ABBA Father Hidden In Dates Given to A Stranger in America

Article Summary

While releasing belongings and painful memories from an 18-year marriage, I received fresh encouragement through music, Scripture and a pattern of twelve date pairs shared by JB, a stranger in the American TA community. Each pair totalled 22, and my musical response led me to a personal A-B-B-A connection that inspired the song ABBA Shuffle.

This AI-generated image was created for my reflection and inspired by JB's post in the TA community.

Letting Go of an Old Life

Since my spouse and I divorced, we have been organising our belongings so that we can both move forward and find closure. I shared more of the background in Trees Are the Detergents of the Earth.

Part of moving has meant releasing possessions connected with painful memories from our 18 years of marriage. Two skips were filled as the physical remains of an old season were carried away.

The first skip, filled to the maximum.

The second skip, also filled.

The skip truck picking up what remained of our old life.

Me taking a photograph of my MMA belts before placing them in the skip. This one hurt emotionally too.

Saying Goodbye to My First Piano

One of the most painful possessions to release was my electric piano. It had been instrumental in helping me create music for Christ. Before letting it go, I recorded a final memory of the number patterns I had discovered while studying Exodus 12:2. Before that season, I did not know how to play the piano.

My final video preserving the Exodus 12:2 number patterns that guided my music-making.

My piano at Cash Converters. Because the final key was not working, the piano was ultimately donated.

During this time, I reflected on Ephesians 5:19 and what I have called a hidden I-Principle.

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

- Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV)

Listen directly on Suno. My original playing.

My piano playing enhanced by Suno. Only the two-minute section was extracted, with additional instruments added.

Why This Piano Meant So Much

This post comes from a sentimental place. My first piano brought me great joy as I learned to play what I call Kingdom Sounds. Other pieces of that music are scattered throughout this blog. Finding numeric patterns in Exodus 12:2 helped me recognise a purpose in God - with my books becoming part of the fruit - and helped me make sweet music to my King above.

I understood this musical gift as something the Holy Spirit awakened in 2020 after an extended season of fasting and prayer. Releasing the instrument therefore felt like releasing a witness to that beginning, even though the gift and the music were not confined to the piano itself.

The Date Pattern Shared by JB

ABBA Shuffle was inspired by a brother I will call JB in the TA community associated with Timothy Alberino and The Alberino Analysis. During the difficult season I was experiencing, JB shared a pattern that he said had come to him during prayer. He was a stranger in America: he did not know me, and I did not know him.

JB's June 25 post. Each month-and-day pair totals 22.

The twelve pairs

• 1/21
• 2/20
• 3/19
• 4/18
• 5/17
• 6/16
• 7/15
• 8/14
• 9/13
• 10/12
• 11/11
• 12/10

The arithmetic is simple and exact: every pair adds to 22. Read in order, the numbers also move in opposite directions - the first number rises while the second falls - giving me the sense of shuffling, mirroring and dancing that later shaped the music.

A note about the new moon statement

JB's screenshot also says that each listed date was a new moon “this year.” The screenshot does not identify the intended year or time zone. The list does not match standard published new moon dates for 2026; for example, observatory data places the first six 2026 new moons on January 18, February 17, March 18, April 17, May 16 and June 14 in Pacific time. A lunar phase can fall on a neighbouring date in another time zone, but that does not account for every difference in this list. I therefore preserve the new moon statement as JB's original claim, while treating the twelve-pair total of 22 as the verified arithmetic pattern.

My Musical Reply and the ABBA Connection

On June 26, moved by words I understood the Holy Spirit to be giving me, I replied with a way of converting the number pairs into musical relationships. I saw the pairs as mirroring and shuffling - almost literally dancing from left to right and back again.

My reply, moved by the words I believed the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.

The first and last pairs - 1/21 and 12/10 - suggested mirrored A and B groupings to me. From those groupings I saw the letters A-B-B-A. I also noticed that 22 is two elevens. My original reply referred to eleven listed numbers, although the preserved screenshot actually shows twelve date pairs, so I retain 11 × 2 as my personal association with 22 rather than as a count of the rows. These were creative and personal musical associations, not a claim that Scripture assigns a fixed spiritual meaning to every appearance of 11 or 22.

Yet the word Abba itself is firmly biblical. Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father” in Gethsemane before His crucifixion. Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 also connect this cry with the Spirit of adoption and the Spirit of God's Son within believers.

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

- Mark 14:36 (NKJV)

Mark 14:36 reminded me that the Father's will must also be done in my life. It is permissible to grieve and still say goodbye to what once was, so that I can move toward what God has prepared. Five years ago, I would not have believed I would be living through these changes. Even as I write, I can still feel the sadness, yet I also know that moving forward is necessary.

For the same reason, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 deepen the meaning of the song for me. “Abba, Father” is more than an arrangement of letters: it is the biblical cry of relationship, belonging and trust.

An Encouraging Word While I Was Letting Go

On Sunday, 16 August 2026, another brother, whom I will call AR, sent me an encouraging message after I spoke about the pain of giving up my electric piano. He reminded me that my gifts could not be bought or sold and that a new chapter awaited. He also sent Mark 10:28-30, a passage about what it means to leave things behind to follow Jesus.

An encouraging word from AR with Mark 10:28-30. The screenshot quotes the ESV; the link above opens the NKJV.

