she held her child.

David worshiped before he wore the crown.

The promise was real long before the evidence appeared.

God’s Promises Carry Us Through the Storm

When the winds rise, His promise becomes our anchor. When the night stretches long, His promise becomes our lamp. When fear whispers lies, His promise becomes our shield.

We don’t stand on emotion.

We don’t stand on circumstance.

We stand on the unshakable word of the living God.

Every Promise of God Finds Its “Yes” in Him

There is no promise too big for Him to fulfill. No heart too broken for Him to restore. No situation too tangled for Him to redeem. No prayer is too small for Him to notice.

He is the God who finishes what He starts.

He is the God who watches over His word to perform it.

He is the God who keeps covenant to a thousand generations.

And He is the God who has never failed—not once, not ever

2 Corinthians 1:20 says:

“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” It means every promise God has spoken finds its affirmation (“yes”) and its fulfillment (“amen”) in Christ. Nothing He has declared over your life is wavering, unstable, or subject to human limitation.

What That Means for You

• His promises are already settled, even if you’re still walking toward them.

• His word doesn’t expire, weaken, or get canceled by circumstances.

• His “yes” is stronger than every “no” spoken by fear, delay, or opposition.

• His “amen” seals what He has begun in your family, your future, and your calling.

I decree and declare, “Father, I stand on Your promises. What You have spoken over my life is yes and amen. I align my heart with Your word, and I receive the fulfillment in Your perfect timing.”

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J. Conard

There are moments in history when the world feels heavy with confusion, injustice, and spiritual pressure. These moments are not signs for the church to shrink back — they are invitations for the church to rise. Scripture never portrays the people of God as passive observers. We are called to be watchmen, intercessors, and carriers of light in a world that often forgets what light looks like.

Darkness is not merely the absence of light; it is the absence of resistance. Wherever the church refuses to pray, darkness gains ground. But wherever the church stands in its God‑given authority, darkness trembles.

The Church Was Born for Moments Like This

From the book of Acts onward, the church has always advanced through prayer. Not polite prayer. Not quiet, distracted prayer. But focused, unified, Spirit‑led intercession that disrupts the plans of the enemy and opens the way for God’s purposes.

When Peter was imprisoned, the early church didn’t hold a meeting to discuss strategy — they prayed until heaven intervened. When Paul and Silas were chained in a dungeon, they didn’t wait for morning — they worshiped until the foundations shook. When darkness tried to silence the gospel, the church prayed until the Word ran swiftly.

This is our heritage. This is our assignment.

Prayer Is Not a Reaction — It Is a Weapon. We don’t pray because we are afraid of the dark. We pray because darkness is afraid of the light we carry.

Intercessory prayer:

• Exposes hidden works of the enemy

• Breaks cycles of oppression

• Releases clarity where confusion has ruled

• Strengthens the weary

• Opens doors no human hand can open

• Pushes back spiritual forces that seek to destroy families, communities, and nations

When the church prays, heaven moves. And when heaven moves, darkness loses its grip.

Standing in the Gap

Ezekiel 22:30 reveals God’s heart: He looks for someone to stand in the gap.

Not someone perfect. Not someone famous. Just someone willing.

Standing in the gap means:

• Feeling the weight of what is happening around us

• Refusing to accept darkness as normal

• Crying out for God’s justice, mercy, and intervention

• Declaring His promises over situations that look impossible

Intercession is not a side ministry. It is the backbone of spiritual transformation.

A Church Awake Is a Church Dangerous to Darkness. The Church is not a building. We are the church.

The enemy’s greatest fear is not a large church, a wealthy church, or a talented church.

His greatest fear is a praying church.

A praying church cannot be manipulated.

A praying church cannot be silenced.

A praying church cannot be deceived.

A praying church becomes a lighthouse in a storm, a fortress for the broken, and a prophetic voice that refuses to bow to the spirit of the age.

When the church awakens to its authority, darkness loses its influence.

This Is the Hour to Pray Like Never Before

We are living in a time when spiritual battles are intensifying — in families, in communities, in nations. But this is not a time for fear. It is a time for alignment. A time for courage. A time for the church to take its place.

God is raising up intercessors who pray with fire, not formality.

Believers who understand that prayer is not a ritual — it is a form of warfare.

Communities that know that when they gather in unity, heaven responds.

The works of darkness do not stand a chance against a church that knows how to pray.

A Call to Rise

If you feel the stirring to pray, that is not your imagination — it is your assignment.

If you feel the weight of what is happening in the world, that is not anxiety — it is intercession knocking at your door.

If you feel the urgency to stand in the gap, that is the Holy Spirit awakening your spirit.

This is the moment for the church to rise, to intervene, and to shine.

Darkness may roar, but it cannot overcome the light.

And the light of Christ shines brightest through a praying church. Let’s not forget that the church is not a building; we are the church wherever we go.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J Conard

There are moments in our walk with God when the old words no longer carry the weight of what He is doing. Not because they were wrong, but because He is doing something new. Scripture invites us again and again: “Sing unto the Lord a new song.” A new song is not just fresh lyrics—it is a fresh encounter.

A new song rises from places where God has shown Himself faithful in ways we have never seen before. It is the sound of chains breaking, hope returning, and breath filling places that once felt empty. It is the melody of a heart that has been carried through fire and found God waiting on the other side.

Why a New Song Matters

A new song is a declaration that God is not finished with us. It is a refusal to let yesterday define today. It is a prophetic act—an announcement that heaven is still moving.

