<![CDATA[HOPE-IN-CHRIST MINISTRIES, INC.

<![CDATA[HOPE-IN-CHRIST MINISTRIES, INC. - Lifestyle Blog]]>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:00:23 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Promise of Restoration]]>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:28:20 GMThttps://hope-in-christ.com/lifestyle-blog/promise-of-restoration

Welcome Back!
We are going to shift to something different here on the blog. Let's talk about one of my favorite hobbies, reading. I read to relax and practice self-care.

Are you a Christian fiction reader? Have you ever seen the words from scripture come to life in a book you were reading?

Let's talk about it.

This year, I began a separate blog specifically for Bible study called "Come Bible Study with me." As I've been studying and sharing from the book of Isaiah, I couldn't help but to make a connection with two books I read last summer. Yes, those books are still living rent-free in my mind. They are a part of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, one of my favorite Christian fiction authors.

Just as God promised restoration to Israel and the coming Messiah who would come through them, he restored the main character and used her for His glory.

Scripture:
The scripture I'm referencing is in Isaiah 4: 2-3 - "In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,"

Insight:
Although Isaiah 4 is in the Old Testament and the stories are set in the New Testament, the common denominator is Christ, "The Branch of the LORD," the redeemer. This scripture spoke to me and reminded me of Hadassah, the main character in "A Voice in the Wind" and "An Echo in the Darkness." Yes, these books are fiction, but God is still performing miracles, healing, and restoring in real life as in these novels.

This story was set during the time of the Roman Empire, the first Jewish-Roman War, after the death of Christ. Hadassah survives great loss and experiences the destruction of Jerusalem and is sold into slavery. But God! I promise I will try not to give away specifics. Stay with me while I help you see the connection.

When the story begins, Hadassah's faith is weak due to her circumstances. Soon she is given over as a slave girl. As she walks through horrific situations, her faith grows, and it keeps her grounded. She trusts in Christ through it all. She never loses her faith, even when her life is on the line. As she remains a light in darkness, God brings her through and restores her, giving her beauty for ashes.

Application:
Now, why did I connect scripture to a fiction novel? First, because I love Christian fiction. Second, because many can see Him through a fictional character written from the heart of a Christian who has experienced Him. So, what's our takeaway from Isaiah 4 and this fictional story?

We can understand that life may not be perfect. As believers, we will experience hardships, but God will bring us out on the other side because He has a purpose for us as He did for Israel. Christ came through their lineage and redeems souls as they place their trust in Him.

Therefore, like Hadassah, hold on to your faith in Christ. He will see you through and use you for His glory. Now, go check out her story and find other connections from the scriptures. Don't read it too fast because it will pull you in quickly. Read it slowly and absorb it. You will not be disappointed.

Prayer:
Father, I pray that your daughter who is reading this will always remember that your plan for them is not destruction, even in the midst of trouble or even loss. Help her to see that you have a purpose and a plan for you. Help her to hold on to your unchanging hands and allow you to lead her into a place of safety.

Call to Action:
In addition, join us for our study in Isaiah. All you need is your Bible, a notebook, and to click on the blog to read on your own time, at your own pace. I also share literacy strategies to assist you while you are reading. See the link below if you are interested in joining:

https://hope-in-christ.com/come-bible-study-with-me.html

Finally, like, share, and leave a comment of what you thought about this blog post. Come back and share when you've checked out the books or others that connect with a scripture you're reading.

Thanks for stopping by and keep living "That HOPE Life!"

Denise M. Walker

]]><![CDATA[Shift #2: Stop Waiting to “Feel Ready” (Breaking the Pattern of Self Sabotage)]]>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:10:18 GMThttps://hope-in-christ.com/lifestyle-blog/shift-1-stop-waiting-to-feel-ready

Have you ever battled with whether you were ready to move in God? Many women believe they must feel confident, healed, or certain before moving forward. I was there at one point in my life. I needed to stop waiting to feel ready because God wanted to do a great work through me, and I was causing a delay.

It’s important that we stop waiting to feel ready because it is stifling our growth. God wants to use all of us as He used Joseph in scripture, so the excuse of not feeling ready won’t continue to work. Lives are waiting on our obedience, stepping out of fear and handing over our self-sabotage to Him.

In Genesis chapter 37-50, we are introduced to the testimony of Joseph. Many of us are familiar with his story. Let’s walk through why he wasn’t given a choice of “Feeling Ready” to be used by God.

His story begins with seventeen year old Joseph being despised by his brothers. Then, he had a dream about ruling over them one day, and they hated him even more. They even plotted to take his life. He had many reasons to self-sabotage his destiny and feel sorry for himself but he didn't.

We are familiar with the story. His own brothers threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery, and he was taken into Egypt. While there, he experienced many struggles (being accused of rape, he was thrown into prison, and forgotten by those God had used him to help).

