The Anna Szabo Show

Learn how to be strong and courageous in Christ exactly as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches in scripture. Explore how God's word reveals His will for you and His work in you.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you." – Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV. Have you ever felt weak and fearful? I have. Today's Biblical devotional for women is dedicated to exploring how to be strong and of good courage through Christ.

From my personal experience with God, I've learned that being strong isn't possible in my own power. It's only possible when I abide in Christ. I've also learned on my faith journey that being courageous doesn't mean being fearless. It means that with my free will I intentionally mobilize and deploy my faith as an antidote to my fear. In this Biblical devotional for Christian women, I will share with you how to be strong and courageous by abiding in Christ. I will also pray for you if you stick around and allow me to lift you up to God through prayer.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬  

Be strong and courageous Bible verse calls us out of our natural anxiety and doubt into God's supernatural divine power of protection, provision, and promotion. But we must believe. Faith over fear! That's the mindset we must adopt in order to be strong and courageous as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches us to be as Christian women.

Let me tell you my story.

It is a story of how scared and insecure I was when God asked me to step out of my own power and into His so that I could do the good work He prepared in advance for me to do.

See, I knew what God said in Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6, only now I had to actually do it. When we have to do God's word and not just hear or know it, things get very personal and scary.

That's what happened to me.

And that's why my entire Christian ministry Online Discipleship For Women is dedicated to helping you create a joyful life by embracing God's word. In fact, this ministry is exactly what my story of being strong and courageous is all about. Here's what happened to me and how God taught me to be strong and courageous as Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ teaches us to be as Christian women.

I never could have imagined starting a ministry. Not only because I myself wasn't even a Christian for most of my life but also because something like this would be the last thing on my mind. The typical things I was excited about for most of my adult life were sex, alcohol, exotic travel, night clubs, hairdos, and shopping.

I came to Christ in 2014, and God's been working in my heart ever since, drawing me closer to Jesus one day at a time. You can read my testimony here. In the beginning, I believed in a Santa Claus kind of God: I'll check the boxes for being nice, and God will give me a fairytale kind of perfect life. Well, that's not how things turned out for me… Instead of having a perfect life with God, I was attacked by Satan.

The devil almost destroyed my faith and hope by intentionally manipulating me into suicide. You can read what happened to me in the blog post called "How Satan Came at Me Looking Saint" and "My Story of Narcissistic Marriage." During the next few years, I learned that on my own, I am weak and scared, but with Christ, I am strong and courageous. God's will for me was to grow in faith. To grow my faith, He wanted me to study His word. To study His word, He needed me to choose Him using my free will. It happened when I signed up for Biblical counseling in 2016, after my husband of four months filed for divorce saying he wasn't interested in me anymore and wanted to be an IronMan instead. I shared the details of that story in an essay called "IronMan vs Marriage." That was when I chose to focus on God's word.

Once I wholeheartedly and intentionally focused on the word of God, my faith grew. God revealed His will to me, and I was called to step out of my fears and doubts and start a Christian ministry to encourage and empower women. I felt inadequate and unworthy but I did see the truth. Here was the truth… During that devastating marriage with the narcissist, God equipped and prepared me for His divine labor. He taught me how to be strong and courageous in the Lord, not in my own limited ability, intelligence, power, connections, finances, health, or discernment. Satan stripped me of everything, and that's when God stepped in, rebuilt me anew, and used my story for His glory.

I discovered the depths of the Gospel listening to the teachings of Randy Pope at Perimeter Church and reading the book of Laura Story called "When God Doesn't Fix It." Interestingly enough, the book was a gift for graduation from premarital counseling with the narcissist in 2016. And as I walked down the aisle a few months later, I was wondering why such a book was actually given to us as a wedding gift… My marriage – I was confident – was going to be God-glorifying and perfect since all the proper boxes were checked and I was marrying a good Christian man. See, I had a performance-based view of God.

My Heavenly Father wanted me to be in an intimate relationship with Him and be completely dependent on Him for strength and courage. My fantasy ended as my new husband filed for divorce four months after our wedding and rejected me in every way, which is described in the essay called "My Story of Rejection."