“My Sheep Hear My Voice”

As I write this, I am reminded again of Jesus' words:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

- John 10:27 (NKJV)

That thought brought some playful joy into my heart. When I divided the sound ABBA into “Ab” and “ba,” the “ba” reminded me of the sound of a sheep. This is a personal wordplay, not the linguistic origin of Abba, which is an Aramaic word for Father. Nevertheless, the sound association brought John 10:27 to mind and helped me focus not only on what I had surrendered, but on the joy I find in how God speaks and moves within my life.

The completed lyric video for ABBA Shuffle, enhanced through Suno.

ABBA Shuffle - Lyrics and Suno Prompts

Below are my lyrics together with the musical prompts I supplied to Suno. Enjoy.

ABBA Shuffle

Intro - Instrumental Only

Deep rhythmic didgeridoo pulse begins alone in the centre. Wooden percussion enters from the left, answered by low whistle from the right. Instruments gradually begin a gentle left-to-right call-and-response, creating the feeling of mirrored movement. Warm acoustic guitar, bodhrán, tribal toms and ambient choir slowly build. Ancient, joyful atmosphere with a spacious stereo field.

Spoken

One...
Twenty-one...
Twelve...
Ten...

Can you hear it?
They're dancing...

Verse 1

Minimal instrumentation. Female vocal intimate and close. Every instrumental phrase is answered from the opposite side of the stereo field, creating a musical mirror.

One meets twenty-one,
twelve meets ten.
Left to right,
then back again.

Two meets twenty,
eleven stays.
Every step
reveals His ways.

Three with nineteen,
four with eighteen,
five with seventeen -
creation sways unseen.

Pre-Chorus

Didgeridoo pulse grows stronger. Wooden percussion and fiddle begin mirroring one another. Stereo movement becomes more obvious while remaining natural.

Shuffle...
Mirror...
Turn around...

Hidden rhythms
all around.

Chorus

Full tribal groove enters. Left choir sings first, right choir answers, then both unite in the centre. Joyful celebration.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Father in the pattern,
Father in the sound.

Dance from left,
dance from right,
hidden truth
comes into sight.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Every number
sings Your Name.

Instrumental Break

No vocals. Let the instruments “dance.” Fiddle plays from the left, whistle answers from the right. Acoustic guitar and tribal percussion trade rhythmic phrases. The didgeridoo remains centred as the unchanging foundation. The musical conversation should feel playful, balanced and symmetrical.

Verse 2

Introduce subtle male harmony answering selected female vocal phrases from the opposite stereo side.

Sixteen stands
beside the six,
steady pillar,
strong and fixed.

Lion roaring,
Judah's cry,
strength beneath
the mirrored sky.

Every pattern
finds its place,
every rhythm
speaks of grace.

Creation moving
hand in hand,
following
the Master's plan.

Bridge

Everything strips back except didgeridoo, heartbeat tom and alternating voices. The left and right channels almost speak to one another.

Left:
A...

Right:
BA...

Left:
AB...

Right:
BA...

Father...

hidden...

inside...

the dance...

Instrumental Climax

Build gradually. Every instrument enters in mirrored pairs. Rising melodies are answered by descending melodies. Rhythmic motifs are reflected between left and right. The stereo image should feel alive, as though the music itself is dancing.

Final Chorus

Full ensemble. Choir now sings together from the centre while echoes continue moving across the stereo field.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Heaven sings,
the earth replies.

ABBA...

ABBA...

Time itself
declares Your light.

Taste and see,
the Lord is good.

Every rhythm,
every breath,

every dance,

belongs to You.

Outro

The mirrored instruments slowly converge toward the centre. Left guitar, right fiddle, left whistle and right choir gradually become one unified sound surrounding the centred didgeridoo. End with one sustained “ABBA” from the full choir.

Final Whisper

Shuffle...
Mirror...
ABBA...
Forever...

“ABBA Shuffle” - left and right

✨ Deep Treasure

I had to release the piano, the belts and many physical reminders of an old life, but I did not release the gift God had placed within me. A date pattern shared by a stranger became music in my heart, and “ABBA, Father” became my prayer for the courage to accept His will and step into a new chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mathematical pattern in the twelve dates?

Each month-and-day pair adds to 22: 1 + 21, 2 + 20, 3 + 19 and so on through 12 + 10. The first number rises while the second falls, creating the mirrored movement that inspired my music.

Does the Bible teach that ABBA is secretly encoded in these dates?

No. The A-B-B-A arrangement is my personal musical and symbolic interpretation. The biblical foundation is that Jesus and believers cry “Abba, Father” in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6.

Were all the listed dates verified as new moons?

No year or time zone was identified in JB's screenshot, and the list does not match standard 2026 new moon calendars. The statement remains part of the original screenshot, but this post treats only the shared total of 22 as verified arithmetic.

Scripture, Sources and Related Content

• “Abba, Father” in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 (NKJV).
• Ephesians 5:19 on psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (NKJV).
• John 10:27 on hearing the Shepherd's voice (NKJV).
• Mark 10:28-30 on leaving things behind to follow Jesus (NKJV).
• NASA's 2026 Moon Phase and Libration resource and the Griffith Observatory 2026 phase table.
• The TA community post that inspired the ABBA pattern.
• Related testimony: Trees Are the Detergents of the Earth.

Topics Covered: ABBA Father, mirrored dates, number 22, personal number symbolism, divorce and new beginnings, surrendering possessions, electric piano, Exodus 12:2, Ephesians 5:19, original Christian music, ABBA Shuffle, prayer, the Holy Spirit and hearing God's voice.

