Sometimes God works in mysterious ways. He certainly did when he used a ex-con to answer my prayer. I was humbled as God taught me an important truth about His provision through an unlikely source.

This man’s apartment contains a few hand-me-down pieces of furniture, his clothes are plain, and his whereabouts are tethered to the system, yet he gave out of the small surplus that he had.

It made a huge impact on me and honestly, shut me up in the best kind of way.

I definitely did not deserve this kind of gift, yet God prompted this man to answer my cry with his simple act of giving away what he could not use.

Read the rest of this post, What an Ex-Convict Taught Me About God’s Grace, over on ibelieve.com.

I was held prisoner by assumption for ten years. Then God gave me the courage to clarify with my friend about my offense. Turns out I was wrong and could have walked in freedom years ago.

Are you held captive by false interpretations and wrong perceptions? Learn 4 steps to freedom as you move from assumption to clarification.

The enemy likes to lie to us. When we fail to communicate and clarify with others we can easily fall prey to his schemes as we assume the worst.

Assumption can be dangerous. It can:

1. Mask the truth: When we assume, we view situations from a limited perspective—ours. Our vantage point might illuminate a particular angle, but we might not have an accurate view of the whole picture. A portion, or a majority of the truth, might be masked when we rely on our own perspective to interpret a situation.

2. Build walls: When we wrongly assume we erect barriers between ourselves and others. Our imagination sometimes fills in the gaps with all sorts of assumptions. We find ourselves creating distance and a self-protective stance against those who have offended us or passed us by.

Read the rest of this post, 4 Ways False Assumptions Imprison You, and How to be Free over on ibelieve.com.

P.S. Linking up with the fabulous Kelly Balarie for the #RaRalinkup. Join our Cheerleaders 4 Christ – Encouragement Page on facebook for daily doses of encouragement and cheer.

P.P.S. This Thursday I am hosting the words of my new friend, Robyn Dykstra. She is a national speaker and author with an incredible story. Join us and learn more about her page-turning memoir, The Widow Wore Pink.