About the Author

Karina Allen is devoted to helping women live out their unique calling and building authentic community through the practical application of Scripture in an approachable, winsome manner.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karina,
    How true that there is a catharsis when we confess not only our sins, but our disappointments, failures, feelings of lack to others. Often, what we find is that we are not alone. Lately, I’ve been feeling like somehow I failed as a mom even though I gave it my best effort. I am learning right now that I have to separate myself from my adult children’s actions. What they choose to do or not do is not my fault. I could use prayers for God’s love to be made known to me in this struggle and just reminders that He’s got all of this and He is able.
    Beautiful post and praying for you….
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Love your post Katrina! I can relate to what you have said on so many levels.

      And to Bev – Thanks for sharing your heart and vulnerability, Bev. Praying for you that God’s peace continues to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus- Big Hug to you!

    • Oh my goodness, Bev. I’ve been struggling with the same. Praying for you. (((Hugs)))

    • Bev! Sister! Thank you for sharing!

      Jesus, You author all things and You hold all things together. You are love and light and good. You created Bev to be the mother of her children. You chose her to steward their hearts and souls. You have given her everything thing that she needed to mother them well. She is enough in You. Her best was all that You required. May she rest in that and rest in knowing that You loves her kids and You will not forsake them. You will continue to pursue their hearts. That’s what love does. We thank You in advance for the testimonies to come!

      In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

  2. Cleansing, freedom, healing — it occurs to me that so many of the women I speak with are craving these things — and afraid of them. Vulnerability with God (completely without risk, right?) is helpful preparation for vulnerability with others, but, so often, pride keeps me from opening my heart.

    • Father, thank You for Michele. Thank You for her desire to be vulnerable with You and others. I pray that You would break every stronghold of pride and fear in her soul. She is created to be known and to belong. Fill her with courage and hope. There is intimacy with You and sweet community awaiting on the other side of her risk. Cleansing, freedom and healing are hers in Jesus’ Name. Amen

  3. Thank you for sharing Karina…incourage has become one of the devotionals that helps me get through daily…I am struggling with everything – starting over & quitting before I even start, on the verge of quitting again, trying to hold on…living…and trying to win the long battle against depression…I try to pray and believe that God will come through but my eyes are fixed on what I see physically now and I am fearful and find myself sinking deep again…Please pray for me for God to make me whole & restore me completely for all I have lost and help me keep my eyes on Jesus through it and send me a lifetime helper in human form & strength for today really…

    • Ada, thank you for sharing sister!

      Father, You are the mender of broken things, the restorer of lost things and the healer of sick things. Your love comes in and changes things. Your Spirit does what only He can do. I break the spirit of depression over Ada’s life. Peace and hope come. Fill her with courage and confidence and trust in You. You are working all things out for her good and Your glory. Strengthen her in the core of her identity. She is whole and loved and redeemed in You.

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

  4. Thank you for your post. Can you please pray for me? I need prayer for a renewing of my mind, a positive spirit, help with my attiutide, and strength to overcome my depression. thank you.

    • Father, Your heart is for Your daughter Shanice to be filled with Your love and joy and promises. I break the hold of depression over her. That spirit must leave in the name of Jesus. Your Word come. Bring hope and strength. She is more than an overcomer. She was created to walk in victory in You and by Your Spirit. You are good and faithful. We trust You for provision and direction.

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

  5. Karina, this spoke deeply to me today. I’ve had my own share of struggles and will continue to be a work in progress until I die, but I have someone on my heart for whom I hurt. She is refusing to be vulnerable in her situation, and while I know I can’t change her heart (that’s God’s domain), this person outright asked me to be an influence in her life. I want to weild it rightly, and I want to see healing in this person’s life. Would love your prayers for us both!

    • Pearl, thank you for sharing!

      Father, I pray for this sister to have a broken spirit before You. May her heart break for the things that break Your heart. May she learn to lean into Your correction and the accountability of Pearl. Change her from the inside out. Mold her heart. Make it soft and receptive.

      Lord, thank You for placing Pearl in this woman’s life. May she be a good steward of her spirit. May speak words of purpose and destiny. May she call out gold. May she speak truth in love and grace. May she seek Your heart for this woman with pure motives.

      Thank You for the work You’re doing!