The Shield of Faith: Deliverance from an Intrusive Image

Article Summary

This personal testimony recounts a night of tears, an unwanted intrusive image, self-harm and a desperate prayer for help. It describes the faith-centred visualisation I experienced, how I understood it through the shield of faith in Ephesians 6:16, and the peace that followed.

Content note: This testimony mentions pornographic imagery, mental distress and self-harm. The image that caused the distress is not shown or described.

A Night of Tears and an Intrusive Image

This is a personal testimony of deliverance after a night of intense tears, struggle and self-harm. I had seen something that I felt had polluted my mind.

I came across a pornographic image on X—something I will not repeat here. At the time, I was grieving the loss of husbandly love in my situation at home. My now ex-spouse had come out as transgender, and our previous love life and bedroom life had ceased. I felt emotionally vulnerable and interpreted the image as an intentional attempt by the enemy to draw me down a path of perversion.

However, it had the opposite effect. I took the matter to God in prayer, but no matter what I did, the image and scene refused to go away. It troubled me like an annoying leaking tap.

One day, while lying alone on my bed, I began striking my head with my right hand, pulling my hair and repeatedly shouting, “GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!” I did not care whether my daughter, in her room, thought I was going crazy.

When that did not work, I kept striking my head. I cannot remember how long I harmed myself. All I knew was that I wanted the horrid image out; I felt that it had no right to occupy the real estate of my mind.

In tears and disgust that neither self-harm nor my repeated attempts to force the image away were working, I asked God again to help me. In a whisper, I pleaded for the Holy Spirit to intervene.

A gentle care note

Self-harm did not free me from the intrusive image, and this testimony is not an instruction to face mental distress alone. Prayer and trusted pastoral support can stand alongside care from a doctor or mental-health professional. If you are in Australia and worried that you may harm yourself, contact Lifeline by calling 13 11 14 or texting 0477 13 11 14. If you are in immediate danger, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. Readers outside Australia should contact their local crisis service or emergency number.

“It Is Time You Learn How to Think Like a Child of God”

This is when I heard a small yet assertive voice instruct me. The following words are recorded as I remember experiencing them in prayer:

“You’re a child of God; it’s time you learn how to think like one!”

“I need you to take yourself out and see yourself in front of the sphere Earth.”

So, I imagined taking myself out into space, turning back and facing Earth.

“Now imagine a tiny speck—a ball or circle of light.”

So, I imagined the circle of light beginning as a tiny pinprick.

“Now look at the Sun.”

So, I looked at the Sun.

“Now look back at that small ball of light.”

So, I looked back at the small ball of light.

“Now increase the size of this ball.”

So, I increased the size of the ball.

“Stretch out your hand towards the Sun, and inject the power of the Sun into this ball.”

So, I stretched out my hand towards the Sun and injected the power of the Sun into that ball.

“Make the ball the size of Earth.”

So, I made the fireball the size of Earth.

The beginning of the fiery shield in my prayer visualisation.

Inside the Earth-Sized Ball of Fire

“Put yourself inside the ball of fire.”

So, I did. I floated inside the ball of fire, which was the size of Earth.

Me inside the ball of flame while outside Earth.

“Observe what you see, and tell Me how powerful the Sun is.”

So, I looked around and saw the flames lapping and licking outside like whips against a human back.

Me inside the ball-shaped shield of fire.

I remembered how the Sun can scorch us when we spend too long in its rays and how we need sunblock for protection. I remembered how plants draw from the Sun to survive and how, without rain, the Sun can dry lush land until it becomes desert.

“Now look at the memory that is plaguing your mind while you are inside this ball of fire.”

So, I looked. What I saw no longer troubled me or stirred my senses through my longing for husbandly love.

Me looking out and seeing the shield of fire melt the power of the memory of evil.

“This is MY SHIELD OF FAITH. You must look through this ball of flame at all things dark from the past, present and future.”

A personal GIF created to reflect how significant the shield of faith is.
Created with Adobe Premiere Pro. Click here to copy gif[t] for your use.

The Shield of Faith and the Peace That Followed

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

— Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

After this experience, I managed to fall asleep in a deep peace that surpassed all understanding. This brought to mind Philippians 4:7, where the peace of God guards hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I also had an impression that this shield of faith I had been taught was not the same as the faith we have in Christ. It was a personal impression about how to look through faith at things from the past, present and future. From then on, the power of the image and scene I had seen on X faded into nothing. The experience also reminded me of the call to bring every thought into obedience to Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The Stone That Filled the Whole Earth

I was also reminded of the stone in Daniel 2:34–35 and 44–45: the stone cut out without hands that became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. I connected that stone with Jesus and the everlasting kingdom of God.

That is when it struck me that darkness is running out of room. When something is dying or being cornered, it may lash out in desperation. I see a similar pattern in today’s world: darkness can appear prominent, but I believe this is not proof that it will prevail. Scripture presents evil as finally judged and rendered powerless. This is the spiritual interpretation I drew from the experience.

Not by My Strength Alone

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

— Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

There are times when we think we can continue as normal and manage everything in our own strength, but that is not always true. We need mighty strength and a mighty shield against forces that feel greater than we are. For me, victory did not come through striking myself, trying harder or depending upon my own self-control.

It came through reaching for the strength of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ and the Father in heaven. Galatians 5:22–23 identifies self-control as fruit of the Spirit. Divine self-control is mightier than my own: no power of darkness can come close to defeating Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

✨ Deep Treasure

The shield of faith did not require me to deny that the intrusive memory existed. It changed the place from which I faced it. Self-harm and force could not drive it away, but faith turned my attention towards Christ, placed the memory behind a greater spiritual reality and allowed peace to guard my mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Earth-sized fiery sphere described in the Bible?

