Plaitra

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

This week we’re going from the realities of the spiritual realm and the Enemy—to connecting with God and His presence. It’s crucial to understand the nature of the battle, but then the victory depends on staying close to God. The more we do that, the easier our battles will be.

And one of the best ways to do that is with the Biblical shepherding allegory, which is amazing in its detail and love. As explained in the References Section, I encourage you to also just do some queries on what the verses in Psalm 23 actually mean, and while thinking about yourself as the sheep—whether "good” or troubled, or new to the heard, or of another type. She how the Shepherd takes care of these sheep. 🐑 💛

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

For example, if we understand how a shepherd, knowing the terrain, arranges the sheep’s path and provision ahead of time, we can get peace from the revelation of how God is doing that for us. He knows every detail of the economy and opened the right doors and closed the others—so that we would have favorable standing through it all.

(1) The Word

(1-A) Overcoming inflation and instability

Are you nervous about the current economy and “affordability”? Many of us know Psalm 23 well, but it’s another thing to have it become part of our souls. Here, see what even the Psalm’s first two verses actually mean—as you take in how ancient shepherds cared for their sheep, and relate it to your life.

It’s been six months since the start of the Iran war, and over five years since the Covid inflation. But as believers, economic challenges aren’t supposed to shake our faith and peace. However, if you’re like most people, you’re feeling the inflation and longing for things to just calm down.

(1-B) The Shepherd takes us through

But renewing our mind with Psalm 23 can give us peace that surpasses understanding—if we get revelation about what it actually says and meditate on it enough. David wrote it, knowing shepherding intimately, including how good shepherds will ensure the sheep are cared for, no matter the cost. While meditating on verse 1, take in how it says that, when God is your Shepherd, you will not be deficient or fail. With verse 2 and others, take in how He lays you down in green pastures, despite some dark valleys.

And so, in the midst of all this current instability, and with regard to our finances or safety, peace comes from trusting that God knows what He’s doing in our lives. This includes Him aligning our path ahead of time, stopping predators that might come and attack, and providing for ways we can stay healthy. But all this is dependent on staying close to Him, and knowing Him more than the dangers around us.

(1-C) As we learn to trust and follow

But how do we do that, in the middle of financial pressures and instability? We’re people with responsibilities, not sheep who just walk and graze and follow a shepherd. It’s one thing to learn about shepherding and speak Psalm 23 out loud, and it’s another thing to apply it to our financial situation.

But that’s just it, the key is to get the understanding, revelation, and faith—that connect this Psalm, and other Scripture, to our financial situation. And most importantly, with all that, it’s about using the Scripture to connect with God as our Shepherd through meditation and prayer.

For example, if we understand how a shepherd, knowing the terrain, arranges the sheep’s path and provision ahead of time, we can get peace from the revelation of how God is doing that for us. He knows every detail of the economy and opened the right doors and closed the others—so that we would have favorable standing through it all.

And all this is dependent on us following Him, even if we’re hurt and have to learn. A shepherd also takes great care of the new, lost, and hurting sheep. That whole part of shepherding is fascinating as well. And a shepherd won’t force a resisting sheep, but he’ll keep at it. He gives the sheep who have been through hard times special attention.

(2) The Reality

(2-A) The battle for the mind

We need to meditate on Psalm 23 or related verses, so we keep our faith steady in the midst of economic pressures or whatever other types of uncertainty we’re facing. And faith drives peace, which then drives our ability to make the right decisions through it all.

On the “surface” are the expenses, income, and assets, but our ability to manage these details well depends on the state of our mind. And the victory in the mind depends on whether we choose God’s promises in His Word, or give the Enemy a foothold with contrary thoughts.

(2-B) Choosing anxiety or peace

For example, you hear and experience many costs up 50% over the past 5 years, while your income hasn’t kept up. This might be on a fixed income, or as a business owner who has absorbed the squeeze. So the pressure of not having enough to make ends meet digs into your mind and emotions, as you try to also believe that God will help you through it all.

But we’re not supposed to just get by with stress while sometimes looking to God as kind of a relief valve. The promise is to have peace through it all, despite the challenges. It’s like a trusting sheep that has to sometimes walk through a dark valley in the cold. It might be uncomfortable one day, but it stays close to the shepherd and doesn’t loose its peace.

(2-C) Our life depends on it

But do we really need God and a renewed mind through all of this? What’s the problem with just getting through it with some stress? Can’t we just deal with the pressures on our own, and figure out how to absorb the excess costs?

Well, it’s not about what happens with the details of any one situation—it’s about what happens to our mind through the situations. The mind is the battlefield, and if we don’t renew it with the Word, the Enemy will put in more and more thoughts that distance us from God. In practice, this leads to thinking that we don’t really need God to make it through things. That might sound harmless at first, but it leads to a life with less and less God, which brings in a whole host of issues.

(3) The Application

Here, draw closer to God and His provision through this guided thought process, answers, and resulting life change. This involves thinking about where your mind is currently at and how to renew it with meditation. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

The Guided Thought Process:

Why Many Problems Don't Go Away, and How to Change Things

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:00:50 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

Why Some Christians Can Heal and Cast Out Demons

On Using Hagah, with Other Types of Biblical Meditation

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

On Using Hagah, with Other Types of Biblical Meditation

We face battles of varying degrees on a regular basis, whether they be relational, financial, or of other types. We do our best, while frustration often arises about why things aren’t moving along faster, or moving along at all. The problem is that we’re often battling and analyzing things in natural realm—but that gives us a limited, surface level view.

Common battle thoughts might be: “This person won’t see the truth and I’m tired,” or “How will I cover this unexpected expense?” or “Why did Trump have to go into Iran and jeopardize the economy?” But these are all focused on the things that we can see. That’s not what’s creating these problems. The primary spiritual factors have to be seen and addressed for the problem to be eliminated from our life.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

But our problems can’t get solved long-term if we’re blind to what’s actually causing them under the surface. I find it hard believe this statistic, but apparently only 21% of self-identified U.S. Christians consider Satan to be a living and impactful spiritual being. It looks like the vast majority of people are blind to the spiritual realm and to what’s going on around them.

(1) The Word

(1-A) We need a good spiritual lens

Are you ever frustrated with how long a certain problem is lasting, or that it’s not even moving at all? Many people know about spiritual warfare, but it’s often hard to see what’s going on during the battle when we’re in the middle of it. That’s partly because spiritual warfare explanations are often abstract and lack details. Here, I unpack the famous David and Goliath story, but in a way that actually reveals what’s going on in our lives.

Understanding spiritual warfare is crucial because it means understanding reality. Without that, we can’t solve the source of our problems, and so we won’t actually solve our problems long-term. For example, without a financial spiritual lens, we might figure out how to accumulate more money, or learn to live with less, but we’ll miss out on having both money and peace.

(1-B) David had it

So let’s look at how to succeed at spiritual warfare through the Word of God and through a famously successful example. Scripture is clear about how we don’t battle in the natural, or with flesh and blood, but rather with spiritual forces (e.g., Ephesians 6:10-18). For example, in the well-known story of David and Goliath, David has victory because he’s not just thinking according to what he sees—but because he sees the deeper reality. The Israelite army could do nothing because it was overcome by fear—their primary enemy. But David’s mind was able to see things as they were, and take the giant down.