When I ran out of my own strength and power, I read Laura Story's book called "When God Doesn't Fix It." I read the Bible, too. In fact, I devoured the word of God. I was hungry for His truth. I dove deep into the Gospel and found hope and healing.

I became strong and courageous in Christ instead of my own performance, intelligence, career, finances, health, power, knowledge, talent, discernment, and overall my own ability. Just a few months after my wedding, I was divorced and discovered that there's no Santa Claus God. I also discovered that I don't have any strength or power on my own. But I do have a sovereign, loving, kind, and understanding Heavenly Father who has a perfect plan for me, which I can't see since I'm too close to my life circumstances. I don't have His infinite intelligence and can't comprehend how divorce, depression, and other "troubles in the world" can possibly be used for His good. But… I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own limited understanding. That's why I declare that God is good, that in my own weakness His strength is perfect, and that in Christ, I am strong and courageous.

Mine is a story for God's glory!

  The Source of Strength and Courage  

God placed this ministry for Christian women in my heart. Online Discipleship For Women was born in 2017 right after my divorce from the narcissist. The desire to share the Gospel has been burning on the inside every day ever since.

That year, I also launched my Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show and started speaking openly about my story, giving God all the honor and glory. The feedback from those who were comforted by God through my ministry was so encouraging, that I decided to also publish Christian videos on YouTube, which I began doing in December of 2017. God uniquely equipped and prepared me to minister to women by ridding me of my own strength and performance-based faith and drawing me closer to Himself so that I could step into the power of Jesus and be strong and of good courage through Christ.

Sharing my testimony and encouraging women has been hard because my life story is full of adversity, drama, trauma, and pain. I shared my entire life story in an essay called "Getting To Know Anna Szabo." It takes courage to overcome my fears every time I speak on behalf of God. He called me to do this. He gave me this ministry. I am very scared somtimes because th kinds of things I share about myself as a part of my powerful testimony are very personal and intimate. Sometimes, I get bullied online by people. But I'm strong in the Lord.

I minister to women through Christ. 

  Strong and Courageous My concept of life used to be totally wrong. In my own power, I was trying to be strong. God has taught me to lean on the Lord And grow in faith by devouring His word. In Christ, I am now strong and courageous. My faith is steadfast and contagious. To Jesus wholeheartedly I forever belong. My strength and courage are now lifelong. 1/2/2020 © Anna Szabo, JD, MBA   Be Strong and Courageous  

It's very important that we do not misunderstand the Be strong and courageous verse as a call to disregard our humanness. We are not called b God to be happy all the time. We are humans. Even Jesus wept when overcome with grief and genuine human emotion. We aren't destined by God to be trapped in toxic positivity. On the contrary, God in the Bible calls us to cast our anxieties on Him because He cares. I have discussed this topic in great detail in a talk I delivered on September 19th, 2020 at TEDx Marietta Square about grief, sorrow, and mourning. My talk is called "The Healing Power of Self-Pity." Being strong and courageous doesn't mean being dissociative, detached, and disconnected from reality. God calls us to be aware, alert, and fully alive.

I cry often. I grieve my losses and cast my anxieties on my heavenly father God who genuinely cares. By processing my life, my weaknesses, my fears, my doubts, and my insecurities, I practice being strong and courageous in Christ. All that work allowed me to also help other women process their emotions, adversity, trauma, and pain by facing their reality, reaching out for God's help, and finding sacred peace, comfort, and joy in an intimate relationship with Jesus.

As you can see, God had a good plan all the way. He comforted me when I was weak and scared so that now I can comfort other Christian women with the same comfort I myself received from God. Before I pray for you, let me answer the most commonly asked questions about Deuteronomy 31:6 and being strong and courageous.

  What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 31:6?

Deuteronomy 31:6 teaches Christians how to be strong and courageous in Christ by surrendering own natural power and ability and stepping into God's supernatural power and divine capability. It means abiding in the power of Jesus instead of living in your own power.

How do you find strength in the Lord?

To find strength in the Lord, you must surrender your own strength, trust God's good plan, seek His guidance, hear God's voice, and follow His will for your life, even when you're uncomfortable or scared.