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

  6. This is lovely Karina. I will be praying for you and Bev, as well. The Catholic Church has the most beautiful understanding of how much we need God’s merciful love and compassion. And the sacrament of confession provides it in a very tangible way. I realize many believers don’t understand this. There is something very humbling by confessing your sins to another person….the priest does not forgive, he is standing in for Christ. Christ alone forgives. The human heart and soul needs to hear the words ‘your sins are forgiven, go in peace’. It is powerful! I know of so many lives (mine included) that have dramatically changed once they receive the healing, strength, and abundant grace from this life giving sacrament.

    • Denise,

      Prayers for God to release you from the sin of addiction. May you feel His loving arms surround you. Thank you for being vulnerable to us in telling us your problem. We can and will gladly pray for you!

      (((((HUGS)))))

    • Denise, thank you for being vulnerable!

      Father, it is not Your heart for any of Your beloved children to be entangled by sin. It is Your heart for us to be free! For whom Your Son sets free is free indeed! I break every stronghold of sin in Denise’s life. The enemy has no place in her life. I command you, Satan to flee in the name of Jesus. Jesus, kill every desire for this addiction in her life. Fill her to overflowing with Your truth and promises. Fill her with Your love and peace and hope and purpose. You long for us to walk in victory. I pray You will surround her with strong community that will walk with her through the mess and for the long haul. Continually remind her that You will never leave her or forsake her. Be her everything. Meet her every need. Heal every hurt. Renew her mind. Give her a longing for You alone above every earthly desire.

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

  7. Thank You. It’s really okay not to be okay. God knows. Confess. We are free in Him. What a vulnerable writing. I’m praying for you.

  8. Karina, your words give me hope. I have been in the exact mess you describe for a long stretch now. You could have been narrating my life. I just started back to church this past weekend. I am praying to find a Bible study group where I can be vulnerable. My past experience is to hide but I need to be in community. Thank you for your words, they are a salve to my soul.

    • Amen Barbara!

      Father, thank You for the work You are doing in Barbara’s life. Thank You for stirring up a desire for You and for the freedom that You provide. You are good. I pray that You place her in strong and authentic community. You are the God of perseverance. I pray they would model that for her. May they get down in the messy hard stuff of life. May she resist every temptation to run and hide. May she fling herself into Your arms and the arms of the Body. May she find healing and comfort and hope in the midst.

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

      • May God richly bless you for your ministry! Thank you for praying over me, what a blessing.

  9. I would love prayer for the panic anxiety I deal with, PTSD, and fibromyalgia. Thank you for writing this beautiful blog. I want to be free from this prison and I know Jesus does too. When many pray great things happen. Thank you for your prayers.

    • Teresa, Thank you for sharing.

      Jesus, You are our healer and our freedom. By your blood we are free and whole and redeemed. That is Teresa’s truth. May she learn to live out of that truth in spite of what she sees in the natural. Your promises prevail. I speak to her mind and emotions. I speak a release of anxiety and PTSD. They have no place in her life. Only joy and a sound mind are welcome. Remind her of who she is and all that she possesses in You.

      I speak to every part of Teresa’s body. I speak to every joint and muscle to be aligned with the way God created you. No more pain. No more fatigue. No more restlessness. Only perfect working the way the Father designed.

      We thank You for the miracle of healing and restoration!
      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen.

  10. Thank you for sharing with us, Karina! How brave you are. I will pray for you and would love your prayers for complete freedom. Thank you and many blessings!

    • Thank you Christie!

      Jesus, You died for our freedom. Whatever freedom in Christie’s life looks like, I pray that You would begin to tangibly work some things out on her behalf. Bring clarity to her mind, spirit and emotions. Release her from any bondage and strongholds that have overcome her. May she partner with the Holy Spirit to lead and guide her into Your truth and purpose.

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen.

      • Wow! Thank you again and bless you for such a powerful prayer. I receive this in Jesus’ Name.

  11. Karina,

    Praying for you sweet sister. May God release you from your oppression. I pray you feel His loving arms surrounding you. May peace and contentment come your way!

    I’m tired of the “I’m fine masks” women wear. I wish they would take them off and “get real”. If I ask how are you I really want to know. Be vulnerable with me and allow me to pray and encourage you. We can be cleansed & healed if we just ask for it. Also there needs to be vulnerability with God. To that end I pray scripture and ask God to cleanse my heart and show me if there is any unconfessed sin. It is so freeing to know that even if we mess up He will forgive us if we but ask.

    Blessings 🙂

  12. Hello faith filled friends!
    I’d sure appreciate prayer today. About 2 years ago I had a perirectal abscess. Last year around the same time I thought I was getting another abscess thankfully a round of antibiotics cleared it up. Once again, another year later, I’m dealing with the same rectal pain. I’m currently on antibiotics. Asking our good good Father for complete healing from this issue. Would you all agree in prayer with me?