How does this relate to a modern day financial problem? On one hand, we’re dealing with the details of the finances, and on the other hand, our thinking is being affected by the emotions of the situation. If we believe that God will help us solve things, then peace about the situation can enable us to solve it. The fear or peace are invisible, but they are what stops or enables the best path. And we might find a solution while we’re anxious, but will it be the best one long-term? Or will it be a bandaid on the situation, that also entangles us with a negative path or with negative people?

(1-C) The faith enabled him to see reality

But, you might think, how does more faith really help the situation in the natural? Merely reducing the anxiety isn’t going to fix a financial problem, is it? David still had to fight Goliath. Wasn’t it David’s slingshot skills that took Goliath down? How is peace going to deliver the needed funds?

Well, faith and peace alone won’t fix a situation, but it will enable you to think clearly and powerfully about the situation—which will then fix the situation the right way, with God’s help. We can see this when we look closer at David’s case, including with some interesting research.

In “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” Malcom Gladwell explains that in antiquity, experienced slingers could throw at over 100 mph, and Goliath’s size was no match for David’s speed, among other fascinating points. And David would have probably known this with all this shepherding experience—but not if blinded by fear.

So David was able to figure this out because he had a clear mind and the right insight. God arranged the situation, as He prepared David for it. And it wasn’t only faith, but faith was where the victory had to happen first. It seemed like an impossible situation in the natural realm, but not for someone who had conquered the actually enemy—the fear.

(2) The Reality

(2-A) The danger of the blindness

We have a lot of problems that need solving—and in a way that actually gives us victory over them long-term. This could be relational conflicts, financial fears, or health issues. In the case of finances, maybe you’re being personally affected by the current inflation, or need to make payroll as you’re growing your business.

But our problems can’t get solved long-term if we’re blind to what’s actually causing them under the surface. I find it hard believe this statistic, but apparently only 21% of self-identified U.S. Christians consider Satan to be a living and impactful spiritual being. It looks like the vast majority of people are blind to the spiritual realm and to what’s going on around them.

(2-B) Finances, identity, and stress

Let’s look at this with a subtle example of a financial problem when the spiritual perspective is overlooked. Consider that victory isn’t really having enough to get by, but having more than enough, with the peace of knowing you always will (despite whatever challenges along the way). Let’s take Marcus, who didn’t grow up financially secure and has struggled his whole life with financial stress. He might even get to a comfortable situation at one point, but he never really gets past the worry he grew up with, blinding him to what God wants for him.

And all this time, Marcus is trying hard, doing what he can, but seeing little about what’s going on under the surface. On the surface are the financial and business rules that everyone learns and follows, but below the surface is how people think of themselves. Marcus is constantly learning whatever he can, trying to grow his business, and being disciplined. But all the while, he’s unaware of how the Enemy has blinded him with a false identity.

(2-C) It all starts with the mind

But maybe this isn’t spiritual warfare, but just regular natural circumstances? How do we know that Marcus is actually being affected by spiritual forces, versus just lacking exposure to a better way of thinking? Maybe he just hasn’t met anyone to show him a better way? Not having a mentor is a “natural” or physical reality, not some underlying spiritual force, right?

Well, consider why Marcus hasn’t found a better mentor or leveraged other knowledge. We are surrounded by resources and can find direction if we do what it takes. Someone else in the same situation, without a mental limitation on his identity, would do what it takes to learn what it takes. Many people do, so why hasn’t Marcus been able to break through? It all starts in the mind, and that’s spiritual warfare. And that is what determines success, failure, or mediocrity.

(3) The Application

Here, evaluate how much you can actually see about your battles, and identify the next thing you can do to gain more revelation. This is a renewed presentation of the thought process that leads to greater insight. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

The Guided Thought Process:

Why Some Christians Can Heal and Cast Out Demons

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:10 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

As an intro here, let’s use the war with Iran to think about the principle of authority. Why hasn’t Trump been able to defeat the Iran mullahs yet, and bring peace to the region? With all the amazing American military might, the mullahs are set on destruction.

Well, many Christians wonder why Trump thought he could negotiate with Iran, when the mullahs operate with a different set of interests. The authority needed for victory here needs to come from a place of spiritual understanding and power.

It’s like that with many of the stubborn problems we face in life. We might not understand why some things just won’t go away. But the authority to take down much of what’s hurting us also needs to come from the spiritual realm. Read on …

Breakthrough developments continue towards the new site. Plaitra is being built as a one-of-a-kind customized group learning service that connects the Word to our lives—as we connect and learn from each other. To stay updated about the transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

There is a nice police analogy that explains spiritual authority. An officer can stop traffic by standing in the middle of the intersection and saying stop. Why can an officer do it, when a regular person would get ignored? An officer has the backing of the state—that came with doing the work to gain the trust of the state. It’s the same with us, God, and the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit will give us the sword (or gun) needed for a situation, if we’ve qualified for that work on His team.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) We’re meant to live with authority

Why can some people can heal through prayer and declaration, with authority over the spiritual realm, while others can’t? Spiritual authority is a crucial Christian principle, but it’s often confused with the topic of power, or healing in general. Here, take a closer look at how the Word gives us authority as we work with the Holy Spirit—and then sharpen your spiritual sword.

Jesus didn’t just come to get us into heaven, but to also give us authority over evil right here and right now. Authority means being able to sense and remove anything that’s taking our wholeness—whether it be physical or psychological. This could include that stubborn pain or those anxious thoughts that won’t go away, even though you’ve been trying for years.

(1-B) It comes from the Holy Spirit and the Word

One way to think of spiritual authority is as activation of the Word of God, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual warfare has been a discipline for thousands of years, and it consists of aligning ourselves with the power God, through His presence and His knowledge. In one of the most famous instructions in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us how we need to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema, or a direct utterance) of God” (Ephesians 6:17), with other points, including regarding righteousness, peace, and faith. Notice the following: the Word of God is our sword against the Enemy, as it’s given to us by the Holy Spirit.

So then, our ability to defeat evil spiritual forces in battle depends on how much direction we get from the Holy Spirit for a particular situation and how we’re able to use that word. The key parts of authority are: our knowledge of the Word of God and our relationship with God. In the case of healing, the Holy Spirit can reveal to us why a person isn’t well (physically or emotionally) and what needs to be used to get the spirits out—according to the Word of God. All of this depends on our previous knowledge of the Word of God, and how close we are to the Holy Spirit.

(1-C) It takes commitment

But what parts of the Word of God are relevant to healing and deliverance, and how can we get closer to the Holy Spirit? The Bible is huge, with a lot to learn, and building a relationship takes time. We receive the Holy Spirit when we’re saved, but how do we know what He’s trying to tell us as we battle situations that need healing? This includes aligning the thoughts we have to the Word of God, discerning the Spirit’s revelation, and then using it to build ourselves us (sharpen our sword), and/or cast out the Enemy (use the sword).