How do I stay strong in God?

To stay strong in Christ, you need to pray without casing, read God's word so that your faith can grow, and also do what God asks you to do, even when you're weak and fearful in the natural.

How do you pray for strength and courage?

Dear God, I trust your promises. You promised to guide my path and make it straight, you promised to be with me wherever I go, you promised to protect me from all evil and to promote me, God. I believe in you. From the bottom of my heart, I am praying right now for your divine, supernatural strength and courage. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

I hope this Biblical devotional really helped you understand Deuteronomy 31:6 and God's calling for you to be strong and courageous – not in your own power but in the power of Jesus Christ. Please share this devotion with other Christian women who really need to hear God's message right now. Let me pray for you.

 

Dear God,

I am praying for the Christian woman reading this Biblical devotional right now. I want to lift her up and ask for your favor in her life. Whatever her situation, I know that, in her weakness, your strength is perfected. You gave her 3573 promises, God, including the promises of protection, prosperity, promotion.

I pray that you bless her, Father.

In Jesus' name.

Anna Szabo

 

Today is December 31st, 2020 New Year's Eve, and I am sharing with you my Annual Gratitude Journal since it has become a tradition. It's about 8:50 pm as I'm writing this. I'm at home by myself amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm dwelling on God's blessings with a big smile on my face. Let me share what I'm grateful for this year. And I want to start with you: my podcast listeners who leave reviews on iTunes and watch my content on YouTube and to all my blog readers… I say thank you! Without you, my Christian ministry would not be where it is today. I will be praying for you at the end of my gratitude entry.

I'm thankful for everyone who donated in 2020 to support Online Discipleship For Women, my Christian ministry dedicated to helping alleviate suicide among women globally by sharing hope in Christ and encouraging women to create a joyful life by embracing God's word. Your donations make a difference.

Let me start from the beginning. In 2019, I wanted to become a TEDx speaker and share my idea worth spreading about grief and its value in the process of healing trauma. On January 10th, 2020 I was chosen to be a TEDx speaker at the live audition for TEDx Marietta Square. I delivered my talk called "The Healing Power of Self-Pity" on September 19th, 2020 at a virtual event amid the pandemic. The video is available on YouTube. I am grateful that my dream of delivering a TEDx talk came true. Sharing my story through my talk, from the depths of my heart, without any pretense, completely vulnerable, I felt as f I appeared naked on a global stage. I shared the intimate details of my soul I had never shared before. And it transformed me, which ultimately resulted in an explosion of content on my blog. I am grateful.

I am grateful that after all the content explosions this year, I now have 1,083,934 words of content on my Christian blog for women, all of which I personally wrote, edited, and published for you. There are no employees or freelancers here, no board of directors or interns or volunteers… It's just me who is doing all the work because I love God and I love helping you. In the last three years, since I started Online Discipleship For Women, I birthed 177 spiritual poems and shared all of them for free on my poetry page. I wrote 52 Biblical devotionals and gave them all for free to my Christian community in a form of an ebook. I created 95 shirts, sweatshirts, baseball raglans, and other types of encouraging Christian merch on Amazon. I personally wrote 1083000 words of helpful scriptures-based content on this blog, and 83610 people read it across 208 countries. I produced almost 300 YouTube videos, and they've been watched 223946 times worldwide. My Christian podcast The Anna Szabo Show has been downloaded tens of thousands of times globally across 18 different syndication platforms. I produced 22 paintings, each with a spiritual tale, and built a Christin store of Etsy. I created 232 designs of Christian apparel for women on TeeSpring to encourage and empower Christian women with the word of God. I am grateful.

If you want to support me, Buy Me a Coffee.

I'm grateful for everyone who bought me a coffee and even three coffees and also wrote me gratitude notes, sharing how my ministry has helped them grow closer to God. 

I am grateful for everyone who left thoughtful and heartfelt blog comments and YouTube comments letting me know how my work impacted their lives. Your comments help me see how God is working. Your comments, podcast reviews, and donations with gratitude notes attached help grow my own faith. Thank you.