No. The fiery sphere was the personal image I experienced during prayer. The biblical foundation of my interpretation is the shield of faith in Ephesians 6:16, not a requirement that other Christians use the same visualisation.

Is this testimony a replacement for mental-health care?

No. This is a personal testimony of prayer and faith. Anyone experiencing persistent distress or urges to self-harm deserves immediate human support and appropriate professional care alongside any prayer or pastoral support they choose.

When did the divine teaching occur?

From memory, several months down the track of my ex-spouse coming out as transgender, 2024.

Do you still use that Shield of Faith ball?

Yes. This shield works wonders and I feel people who belong to Christ must know about how it works.

Are you still on 'X'?

No. I have cut out X from my life. The Scripture (Matthew 5:30) instructs to cut away the things that causes us to sin, in this case I find cutting all social media is the best for me.

Where does the image of the stone filling the earth come from?

It comes from Daniel 2:34–35 and 44–45. Daniel describes a stone cut out without hands that becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth, within a vision of God’s everlasting kingdom.

Topics Covered: Christian testimony, intrusive images, self-harm recovery, prayer, spiritual warfare, the shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16, peace through Christ, Daniel 2 and the fruit of the Spirit.

The Breaking Is Not the End of the Story

🌿 Testimony Summary

This Christian testimony shares my journey through the breakdown of a long marriage, the grief and uncertainty that followed, and the unexpected friendship God used to help restore my hope. It reflects on prayer, fasting, anxiety, transformation, music, and discovering God’s faithfulness during one of the most difficult wilderness seasons of my life.

How God used an unexpected friendship to help restore my hope.

📖 Key Scripture

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)

🎥 About the Testimony Video

• Format: Personal Christian testimony
• Themes: Faith, grief, prayer, hope and healing
• Key Scripture: Philippians 4:6–7
• Symbols: The butterfly and the warrior
• Central message: The breaking is not the end of the story

Watch the Testimony

This video introduces the story of how Sunwarrior entered my life during a difficult season and how God used an unexpected friendship to bring steadiness, encouragement and renewed hope.

Having trouble viewing the embedded video? Watch the testimony directly on YouTube .

🌿 My Story

A Life I Thought Would Last Forever

For nearly two decades, I shared my life with the person I loved.

We built a home together, raised a family, faced life’s hardships and imagined growing old side by side. Like many marriages, ours experienced seasons of joy, struggle and uncertainty. Yet I believed that whatever arrived, we would face it together.

Life, however, does not always unfold according to our plans.

Over time, our relationship changed in ways I had never expected. The person I had married embarked on a gender-transition journey. As the years passed, further changes followed, including new relationships and a new direction in life.

While I respect each person’s right to make their own choices, I experienced a profound sense of loss, confusion, grief and loneliness.

When a marriage changes in this way, attention often centres on the person transitioning. What can be overlooked is the journey of the spouse trying to understand where they now belong in a life that has suddenly become unfamiliar.

The Wilderness Season

There were days when I felt betrayed, abandoned, rejected and misunderstood.

I examined everything around me, including the prayers people offered. Some prayed that my spouse would return to the person he had once been. Others spoke words that felt more like condemnation than compassion.

I began to struggle with the absence of faith and grace in those prayers. During that season, God reminded me of Joseph. Joseph’s suffering and displacement were not meaningless; God ultimately used his circumstances to preserve life during famine.

I began to understand that instead of demanding that God change another person according to my expectations, I needed to pray:

“God, let Your will be done in my life.”

There were still days when I wondered whether God had forgotten me.

As a Christian, I wrestled with questions that had no easy answers. I prayed. I cried. I searched Scripture. I asked God why the future I had believed in seemed to be disappearing before my eyes.

Twenty-One Days of Prayer and Fasting

I fasted for twenty-one days, taking only water and hoping for a miracle.

Yet it was during that wilderness season that I began to discover something unexpected:

God was still present.

His presence did not always appear through dramatic miracles or the answers I wanted. It appeared through small moments of comfort, unexpected friendships, timely conversations and gentle reminders that my story was not over.

On the twenty-first night of the fast, as my head rested on the pillow, Philippians 4:6–7 seemed to move through my mind in song form. It continued through the night until the birds began to sing in the morning.

The answer was not that every circumstance would immediately change. The answer was to bring my requests to God and allow His peace to guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

So I began trying to live one day at a time.

When Sunwarrior Entered My Story

During one of the most difficult periods of my life—a season involving friendship rejection, broken trust and painful pressure—someone entered my world.

I call him Sunwarrior.

He did not arrive as a rescuer riding over the horizon. He did not magically solve my problems. Instead, he brought something I desperately needed: steadiness.

He listened.

He encouraged me.

He prayed with me.

He stood firm when everything around me felt unstable.

He helped me carry a burden I felt unable to bear alone.

Most importantly, he reminded me that there were still good people in the world.

Over time, our friendship became one of the unexpected gifts God used to help restore my hope. When I struggled to make sense of loss, Sunwarrior helped me remember who I was—as a woman and as a warrioress. When anxiety threatened to overwhelm me, he helped me find solid ground again.

Looking back, I sometimes describe it as God sending someone to help me preserve my sanity.

Not because he was perfect.

Not because he was my saviour.

But because God often works through people. Scripture repeatedly shows God working through human lives—through Joseph, Esther, the prophets, the disciples and countless others who became vessels of encouragement, protection, warning or provision.