When we sing a new song, we are stepping into alignment with what God is doing right now. Not last year. Not last season. Now.

A new song says:

• “Lord, I see You.”

• “I trust You.”

• “I believe You are writing something new in me.”

And sometimes, the new song comes not from victory but from longing. Even then, it is holy. Even then, it is worship.

A New Song Is Born in the Heart Before It Reaches the Lips

You don’t have to be a musician to sing a new song. You don’t need perfect pitch or poetic skill. A new song is simply the overflow of a heart awakened by God’s presence.

It may sound like gratitude. It may sound like surrender. It may sound like a whisper in the dark: “Lord, I’m still here.” He receives it all.

When God Gives You a New Song, “It Changes You.” A new song shifts the atmosphere inside you.It breaks heaviness.  It lifts your eyes.

It reminds your soul that God is still the God of miracles, still the God of mercy, still the God who sees you.

Worship is not just something we offer—it is something God uses to reshape us. Your New Song Is a Testimony

Every new song carries a story:

• A story of deliverance

• A story of healing

• A story of endurance

• A story of grace

When you sing it, you are not just praising—you are testifying. You are declaring to every power of darkness that God has the final word over your life.

Let This Be Your Season of New Songs

If you feel the stirring in your spirit, don’t ignore it.

If you feel the urge to praise even before the breakthrough, follow it. If you sense God whispering something fresh, lean in. This is a season where God is renewing voices, restoring joy, and awakening worship that has been silent for too long.

Lift your voice. Open your heart. Let the new song rise. Because when you sing a new song unto the Lord, heaven listens—and earth shifts.

Psalm 40:3 (KJV)

…. “he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J. Conard

The atmosphere is thick with tension, and emotions are running high as the heat of the situation intensifies. It feels as though the flames of conflict and uncertainty are roaring, and there’s little hope for respite in the near future. However, amidst this chaos, one undeniable truth emerges: a miracle is within reach.

The teachings found in the scriptures strongly affirm that miracles are indeed not mere fantasies or wishful thinking. They remind us that if something appears to be impossible, that’s precisely what makes it a miracle when it occurs. These divine interventions often arise when we least expect them, offering hope and transformation in even the direst circumstances.

The story of the Hebrew children is ancient, yet it remains timeless and powerful. Every generation finds itself standing beside that furnace, learning the same truth: before the miracle, there is always a fire. Not a fire meant to destroy us, but one that transforms us so completely that we cannot emerge as the same people who walked in.

We don’t enter the flames as victims or as those destined to smell like smoke. We step in like unlit incense—fragile, yes, but full of hidden fragrance. Incense must meet the fire before its true scent can rise. It may crumble into ash, but in the burning, something holy fills the air. What looked like loss becomes offering. What felt like breaking becomes release.

This is the mystery of God’s work: the very place that should have consumed us becomes the place where our aroma of worship rises highest. The ashes we feared become the beauty He promised.

Take every trail you walk through and let it become a classroom of the Spirit. In each twist of the path and every stretch of rough ground, there is something to learn about resilience—resilience shaped not by your own strength, but by the nearness of God’s mighty presence.

Let every hardship teach you how to stand a little firmer. Let every disappointment show you how deeply His hand holds you. Let every unexpected turn reveal another facet of His faithfulness.

For in God’s presence, resilience isn’t just endurance—it becomes transformation. It becomes the quiet, steady courage that grows when you realize you are never walking the trail alone.

Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish.  My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026.   This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.

Author Darlene J. Conard

Indeed, Jacob’s encounter is a story recognized by many, but I’m about to reveal an insight that will transform your perspective on it. Jacob wasn’t merely engaged in a physical struggle for the sake of wrestling; there was a deeper significance behind his confrontation that speaks volumes about his character and journey.

Wrestling is a comprehensive workout that strengthens nearly all muscle groups, enhancing overall fitness and stamina. It improves flexibility, agility, and explosive power through dynamic movements and techniques. The sport fosters mental toughness, discipline, and emotional resilience, as athletes learn to manage setbacks and maintain focus. Wrestlers develop personal responsibility and a strong work ethic, while also promoting teamwork and leadership within their communities.

Overall, wrestling instills a mindset of grit and self-mastery, preparing individuals to face various life challenges.

We are going to use every single ounce of our strength to push through spiritual combat. Prayer is dedication; Fervent prayer takes strength— not just of body bowed, but of spirit stretched, heart poured out, and faith held firm when silence answers loudest.

There is a lot to learn and compare this with the spiritual. We wrestle with losing to ourselves. Our carnal nature doesn’t want to die out to the things of the spirit. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 10:39 KJV

What if Jacob hadn’t wrestled? What if the angel never touched his hip, never marked him with a limp of legacy? What if God said, “You may not wrestle with Me”— and Jacob walked away whole, but unchanged?

But he didn’t. Heaven trains in tension. Destiny is forged in the grip of divine struggle. Because the next season required a name change, and names are never given without a fight. God let Jacob wrestle. Let him sweat, strain, and stagger. Let him hold on through the breaking of dawn until blessing broke through. Because sometimes, the limp is the proof that you’ve been in the ring with God and lived to walk into your calling.

Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish.  My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2026.   This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated. Darlene J. Conard is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministries. If you have a prayer request, please email it to darlene.conard@hotmail.com, and my intercessors and I will pray.