I'm grateful for my amazing 37th Birthday celebration on January 18th this year. It was a vegan feast, which I personally prepared for my friends. I cooked a wide variety of plant-based dishes, and everyone loved all the food! We had many poets at my Birthday party, so we got to share our spoken word art, and my best friend Maria performed a handwritten poem, which she dedicated to my boldness, and this entire year the poem has been in my nightstand drawer so that I could get encouraged by it often. I know that my 38th Birthday will be celebrated with Maria, and we are going to be socially-isolated but very joyful.

I am grateful that this year, even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, God has kept me healthy. In fact, this year, I've enjoyed the best health of my life, and I'm almost 40! In April, I los 22 lb and have kept the weight off, so I am at my ideal 116 lb, size zero, and I feel very strong and energized. After completing many prolonged water fasts, this year, I discovered dry fasting. At least once a week, I fast from both food and water for 24-48 hours. I didn't eat or drink anything, and this holistic health practice allowed me to enjoy the best wellness I've ever had. And it's a very special blessing because I used to be very sick and even was hospitalized for up to 21 days multiple times a year, year after year. Dry fasting was a game-changer for my health, and I wrote thousands of words of helpful content about prolonged fasting on my blog here to help other people. I even started receiving donations from the fasting blog posts. My heart is full of gratitude for the fact that I was able to discover and deploy the fasting lifestyle, write about it, help others, and promote health.

I am grateful that in 2020, I was able to take many solo trips and go to the best beaches in America seven times! As a kid, I didn't get to go to the beach but once. At 18, I traveled to the ocean alone internationally after winning a fully paid all-inclusive trip in a beauty pageant in 2001. Taking myself to the beach this year so many times helped me grow my faith and heal my trauma. I wrote a detailed blog post with pictures of my solo travel adventures. I am grateful for both the opportunity to travel and also for my willingness to travel solo.

I am grateful that this year, I worked out almost every day, started practicing yoga, running, and even doing back bridges for the first time in 30 years! As I've continued healing my trauma after my third divorce in 2017, I've continued improving my relationship with my body as described in an incredible book I read this year called "The Body Keeps The Score." I'm thankful for my body, and even wrote a poem about it. 

I am grateful that in 2020 I read 22 new books! Reading is living for me, and I've been able to read books while walking my 10000 steps a day outside or at home on the trampoline. It's been a year of growth and learning. I read about God, self-improvement, fasting, money, and other topics I love. Also, I donated 16 books to a library this year, and I am grateful for both being able to buy and give away books. Reading about personal development helped me as a teen cope with abuse at home and helped me later in life to graduate from four universities, three of them with high honors, and two of them on a full scholarship. I'm grateful for my genuine love for books.

I'm grateful that I was able to permanently delete my social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Yelp. The only place to connect with me personally now is my blog, as well as my Christian podcast and my YouTube channel. If you want to know why I deleted my social media, feel free to ask in the comments on my blog or YouTube and I will be glad to share. It's been a very wise decision that's improved my life, health, relationships, and happiness.

I am grateful that Joe Biden will be our President two days after my 38th birthday. I started a Prayer for America on my blog, and praying for my country really helped me get through 2020 with all of its political drama and Trump-inflicted trauma. My hope is that in our Georgia runoff election we can flip the senate blue and heal our country. I thank God for Joe Biden, who's been, like Esther, called for such a time as this. So I am grateful for all the other elections he lost in the past because I believe President Biden is exactly who can lead our wounded country through this tragic season. I am grateful that I voted.

I am grateful for journaling, working out daily, cooking at home, eating lots of raw fruits and vegetables every day, reading, meditation, 10000 steps a day, self-massage, yoga, trampoline exercises, keeping my home clean and organized, my frugal money habits, and all my other healthy habits that have helped me thrive in 2020.

I am grateful for my friends who are precious jewels. In 2020, I got to spend a lot of quality time with each of my friends, one at a time. That's what helped me realize how much I love vulnerable and real in-person, meaningful relationships. And I deleted my social media.

 

My 2020 has been a year of healing, and I was even able to produce a short autobiography, which is called "Getting To Know Anna Szabo." With all of its ups and downs, 2020 is another amazing year I am grateful for, and that you for being a part of it!

Let me pray for you.