Symbols God Used During This Season

🦋 The Butterfly

The butterfly became an important symbol during this season.

To many people, a butterfly represents transformation. To me, it became a reminder that painful endings can eventually become beautiful beginnings.

Much of a butterfly’s transformation occurs quietly and privately within the chrysalis. In the same way, some of the greatest changes in our lives take place in hidden seasons. Something can emerge from darkness stronger than it was before—a life learning what it means to be renewed in the mind of Christ.

⚔️ The Warrior

The warrior became another meaningful symbol.

It represented strength, loyalty, courage and the willingness to remain steadfast during life’s storms. Together, the butterfly and the warrior became part of a story I never expected to tell.

🎵 When the Story Became Music

Eventually, this journey found its way into music.

Song after song emerged from journal entries, prayers, tears, memories, conversations with Sunwarrior and moments of gratitude. The playlist I now call My Testimony was born from these experiences.

It is not simply a collection of songs.

It is a record of survival.

A record of faith.

A record of healing.

A record of justice.

A record of obedience rewarded.

A record of God’s faithfulness through one of the most difficult chapters of my life.

The Breaking Is Not the End of the Story

If there is one lesson I have learned, it is this:

The breaking is not the end of the story.

Sometimes the most beautiful chapters begin after everything we thought would last forever has fallen apart.

My testimony is not that life suddenly became easy.

My testimony is that God remained faithful.

Sometimes, when we least expect it, God speaks through the people and symbols He places along our path. He may send a butterfly, a warrior, a song or simply enough hope to carry us into the next chapter.

✨ Deep Treasure

Sometimes God’s greatest miracle is not the immediate removal of the storm, but the quiet transformation taking place within us as we walk through it. Looking back, I realise that God was not absent during my wilderness. Through prayer, Scripture, music and unexpected friendship, He was preparing me for the next chapter—one day at a time.

🌿 A Reflection for Anyone Walking Through Loss

If you are walking through grief, uncertainty, rejection or unanswered questions, my prayer is that this testimony reminds you that God has not abandoned you. His faithfulness may not always be revealed all at once. Sometimes it appears through small acts of grace that slowly rebuild the hope we thought we had lost.

🙏 Prayer

Lord,

Thank You for remaining faithful even when I could not see the path ahead. Thank You for every person, Scripture, song and moment of grace You used to encourage me.

Please draw near to every reader walking through a wilderness season. Guard their heart and mind with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Remind them that their story is not over and that the breaking does not have to be the final chapter.

In Jesus’ mighty name,

Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did God answer your prayers?

Yes, but not in the way I initially expected. My circumstances did not immediately change. Instead, God led me towards peace, acceptance and the strength to continue one day at a time.

Why do you call him Sunwarrior?

Sunwarrior is a personal nickname for someone who entered my life during a dark and difficult season. He represents steadiness, courage, encouragement and one of the unexpected ways God helped restore my hope.

What does the butterfly symbolise in this testimony?

The butterfly represents transformation that often occurs quietly and privately. Just as change takes place within a chrysalis before a butterfly emerges, God can be doing hidden work within us during seasons of grief and uncertainty.

What does the warrior represent?

The warrior represents loyalty, courage, steadiness and standing firm during life’s storms. It also reflects the strength I was rediscovering within myself.

What is the central message of this testimony?

The central message is that God can remain faithful even when life changes in painful and unexpected ways. A season of breaking can become the beginning of transformation, healing and a new chapter.

About This Post

• Content type: Christian testimony
• Main Scripture: Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)
• Main themes: Faith, grief, prayer, fasting, hope and transformation
• Symbols: Butterfly, warrior, wilderness and song
• Media: Testimony video and written reflection

Continue Exploring

Discover more testimonies, Scripture reflections and themes from Desiring Deep Treasures of God.

🌿 Testimonies 🎵 Testimony Music 🦋 Transformation 💛 Hope ✝️ God’s Faithfulness 📖 Philippians 4

Thank you for reading this testimony. May it encourage you to continue desiring the deep treasures of God, even during seasons when the path ahead is difficult to see.

DAILY DEATH of FLESH, DAILY BIRTH of SPIRIT

Article Summary

This devotional reflects on what it means to deny myself, take up my cross daily and allow the Holy Spirit—not my flesh—to direct my choices. It connects daily surrender with generosity, representing Jesus faithfully, loving difficult people, praying through sickness and receiving help from other believers.

Learning to Die Daily

Many times I have listened to and obeyed my flesh, but the Holy Spirit convicts me not to let my flesh rule. Instead, I must allow the Holy Spirit to rule over my flesh. Because He respects my free will, He gives me the choice to die to myself daily.

I have been reminded gently to die to myself daily and to pick up my cross. To me, this means denying myself, my selfish desires and the learned behaviours of this world—not only occasionally, but every day.

The Holy Spirit then brought these words to me:

“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

— selected wording from Luke 9:23 (BSB)

I had to switch on my computer and type in the words to discover which book of the Bible they came from. I found them in Luke 9:23. The discovery emphasised that this is a daily instruction: deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus.

Representing Jesus Is Serious Business

The Holy Spirit also reminded me that when someone asks something of me, I should be willing to give—not for my own reputation, but for the sake of Jesus. Being His ambassador on earth is serious business. Misrepresenting Him can have serious consequences because our choices create a spiritual ripple effect in the lives of others.

