Whispers of God

Author: Arkeshia Brown

  • December 31, 2025

    Psalm 27:1 (NLT): The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

  • December 30, 2025

    Psalm 23:4 (NLT): Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

  • December 29, 2025

    Exodus 15:2 (NLT): The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

  • December 28, 2025

    Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT): So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

  • The Woman with the Issue of Blood

    This week’s devotional reflects on one of my favorite Gospel accounts—the woman with the issue of blood. Her story is recorded in Matthew 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, and Luke 8:43–48.

    For twelve long years, this woman suffered from continuous hemorrhaging. According to the law, her condition rendered her ceremonially unclean—isolated, restricted, and dismissed. She sought help from physician after physician, yet her condition only worsened. Where human effort failed, hope seemed lost.

    But then Jesus came.

    When she heard that Jesus was passing through, something ignited within her—a holy desperation. She knew that if she could just reach Him, healing was possible. She pressed her way through the crowd, unconcerned with the risk of being trampled or rebuked. Her faith was singular and focused: If I can only touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole.

    And she did.

    The moment she touched Him, healing flowed instantly through her body. Jesus, aware that power had gone out from Him, stopped and asked, “Who touched Me?” Though surrounded by a pressing crowd, this touch was different—it was a touch of faith.

    As Herbert Lockyer writes, “Perhaps her touch had been unnoticed by the eyes of those around… a touch of faith could not be hidden from Him.” Trembling and ashamed, the woman came forward and told Jesus the whole truth. Instead of rebuke, she received restoration.

    Jesus looked at her and said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

    That word—Daughter—changed everything.

    She entered the story as “the woman with the issue of blood,” nameless and defined by her condition. She left as Daughter, seen, known, restored, and claimed. She was not only healed physically; she was restored spiritually, socially, and relationally. Her identity was transformed in the presence of Christ.

    This story reminds us that when we reach for Jesus in faith, even after years of disappointment, He responds. Where man fails, Jesus succeeds. And when He heals, He does not just mend our wounds—He restores our identity.

    Praise God.

  • December 27, 2025

    Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT): 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

  • December 26, 2025

    Romans 12:2 (NLT):  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

  • December 25, 2025

    Proverbs 18:10 (NLT): The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

  • Queen Vashti — Courage, Dignity, and Conviction

    Queen Vashti, a woman whose presence in Scripture is brief, yet whose legacy is profoundly powerful. Vashti appears in Esther 1; 2:1; and 4:17. Though she is not the central figure of the book, her actions set the stage for everything that follows.

    Vashti, whose name means “beautiful woman,” was a Persian princess and the first wife of King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus). During a lavish 180-day royal feast, King Xerxes—inebriated and seeking to impress his guests—commanded Vashti to appear before the court so that her beauty might be displayed. Vashti refused.

    Her refusal was not merely an act of defiance; it was an act of dignity. She chose self-respect over public humiliation. As Herbert Lockyer writes, “Her self-respect and high character meant more to her than her husband’s vast realm.” In a culture where obedience to the king was absolute, Vashti’s decision required immense courage.

    The consequence was severe. King Xerxes banished Vashti from the kingdom. This banishment was more than removal from the palace—it meant disgrace, dismissal, and divorce. Lockyer notes, “This degradation also meant divorce, not only from her husband, but also from the life and luxury she had been used to.” Vashti lost her crown, her position, and her privilege—but she did not lose herself.

    Although Vashti’s role in the book of Esther is small, her example is enduring. She teaches us that faithfulness to one’s convictions may come at great personal cost. Yet dignity, integrity, and moral courage are never wasted. Vashti reminds us that obedience to God and respect for oneself sometimes require standing alone.

    As Lockyer powerfully concludes, “Divine favor rests upon those who have courage to be ridiculed for such high ideals.” Vashti’s story whispers a timeless truth: status can be taken, comfort can be stripped away, but a woman who stands firm in her convictions remains victorious in spirit.

    Reflection Question:
    Where is God calling you to stand with courage and dignity, even if it costs you comfort, approval, or position?

  • December 24, 2025

    Ephesians 6:11 (NLT):  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.