 

Father God,

I am praying for the woman reading now.

Bless her, God!

Bring her peace and joy.

Fill her heart with faith and zeal for life.

Reveal your unconditional love to her.

Comfort her during seasons of doubt and fear.

Promote her financially.

Strengthen her spirit and body.

Heal her heart.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for Myself" can be accessed at

https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_Myself

Dear God, I am scared of COVID-19 but I trust your goodness and sovereignty. I am fragile, and I need you, God. I want to pray for my physical wellbeing and mental health during this time of global hysteria, cruel pandemic, and unbearable uncertainty. I thank you for my sanity, my faith, and my hope in you. I stand on your 3573 promises, God, and I ask that you protect me, Father, that you guard me, that you fill me up with the Holy Spirit so that I can be comforted and comfort others. Thank you for my food, shelter, and bills paid. Thank you for the clean drinking water and hot showers at home. Thank you, God, that I can cook, clean, and create. Thank you for my self-care skills. Thank you for keeping me humble so that I remember that I can’t do anything without you but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13); that I must trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding and you will make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6); that I must guard my heart against the F-virus spread by the media (fear) because my heart is a wellspring of everything I do (Proverbs 4:23); and that I must intentionally focus on my thinking on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, and whatever is pure (Philippians 4:8). I pray these things in the holy name of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My Neighbors" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Neighbors

 

Dear God, I am praying for my neighbors. I want to ask for divine empowerment for everyone who surrounds me here at home with neighborly love, care, and friendship. God, you said in James 1 that in this world, we will have troubles. I pray that every neighbor here gets encouraged by you and can grow in their hope and become more steadfast in their faith. I pray that you draw my neighbors close to you through this experience and renew their minds every moment of every day so that they can see this pandemic as an opportunity to experience you, God. Abba, you are the God of all comfort and the Father of compassion who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from you, God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Father God, you have comforted me in many troubles. Allow me to comfort my neighbors with hope from you and faith in you. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The Coronavirus Prayer for My Friends" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Friends

 

Dear God, I pray for the health, wellbeing, and sanity of my friends. I pray that you reveal yourself to each of them in a special way right now so that they all have hope. I pray that my friends survive the Coronavirus and learn to thrive from this experience. I pray that they trust your promises, God: that you are constant and reliable (James 1:17), that you are loving (John 3:16), that you are good (Luke 18:19), that you will use all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and that you have a plan to prosper and not to harm my friends (Jeremiah 29:11). I pray in the marvelous name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for the Hopeless" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_Those_Who_Have_Lost_Their_Hope

 

Dear God, everyone’s life sometimes rocks and sometimes sucks. Yet, it’s worth living. You are the only one constant and everlasting. You’re always good, and your plan is perfect. You tell us in Psalm 42:11 to “Put your hope in God.” We put our hope in the government, the economy, the job, the income, the doctors, the vaccines, the family, the friends, the gym, the restaurants, the grocery stores, the toilet paper, but all we need is you. God, you are the one and only source of all hope. Open up our eyes and let us see that hope and help both come from you (Psalm 121:2). Hope in the good things yet unseen is what our faith is all about (Hebrews 11:1). Let us hope by faith, Father God. Psalm 121:7-8 tells us “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Let us trust this promise, Father God. Let us remain hopeful despite the fear spread by the media and despite our unstable emotions right now. Let us find stability in you and hope in your 3573 promises. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My Country" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_Country

 

Father God, I pray for our country. Free it from Coronavirus COVID-19 and the panic. Liberate our country from the spread of illnesses and deaths. Set our country free from the economic hardships it’s currently enduring. Bless our country with peace, health, and prosperity. Colossians 3:2 asks us to “Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Here on earth, the media is creating panic and enticing us to fear. Let us remember that you are in charge, God. Let us focus on our many blessings, even in the midst of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. God, in Psalm 23:4 we have a promise for the hard times like this from you: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Father God, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now as a country, so let us fear no evil and receive divine comfort from you every moment. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Prayer for My World" can be accessed at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-relief-prayer/#Prayer_for_My_World

 