Pastor Stewart from Freshwater Christian Church said in one of his sermons, “I may be the only ‘Bible’ they read.” His words remind me that someone may form an impression of Jesus through the way I treat them.

Once again, I heard Scripture whispered into my ears:

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

— Matthew 5:41 (ESV)

The following verse continues by teaching us to give to the person who asks and not to turn away automatically from someone who wants to borrow. Once again, I searched online to identify the passage and found it in Matthew 5:41–42.

Reflection: Going Beyond the First Mile

The world often teaches us not to give to people whom we believe have tricked, abused or misused us. Jesus’ teaching confronts my instinct to protect my own interests at all costs. He calls me to generosity, non-retaliation and a willingness to go beyond what is demanded.

The wider passage in Matthew 5:39–48 moves from turning the other cheek and going the second mile to loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. It asks for a spiritual response that looks different from the natural patterns of the world.

An important clarification

Jesus’ teaching about generosity, forgiveness and non-retaliation does not mean that a person must remain in physical danger, conceal abuse or give someone what would enable further harm. Seeking help, reporting danger and setting wise boundaries can exist alongside forgiveness, prayer and a heart that refuses revenge.

God clearly states in His Word the spiritual behaviour I need to show the world. Unfortunately, we often hear about people who claim to be Christ’s ambassadors but hurt others because they have not learned to die to their flesh daily.

My generation has a lot of “spilt milk” to clean up. We need to show the world the truth of who Jesus is and what His disciples and followers should be like. Sometimes it is not easy, but that is why He says to die to self daily—not every few days, weeks or months. It is a daily practice, just as brushing our teeth is a daily practice.

The instruction is simple, even when living it takes time, effort and repeated surrender.

✨ Deep Treasure

Dying to self is not a one-time achievement. It is the daily surrender of the right to let selfish desire rule me. Each time I choose the leading of the Holy Spirit, I have another opportunity to represent Jesus more truthfully and allow His character to shape my response.

A Prayer of Daily Surrender

Prayer

LORD, I allow the Holy Spirit to rule over my spirit and soul, that I may do what You want, not what I want, and that my path before You aligns with Your will. AMEN.

When Sickness Makes Prayer Difficult

After many years of good health, being sick makes this daily practice more challenging. Sometimes my mouth wants to remain shut while my body wants to sleep. Yet God can still hear my heart’s prayer, so I can pray inwardly when speaking feels difficult.

This is also when I need to draw on the spiritual support of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I can ask them to stand with me and pray for healing and protection. Daily surrender does not mean carrying every burden alone; sometimes it means humbly allowing the body of Christ to help.

Questions for Personal Reflection

• What selfish desire or learned behaviour is the Holy Spirit asking me to surrender today?
• How can my response to another person represent Jesus more faithfully?
• Where can I practise generosity while also maintaining wise and truthful boundaries?
• Whom can I ask to pray with me when sickness or weakness makes prayer difficult?

Scripture for Further Reflection

• Luke 9:23 — denying self, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus.
• Matthew 5:39–48 — non-retaliation, generosity, loving enemies and praying for persecutors.
• Galatians 5:16–25 — walking in the Spirit rather than fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
• Romans 12:1–2 — offering ourselves to God and being transformed by the renewing of the mind.

Topics Covered: dying to self, daily surrender, Luke 9:23, taking up the cross, walking in the Holy Spirit, Christian generosity, going the second mile, loving enemies, spiritual discernment, prayer during sickness and the body of Christ.

How to Receive From God: A Lesson From Luke 18

Article Summary

Luke 18:35–43 shows a blind man calling to Jesus for mercy, naming his need clearly, receiving his sight by faith and responding with worship. His story teaches us to approach Jesus honestly and persistently while trusting His wisdom rather than treating faith as a formula.

A Blind Man Who Knew What He Needed

Near Jericho, a blind man sat beside the road begging. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out for mercy. The people ahead of him tried to silence him, but he called out even more. Jesus stopped, commanded that the man be brought near and asked him a direct question.

41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

— Luke 18:41–43 (NKJV)

The man did not answer vaguely. He knew his need and spoke it plainly: “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus then used the same word in His reply: “Receive your sight.” What the man could not produce for himself, he received from Jesus.

Receiving Began Before the Miracle

The moment of healing is powerful, but the earlier verses reveal the posture that brought the man before Jesus.

1. He paid attention. Although he could not see the crowd, he heard it and asked what was happening.
2. He recognised his opportunity. When he learned that Jesus was passing by, he did not remain silent.
3. He asked for mercy. His cry was not a demand based on personal worthiness. It was an appeal to the compassion of Jesus.
4. He persisted through opposition. The crowd warned him to be quiet, but their disapproval did not become more important than reaching Jesus.
5. He came near when Jesus called. His persistence was followed by a willingness to approach and answer.
6. He named his need clearly. Jesus already knew that the man was blind, yet He invited him to express what he desired.
7. He trusted Jesus. His faith was not confidence in a technique. It was confidence in the Person standing before him.

Why Did Jesus Ask What He Wanted?

Jesus could see the man’s condition, but He still asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The question gave the man room to speak personally and specifically. He was not merely one more voice in a crowd; Jesus stopped and listened to him.

Prayer can carry the same honesty. God already knows our needs, yet He invites us to bring them before Him. Naming a need can uncover what we are truly seeking, move us from general distress toward a clear prayer and help us recognise God’s answer when it comes.

A question worth sitting with

If Jesus asked me today, “What do you want Me to do for you?” would I know how to answer honestly? Would I ask only for a changed circumstance, or also for the faith, wisdom and transformation needed within me?