It’s about relationship and knowledge

At the heart of it, it comes down to our relationship with God. And that relationship is build on a few key things—knowledge of the Word (with the resources we use), time spent communicating with Him (i.e., prayer), and becoming fit for it (i.e., obedience, character, etc.).

There is a nice police analogy that explains spiritual authority. An officer can stop traffic by standing in the middle of the intersection and saying stop. Why can an officer do it, when a regular person would get ignored? An officer has the backing of the state—that came with doing the work to gain the trust of the state. It’s the same with us, God, and the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit will give us the sword (or gun) needed for a situation, if we’ve qualified for that work on His team.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) Most believe in it, but few can do it

The church needs more authority to push back the darkness. Jesus said that His followers will make people well, cast out demons, and not be hurt by various kinds of evil (Mark 16:17-18). We need to be like that officer who can take down criminals or stop traffic if necessary. But we often don’t even recognize who or where the spiritual criminals are.

The church as a whole believes that we should have spiritual power, but few believers actually have it. Over 60% of Americans and over 80% of Evangelicals believe that people can be supernaturally healed by God, but yet just over 10% of U.S. Christians report having at least one spiritual gift (e.g., healing, tongues, prophecy, miracles, etc.). Shouldn’t we, as the body of Christ, not just love and preach the Word in detail, but have powerful deliverance ministries in every church?

(2-B) A story from Jimmy Evans

Let’s look at the story of how Jimmy Evans, a popular minister, overcame his spiritual battle with chronic fear. He suffered for years with paralyzing fear, especially having to do with public speaking. Then about ten years into his ministry, when reading 2 Timothy 1:7, he realized this was an evil spirit, and not just his own emotions or natural state. He spent over ten years thinking there was something wrong with him—but then he realized what was going on in the spiritual realm and overcame it.

Isn’t it amazing to think about how Jimmy was a great minister, with lots of authority in this world, while still lacking this authority in the spiritual realm? Thank God that Jimmy persevered and paved the way for many others to see what’s going on. Let’s now raise the standard for what we know and allow. 2 Timothy 1:7 is a verse most of us know—let’s not allow fear, anxiety, or worry, to have its way—like a criminal in our lives.

(2-C) What’s our story going forward?

Of course, I don’t know why Jimmy had to battle things for years before he had his breakthrough. The Word says that everything happens for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28), and God uses trials to develop us and teach us. So Jimmy might have gone through this to develop perseverance, or learn things he would later have to teach others. And maybe ten years was what it took to learn spiritual warfare for a greater purpose.

But now we now know what happened with Jimmy and many other cases. And the church is obviously meant to learn and advance. For example, there are now plenty of books that describe how trauma opens the door to demons, which is what happened in Jimmy’s case. So if we see someone suffering at church, let’s resolve to figure out how to help them, versus just accept it as a part of life. Jesus didn’t come, die, and resurrect, for us to just accept “normal life”.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Here, look at your current level of spiritual authority, and the next step you can take to have more. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What’s your current level of authority?

On Using Hagah, with Other Types of Biblical Meditation

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 09:01:52 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

I was reading multiple books this week where I saw more famous authors mention the practice of mediation but not explain it adequately. But meditation is the tool with which we actually renew our mind, which drives our life. And so let’s look at this crucial meditation topic again, but presented from a different angle. This is a more contemplative and open-ended Plesson, that asks what you think about the topic, as well as about potential next steps. I’d love to hear your good thoughts.

I often relate these posts to what’s going on in the news. Well, as you read this, you can think about our freedom of speech, as we continue our 250th birthday. In fact, the Secretary of Education sent a formal letter to all universities asking for a renewed commitment here. But there is a much greater power that we get from speech in our individual lives. Read on :-).

As a repeated side-note, exciting developments continue towards the new site. The innovation being built is the one-of-a-kind coaching structure and group interaction activity that connects the Word to our everyday life. To stay updated about the transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

If we miss out on the power of hagah, we’ll miss out on a relatively easy and free practice of quick mind renewal, as compared to many other methods. And the mind is what runs our life, determining what we’re able to do, and how we’re able to battle opposition. If done right, just 10 to 15 minutes a day for even a few weeks or more, can establish a crucial change in our thinking.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) What’s going on with meditation teaching?

Have you ever heard teachings on meditation and wondered exactly what people mean when they say to do it? Well, you’re not alone. There’s more than three meditation words or practices in the Old Testament, and more than four in the New Testament. Here, find out why the most famous and incredibly powerful Old Testament practice of speaking often gets lost in Christian teaching, and start using it more to your benefit.

It’s often surprising to me that wonderful and prominent Christian leaders mention the foundational practice of Biblical meditation, but don’t mention how it involves speaking. It might be assumed their audience knows about the speaking, but I’ve seen over and over again the audience doesn’t. I recently saw this in a video about mind renewal, and the crucial speaking part wasn’t clarified even after a question about it. And I’ve seen this glossed over in prominent books.

(1-B) Why hagah got lost

The Hebrew word hagah means to speak things on repeat, slowly, as if chewing on it and getting it in us. There are other Hebrew related words for pondering or whispering, and there are at least four main Greek New Testament words for internal transformation—all part of the all-important practice of renewing the mind. Hagah is featured in the famous Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2 verses, and many others, when God says to speak His Word out loud, so that then we can have great success. But the only New Testament word that’s linked to hagah is meletaó, which includes the meaning of practice and study. That’s because the renewing the mind with the Holy Spirit is more complex and dynamic, among other reasons.

However, if Christians used hagah more, as it should be used, we would have a great deal more power to renew our minds however we need to and have the victory God wants us to have. Just ask yourself how long you’ve been a Christian, whether you still have regular anxious thoughts, and why that is. Psalm 1:2 says that with hagah, our leaves shall not wither and whatever we do shall prosper. Where is the anxiety in that? Of course, life is not perfect and neither are we. But what if we spoke the right things more, effectively, and on a regular basis?

(1-C) Why hagah is still powerful

But you might wonder, if hagah related words are so scarce in the New Testament, then why should we speak like this? And, indeed, aren’t we supposed to be transformed with the help of the Holy Spirit, not through some mechanical word repetition? Two other key New Testament words are ananeoó and anakainósis, both refering to an internal renewal, as we walk things out with the Spirit. The fourth word is logizomai, meaning to reckon and consider, and not having the meaning of audible repetition.

It works, with understanding and revelation

Hagah is still incredibly powerful because faith does come by hearing, and declarations are a clear New Testament teaching. But, as mentioned above, the New Testament instruction and process for individual and corporate renewal incorporates a lot more complexity. The Old Testament society was much simpler, collective, and oral, where repetition of the Word was the key way people transformed. We now have all have individual relationships with God, the we have to know and navigate.

But if hagah is used right, it can still have the power it once did. The key is to first understand and have a revelation about what we’re speaking. That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in, and our own learning. Once we understand how the Word and how Jesus relate to our situations, we can repeat the Scriptures to transform our minds much faster than by just reading and thinking. Writing is also a part of it.

