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THE TWELVE STEPS TO VICTORY™ || Step Eleven || Deepening Our Connection with God

In The Twelve Steps to Victory column, we’re reframing the traditional 12 Steps with a focus on victory vs continually looking back at our missteps and failures. Each Step aligns with the months on the yearly calendar. This series publishes on the first Friday of each month in 2025.

We sought through prayer and Spirit-led meditation to grow in our relationship with God, seeking to know His will and receive His power to walk in victory. —Step 11

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.”
—Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)

After walking through confession, repentance, and making amends, Step 11 invites us into something even more intimate—daily communion with the Living God. This is where the journey shifts from repair to relationship, from surviving to thriving. It’s one thing to admit our need for God; it’s another to walk with Him closely, every single day.

Deepening our connection with God doesn’t mean striving harder or doing more. It’s about slowing down and becoming more aware of His presence. The world constantly calls for our attention—but in the stillness, God speaks. Through quiet prayer and Spirit-led reflection on His Word, we learn to recognize His voice and respond in obedience.

This step is less about petitioning and more about positioning—placing ourselves before Him with a yielded heart, ready to listen. We’re not praying for our will to be done; we’re praying to know His will and to receive the strength to carry it out.

When we seek Him daily, He begins to shape our desires to align with His. Old habits lose their grip. Clarity replaces confusion. Power rises where there was once weakness. Victory becomes more than a moment—it becomes our way of life.

Take a Step Toward Victory
Set aside some time today to be still before God. No agenda. No list. Just invite Him to speak. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow in your awareness of His presence. Then listen. You might enjoy playing the instrumental worship video “Draw Near to God” by DappyTKeys in the background—it’s over four hours long, but don’t let that overwhelm you. Even a few quiet moments with peaceful worship can open your heart to God’s voice. Keep a small journal nearby to write down any thoughts, scriptures, or impressions you sense. This is how we deepen our connection with Him—one quiet moment at a time.

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THE NIGHT A SONG SAVED OUR LIVES: “Power” by We Are Messengers — the soundtrack of God’s protection in our scariest moment.

It was supposed to be just a simple daytrip.

In November 2023, Bill and I loaded up the pups and headed east from Tampa to explore Florida’s Space Coast. We were considering a move and wanted to scout out the area—visit a dog beach, maybe drive up the coast to see NASA. It was beautiful and lighthearted, until the day started slipping away.

I don’t like to drive at night. It’s always been that way. And Bill doesn’t drive because I get car sick—he works while I drive, and that’s how it’s been for 46+ years. So, when the early fall sunset began creeping up and we still hadn’t started heading back, I felt the tension rising.

Then came the traffic.

We got tangled in a long line of Disney traffic. I was desperate for a restroom, so we took an exit hoping to find a gas station. But the road took us deeper and deeper into Disney property—until we were literally at the entrance to Disney World. They wouldn’t even let me use the restroom without paying for a ticket.

Finally, we found a Taco Bell. By then it was completely dark. I was exhausted, frustrated, and just ready to be home.

We drove on. And on. Finally, by 9 p.m., we were near the entrance of our subdivision, stopped at a red light in the left turn lane.

That’s when it happened.

🎧 The Moment Everything Changed

The car next to us was thumping with music, windows down. It was late, and the atmosphere felt unsettling. Bill reached over and did something we never do while driving—he turned on the radio. Just to drown out the noise.

And what came through those speakers was “Power” by We Are Messengers.

We turned it up. Way up. The song filled the car like armor. It was fierce, victorious, unshakable.

“Power, power / We’ve got that power…”

The light turned green. We began our left turn into our subdivision—and out of nowhere, a red Corvette blew through the red light in the oncoming lane.

It missed us by inches. Literal inches.

Had we pulled forward even one second earlier, it would have hit us square on. It would have killed us all. I have no doubt in my mind.

🙌🏼 The Aftermath

We made it home safely—just one block away. But the trauma stayed.

For weeks, I couldn’t drive. I was terrified. My body froze up just thinking about getting behind the wheel. I had never known fear like this. Bill didn’t understand at first, and we argued about it more than once. I wasn’t just shaken—I was changed.

Even now, almost two years later, I avoid driving at night. And I don’t know if I’ll ever fully be over that moment.

But I’m still here. We’re still here. Bill, the pups, and me.

Because God was there.

“Just keep moving on
Just keep pushing ahead
Yeah, the new has come
All the old is dead
Just keep moving on
Keep your eyes on the prize
And that word in your heart
Yeah, we’ll be alright”

💬 The Message in the Music

For the first few days after I revisited the song Power—this time on purpose. I watched the official lyric video repeatedly. It’s a night scene, lit with city streetlights. Almost eerily familiar.

And the lyrics? They read like a prophecy spoken over that very night:

“We got that Holy Ghost power
We got our hearts set on love
We got that Holy Ghost power
We keep our eyes fixed above”

We weren’t just driving. We were being protected. Carried. Covered.

There is power in the name of Jesus. Power in His presence. Power in the way He surrounds us—even through a song on the radio.