Dear God, I am lifting up our global world in prayer right now asking you to heal our planet from the Coronavirus COVID-19 and to free us all from the panic. Abba, Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it – the world and all who live in it.” We are all yours. Everything in this world is yours. Let us remember that we belong to you and you’re here. You have a plan. You’ve got this. Father God, you said in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” The media is working overtime to scare us. Give us the wisdom and strength to discern. Allow us to say no and resist our worldly passion for knowing what’s going on every second or every minute of every hour of every day. Let us practice self-control and stay focused on you, not viruses. God, you said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Let us not be afraid. Instead of clicking on every bad news headline and spreading fear on social media, let us trust you, God, let us rest in your peace, let us stand on your 3573 promises and keep an eternal perspective on the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. You asked us in Mark 16:15 to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Let this season be the season where we don’t spread any scary news from the media but spread the good news from you, God. Give us the courage to comfort the world and each other by sharing your peace which passes all understanding. God, you love our world. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” You proved your love for our world. Let us learn in this season how to appreciate your love, how to trust your love, and how to love you back, God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May God speak to your heart and heal you through this open letter to my Narcissistic Mother originally published at https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/an-open-letter-to-my-mother

It's a forgiveness decree setting my mother free from the debt she owed me and liberating me from the curse of narcissistic abuse.

 

 

Dear Mom, I am writing this letter to acknowledge everything that happened between us and to let you know that I forgive you. Not only that, mom, but also, I understand you. I understand that you gave me everything you could, everything you had.

I wanted more but you didn't have it.

It's just that simple. I wanted you to love me with compassion, care, and wisdom, but the truth is, mom, your mother didn't raise you with love, compassion, and wisdom.

You abused me, it's true, but it's also true that you were abused.

You were angry. You were cruel. You were abusive.

It's true, and I was so hurt. Yet, it's also true, that you were raised surrounded by angry, cruel, and really abusive people.

You were suffering from the people who were suffering from the people who were suffering from the people who were also suffering.

You told me once that our family was cursed.

I believe in the generational curse, which is caused by our mind, what we choose to believe, think, and do.

It's Biblical and real, because of our brain's neuroplasticity.

Generational curses are embedded in the DNA but can be reversed by choosing different beliefs, thoughts, and actions.

Yes, we were cursed. But that curse has no more power. What I choose to believe is this: God created in me in His image and made me a part of your family to stop the curse.

What I choose to think is this: you did the best you could under the circumstances.

What I choose to do is this: I forgive you, mom, once and for all. You are free, and so am I. This letter symbolizes the end of my lifelong suffering. The generational curse of narcissistic abuse is over, it ends this day.

My heart is filled with love and compassion for you, and all I want for you is hope, peace, and joy.

My heart is filled with hope, peace, and joy. I love you. Mom, you hurt me, you traumatized me, you damaged me, you abused me, you violated me, you humiliated me publicly, you bullied me, and you inflicted so much pain on me.

You broke my heart, mom. You distorted my identity.

Mom, you were supposed to love me. But instead, you abused me. You are the one who had the responsibility to protect me, nurture me, teach me, prepare me for life, show me what respect and honor look like in a woman's life, and equip me to be a functional adult.

Yet, you chose to teach me promiscuity, adultery, alcoholism, and suicide.

Dysfunction, addictions, anger, jealousy, violence, adultery, cheating, hatred, sarcasm, cynicism, doubt, depression, and rage – that's what you consistently taught me, over and over again.

Most importantly, you taught me to hate and despise myself.

You taught me that I am a nobody, that I do not matter, and that my dreams and aspirations are delusional.

You taught me that life is not for me, that I'm an outsider in this life, that my reality is an illusion because I was not supposed to be born, that I was a mistake, and that I don't deserve to live. Mom, you chose to shatter my identity and persuade me that I am worthless, useless, unwanted, unloved, ugly, stupid, and crazy.

You taught me to believe wholeheartedly that I do not belong in life, that I need to be dead, that I am no match for actual human living. The truth is this: you delivered me here but you did not make me. I came here not from you, mom. I came here through you from God. God made me. I was made by God, mom, I am precious, worthy, loved, and alive for a purpose. God brought me here for His divine purpose. You have no power over my mind anymore, mom, no more suicidal ideation, no more self-hatred, no more self-doubt, no more self-harming, no more feeling like I am your servant.