Still, he continued to trust God and didn’t realize where God was taking him. However, God was preparing him in the background for his great call. Then came the moment that changed his life. He interpreted the pharaoh’s dream. Actually, he only repeated what God revealed to him. The wisdom of God had brought him to the place of purpose.

What is God Showing us About Joseph?
He was just an ordinary man. He wasn’t “prepared” to move into the second in command position over Egypt. This was another reason he could have used to sabotage his situation. He could have told the pharaoh that he wasn’t prepared for such a big responsibility, but he trusted God instead.

What Keeps us Stuck?
Fear and the pain of our past. The fear of the unknown can keep us standing in place and not moving in our purpose. The pain of our past can keep us making excuses. That is why we need Christ's healing, from the inside out.

Once we begin to walk in our healed place, He invites us to shift to a place of obedience. This is key because it can hinder us and the individuals we are called to help.

One of my former principal’s used to say, “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.” Spiritually, that means being ready to allow the Lord to have control and equip you in the moment. Stay ready to obey what you might not even understand.

We must embrace that God is the one who equips us, not ourselves. Yes, we can do some workshops and trainings, but we must remain close to Christ, so we can hear his instructions, step by step.

Practical Application:

Here are a few practical steps to help us shift from self-sabotage to moving in God’s purpose.

We must have a mindset shift - remind yourself that God will equip you every step of the way as he did for Joseph. Remember, everything we do is for God's glory, so we will always feel unprepared. The equipping comes from Him.
We must have a prayer focus - Write out a prayer, asking God to assist you in areas where you need help (Ex: a prayer against fear, a prayer for wisdom, a prayer to help you break the habit of self-sabotage, a prayer to heal you from the remnants of your past, etc.).
Take manageable steps to moving in purpose - focus on what the LORD will equip you with. Do the first step in the plan, not the whole plan. Ask Yourself: “What is the smallest obedient step I can take today?”

Encouragement & HOPE:

Remember, the following:

God is faithful even when we are not.
He has patience and will extend grace to us.
Your identity is in Christ, walk in it. Don’t be afraid to allow him to be glorified through you. You are worthy because He made you worthy.

Speak life over yourself as you go.

Closing Prayer:

Father, I pray for your daughter reading this. Help her to trust you to help her take the shift from self-sabotage or stagnation to moving forward in purpose. Help her to understand that you have the power to and will equip her with courage, peace, and the ability to fulfill your purpose. Let her know that you can use her as you used Joseph, but she must seek you and allow you to guide her as Joseph did. You saved many lives through Joseph, and you desire to do the same in her life as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

*Please take a moment to leave a comment below with the first step you took to shift into moving in God.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please checkout my "Wholeness blog by clicking the link below:
https://www.denisemwalker.com/

Thanks for stopping by and keep living "That HOPE Life!"

Denise M. Walker

]]><![CDATA[Shift #1: Breaking the Pattern of Self-Sabotage!]]>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:04:51 GMThttps://hope-in-christ.com/lifestyle-blog/breaking-the-pattern-of-self-sabotage

“Healing doesn’t automatically mean we know how to live healed. Sometimes, after God restores us, we might unknowingly sabotage the very freedom we prayed for.”

Why because...

Healing feels unfamiliar.
Growth requires practicing new habits.
Old patterns feel safe, even when they’re unhealthy.

Fear of losing causes us to retreat instead of advance.

No matter what, when God brings us out of barren (empty, devastating) places, we still have to learn how to remain there. We can't return. I have 5 practical tips to keep us from self-sabotage.

Tip 1: Start journaling. You don't need anything fancy, just a notebook. Once you have a journal, answer the following questions:

Take some time to journal. I love to do different types of journaling. It helps me focus during my quiet time. Start by writing down what God healed you from. Be specific.
Next, think about the patterns you left behind.
Consider what you refuse to return to. Make a "Do Not Return List" and put it on your refrigerator or mirror to review daily.

Tip 2: Next, write down your triggers.
Examples:

Feeling unseen
Disappointment
Loneliness
Times of Waiting

Tip 3: Write a prayer to God asking him to heal you from those triggers.

Tip 4: Practice Obedience in Small Ways. Self-Sabotage starts small, then grows.

Some examples are: Skipping prayer, Skipping reading the word, Speaking negatively over yourself, Reconnecting with those God has led you away from, etc.) .
Now choose one of those things you have skipped and return to practicing it. You may need to take small steps, but take them.

Tip 5: Guard your environment and your thoughts.

When engaging with people and things, ask yourself, "Does this support my healing journey or drain it?" Think about the content you consume, your connections, and even conversations you may have on and offline. Then, seek God in prayer for continued direction.

In closing, remember that self-sabotage is not a lack of faith. It’s often a lack of practice. Healing is real, but staying healed is a daily choice. Choose wisely everyday. I'm a living witness that it works.

Thanks for stopping by and keep living "That HOPE Life!"

Denise M. Walker

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