📖 Reflections for the Reader

You may never know when the song you’re singing in the car will become your lifeline. You may not realize, until later, how God places protection between you and impact. But let me tell you this: He’s there. Always. Even when it’s dark. Even when you’re scared.

And yes—you’ve got that power.

“Just keep moving on / Just keep pushing ahead / Yeah, the new has come / All the old is dead…

🎤 Final Thoughts

This isn’t a traditional music review.
But maybe it’s the kind we need more of—testimonies wrapped in soundwaves.

If you’ve never listened to “Power” by We Are Messengers, I encourage you to press play. Turn it up! Let it remind you of the God who saves, protects, and walks with you every mile.

You never know—
It might just save your life too.

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BOOK STUDY: The Search for Significance | Chapter 10: Regeneration

On the fourth Friday of each month in 2025, we’re studying The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee. Join me as we confront the enemy’s lies of self-doubt and find our victory in the truth of who we are according to God’s Word!

Welcome back, dear sisters! This month we continue our Search for Significance journey by looking at God’s beautiful answer to the shame that once defined us. That answer is Regeneration—the new life we’ve been freely given in Christ. Through this miracle of grace, we are not merely forgiven—we are reborn.

Let’s take a look at our key themes for Chapter 10.

 

📖 Chapter Summary:

Shame convinces us that something is inherently wrong with who we are. But God answers this lie with the miracle of regeneration—the new birth we receive through Christ. We’re not just cleaned up versions of our old selves; we are made new, created in the image of Christ and filled with His Spirit. Through regeneration, we no longer need to carry the pain of the past—we can live confidently as new creations in God’s family.

“God has not only forgiven you, He has given you a brand-new identity through your spiritual rebirth.”
— Robert S. McGee

🕊️ Biblical Truths:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (HCSB)

“He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
~ Titus 3:5 (HCSB)

💡 Key Idea:

God doesn’t patch up our broken identity—He gives us a completely new one through the power of spiritual rebirth.

💭 Reflection Question:

Are you still identifying yourself by your past mistakes, or are you beginning to walk in your new identity as God’s beloved and regenerated daughter?

🛠️ Practical Application:

Write a personal declaration beginning with:
“I am not who I used to be…”
Then list the old beliefs or identities you’re laying down—and the new truths God has given you in Christ. Keep this declaration visible as a reminder of your true identity when shame tries to resurface.

✨ My Personal Reflections:

Regeneration is something I wish I had fully understood earlier in my walk with God. I spent so many years trying to improve the old me—make her more lovable, more capable, more acceptable. But the Lord never called me to fix myself. He called me to receive His life. The old Tamara—wrapped up in fear, performance, and approval addiction—was never going to be enough. But the new me, hidden in Christ, is whole and holy because of His work. What a liberating truth!

🎶 Worship Moment: Holy Water (Chapel Version) – We The Kingdom ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard

If you need a fresh reminder of the joy and power of God’s forgiveness, this chapel version of Holy Water will stir your soul. The rich harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s powerhouse vocals make this more than just a worship song—it’s a holy moment. As the choir lifts their voices in unity, let this song flood your heart with gratitude for the new life Christ has given you. We are washed. We are free. We are His. 💧🔥

 

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MY VICTORY VERSES || Rejoicing in the Hope of God’s Glory

In MY VICTORY VERSES, we will explore key Bible verses that have shaped my life recovery journey since 2005. After sharing how these verses impacted me, we will dive into their meaning and how they bring lasting victory. This column publishes on the 3rd Friday of each month in 2025.

We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. — Romans 5:2 (HCSB)

There is a spiritual progression tucked inside this powerful verse — a pathway that moves us from inner longing to outer manifestation, from unseen faith to visible glory.

A Simple, Life-Changing Sequence

Many years ago, during a challenging season, I prayerfully captured this truth in a visual way that has remained meaningful to me ever since. It’s based on this sequence from Romans 5:2:

  • Grace gives us access to stand before God without shame or striving.
  • Faith activates that grace, empowering us to believe beyond what we can see.
  • Hope begins to form an inner picture — a vision in line with God’s Word.
  • And glory is the visible result: the manifestation of God’s goodness in our lives.

Put simply:
Grace → Hope → Faith → Glory.

God’s grace supplies the favor.
Hope forms the image.
Faith gives it substance.
Glory brings it into reality.

This is not wishful thinking — it’s a process of spiritual alignment. When we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory, we are standing in the confident expectation that His goodness will be revealed. Not always in the way we imagined, and rarely on our timetable, but always in His perfect love.

Rejoicing Even in the Waiting

Standing in grace doesn’t mean everything is resolved. Often, it means learning to rejoice while we wait — to worship even when the answer hasn’t come yet.

Hope anchors us.
Faith moves us.
Grace holds us steady.
And glory, though not yet seen, is on the way.

Sometimes that kind of trust feels bold and confident — other times, it feels like the simple act of getting up, lifting our hands, and saying, “I believe You, Lord… still.”

This empowering anthem by Danny Gokey reminds us that even in uncertainty, we can still choose to stand in faith — because God is still working.