Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
Sometimes, perseverance doesn’t look like running with strength or getting to the finish line first. Sometimes, it looks like crawling with faith. It’s one day at a time and one step at a time. You take that grain of mustard seed faith and put one foot in front of the other, trusting God with each step. Even in your lowest moments, God sees the effort. As your heart clings to Him, He honors the press, no matter how small. Don’t despise the little steps; they are still steps forward.
Scripture
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:9
Prayer
Lord, when I feel weak, remind me that even the smallest steps are seen by You. Strengthen me to keep moving forward, trusting You with every step. And Lord, let me not grow weary in my walk with You or in the strengthening of my faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection: it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.
Reflection
Don’t take someone’s showing up for granted because you don’t know what it took for them to be there. If God wasn’t in the equation, they wouldn’t have made it. Their presence isn’t just them pushing through. It’s God holding them together. It’s His strength in their weakness, His grace covering their broken places, and His love lifting them when they wanted to stay down. Every time they show up, it’s not about perfection; it’s about perseverance through Christ.
Scripture
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Prayer
Father God, thank You for being our strength when we have none of our own. May our showing up always point back to Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I love cooking and baking. While I’ve made everything from cheese biscuits to cheesecake, my absolute favorite and easiest dessert to make is my banana pudding. I’ve been making it since my early college years, and it has become a delicious and reliable staple in my life.
It’s my go-to dish for any church or family gathering. I even made it for my cousin’s wedding, and it was such a hit that it disappeared almost instantly.
What’s funny is that even though it’s always a crowd-pleaser, my siblings still ask me if I put bananas in it. The secret? Most of the time, I do—I just blend them in so they don’t see them! I also add cream cheese and Cool Whip for extra richness. While I don’t make it entirely from scratch (I do use instant vanilla pudding), the combination of a dash of vanilla extract and a whole lot of care and compassion makes another delicious bowl for the people I love.
Recently, my other new favorite dessert to make is fudge brownies. I love chocolate brownies, and I think from now on, I am going to stick to making my own. I baked a batch from scratch the other night, and my mom said they were my best yet. I’m so excited that I finally perfected the recipe!
I’m even working on a Google Doc to share with my sisters, who sometimes call my mom and me for recipes. I’ll probably share my full brownie and banana pudding recipes here soon, too.
For now, I encourage you to find a dish or two you can perfect and share. There’s nothing like a meal made with love to bring people together.
Banana Pudding cupsI added strawberries this particular time to my banana pudding.Made this banana pudding for one of our family reunions.First or second time making brownies from scratch
It’s a wrap! As summer comes to an end, we prepare for another season—and for many of us educators and our students, that means a brand-new school year.
Every year, I feel like I blink and summer is gone, and this year was no different. My summer was filled with plenty of work, and while our family didn’t take a big getaway vacation, that’s okay.
As a new season approaches, I already know it is going to be a busy one, so I am reminded by God to know when to rest and to do things in His strength, not my own.
So before diving into the busyness ahead, I wanted to pause and share a little recap of my simple summer—through a few highlights and snapshots I captured along the way.
“Can I Depend on You” is an intimate conversation with God — asking, believing, and surrendering. When life gets uncertain, His faithfulness remains. A heartfelt Christian R&B song of learning to surrender and trust God.
This Sunday, I stayed home from church — not out of neglect, but out of necessity. With much work and my body being in a lot of pain this week, I listened to my body and followed my heart and took a rest. And sometimes, honoring God means pausing from our usual routines to care for the temple He’s given us. Today was one of those days, a Sabbath for both my body and spirit.
And with that, I was also led to study the Fear of the Lord. So, what is the fear of the Lord? Is it being afraid that God is chasing you down with lightning bolts and drizzles of fire behind every fleeting footsteps?
No. The Fear of the Lord is not about terror. For “Fear of the Lord” the main Hebrew word used in the Bible is:
יִרְאָה (yir’ah) — pronounced yeer-AH
Root: יָרֵא (yare) — to fear, revere, or stand in awe.
Meaning: Reverence, respect, deep awe, piety.
It’s an awareness of God’s holiness that shapes your behavior and keeps your heart humble before Him. With the Fear of the Lord and God’s love, God wants us to run to Him, not away from Him.
Before I go any further, I want us to read Psalm 34. Then we will walk through what God says about the Fear of the Lord in His Word.
Psalms 34:1-22 NLT [1] I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. [2] I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. [3] Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. [4] I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. [5] Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. [6] In my desperation, I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. [7] For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. [8] Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! [9] Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. [10] Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. [11] Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. [12] Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? [13] Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! [14] Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. [15] The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. [16] But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. [17] The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. [18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. [19] The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. [20] For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! [21] Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. [22] But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
In Psalm 34, David, who pretended to be crazy in front of Abimilech to escape danger, gives his praises and testimony, gives an invitation to experience God’s goodness, gives instruction in the Fear of the Lord and lastly, details God’s care for the righteous.