Mom, I have a purpose for my life, there's a big plan, and God made me a part of it. I choose life. I am liberating myself from the curses of the cruel abuse, the countless lies, the profound hatred, the traumatic impact, and the negative influence of your family's generational curse.

The curse no longer has any power over me.

From this day forward, I am walking with God in the power of Christ and my heart is filled with love. And I love you. My desire for a genuine relationship with you is still alive but I do recognize and accept that we can't have a safe relationship.

This is a hard truth to deal with but I trust God and I am following in the steps He ordained for my life.

I know that God will make every wrong thing right. I always wanted to have a good mother-daughter relationship with you. It never happened.

I've grieved my losses. And I forgive you, mom. From this day on, I choose life. I choose God. I am His, and He made me alive, precious, special, and wonderful. God gave me a new identity. I am a child of God. Mom, I forgive you. I forgive you because of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. You are forgiven, mom. I am leaving right here the heavy burden of my bitterness and resentment. I am setting myself free right now. I am liberating my soul right now.

I am choosing to live. I am excited about my future.

I am filled with peace and joy. I like who I am.

I respect and honor myself. And I accept your choices. Mom, you don't owe me anything anymore.

I'm releasing you from the debt, and this is your debt-free decree. I love you and I will honor you as my mother by staying away from your abuse and hatred, by being a functional and productive adult, by serving God and His kingdom, and by sharing my story of God's glory to encourage and empower other survivors, the daughters like me of mothers like you. I choose to set you free.

I choose to also liberate myself and be free.

Mom, you are released from being indebted to me, and I am released from being in bondage with you.

I pray for your peace and salvation. I love you, mom. I pray that you will find joy and contentment. I pray for your healing.

As for me, I pray that I will continue to choose life every day and make this world a better place by being in it – alive.

In Jesus' marvelous holy name I pray.

Amen.

Have you ever asked yourself "Who Am I In Christ?" or "What Does God Say About Me?" or "Who Does The Bible Say I Am?" If you are wondering about your identity in Christ, this episode of my Christian podcast for women is going to help you. I will share with you a detailed Who Am I In Christ list and scriptures. These are 52 Biblical Affirmations received in my conversations with God. Find all of them here: https://onlinediscipleshipforwomen.com/who-am-i-in-christ

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE OF THE ANNA SZABO SHOW:

• Identity in Christ blog
• My Christian canvas wall art on Etsy
• 52 Devotionals on Pinterest
• Christian Shirts for Women on Amazon
• Christian Shirts on Teespring #52Devotionals
• My shop AnnaSzabo.com/shop
• My addiction story
• Reading challenge 2020
• My TEDx speaker story
• Knowing Jesus vs Quoting The Bible
• Spiritual Warfare and The Armor of God
• My Experience with People from Seminary
• How To Be Kind
• 20 Love Lessons in 35 years
• Gratitude Journal 2017-2019

WHO AM I IN CHRIST?

You are a Princess, a daughter of the King of the entire Universe. And so am I. When I made this very statement during my baptism in front of a few thousand people, many people came to talk to me about it.

Read my My Testimony here. 

 

The next time I said it at church, women laughed. But I asked: "Do you believe that God is the Sovereign King He says He is?" And the ladies said yes. I asked: "Do you believe that God created you and He is your Heavenly father?" The women said yes. Ok, Princess. They agreed.

There are 52 great things you can tell yourself in a form of Biblical affirmations because they are what God says about you. How do I know?

How I Know the answers to the question "Who Am I In Christ?"

I searched the answer to the same question while struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts during my divorce with the husband who abandoned me after 4 months of marriage. 

I know what it feels like to think you don't even matter, that no one cares, and that you are unloved. I couldn't stand my self-destructive thoughts about my life anymore, so I searched the Bible to answer that one burning question I had: "Who does God say I am?"

My Biblical Discoveries about who I am in Christ

Below is a list of 52 amazing, freeing, liberating "I am" statements I want you to memorize to help you battle that negative self-talk next time it attacks you.

