My Faith My Hope

Justification: The legal act by which God declares a guilty sinner to be righteous in His sight. It is God’s grace in my life—a gift from God that I receive by faith.

Sanctification: An ongoing, lifelong process in which the Holy Spirit helps a person become more like Jesus in daily life.

Faith: Confidence, assurance, and active trust in God and His promises, even when they cannot be physically seen.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1

To be certain of what we cannot see—that is faith.

So it is with love. I cannot see love, but I can feel it within me through my actions and the way I care for others.

Strength is another example. I cannot see strength, but I am able to take the next step, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Faith is like coming home and turning on the lights, knowing they will come on. It is like turning on the water faucet, knowing that water will come out. I am certain of things I cannot see. In some ways, that is faith.

To know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I have been justified by faith and that I am in a relationship with God Almighty because of what took place at Calvary—that is faith. Today, I can draw near to Him.

On my journey, the Holy Spirit helps me become more like Jesus. What hurts Him should hurt me. What pleases Him should please me. I am an ambassador of Heaven. I am a traveler passing through, telling everyone about Jesus.

By faith in Jesus Christ, I have been set free. Today, I walk in the freedom I have received from Him. Mental illness is gone. Jail is gone. Spiritual death is gone. I have taken God at His Word. I have learned to walk in boldness, God-fidence, and truth.

Free people free people.

We are becoming living testimonies of God’s grace in our lives. We have been made whole by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

I expose my own doubts, insecurities, fears, and comparisons. I look into the mirror for self-reflection. When a situation arises, I bring it to the altar. This does not mean that I have achieved everything, but I strive to receive and walk in what the Lord has spoken to my heart.

Our hope in God is the anchor that keeps us steady.

To know in my heart that I am a daughter of God and that someday I will be like Him is extraordinary to think about. But in the meantime, as I draw closer to God, He continues to purify my thoughts and my actions.

I want to be different.
I want to be changed.
I want to be used in any way or form that will bring glory to His name.

That is my faith and my hope.

Ivette Diaz-Yee
9/18/26

This is the Day.

 This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV

This verse, in some ways, has become a cliché spoken often without fully grasping its depth –it holds a deeper meaning when we allow ourselves to actually look into the day.  And it is here in this moment where my day begins simply and profoundly by thanking God for waking me up!

This is a new day, with two distinct attributes; its different than yesterday, and one I have never been in, until now. Today is the tomorrow for which I prayed for yesterday, praying for the Lord to bring me here. There was a season in my life when I didn’t believe I would make it too now.  Neglect, abuse, abandonment fear, insecurity, these were the attributes of my yesterdays. But as I look back on my life, from the vantage point of this new day, where I rejoice and am able to  recognize God’s hand of protection that was always around me, leading me, comforting me and protecting me.  

 

This is the day I will rejoice, and be glad, grateful for his protection past and present, and grateful for what he’s doing in my life now.  I have been changed, restored, redeemed and set free, fully surrendered believing in my heart I have another 40 more years to dedicate completely to the Lord and His plan for me. 

 

I have never been in today; so today I will make the best of what I have been given and use what God has put within me to be the light that leads others to Christ. I will be here to listen, encourage and smile whom the Lord brings. I will meet people where they are, just as Christ did with me and whatever He requires of me, that is what I will do.  I have been brough to this day by the grace and mercy of God, so I will use the gifts He has given me for His glory!  

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV

Dirty Glass

Lord, Give Me Access to the Hidden Places

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7

Have you ever looked at a beautiful glass window or display and noticed that something was wrong?

Recently, I came across a new double-screen display. It was designed to function like a television, allowing us to see what was happening inside and keeping us connected to what was taking place around us.

But there was one problem.

The glass was dirty.

I came prepared with everything I needed to clean it. I walked toward the screen and began examining the stains covering the surface. I thought, This shouldn’t be too difficult. I just need to clean it.

But as I began wiping the glass, I noticed something strange.

The dirt wasn’t on the outside. It was on the inside.

I couldn’t reach it.

I couldn’t wipe it away.

I couldn’t clean what I couldn’t access.

I realized that I needed a key.

Whoever installed the glass had never taken the time to clean the inside before sealing it. And now it stood in front of all of us—doing exactly what it was designed to do.

It reflected what was happening inside.

From a distance, it looked fine.

Only a trained eye would notice the smears, fingerprints, and imperfections.

And my friend, isn’t that sometimes how we are?

We come before God with everything looking beautiful on the outside. We worship. We serve. We smile. We encourage others. We show up.

But there are places inside of us that we have locked away.

We have allowed God to install what we think we need, but then we rush to lock the door of our hearts.

We say, “Lord, You can have this part of me—but not that part.”

We give Him access to our public lives but keep the private places locked.

We allow Him to see what everyone else can see, while hiding what only He can see.

But God is not fooled by appearances.

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

— 1 Samuel 16:7

The screen couldn’t clean itself because the problem was behind the glass.

And sometimes, neither can we.

There are wounds, disappointments, fears, unforgiveness, pride, insecurity, hidden struggles, and places of pain that require more than an outside cleaning.

They require access.

God doesn’t want to simply make us look clean.

He wants to make us whole.

Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that the heart can deceive us. We can convince ourselves that everything is fine when God knows there is something underneath the surface that still needs His touch.

That’s why we must pray the prayer of David:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”
— Psalm 139:23

Not, “Lord, look at what everyone else needs.”

Not, “Lord, fix them.”

But,

“Lord, search me.”

Give Him the key.

Open the door.

Let Him into the places you have kept hidden—even from yourself.

Because what God reveals, He can heal.

What God exposes, He can cleanse.

What God touches, He can restore.

Sister, Give Him Access

You don’t have to be afraid of what God will find.

He already knows.

He knows the tears you cried when nobody was watching.

He knows the disappointment you never talked about.

He knows the wound you covered with a smile.

He knows the rejection you tried to forget.

He knows the places where you are still struggling to forgive.

And He isn’t coming to condemn you.

He is coming to cleanse you.

The question is not whether God can see inside.

The question is:

Will you give Him access?

Don’t settle for looking good from the outside while carrying dirt on the inside.

Don’t let the fingerprints of yesterday remain on the glass of your heart.

Let the Holy Spirit enter the hidden places.

Let Him clean what you cannot reach.

Let Him heal what you cannot fix.

Let Him remove what you have learned to live with.

And when He asks for access, don’t give Him a partial key.

Give Him everything.

A Prayer of Surrender

Father,

I give You access.

Not just to the parts of me that are easy to show, but to the hidden places.

Search my heart.

Reveal anything in me that does not belong to You.

Cleanse my wounds.
Remove my bitterness.
Heal my disappointments.
Expose the things I have hidden.
Wash away the fingerprints of my past.

Lord, I don’t want to simply look clean on the outside.

I want to be clean within.

Give me a heart of surrender, a willingness to go through Your cleansing process, and the courage to allow You into every locked room of my heart.

Today I say,

“Yes, Lord. Here I am.
I give You access.
Clean me.
Change me.
Heal me.
Use me.”

And when You are finished, let my life reflect Your glory—not just on the outside, but from the inside out.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Reflection

What area of your heart have you kept locked from God?

Today, give Him the key.

He already sees what’s behind the glass.
Now let Him clean it.

With love,
Ivette Diaz-Yee
August 11,2026

Contending in Prayer

 Contending in Prayer

Don’t Give Up the Fight

“Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” — Hebrews 12:1

Contending in prayer means engaging in an intense, persistent, and focused spiritual struggle. It is not passive. It is deliberate. It is disciplined. It is standing in faith when everything around you is telling you to stop.

The word contend carries the picture of wrestling, striving, and exerting great effort. The Greek word agōnízomai speaks of intense struggle—giving everything you have. It is where we get the idea of agonizing or fighting with great determination.

There are moments when prayer is not simply asking God for something and moving on. There are moments when we must contend.

We contend when we are standing on the promises of God.
We contend when we are praying for someone who cannot see their way out.
We contend when the answer seems delayed.
We contend when we recognize that what we are fighting for is bigger than ourselves.

This is spiritual warfare.

We wrestle against spiritual apathy, deception, discouragement, the desires of the flesh, and the distractions of this world. But our fight is not against people. Our assignment is to stand in our place, partner with the Holy Spirit, and remain faithful to what God has called us to do.

“Let them.”

Let them do what they are going to do. Let them say what they are going to say. Let them make their choices.

“Let them” concentrate in your sphere; the Lord will take care of the rest.

Don’t become distracted. Don’t get sidetracked by everything taking place around you. Don’t allow what you see to pull you away from what God has called you to do.

Nothing is hidden from the Lord.

Everything is laid bare before Him, and one day we will all give an account before God.

So keep your eyes wide open.

Look for the one who has been left behind.
Look for the one who doesn’t seem to fit in.
Look for the timid one.
Look for the shy one.
Look for the new person who doesn’t know anyone yet.
Look for the person who is hurting but doesn’t know how to say it.

Sometimes contending in prayer looks like standing in the gap for someone who doesn’t even know you are praying for them.

Be willing. Stay faithful. Keep praying.

This is a spiritual battle—not for recognition, not for position, not for control, but for the souls of our people.

Don’t give up because you don’t see immediate results.

Don’t stop praying because the situation looks worse.

Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that your prayers are ineffective.

Your assignment is to contend.
Your assignment is to stand.
Your assignment is to remain faithful.

Let the Lord take care of the rest.

There are battles you were never called to fight in your own strength. There are people you cannot change. There are situations you cannot control.

But you can pray.

And when you pray, pray with faith. Pray with persistence. Pray the Word. Pray with love. Pray until your heart agrees with God’s heart.

Contend for the one.
Contend for the lost.
Contend for the broken.
Contend for your family.
Contend for your community.
Contend for the souls God has placed within your sphere of influence.

Then trust God with what you cannot see.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to contend in prayer without becoming distracted by what is happening around me. Give me discernment to see the ones who are overlooked, the ones who are hurting, and the ones who need someone to stand in the gap for them. Help me remain faithful when I don’t see the breakthrough. Teach me to trust Your Word, follow Your Spirit, and leave the things I cannot control in Your hands. I will contend, I will stand, and I will not give up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

Who has God placed within your sphere today that may need you to contend for them in prayer?

Ivette Diaz-Yee 

June 2026