I was wondering why the hagah-linked Greek meletaó word was used in 1 Timothy 4:15 and not in other verses. Then it hit me. Paul was writing to Timothy, who was a skilled Christian, who understood Scripture well. And Paul told Timothy so right before the meletaó verse. So Timothy’s speaking would have been effective there. I’m not sure yet about the full reason here, but that’s what this looks like.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) Don’t miss this “tool”

The power of simply speaking the Word, including on repeat, can save us precious time in life, and a great deal of pain. This applies to someone who is just starting out in their faith walk, or a seasoned Christian who is taking territory, and facing opposition in new places. It’s like not using a powerful tool because we don’t know what it does or where to use it.

But if we miss out on the power of hagah, we’ll miss out on a relatively easy and free practice of quick mind renewal, as compared to many other methods. And the mind is what runs our life, determining what we’re able to do, and how we’re able to battle opposition. If done right, just 10 to 15 minutes a day for even a few weeks or more, can establish a crucial change in our thinking.

(2-B) The example of the past

Imagine the case of needing to leave something completely in the past, if someone already understands that they have been made a new creation in Christ. If not done, harmful people, past mistakes, or bad habits can drag us down each day. We can go through and battle the painful thoughts indefinitely, or take a month to effectively speak 2 Corinthians 5:17, while removing that situation from our minds and spirit.

All it takes is to use the right Scriptures and speak them on repeat, with deep focus, and track our efforts. It’s free and anyone can do it, assuming we understand the Scripture and can connect it to the details in our lives. There comes a point where we don’t need to watch another YouTube video on a subject, or hear another prophecy—just speak the Word until it becomes the thing we use to think about that situation.

(2-C) When speaking trumps thinking

When we’re dealing with that pain, it’s easy to keep rolling it over in our minds, or wanting to just talk about it with others. That’s because it’s easier to think or merely talk—than to speak the truth and have it change who we are. And we might think that we need to understand what happened in the past more, instead of just changing our minds with the Word.

And that reveals a key reason of why people don’t meditate more, and don’t renew their minds more in general—prioritizing our logic about situations over the Word of God. God gave us minds and wants us to use them, but not when it conflicts with what He says. In the case of a certain past, it’s good to understand what happened, and process it, to a point. Full healing will only come if we become a new creation in Christ.

(3) The Application / Q&A

With this exercise, consider how much more power you can gain in life from the hagah practice of Biblical meditation. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What’s your hagah take and experience?

Have Jesus Cancel That Mistake or Bad Habit

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:02:19 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

This week we build on the last Plesson on how transformational “mind surgery” with the Word is available to any believer and how it can transforms life—with an example of some of that surgery. I skipped a rare week last time with more deep research and development, but I hope you enjoy this post.

As you read this, think of anything that you’d like to put in the past for good, whether it be experiences or thoughts that won’t go away. Then be encouraged because Jesus came to free you from it. I use the Covid Fauci hearings as just an example here but there are countless examples of mistakes, memories, and habits that we all need probably to deal with and put behind us.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new [Greek kainos, meaning: something renewed and freshly made, and as it should be] creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new [Greek kainos again] has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) (My added Greek notes)

God has made us a new creation in Christ as part of our new spiritual reality, but it’s up to us to realize it through mind renewal and faith. God created the spiritual reality, complete with our righteousness, but we have to bring that spiritual realm into the natural realm. It’s kind of like a small child learning about the rules of this world and coming to understand who he is by birth. The difference is that spiritual truths are in the Word of God and aren’t just made obvious in the natural world. But they become real and obvious when we learn to believe them.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) Let’s actually become new creations

The principle of being made a new creation in Christ is taught often, but yet many Christians are still dragged down by the past and by all sorts of related anxious thoughts. This verse and concept is often explained with statements like “you have been made a new creation, and it’s not a matter of your works”. But what exactly does this mean, and why aren’t we seeing more of it? Change that here by seeing if you’re bringing your new spiritual reality into your natural circumstances, and how to do it more.

The world is full of circumstances, people, and thoughts that will try to use our past or present shortcomings to bring us down. Mistakes could be very personal, stemming from many family challenges, or visible to everyone, stemming from outside institutional corruption. For example, this past week many people were probably again brought down by what happened during Covid, as Dr. Fauci was finally forced to testify. The weight of our mistakes could be psychological or physical but needs to put off either way.

(1-B) It’s meant to be our reality

We do that with the Word, including with the famous 2 Corinthians 5:17 verse, in which God tells us to regard ourselves as a new creation, and put off the old self. Here, Paul was writing to the Corinthians, after some recent painful experiences there, and bringing them into their new state based on their spiritual reality in Christ. He writes that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” That word new there is the Greek kairos, which means something that is renewed and freshly made. It’s not something just simply cut off from the past, but essentially regenerated into a new form, as it was meant to be.

What does this look like in our world, with our many struggles, mistakes, and psychological baggage? It’s one thing to read this verse or agree during a great sermon, and another thing to actually get a deep realization about it and become that new creation. Since Covid was in the new news, let’s take the case of still maybe having vaccine related issues or anger about how it affected our business or our children. The connection here is that, in Christ, we are redeemed in the spiritual realm, and God will actually heal our lives, if we align with Him. This is not some mere theological or theoretical statement. It becomes reality here and now, if we activate it by faith.

(1-C) If we understand and believe it

But you might think, isn’t this verse talking about a spiritual reality that we will ultimately realize in heaven? Like so many Scriptures, this is theological language that can sound general and distant. What exactly does this “in Christ” mean and how does it apply to this anger about what happened in my past? How is Christ connected to the pain I feel now, that I have to live with daily?

The key is to indeed understand what “in Christ” means and how it is completely transformative, if we put on this identity by faith. At its heart, it means putting on the righteousness of God, no matter what is going on, because it’s from Jesus and not from us. And that righteousness entitles us to all the parts of actual salvation that God gives to the righteous. This includes the help for whatever life renewal we need, as we walk things out with God, by faith.

This probably won’t happen quickly, but the important thing is realizing and believing that it will happen. If we know you’re going to get restored or healed, the path goes from a struggle to a fight from a position of victory. The key is understanding why we actually have this new identity in Christ, and believing it. We have to put on our new creation by faith and bring it into the natural.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) Realizing our birthright

Let’s look at some of the reality involved in putting our new creation into practice. The problem is that many Christians know this verse but don’t take it seriously. That’s the case if someone is battling with what’s happened in the past or with bad habits without signifiant change. On one hand, we can just go through each day kind of trying to do our best, and just try to put aside the negative thoughts about ourselves when they come. On the other hand, we can choose to renew our mind intentionally, put on who we are in Christ, and not settle for any less.

God has made us a new creation in Christ as part of our new spiritual reality, but it’s up to us to realize it through mind renewal and faith. God created the spiritual reality, complete with our righteousness, but we have to bring that spiritual realm into the natural realm. It’s kind of like a small child learning about the rules of this world and coming to understand who he is by birth. The difference is that spiritual truths are in the Word of God and aren’t just made obvious in the natural world. But they become real and obvious when we learn to believe them.