Receiving Is Not the Same as Demanding

This passage teaches us to come to Jesus with faith, but it should not be turned into a formula claiming that every request will be granted immediately if a person believes hard enough. The blind man’s healing was an act of Christ’s mercy and authority, not a reward earned by perfect words.

Scripture encourages believers to ask, seek and knock, while also submitting their requests to God’s will. Sometimes God gives the requested deliverance. At other times He gives wisdom, endurance, peace, correction or grace to walk through what remains. Paul asked for his “thorn in the flesh” to depart, but the answer he received was the sustaining sufficiency of Christ’s grace in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10.

Therefore, a delayed or different answer should never be used to accuse a suffering person of having insufficient faith. We can ask boldly and expectantly while leaving the manner and timing of the answer in God’s hands.

Faith Has an Object

Jesus told the man, “Your faith has made you well.” The power did not come from faith as an independent force. The man’s faith reached toward Jesus—the Son of David whom he believed could show mercy and restore what was broken.

Biblical faith is more than positive thinking or repeating the word receive. It is trust in Jesus: His character, compassion, authority and wisdom. The man could not see Jesus with his natural eyes when he first cried out, yet he trusted who Jesus was before his sight changed.

✨ Deep Treasure

The blind man asked to receive sight, but the story does not end with what entered his eyes. After receiving, he followed Jesus and glorified God. The deepest evidence of receiving from God is not merely that our circumstances change; it is that the gift draws us closer to the Giver and causes praise to rise through our lives.

What Happened After He Received?

Luke records three immediate results. The man received his sight, followed Jesus and glorified God. Then the surrounding people also gave praise to God.

His blessing became a testimony. The answer was personal, but its effect spread beyond him. Receiving from God should produce gratitude rather than entitlement, discipleship rather than distance and praise that helps others recognise God’s goodness.

How to Approach Jesus

• Come to Jesus rather than placing confidence in a spiritual formula.
• Ask for mercy and speak your need honestly.
• Do not allow embarrassment or the crowd’s opinion to silence sincere prayer.
• Trust that Jesus hears, even before you can see an answer.
• Remain open to God’s wisdom, timing and form of response.
• When an answer comes, follow Jesus and give the glory to God.

Questions for Personal Reflection

• What need have I been afraid or unwilling to name before Jesus?
• Whose voice has been discouraging me from crying out to Him?
• Am I trusting Jesus Himself, or trying to trust a method for receiving?
• Can I remain faithful if God’s answer looks different from the one I imagined?
• How will I follow Jesus and glorify God after receiving an answer?

A Prayer to Receive With Faith

Prayer

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. You already know what I need, but help me to speak honestly before You. Give me faith to trust Your character, persistence when other voices discourage me and humility to receive Your answer in the way You know is best. When You act, draw me closer to You and let my life give glory to God. Amen.

Scripture References

• Luke 18:35–43 — the blind man receives his sight, follows Jesus and glorifies God.
• Matthew 7:7–11 — asking, seeking and knocking.
• Philippians 4:6–7 — bringing requests to God with thanksgiving.
• 1 John 5:14–15 — confidence in prayer according to God’s will.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 — receiving sufficient grace when suffering remains.
• James 1:5–6 — asking God for wisdom in faith.

Topics Covered: How to receive from God, Luke 18:35–43, the blind man near Jericho, receiving sight, faith in Jesus, persistent prayer, asking for mercy, healing, God’s will, gratitude, following Jesus and glorifying God.

Responding in a Christlike Way: Loving Enemies Without Excusing Harm

Article Summary

This personal reflection considers Jesus’ command to love our enemies, pray for those who hurt us and refuse personal revenge. It also explains why Christlike love can include truthful confrontation, wise boundaries, reporting wrongdoing and moving to safety.

Reflection first recorded: Thursday, 12 May 2016

This meditation began after I read Respond in a Christlike Way from The Word for Today. The devotional drew from Matthew 5:38–48 and challenged readers to answer mistreatment according to the teaching of Jesus rather than the desire for revenge. What follows is my expanded personal reflection on that lesson.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

— Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

The Command That Exposed My Heart

My first response in 2016 was very honest: it is so hard to respond in a Christlike way. How do I love someone who has hurt me? How can I pray for an enemy when everything in me wants to defend myself, answer back or create distance?

Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount confronts the instinct to repay injury with injury. He speaks of turning the other cheek, going the second mile, giving generously and loving enemies. The common thread is not weakness or pretending that evil is good. It is the refusal to let another person’s wrongdoing decide the condition of my heart or turn me into someone who returns the same evil.

My original prayerful question

How can I turn the other cheek, go the extra mile and love my enemies when I feel hurt? Lord, help me in those moments. Teach me to reflect Your character instead of reacting from anger, fear or revenge.

What Does “Turn the Other Cheek” Mean?

Jesus was teaching His followers not to take personal revenge. When insulted, humiliated or wronged, a disciple does not have to copy the offender’s conduct. We can interrupt the cycle of retaliation and entrust final justice to God.

This does not mean that harm should be ignored. Jesus Himself calmly named wrongdoing when an officer struck Him: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:22–23, NKJV). He did not retaliate, but neither did He call the blow acceptable.