    • Jesus, by Your blood we are healed. I release healing over every part of Drea’s body. May it work the way You designed for it to work. Her body is whole in You. Her body is strong in You. May her healing begin to manifest in supernatural ways. May it be seen quickly. May it be a lasting healing.

      In Jesus’s Name.
      Amen

  13. Hi Karina, I know about being vulnerable and stepping out. I was more of a loner too, I loved to read and write, and nobody appeared to ” get it “. I think the war of thoughts and the chest heaviness may be dealing with the accuser of the brethren since you helping others. It is hard to take every thought captive and we have to renew our minds or those thoughts and accusations become strongholds. To use your phrase ” call out the gold “. The devil has no right to accuse you, you are forgiven, He knows who has a repentant heart. He doesn’t want it to be a tormented one. I pray for the others who comment, PTSD and addiction, to be loosed in Jesus name. He took it all. Isaiah 53

  14. Thanks to you all! I am 80 and have balance issues that can cause me to fall. I feel bad that I no longer attend church on Sundays for fear I will fall. I have had 2 serious tumbles this year. But I do have my own devotion every morning without fail. Bible readimgs and prayers for a huge list of friends family and acquaintances. I feel shame for not attending church but I am afraid to go out much. I hope I am not breaking Gods commandment as I read them (10) lots to check on myself. Prayers please?

    • Angie, bless you my sister! The Lord knows your heart and knows your desire to be in His house. Don’t feel guilty.

      Father, I pray You would restore to Angie perfect health. I speak balance to her body from the top of her head to the souls of her feet. I speak strength to her every bone and muscle. I speak peace to her mind and emotions. I speak hope to her soul. You are good and faithful. We thank You for Your healing and miracles!

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  15. I am going through a tough season of depression and loneliness currently, and I KNOW that God is good and that He is holding my hand right now and this season will pass, but why is it so hard when I cannot FEEL His love? And in the short moments in this season when I do feel His love, I wonder why God loves me. Even though I do know why, it is as if my brain cannot fathom it. How do I look past my feelings and just believe?

    • Barbara, thank you for sharing! I understand completely. Sometimes we just have to live out of what we know to be true until our feelings catch up.

      Father, Your daughter was created to live in the fulness of Your love and joy. I come against every attack of the enemy that says Barbara is alone. It is a lie. You are with her. I speak to every thought and emotion. Be lifted up in Jesus ‘Name. May she take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ. I speak peace and hope to her soul. She was created to walk in victory.

      We thank You for answered prayer!
      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen

  16. Such beautiful truth, Karina. Grace is so powerful. I’m so thankful for the Body of believers God has gifted me near and far. They are good to set me before God’s Word of truth- especially in confessing their own sins, which helps uncover my own (and my confession has also led to theirs)- God loves to multiply His blessings .

    My mentor (a Grandma) and I sat together today to pray for God to weave our church together as One, to build us up together into Him, into His love. It is so easy for busy Mamas to live on islands and forsake fellowship (myself included), but like you shared here it is SO important for us to meet and do messy life together. Personally I’ve discovered the powerful blessing of Grandmas- the Titus 2 call for us younger women to learn from the godly wisdom of older women. Especially with my Mum in heaven I’ve made an effort to seek out older women, who have walked with the Lord for a long time and have so much to teach me (even if I don’t always want to hear it- especially then!).

    Our heart is to see our church become a place that shines the love of Christ into our town- precisely through the strong community of love they see in us.

  17. God brought this to me today as I swim in the mud of judgement my own if course as I keep myself in pain dished out by the enemy. Thank you sister for the wisdom and courage. Please pray for my marriages the continued touch of the Lord as the valley walk continues

    • Diane, thank you for sharing!

      Father, hold Diane in your arms and whisper truth to her soul. You are good and faithful and work all things out for her good. May she follow where You lead, trusting Your heart for her marriage. You are a mender of broken things and a Healer of sick things. We thank You for what You’re doing even if we can’t see it.