(2-B) Choosing Jesus over what we see and feel

In practice, this means not accepting that negative thing about our past and replacing it with the truth of who we are in Christ. It applies to past failures that turn into anxieties because we fear that it will happen again. Or it applies to those poor habits that make us feel bad about ourselves. And when those thoughts come, it’s up to us to stop it and say—that is not who I am in Christ, and believe the right things. Our identity in Christ needs to become the reality of our lives.

And success here, as with any mind renewal, depends on how much of the Word we’ve gotten in us. How much have we studied the Scripture on what Jesus did, and what that entitles us to? This includes being able to be secure in our righteousness in Christ regardless of what’s going on. And it applies to understanding God’s grace and redeemption. Then past mistakes loose their grip, because we know God will redeem them. And bad habits loose their grip because they are not who we are in Christ.

(2-C) And overcoming the Enemy

But can’t life just change on its own, if we just press through? Won’t the circumstances that are causing the current problem or the current anxiety just end after some time? It’s easy to just just plow through each day and think that peace or healing with come in time, once we make it through whatever challenge. And we might think that if we just separate ourselves from certain people, new life will come, and we will become a sort of new creation.

But this world will always throw something else at us. And we can only separate ourselves from whatever comes, if believe right about ourselves. It’s not really that person who is reminding us of our past, or of our bad habits—it’s the Enemy. And the only way to defeat him is to be transformed into a new creation—from the inside out. There will always be another person or situation who will try to bring us down. The only way to not be affected by it, is to actually become someone who isn’t affected by those things.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Become more of a new creation by thinking about this content and applying more of it to your life. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) How “new” are you now?

This Is "Free," Non-Invasive Mind Surgery

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:01:26 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The “Performance” Insight That Makes All the Difference

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

Last week was about looking at our part in the faith walk and taking more responsibility for it. This week hones in on the central how-to of our part that drives all the other success—the renewing of our minds.

There was news this week about how 30 minutes/day reduction in social media use by young adults, over the course of week, dropped depressive symptoms by ~25%, anxiety by ~16%, and insomnia ~15%. That’s pretty great, isn’t it? But that’s just removing some negative input, while leaving life unchanged. Now imagine the life improvement from an intentional, professional, and never-ending rewiring of the mind.

As a repeated side-note, exciting developments continue towards the new site. The innovation being built is the daily one-of-a-kind coaching structure and group interaction activity that connects the Word to our everyday life. To stay updated about the transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [metamorphousthe: continuous internal change with outward manifestation] by the renewing [anakainōsis: making new again to original and superior state] of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) (My added Greek notes)

Paul could have written something about renewing the mind because we should have the right thoughts and do the right things. But that would just be legalism and religion. Jesus came to change all that, and Paul writes more than that here. Here, when we prove God’s will, we’ll see that it’s true and that it works. The reward is the actual transformed life—with our ability to understand it.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) It’s possible to have the mind of God

How often do we have thoughts that we don’t want to have? Everyone does, but few people understand that meditating on the Word of God is like doing literal non-invasive, “free” mind surgey—to create the mind of God. Let’s take a look at why the mind can actually be fully transformed with the Word of God and the kind of life that brings us to.

We can have a mind that just reacts to whatever is going on around us, or a mind that thrives by thinking how God wants us to think. The Enemy runs this world, and is constantly trying to bring down our minds and spirits. But Jesus came to connect us to God and flip the script on all the hurt, frustration, and pain. In practice, this could mean either just “dealing with” whatever mistreatment and hoping for the day that it stops, or creating a mind that doesn’t play by those rules and functions in another Kingdom.

(1-B) Paul tells us what to do

One of the most important Scriptures that deal with the power of mind transformation is Romans 12:2, where Paul highlights the centrality of the mind and tells us to use it for full life transformation. He finishes eleven chapters on the central doctrines of Christianity, and opens us the next chapter with the main how-to of the implementation. He says to not be merely conformed to this world, but continuously transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that we can see and experience God’s perfect will for our lives. The word meanings here reflect an internal and intentional transformation to our intended state, as we overcome the world that is constantly trying shape us into its fallen nature.

(For the exegesis of the whole verse, see the References section on the bottom.)

So what does this look like in the example of being mistreated but then rejecting its negative worldly thought process? On one hand we’ve got the forces of anger and maybe self-pity, and on the other, the Word that tells us we’re blessed and taken care off no matter what, and that God uses everything for the good of those who love Him. The right meditation and thinking could include, “Your favor surrounds me like a shield,” making that what we actually think, and creating joy. We can do the work of meditation or just succumb to the anger and pity of the situation. The mind surgery is free financially, but it takes the investment of emotional work and time.

(1-C) So that we can actually be transformed

But, you might think, “how can I really do this and put off this anger, when this person isn’t leaving my life?” Paul writes to be transformed, but is this really possible, or is it just an idealized instruction that we try our best at in this life? And what does this “prove that which is good” part mean? It might even be exhausting to think about a mind renewal effort that seems futile.

But Paul did mean it, and we can see that by what he brilliantly wrote with that second part of the verse. The “so that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God” hinges on that prove or dokimazein, word in Greek. This was a technical term used for testing precious metals for authenticity. And Paul says that if we renew our mind, we’ll actually see that God’s word is true, and that what is says about all that joy and peace and well-being is true.

Paul could have written something about renewing the mind because we should have the right thoughts and do the right things. But that would just be legalism and religion. Jesus came to change all that, and Paul writes more than that here. Here, when we prove God’s will, we’ll see that it’s true and that it works. The reward is the actual transformed life—with our ability to understand it. And he builds on all this in the rest of the chapter and beyond.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) We live in a battlefield

We have to renew our mind according to the Word of God, or we will think like the world and be burdened like the world. We live in a battlefield. Despite the many nice looking things around us, there is an invisible Enemy that’s constantly trying to conform us to his ways of thinking and behaving. Defeating him, and enjoying more of what God has for us has to be generated from the inside, and “on offense”.

This is all possible because Jesus gave us direct access to God, saving us eternally, and giving us the privilege to not live like the world. We can literally create a mind that is connected to God—and enjoys the peace, health, joy, and prosperity of a life with Him. But it’s up to us to choose the Word over the world, and then to do the work to create a new mind—which is actually the mind that we were originally designed to have.

(2-B) An example of mistreatment

Let’s take the case of being mistreated, which is something that happens to everyone on a regular basis. There could be many reasons for mistreatment, including someone causing trouble because they don’t like your stance on an issue, or because they are insecure and hurting others makes them feel better. Our anger or frustration can come in, get lodged into our mind, and become hard to remove. The thoughts of “how could they do this and mess up this area of my life that I don’t have time to deal with” might come in and ring like a bell.

We can accept this, hope it will just go away, or meditate and replace those thoughts with how God wants us to think. The Enemy trying to pollute our mind with offense, frustration or pain, and we have to fight him to actually remove the damage. Otherwise anger and unforgiveness can take root, and that lets in longer-term problems. Demonic activity gains authority to our minds through unforgiveness, which lets in more harmful thoughts or sicknesses.

