Nancy G. Marquez: Founder / President Determined Women's Ministry

The Bible urges us to sing a new song to the Lord because God continually works wonders and acts on our behalf. This does not mean learning a different song every day, but allowing our praise to be renewed daily by his presence. It should not be a routine, discouraged, or empty expression, but praise born from the heart, directed to our heavenly Father, and sung with spiritual passion. God’s wonders are reason enough for our mouths never to cease praising him. Every day we have reasons to do so: we breathe, see, walk, enjoy the company of family and friends, and, above all, have received salvation by grace. Therefore, let us sing with renewed and sincere gratitude.

Even while imprisoned and distressed in Gath, David did not allow his circumstances to produce a song of complaint, but rather a declaration of trust. Feeling afraid is not wrong: every day, fears may surround us and touch our hearts. The key is to keep our trust in God firm, especially when we fear being left alone, sense betrayal, or do not understand what is happening to us. On such days, our faith must not waver, for we know in whom we have believed. We must send faith out ahead to guard the heart: just like doubt, fear is overcome by faith. When fear comes knocking, let faith answer.

Amid the noise, constant talking, and daily activity, we need to pause and set aside time to meditate on the greatness of God. Meditation is a spiritual discipline necessary for maintaining a healthy and balanced life in God, together with study, prayer, and fasting; therefore, we must not neglect it. Meditating on God and His works brings an inner sweetness that the world cannot give. That sweetness produces rejoicing, for we can delight in the Creator and in all that He has done. The more we cultivate this discipline, the more rejoicing we will experience in our daily lives. Joy in the Lord springs from constant meditation on God.

When heartbreak, troubles, enemies, or temptations surround us like lions and threaten to devour our faith, we may feel defenseless and see no way out. David faced a similar danger, but he lifted up his faith, pleaded for God’s mercy, and declared his trust in Him. We too need to take refuge under the shadow of His wings until the difficult times have passed. Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High enables us to recognize that God is our hope, our fortress, and the One in whom we trust. Though our hearts may be broken, His mercy is renewed every morning, and in Him we find refuge.

Forgiving and knowing that we are forgiven lead us to inner peace, because a guilty conscience destroys that peace and becomes a heavy burden. The power of forgiveness springs from God’s promise of redemption and reaches its culmination at the cross, where Christ asked forgiveness for those who crucified him. Humanity seeks peace through military, political, economic, social, or religious power, but every effort apart from God is in vain. Without peace with God, we cannot have true inner peace or peace with our fellow human beings. God gave us the supreme example: by receiving his forgiveness, we find freedom; and by forgiving, we also set others free and are ourselves released from the prison of resentment.

Jesus not only promises us peace, but His own peace—a peace that surpasses our understanding and guards our hearts and minds amid turmoil. Like the depths of the sea, which remain still even when the surface is churned by storms and winds, God’s peace produces within us a calm so deep that afflictions cannot reach it. True peace does not depend on circumstances but dwells within us, sustaining a melody of trust even amid frustrations, crises, problems, and illnesses. When we make God’s peace our rest, we can lie down and sleep peacefully, trusting that the Lord alone gives us security.

Although our prayers may seem to receive the wrong answers, we can trust that God always does what is right and that his way is best. Like the cactus that later produced a beautiful flower and the caterpillar that became a butterfly, what seems unpleasant or incomprehensible today may reveal an unexpected good tomorrow. God has thoughts of good for us, knows what we truly need, and works according to his eternal purposes. What we desire is not always what is best for us. Therefore, let us continue asking, trusting, and confidently expecting God’s best at the right time.

We are like hard, rough stone in the hands of God, the Great Master, who uses brokenness to shape us as He desires. Although the process may break open the wellspring of the heart and release emotions through tears, God is closer than we imagine. His nearness assures us that He is accomplishing something beautiful in us to fulfill His purpose. Therefore, we must submit to His hands and understand that our present afflictions cannot compare with the glory and blessing He will reveal in us and through our lives. Let us not fear brokenness: what God will do will be greater than our present difficulty.

We must not take refuge in fear when faced with evil, trials, or suffering, but look upward, from where our hope comes. Setting our minds on things above means focusing on the spiritual, viewing circumstances through the eyes of faith, and remaining steadfast as though seeing the Invisible One. This vision perceives things as they ought to be, looks to the future, responds to purpose, and turns needs into opportunities to serve. It also requires trustworthy people who release their gifts and act in faith. God calls us to leave stagnation and comfort behind, overcome the fear of the unknown, and look beyond obstacles toward victory and blessing.

At times we seek satisfaction in fleeting things, but nothing on this earth can fully satisfy us, no matter how beautiful or good it may seem. Our true aspiration should be to resemble the Lord in every way, imitating Christ and finding joy in God and in his eternal and perfect works. In Psalm 17, David prays sincerely, asks for vindication and protection, seeks to walk uprightly, and trusts that God hears those who take refuge in him. Unlike those whose portion is in this life, we live seeking to please God, upheld in his paths, and we look forward to the complete satisfaction of beholding his face and awakening in his likeness.