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  18. Way to make me cry first thing this morning! 😛 Last night, I was hit in the gut with Ps. 32:5 and this morning in ur post you mention it again. I admit (with u strangers who pry won’t hold me accountable, but this is my first step) that I am stuck in a cycle of sin. With a man, I truly love. Neither of us are married. Both of us love each other. But one of us does not love, even like God and we both are having sex together. I don’t know where it says in the Bible to not do that, I just know I’m walking around with those feelings u mention of hiding, shame, guilt. Ik its the Holy Spirit convicting me, but I’m continually outright sinning against it. I don’t know how to get off this sin cycle wheel I’m on. Lord, give me answers and strength to cut things off that shouldn’t be part of my life. I’m missing out on so much more of what u have for me.

    • Thank You Diane for your vulnerability sweet sister. Here are some verses you can pray about…1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1

      Father, You are good and loving and gracious. You forgive our sins when we confess and repent. You long to have intimacy with us. Our sin keeps us from that. But, You give us endless second chances. It is Your heart to forgive us and restore us. You pursue our hearts. You fight for our souls. I thank You for my sister Diane. Thank You Holy Spirit for bringing conviction. You do that because You love her and want her to be all that You’ve created her to be. There is no shame or condemnation in You. A life of purity in mind and body creates space for us to hear You clearly, know You intimately and follow You closely. It allows for us to be in the center of Your will. I pray You give Diane the desire and courage to make hard choices, to live a radically sold out life for You. May she desire to forsake all other loves. May she live to please You no matter the cost. May she find her deepest satisfaction in Your presence. You call her worthy and beautiful and beloved. May she see herself as You see her.

      We thank You for the work that You’re doing in her heart. May it be deep and lasting.

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  19. When you said, “At moments, this war has physically felt like a weight on my chest.” I instantly knew what were feeling. Others often don’t understand what I’m trying to explain. It is often suffocating.

    I will pray for you. Please pray for me.
    God bless you and give you Peace!
    Suzanne

    • Thank you Suzanne for sharing!

      Jesus, I pray against every stronghold coming against Suzanne. Lift off every burden and heavy yoke. Exchange them for the lightness of Your Spirit. Overwhelm her with Your peace and hope. May she find strength in Your presence. Lead her in all truth. You are good and have good in store for her.

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  20. Please pray for me – I’m struggling with impurity. I’m 31 and waiting for a godly man to get married to. May God’s will be done.

    • Sophia, this struggle is all too real sister!

      Father, Your heart is for us to have intimacy with us. Our sin keeps that from happening. But, You are the God who forgives and restores and redeems. You don’t bring condemnation or judgement. You only shower us with love and grace. I pray You would fill Sophia with strength and courage to make hard choices. Give her a desire to live sold out no matter the cost. May every other love pale in comparison to knowing You and pleasing Your heart. May You be the love of her life. May she find her identity in You alone. May You be her hope. Prepare her heart to do life with another. And prepare her future spouse to love her as You do. May she trust Your timing.

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  21. Dear Karina,
    Thank you for this message! This describes perfectly what’s been going on with me lately, even down to the physical sensations. When my thoughts were invaded by things I did wrong in the past, I’d get that heavy weight on my chest and the pit in the stomach, and fear that I was having a panic attack. I know now that the enemy does this to separate us from God, to make us focus on our mistakes rather to focus on the fact that we are loved.

    • So true Dee!

      Father, You love Dee with an unconditional and fierce love. Overwhelm her with that love. I pray she would take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Give her a deep desire for the things of You and for Your Word. You don’t speak condemnation. You only speak truth covered in grace. Cancel out every voice that is of the enemy and speak loudly to her spirit. She is forgiven and redeemed in You. May she see herself the way You see her…beloved, worthy and chosen.

      In Jesus’ Name
      Amen

  22. I absolutely loved your post and saved it for several days before I could actually read it. I am dealing with my own stupid secret sin: overspending and trying to fix that myself. Ha! Please keep me in your prayers, as there is a definite “root” to this.

    As well, please pray for my brother Danny, who deals with such shame cycles it has affected his health in the last year or so.

    God Bless YOU!

    • Thank you for sharing Wendy!

      Holy Spirit, thank You for bringing loving conviction to Wendy. You are good and faithful. Bring illumination to her hear of what the root cause to her spending is. Take away all desire to self-medicate or fill in a void in her life. Give her an immense desire for You as the source of her joy and fulfillment. Continue to do a work in her.

      Jesus, Your heart is for Danny to be whole, healed, and free. There is no condemnation in You. You only speak love and grace. Holy Spirit, do what only You can do. I speak miracles over Danny! Break all cycles of shame. Stop the enemy in his tracks. Bring rescue and forgiveness and hope!

      In Jesus’ Name.
      Amen.