(2-C) But it’s not about the person who mistreats

You might think that you can just ignore whatever happened and that it will go away on its own. Won’t the situation just pass after a while? Can’t you just deal with the inconvenience and tell the person to stop? And can’t you just separate yourself from this person and not go through this again?

Well, maybe we can separate yourself from a particular person, but the Enemy created that situation, and it’s him that we need to separate ourselves from. He has countless people he can use to cause us frustration and pain. And the only way to separate from the Enemy does is by renewing and transforming our mind with the Word. That includes believing that everything happens for our good, that we’re blessed no matter what, and that God will surely help us fix whatever needs fixing. This is the intentional mind surgery for life on a different level.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Step into more of the great life God wants for you by applying this Plesson to your life with these questions. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What thoughts would you like to remove?

The "Performance" Insight That Makes All the Difference

Anna Blaszczyk — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:00:56 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

The World Cup … and the Philippians?

What did you think about the surprising U.S. 4-1 loss to Belgium at the World Cup? It wasn’t surprising that they lost, but that they played so badly, and after all the rallying support. Christians also cheered as the U.S. team prayed with each match. So what happened?

Well I’m far from a soccer expert, but some quick reading points to a loss of focus and other psychological problems. Maybe their initial success came from just trying to perform as best they can, without the status-based pressures of a high-status team? And then all this attention maybe raised the pressure and brought them down.

But do you know what famous “team” or city in the Bible risked loss because of the pressure of national status and pride? It was the Philippians. See some of what Paul famously tells them about how to shape up and do their part. And get encouraged to up your performance in life.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out [katergazomai: to bring something to completion] your own salvation [sótéria: Godly success, deliverance, health, etc.] with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will [theló: to desire, resolve to do] and to do [energeó: empower with strength, opportunities, and grace] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV) (My added Greek notes)

It can be hard to know and keep track of our walk with God because it’s not like working on our finances, physical fitness, or other quantified efforts. Our spiritual lives, along with their many natural consequences, aren’t well-suited for tracking, or “visibility”. So statements like “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” are often unclear and hard to implement. What exactly does this mean for us?

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) Let’s make spiritual matters more concrete

Here’s to gaining a greater awareness of the part we play in our walk with God and the resulting life success. You might have come across the topic of “our part” in some study and wondered, “Ok, but this is a vague explanation,” or, “can you be more specific about what I need to do?” Take this little journey with me by considering how we handle our spiritual walk, and how Paul explained it to the Philippians.

It’s easy to loose sight of our part in our spiritual and spiritually-related success, or in many other parts of life for that matter. Spiritual and personal growth matters are complex and not easy to track, so there is a tendency to just go with the flow and not see what’s actually going on. We have systems that track our finances or physical fitness, for example, but our most important “internals” are a different matter.

(1-B) Paul writes about “working it out”

Paul draws famous attention to our part of the Christian life walk in his letter to the Philippians, emphasizing responsibility, while also explaining that it’s done with God’s constant help. Philippi was a good church, but had some trouble because of social status fractures and misguided Roman pride. In Chapter 2 Paul tells them to shape up and “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” because “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This ‘work out’ word is the Greek katergazomai, which means to cultivate and bring something to completion, kind of like when working out our God given bodies towards a goal. Salvation (sótéria) here means Godly success on earth, not eternity.

(See more about what was going on in the Roman colony of Philippi and why Paul wrote some of his most famous passages to them in the References section at the bottom.)

The more that we apply this, the more we’ll see and do what’s necessary to create many types of successes in life, whether it be relational, financial, or psychological. Our “internal” factors at play include our soul, which is comprised of the mind, will, and emotions, as well as the faith and peace that remove worry, anxiety, or fear. A real life example might be to no longer be bothered by someone who hurt us, and either separating from them, or coming together as need be. That can happen by understanding forgiveness, including what it is and what it’s not, and meditating on the Scripture that will transform our mind accordingly.

(1-C) Our “internals” are like our “externals”

But it’s hard to relate?

But, you might say, these details about how to make spiritual and spiritually-related progress is not really included in this Philippians chapter, nor in other places. There is theology, with generalized meta-level instructions, and descriptions of some of what was going on in Philippi. And the physical fitness gym metaphor might be helpful, but it still can be hard to relate “work out your salvation” to what we need to do for greater faith and peace. Even the term salvation can be hard to grasp as we figure out what that means in our present world.

That’s why we have to work it out

But consider that figuring out what we need to do is part of the working out. If we want to get in better physical shape, we have to learn some things about it and try to do it and get better at it. Why do we assume that our “internals” are different than our “externals” when it comes to effort, knowledge, and results?

If “work out” here means to bring something to completion, that includes getting started, going through it, and getting the result. And that includes finding help about a topic, doing the steps, and figuring out how to do it well until we succeed.

And some might say that the spiritual area of life is different because it involves God and we won’t understand a many things about Him. Well, we might not understand things about God, but we can understand ourselves, and God tells us He will help us “will and to do” it—because He takes pleasure in our success.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) The walk and work are tricky to see

Consider how we maybe sometimes overlook our part in our success, because of the demands of life, and because it’s easier to just go with the flow. Factors here could include simply not seeing what’s really going on or not realizing what it actually takes to get the results we want. Then unexpected problems come, and we might not connect what we did or didn’t do to cause the problem.

It can be hard to know and keep track of our walk with God because it’s not like working on our finances, physical fitness, or other quantified efforts. Our spiritual lives, along with their many natural consequences, aren’t well-suited for tracking, or “visibility”. So statements like “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” are often unclear and hard to implement. What exactly does this mean for us?

(2-B) The example of limited learning

Let’s take the example of Bible study, or gaining knowledge through media or books. There is no shortage of knowledge these days, whether we take it in individually, or as part of a church group. The question is, how often do we stop and think, “is this actually getting in me?” or “will I actually do this?” Sure, we’ll absorb whatever we take in, but will it get acted on in the midst of all the other information and demands?

For many or most, those key points from that Bible passage, or from that great book, are probably not going into a organized to do list. Many people do take notes, but it’s not like dealing with the much more established financial or fitness tracking tools. Moreover, even if we know a point, it won’t really become part of our soul unless we mediate on it enough. So we might be tracking with various financial or fitness goals, but our spiritual life is often just there on the side, subject to the assumption that good things will just happen on their own.

(2-C) The danger of intellectualization

One counter point is that technology can now organize much of what we need, and many people learn on demand. AI can suggest on point recommendations for whatever the situation, books are tailored to various needs, and courses can help us improve in an area. We might research Bible passages before we choose which ones to read. And so our time has become more efficient, which is a good thing.