Christlike love can include	Christlike love does not require
Praying for the person and refusing revenge	Pretending that harmful behaviour is harmless
Speaking truth calmly and honestly	Remaining silent about abuse, threats or crime
Showing kindness when it is safe and wise	Forced friendship, emotional closeness or unrestricted access
Forgiving and surrendering personal vengeance to God	Immediate trust or freedom from appropriate consequences
Seeking peace as far as it depends on us	Taking responsibility for another person’s refusal to live peacefully
Moving away, seeking help or reporting wrongdoing	Staying in danger to prove that our faith is genuine

Loving an Enemy Is Not the Same as Trusting an Enemy

In my first reflection, I described loving enemies as “being friendly with them.” Kindness and courtesy may certainly express love. Yet Jesus’ command goes deeper than friendliness, and it does not mean that every relationship must become close.

Biblical love seeks another person’s true good. Sometimes that may look like generosity, patience or a gentle answer. At other times, love may require a truthful boundary, a firm “no,” distance from continuing harm or allowing legitimate authorities to address wrongdoing. Trust is relational and can be damaged. Reconciliation normally requires truth, repentance and a willingness from both people to pursue peace.

Paul expresses the balance carefully: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18, NKJV). I am responsible for my response, but I cannot force another person to become safe, truthful or peaceful.

Love never requires remaining in danger

Jesus’ words must never be used to pressure a person to endure violence or abuse. Moving to safety, telling a trusted person, contacting a support service, preserving evidence or reporting a crime can be wise and loving actions. Jesus told His disciples that when persecution arose in one city, they could flee to another (Matthew 10:23).

In Australia, anyone in immediate danger should call 000. The national 1800RESPECT safety-planning service is available 24 hours a day by calling 1800 737 732 or texting 0458 737 732.

How Can I Respond in a Christlike Way?

1. Pause before reacting. Anger may signal that something is wrong, but it does not need to choose my words or actions.
2. Pray honestly. I can tell God about the hurt and ask Him to guard me from hatred, vengeance and bitterness.
3. Name wrong as wrong. Love does not depend on denial. I can speak truth without humiliating or threatening the other person.
4. Refuse to repay evil with evil. I do not have to insult because I was insulted, deceive because I was deceived or injure because I was injured.
5. Choose the wise form of love. Depending on the situation, this may be prayer, practical kindness, silence, a difficult conversation, a boundary, distance or seeking help.
6. Protect life and safety. If there is violence, abuse, stalking or a threat, I can move to safety and involve trusted people, professionals or authorities.
7. Entrust justice to God. Refusing personal revenge does not erase justice; it means I do not appoint myself as the one who must repay harm with harm.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

— Romans 12:21 (NKJV)

What Does It Mean to Be Perfect?

Jesus closes this part of the sermon with the words, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, NKJV).

In this context, Jesus points to the Father’s complete and impartial love: God sends sunlight and rain upon both the just and the unjust. This does not mean that one loving response makes me sinlessly perfect or earns my place as God’s child. It calls me toward spiritual maturity—a love that is not reserved only for people who love me first.

I cannot produce that kind of love merely by forcing myself to feel friendly. I need the Holy Spirit to form love, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in me (Galatians 5:22–23).

✨ Deep Treasure

Turning the other cheek does not mean offering evil another opportunity to wound us. It means refusing to let evil reproduce itself through us. Christlike love can pray, speak truth, establish boundaries, seek safety and pursue justice without becoming revengeful. The victory is not pretending that nothing happened; it is refusing to be overcome by what happened.

Questions for Personal Reflection

• When I am hurt, do I seek a wise response or an opportunity to make the other person hurt too?
• Is there someone I need to pray for even though trust cannot presently be restored?
• Have I confused forgiveness with allowing unrestricted access to my life?
• Can I name wrongdoing truthfully without hatred or humiliation?
• Is there a situation in which I need support, a safety plan or a stronger boundary?
• What would overcoming evil with good look like in this particular situation?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me when I am mistreated. Keep me from returning evil for evil, and teach me to love and pray as You commanded. Give me wisdom to know when to speak, when to remain silent, when to show kindness and when to step away. Help me establish boundaries without hatred, seek safety without shame and trust You with justice. Form Your love, courage and self-control in me so that evil does not overcome my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does “turn the other cheek” mean a Christian must stay in an abusive situation?

No. Jesus forbids personal retaliation; He does not command a person to remain available for repeated violence or abuse. Seeking safety, support and lawful protection is not the same as taking revenge.

Must I be friends with someone in order to love them?

No. We can pray for a person, refuse vengeance and desire repentance and good for them without maintaining a close friendship. Love and wise distance can exist together.

Does forgiveness automatically restore trust?

No. Forgiveness releases personal vengeance, but trust concerns whether a relationship is safe and truthful. Damaged trust may require repentance, changed behaviour, accountability and time before it can be rebuilt.

Can Christians report wrongdoing?

Yes. Calmly reporting abuse, threats or crime to appropriate authorities can protect both the person harmed and others. Justice pursued through proper channels is different from personal retaliation.

References and Further Reading

• The Word for Today, “Respond in a Christlike Way,” 12 May 2016
• Matthew 5:38–48 — Go the second mile and love your enemies (NKJV)
• Romans 12:17–21 — Repay no one evil for evil (NKJV)
• John 18:22–23 — Jesus names the wrongdoing without retaliating (NKJV)
• Matthew 10:23 — Fleeing persecution (NKJV)
• 1800RESPECT — Safety planning and support

Topics Covered: responding in a Christlike way, loving enemies, Matthew 5, turning the other cheek, going the second mile, prayer for enemies, non-retaliation, forgiveness, trust, Christian boundaries, abuse and safety, Romans 12, spiritual maturity