I divided these Biblical affirmations into 4 groups on purpose. The "Fundamentals of God's Grace" group is about the foundational truth about Jesus, Cross, and Salvation. The "New Identity in Jesus" group is about being a child of God and a new creation, beautifully made in the image of God. The "Christ-Like Character Qualities" group is about having the discernment from the Holy Spirit, being confident and wise. The "Biblical Outlook on Life" group is about our hope for the future.

James 1:22 says "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." What it means to me and you is that we must first seek to understand what God says about us, but then we must remember His word and we must practice His view of us, every single day.

Are you in? If so, memorize the following Biblical affirmations.

Who Does God Say I Am?

Fundamentals of God's Grace

I am forgiven (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7) I am accepted (Romans 14:3, Romans 15:7, Acts 10:34-35) I am  loved (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:35-39) I am healed (Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 103:2-5, Jeremiah 17:14, Jeremiah 30:17, Psalm 30:2-3) I am blessed (Psalm 32:1-2, Ephesians 1:3) I am special and chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4, 1 Peter 2:9, Genesis 2:7) I am justified and sanctified (Galatians 2:17-21, Galatians 3:10-14) I am alive (1 John 5:12, Ephesians 2:4-5) I'm new and transformed (1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17) I am noble and lovely (Colossians 3:12) I am beautiful (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 62:3) I am holy (1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 4:22-24,  1 Peter 2:9) I am worthy (Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 6:11) I am righteous (Romans 3:21, Romans 5:19) I am valuable (Luke 12:7, Romans 8:2, Matthew 5:16) I am anointed (1 John 2:27, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Ephesians 1:13-14) I am free (Romans 6:18, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 4:7, Galatians 5:) I am renewed (Ezekiel 36:26, Galatians 5:22-23) I am not alone (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 41:10)

New Identity in Christ

I am a princess (Galatians 3:26, Psalm 136:26, Romans 15:7) I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) I am a disciple of Jesus (John 8:31-32, John 12:26, 1 John 2:3-6) I am a child of God (Galatians 3:26) I am a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20, Philippians 4:11-12) I am God's glory on display (Isaiah 49:3, John 13:31-32, 2 Peter 1:17, Colossians 1:27, Colossians 3:17) I am God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10) I am a difference-maker (Ephesians 2:10) I am light (Matthew 5:14-16) I am a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18, Colossians 3:15, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Numbers 25:12)

Christ-Like Character Qualities

I am wise (1 Corinthians 1:30, Isaiah 11:2, James 1) I am clear and focused (2 Timothy 1-7) I am intentional (Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 6:13-15, 1 Corinthians 7:17) I am decisive (Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, Isaiah 30:21) I am powerful (Philippians 4:13, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1-7, Philippians 3:20) I am disciplined (2 Timothy 1-7) I am thoughtful (Romans 12:2) I am prudent (Proverbs 8:12, Proverbs 14:8, Proverbs 14:15, Proverbs 14:18, Proverbs 22:3) I am confident (Philippians 1:6, Philippians 4:13) I am courageous (Joshua 1:9) I am victorious (Romans 8:37)

Biblical Outlook on Life

I am kind (Ephesians 4:31-32, 1 Corinthians 13:4) I am loving (1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35, 1 Cor 16:14) I am hopeful (1 Corinthians 15:19, Proverbs 24:14, Proverbs 24:20, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:13) I am joyful (Romans 15:13, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 100:2) I am grateful (Colossians 2:7, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 3:5-6) I am strong (Deuteronomy 31:6, Ephesians 6:10) I am protected (Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 54:17, 2 Timothy 4:18, Proverbs 19:23) I am peaceful (2 Thessalonians 3:16, John 16:33, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-7) I am patient (Matthew 7:7, Psalm 27:14, Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:2) I am faith-filled (Isaiah 43:1-3, Romans 9:6-8) I am gifted (Romans 6:23) I am creative (Exodus 35:31-32, Colossians 3:23)

Wow! How do you feel now when you know this beautiful truth about yourself? For me, life will never be perfect, but these affirmations are reminders of who I am in Christ and this gives me joy and peace.