However, with all that comes the danger of intellectualization, or essentially analyzing things simply according to knowledge, while not seeing how we fit into what’s going on. Intellectualization is a psychology term for when someone uses logic and reasoning to avoid an uncomfortable experience. (I don’t blindly agree with psychological rationale, but this seems to make sense.) In fact, a recent award-winning study (see below) found that modern churches have made spiritual growth too instruction-focused, rather than engaging people with the experience and practice. And so, we’re susceptible to take in knowledge, feel good about it, but loose sight of what it takes to actually do it.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Take your walk with God, and life, to another level by applying this Plesson to your life with these questions. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What are your views on this “work”

Gain More Freedom and New Life with Jesus

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:36:45 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

Happy Independence Day everyone, and on this great 250th anniversary. There is so much that could be said about the amazing story of America, and I get into some of it below. But we have an even more amazing independence from oppression that we can enjoy every day through Jesus. I hope this Plesson encourages us to see clearer and breathe easier as we put off more of whatever brings us down.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

There is a lot to consider here, with all the deep issues of identity and righteousness. But let’s go back to the American Revolution and view it from the point of view of new freedom. America declared its identity according the rights given to them by their Creator. As such, they rejected the oppressive rule of the king and gained the ability to live by God’s rules. Similarly, when we become a new creation in Christ, we gain the freedom to live by God’s truth, or truth period. Notice how a declaration of identity as a new creation is necessary in both cases. We have to separate spiritually from one system, to enter into the other.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) Two cases of unprecedented freedom

Let’s put off more of the harmful things of this world, and realize more freedom as a new creation in Christ. The principle of becoming a new creation from 2 Corinthians 5 is often taught with respect to sin, bad habits, or a negative past, as it should be. But here, see what Paul meant when he wrote it to oppose the false teachers of the time, how it relates to Independence Day, and what this means for our lives.

Do you love America, its founding, and are passionate about restoring and defending what we have? Two hundred and fifty years ago the Founders declared a new creation, based on freedom, and unlike any that had ever existed, apart from the model that they used of the Sinai covenant. But freedom from mental and spiritual oppression became available to everyone two thousand years ago, and it’s this spiritual freedom that enabled the political one.

(1-B) How Jesus freed the Corinthians

Becoming a new creation relates to being free from worldly deceptions and is explained by what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5. The church in Corinth had become infiltrated by false teachers who shifted the gospel from a focus on Jesus, to a more worldly Greco-Roman status based religion (although it’s hard to say exactly what that was). Paul tells them to change their old ways of thinking and that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” To see things clearly, the Corinthians had to put off fleshly, or merely natural, outward, and superficial thinking, and put on their new identity in Christ.

There is a lot to consider here, with all the deep issues of identity and righteousness. But let’s go back to the American Revolution and view it from the point of view of new freedom. America declared its identity according the rights given to them by their Creator. As such, they rejected the oppressive rule of the king and gained the ability to live by God’s rules. Similarly, when we become a new creation in Christ, we gain the freedom to live by God’s truth, or truth period. Notice how a declaration of identity as a new creation is necessary in both cases. We have to separate spiritually from one system, to enter into the other.

(1-C) What freedom really means

But you might wonder if the example of America and being a new creation with Jesus are that similar. It’s one thing to reject oppression in the form of a king because of declared independence. But how is being in Christ also being independent? Didn’t Americans get the right to essentially live how they wanted? Doesn’t being in Christ mean living like He wants us to? Then are we really free or independent in Christ?

Well, in Christ, we’re free from the oppression of this world, not free to do whatever we want. And the Founders didn’t win the right to do whatever they wanted. They acknowledged they were now under God’s authority. That’s freedom to choose the right path and get the rewards. Paul was telling the Corinthians to choose the right path of God, so they didn’t have to deal with the oppression of lies. And that’s what is made available to us through our identity in Christ.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) Freedom has to be guarded

We might think we’re doing fine when it comes to seeing things clearly, but becoming a new creation needs to be an ongoing intentional and defensive activity. It’s one thing to know about 2 Corinthians 5:17, but it’s another thing to not be mislead by what the world throws at us. One part of this, as in the case of the Corinthians, is how the allure of what’s popular blinds us to what’s right and effective.

There are various ways that we can drift in the wrong direction and loose sight of what we have with God. Consider two subtle categories: being blind to what’s going on, or knowing something is wrong but being pressured to do it. Blindness can be just carelessly going along with the wrong crowd, or thinking but falling for false statements dressed in appealing language. Pressure could include structural realities like a job, or subtle social put downs.

(2-B) The example of burnout and isolation

This can happen in any area of life, including with how we view our performance and work. As with the Corinthians, the allure of status can make a shiny but deceptive path seem very appealing. I’ve recently heard multiple stories of spiritual leaders who worked themselves sick for years, to get to a certain audience size or book number. And current studies show that performance-driven exhaustion is a big problem for many, leading to isolation and stress.

But how is this caused by missing aspects of our new creation in Christ? It has to do with the source of our identity and righteousness, or goodness. If we know God and are secure in Christ, we won’t need to get affirmation from others. Then we can judge what’s best despite social and societal pressures. In the case of work performance, we’ll see what groups or decisions have real value, or just offer a temporary emotional high.

(2-C) The skill of doing it with God

And we should obviously work hard, be passionate, and seek status in life. Legitimate status comes from legitimate success and delivers needed leadership. Paul had legitimate status and argued for it against the false teachers in Corinth. And he worked very hard and was genuinely emotional.

So it’s about being able to see what’s true in the midst of a world that will try to lie to us. The Enemy runs this world, and we’ll only catch the deceptions if we’re not emotionally dependent on them. Those people who worked themselves sick wanted status because they wanted to feel good about themselves. But if you know you’re good because of what Jesus did for you, it becomes a lot easier to spot the lies. Jesus made us good with God, and that gave us the right to receive God’s help in the form or wisdom and many other things.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Experience more freedom and independence by applying this Plesson to your life with these questions. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) How grounded are you in Jesus?

Step Into the Awe of God, and Stress Less

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:00:46 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

Have you seen these videos of World Cup visitors in America posting about how big and great it is here, from the Walmarts, to the food portions, to the Grand Canyon? I just love seeing these people kindly compliment America, as they enjoy themselves and take it all in. But we can take this story and multiply it infinitely if we visit more with God—with the intention of learning about His greatness. And that not only brings awe, but can transform everyday life.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Isaiah 40:27-29 (NKJV)

Consider what happens psychologically in a pressured situation, or more broadly, in situations with lack. When we face negative circumstances, whether it be with finances, safety, or emotional validation, our bodies instinctively react to the fear or pain and we try to stop the threat. The brain’s threat detection system (amygdala) activates, pushing aside our spiritual and rational thinking (pre-frontal cortex), demanding immediate, concrete action. And then, to us, we become large and God becomes small.

(1) The How-to / Word

(1-A) More greatness, smaller problems

Let’s be more aware of God’s greatness—so we can get rid of more stress, burnout, and isolation. Christians obviously know that God is the Creator of the Universe, and has understanding of everything. But knowing something intellectually is different than experiencing it, and drawing from it under pressure. Here, put aside more of the blinders that come in with the demands of life, and get lifted up with what God says to us about Himself, through Isaiah and others.

People are becoming increasingly aware of how a revelation of God’s greatness lowers the pressures of our modern world, including the grind and the burnout. Pressure, lack, and danger naturally cause us to grab hold of things tightly, putting God to the side, and operating with worry, anxiety, or fear. Ironically, even devoted Christians are prone to loose sight of how God wants to work on their behalf, as their sense of responsibility takes over, and the problems become giants.