But let’s delve deeper into the Fear of the Lord. What does God say about it further:
Proverbs 9:10: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. (NLT)
Proverbs 1:7: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NLT)
Proverbs 3: Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (NLT)
Hebrews 12:28: [Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. (NLT)
Proverbs 29:23 & 25: [23] Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. [25] Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. (NLT)
Psalms 105: 1-8: Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations. (NLT)
Now that we have read some scriptures on our topic of study, let’s bring it home with the five pillars of the Fear of the Lord.
The 6 Pillars
Protection – Fearing the Lord is a safeguard, placing you under God’s loving protection. Corresponding scriptures: Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 19:23)
Knowledge – True understanding begins with reverence for Him. (Proverbs 1:7)
A Heart of Praise, Reverence, and Respect – At its core, the fear of the Lord is respect, reverence, and honor. It’s an attitude of worship that shapes everything we do. (Psalms 2:11; Psalms 33:8; Psalms 130:2-5; Psalms 105:1-8)
Wisdom – Discernment and right choices flow from fearing the Lord. (Psalms 111:10; Job 28:28)
Dependency Upon God – Fearing the Lord means trusting Him completely, rather than relying on our own limited understanding. I’m reminded daily that without God, I can do nothing. (Proverbs 3:5 & 6; Psalm 130:5)
(I forgot this one during the initial writing stage) Godly Sorrow – Godly sorrow is true repentance, and with it comes the fear of the Lord. Because He is holy and worthy of honor, our hearts—growing in spiritual maturity—will turn away from the things that keep us from drawing closer to Him and dwelling in His presence. (James 4:9)
Why does the Fear of the Lord Matter Today?
In a world that encourages self-reliance and pride, the Fear of the Lord keeps us humble, safe, and aligned with truth. Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. As believers, we are to recognize God’s power and holiness and respond accordingly. We must value what He says over what the world says, putting Him first and acknowledging His authority. We worship Him in spirit and in truth, not because He has an ego, but because our spirits respond to His character and His unfailing love. Ultimately, this leads to obedience. We want to honor Him in everything we think, say, and do. Living a holy life is a challenge, but with God’s grace, we can do it one day at a time.
Action Step
Take a moment today to ask yourself: in what ways am I showing respect, reverence, and honor to the Lord in my daily life?
Also, check out the corresponding video up on YouTube now!
For some of us in Christ, our first encounters with Him may not be well-defined or easily told. That is the same with my story, but one thing I do know is that God came along and made me realize that He is a Father to the fatherless.
To reiterate: not everyone has a salvation story marked by a specific date or dramatic moment—and that’s okay. I was young when I first believed. I heard God’s word in church and felt God drawing me to Him. I read the Bible stories for children when I was a little girl, and when I got a bit older, the Bible for myself. I believed within my heart and subsequently confessed with my mouth that He was my redeemer, my Lord and Savior.
I grew up without my earthly dad and have never met him. As a little girl, I thought I was okay, but as I got older, I began to see the effects of not having one. Underneath it all, at times, I have come to realize I was not okay. Yet over the years, God has continued to show up, reminding me that He is a Father to the fatherless. Through every season, He has whispered this truth into my heart:
You have dimmed your light for too long That you have adjusted your vision to the dark. Now I’m going to need you to open up your heart.
And see yourself the way God does. You need to be brave. I know the world seems to cave In, on all sides. I know you feel like you are falling apart But you will rise to the top And all your pieces will come together From a version of you that is healed and better.
Don’t give up. And don’t let go of His hand. He will give you the wisdom and grace to stand. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Take one day at a time Until you land Where God is taking you to expand And be full of His joy.
You’ve been feeling like a failure But trust — you are going to win. You won’t be the same tomorrow as today Don’t give up You will eventually be okay.
Join me on a transformative journey as we explore the depths of healing, growth, and self-love in “Healing Journey: Playing Back Your Mental Tape.” This video was inspired by a post I wrote for my blog in 2021. In this heartfelt video, we discuss how we must address the things on our mental tape because they can shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. From childhood memories of feeling different to navigating adult heartaches, I too bravely share some things that are on my mental tape. But I didn’t just stop there with acknowledging these things. I embarked on a healing journey.
Learn how faith, self-reflection, and open conversations can pave the way for healing and understanding. Together, let’s break free from generational curses and embrace our worth. Like and share this video to inspire others on their journeys.
Tannika Nikeya 