God does not merely possess truth: He is the truth, and this attribute should be reflected in us as His children. Although we are weak and limited human beings, we come from the Father of Truth and should strive to think, speak, and act sincerely each day, whenever it is within our power. We do not have to do this alone: the Holy Spirit is our helper and guide, and He leads us into all truth. Therefore, let us cast aside falsehood in our thoughts, words, and conduct. Let us be sincere with God and allow His Spirit to help us live according to the truth.

When difficulties pile up, the road seems uphill, resources dwindle, and worries weigh us down, we can rest, but we must not give up. Even when circumstances seem completely against us, God has not lost control of our lives. Failures are not always final: victory often would have come if we had persevered, even by moving forward slowly. Triumph may be closer than we can see. Therefore, instead of giving up when everything gets worse, we must resolve to keep fighting courageously, trusting that God remains in control.

Remembering Lot’s wife does not mean living bound to the past, but learning from her disobedience. When she looked back, she became motionless: her body, soul, and spirit ceased to respond. Her condition represents the believer or the church that, although saved by the mighty hand of God, does not obey the guidance of his Spirit. We too can become paralyzed by clinging to material and fleeting things, remaining connected to old wounds or actions, walking out of harmony with God, and harboring hidden agendas. We must trust that the same hand that saves will also provide, live with integrity, enjoy the present, and move forward encouraged toward the future.

The value of a promise depends on the character of the one who makes it. Human promises may go unfulfilled or be fulfilled only in part when steadfastness is lacking, but God’s promises reflect his truth and faithfulness. He neither lies nor changes: he will do what he has said and has the power to fulfill every promise in our lives, even when circumstances seem contrary. Therefore, we can trust fully in his word, confident that he does not change his mind about what he has told us.

Losses can feel like giants trying to crush our faith and make us think that God does not love us. Although we may not presently understand why we are going through these unexpected losses, we must stand firm and declare that God is faithful and true and that he fulfills his promises. If we remain steadfast in our Christian race, what is taken from us will later be restored many times over. Job lost everything, but God blessed the latter part of his life more than the former. Therefore, when the enemy claims that all is lost, let us respond with even greater strength and confidence: we have believed in a God of love, justice, and truth.

Our victory is assured when we fight in the Spirit rather than in our own strength or with carnal weapons. God has given us armor and powerful spiritual weapons: prayer, the Word, fasting, and above all, obedience. By doing what God commands us, we can win the battles we face each day. Moreover, the Holy Spirit lives in us, remains with us, and helps us attain victory. Therefore, let us keep moving forward and fighting with determination for our marriages, our families, moral values, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

We must watch out for small attitudes and compromises that seem insignificant, because they can undermine the foundation of our lives and ultimately damage their beauty and fruitfulness. Like the little foxes that ruined the vineyards, a lie can grow into deceit, and an offense can produce a root of bitterness. Nor should we forget that serious sins begin within: Jesus pointed to lust behind adultery and anger behind murder. If we neglect these things, they will affect our relationship with God, our marriage, family, church, and community. The wise believer pays attention, takes precautions, and remains watchful before the damage grows.

Let us learn to listen to God’s voice amid the many voices vying for our attention: the voice of the world, the enemy, and our own self. When we heed those voices, we often end up anxious, frustrated, or discouraged. By contrast, listening to what God tells us brings peace, confidence, calm, and joy. Therefore, let us open our inner ears and pay attention: God is continually speaking to us.

Many things seek to distract us each day and draw us away from the purpose for which we were created. To move forward successfully in whatever we undertake, we need to remain focused on God and avoid anything that diverts our attention from our eternal destiny. If we lose focus, we can ask God for discernment and seek the help of the Holy Spirit to readjust our spiritual lens and turn our gaze back in the right direction. A determined believer does not allow earthly concerns to govern their attention, but perseveres with their eyes fixed on the things above.

We must view our lives as a complete picture of God’s purpose, not as isolated circumstances. Each situation sets the stage for what follows; therefore, let us not put a period where God has placed a comma or mistake an apparent defeat for the final outcome. Let us pray according to his will, trusting that God hears both spoken and silent prayer. Effective prayer does not depend on correct formulas, but on a heart filled with God’s desires and words. Prayer does not change his will; it activates it and serves as a channel for focusing his power on specific people and situations. Let us persevere, for nothing is difficult for God.

Intercession is prayer that stands in the gap for the needs of others and, like a key, activates the power and love of God. To pray under the anointing means to pray in God's way: with faithfulness to His Word, watchfulness, passion, persistence, and without seeking personal benefit. Although we may not always see the results, prayer offered according to His will works effectively. Intercession is neither a gift reserved for a select few nor a weekly activity, but a privilege and a way of life for every believer. Our hearts should beat in harmony with God's heart, filled with mercy, grace, and love for the lost, without asking for punishment. Jesus Christ is our model of love, prayer, and intercession.

Although we profess to be “One Nation Under God,” the spiritual reality reveals that the nation has strayed from His covering, harming its present and future. There is still time to return to God: His people must humble themselves, repent, seek His face, and pray to receive forgiveness and healing. Effective prayer does not depend on the right words, but on an open heart that expresses God’s will; on bended knee, we can intercede, break chains, and bring His purpose to earth. By faith, we trust that God remains in control and calls us to stand in the gap. Like Esther, the Hispanic and Latino people have been placed here to intercede for the nation, its leaders, and every sphere of influence.