(1-B) You’re not hidden, and He is infinite

One way to prevent this tunnel vision is by meditating on God’s greatness and goodness ahead of time with what it says in Isaiah 40. Scripture is full of the truths of how God created the Universe, has limitless understanding, and wants to help us daily, with Isaiah 40 giving special attention to those who might feel overwhelmed and overlooked. Here, God tells His people who think, I am “hidden” and “passed over” by God—I am the Creator and I my “understanding is unsearchable.” This was said to Israel, feeling crushed by the Babylonian occupation, thinking that God is too distant to help them in the midst of this powerful worldly authority.

If we get this Scripture more into our spirit the pressure of this world can be pushed back with the comfort of the greatness of God. And winning the battle of the mind here happens outside of the situation, during the Bible study and meditation times. Otherwise, the pressure of the moment will just cause our minds to react with blinders, without the strength to look up. But with Isaiah 40:27-29 and beyond, we can grab hold of the “I am not hidden from God,” and “He is infinitely more powerful that this situation” and “He will guide me and strengthen me here” thoughts. But it depends on how much we work on and work out these thoughts ahead of time.

(1-C) If you know Him and believe it

This doesn’t mean that the situation will get resolved immediately. The Israelites had to still go through the occupation after they received this Word and prophecy. Isaiah foretold the future, not an immediate end to the occupation. Scripture is something we have to believe before we see the results.

The knowledge of the solution

But believing it makes all the difference—because it changes us in the middle of the situation. Imagine that you’re dealing with a serious issue, but then someone in authority tells you that you’ll get out of it soon, and that you’ll get supernatural strength to deal with it every day. That changes the whole situation.

The relationship is like a rope

And that is actually the crucial part of the “how” a little later, in Isaiah 40:31, where we see the “wait on the Lord” phrase. That wait verb is the Hebrew qavah, which really means being tied up with God, as with a rope. You’ll get supernatural strength if you’re close to God and believe Him. And that includes having a constant mental framing of His greatness. It’s that faith and relationship that changes everything. That’s why Daniel’s experience in Babylon was pretty great, despite all the hard and even thought he was technically in captivity.

(2) The Problem / Need

(2-A) When we become large and God becomes small

We need to be more aware of God’s greatness, because through it, He can become larger to us, and we can become more right-sized. God greatness, goodness, and readiness to help is always there, but it’s of little effect, unless we remember it and draw from it. Experts are increasingly pointing out how a high view of God serves as the antidote to the perils of our modern world, including pressure and burnout.

Consider what happens psychologically in a pressured situation, or more broadly, in situations with lack. When we face negative circumstances, whether it be with finances, safety, or emotional validation, our bodies instinctively react to the fear or pain and we try to stop the threat. The brain’s threat detection system (amygdala) activates, pushing aside our spiritual and rational thinking (pre-frontal cortex), demanding immediate, concrete action. And then, to us, we become large and God becomes small.

(2-B) The danger of burnout and isolation

Let’s take the example of a high-performing serious Christian facing burnout, as they maybe face challenges at work or at home. They are serious about their faith and responsibilities, resist the inclination to let go of things, and follow the instinct to grind harder. Then comes the intense pressure of performance, analyzing every option, and feeling bad that they haven’t done enough. And ironically, even though they love God, He has been inadvertently put to the side, as their immediate problems become the largest things they see. They need to connect with God, but isolation is what takes over.

The person in this example knows that God created the Universe and has infinite understanding of their situation. But in the moment, when trying to take care of things, that threat detection system has become dominant, and God has become small. What can prevent this with the meditation and prayer we do ahead of time, strengthening that rational and spiritual pre-frontal cortex. Biblical mediation and science confirm this. Then the truth of God becomes bigger, decreasing the isolation, and decreasing the scarcity mindset.

(2-C) The skill of doing it with God

But, you might say, “these types of situations only last for some time, and I can go back to thinking well afterwards.” And, after all, we are responsible for our lives. So isn’t it good to recognize the seriousness of a situation, analyze options, and do what we can to plan? God doesn’t want us to just throw up our hands and expect Him to take care of things.

Well, we are stewards over our lives, but we’re supposed to do things with God. And loosing sight of God’s greatness gives us a warped understanding of our responsibilities. In the midst of that lack or danger, we think that everything is up to us, because we’re just trying to protect ourselves. And the anxiety comes in, clouding our judgement and temporarily removing God from the picture. Instead, if we stay connected to God’s greatness, we’ll do things while fueled with His power, by faith. And that’s when things can get transformed—with peace.

(3) The Application / Q&A

Experience more of God’s greatness by applying this Plesson to your life with these questions. You can answer this for your life or, in general, if that’s how you’re more comfortable in a group. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) How important is God’s greatness?

The Belonging and Security We Can Get from God as Father

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:01:39 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. Whether you’re a father or not, God offers us an incredible life with Him as Father. That takes having insight into what this means and living it out. I hope this Plesson makes an impact here.

Also, the Scripture Commentary in this post (again, on the bottom) is very important. I go through the many meanings in Psalm 27:4-5, in addition to what I show in the verse below, and what I cover in the Plesson. The Word of God is active and powerful - when we understand what is says, and activate it.

As a repeated side-note, exciting developments continue towards the new site. To stay updated about the upcoming coaching site and transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell [yashab: sit down, remain, inhabit] in the house [bayit: house or household / family] of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty [no’am: kindness, favor, delightfulness] of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple [hekal: palace with royal decrees]. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5 (NKJV) (my added Hebrew notes)

Here, after David puts aside his thoughts about the enemy, he makes his goal to dwell in the house of the LORD, behold His beauty, and inquire in His temple, among other things. Dwelling means taking a permanent and protected place in God’s household. Beholding His beauty means gaining a deep revelation of His love and favor. Inquiring in the temple means gaining a deep knowledge of His attributes, and instructions for whatever we need.

(1) Overview

(1-A) Knowing God as Father

God offers us belonging, security, and stability, in this increasingly unreliable, unstable, and even hostile world. Christians know that God is our Father, but lets go deeper into what this means and how to enter into this relationship in a greater way. Here I use the incredible claims of Psalm 27 to show how David saw his intimate relationship with God, and what this means for us through Jesus.

We know that Jesus spoke of God as Father many times, but we still might walk around feeling lonely or vulnerable, as if we had no special standing or provision. Part of the issue is that we live in “two worlds” with the natural on hand, and the spiritual on the other. Any thought of anxiety or worry comes from this world, whereas God wants us to dwell with Him and experience His presence and lovingkindness.

(1-B) Dwelling in His household

The privileges and peace that come with being in a close relationship with God as Father can be seen in Psalm 27:4-5, among many other places in Scripture. The Israelites were children of God collectively through Abraham, and David has a special relationship with God. Here, after David puts aside his thoughts about the enemy, he makes his goal to dwell in the house of the LORD, behold His beauty, and inquire in His temple, among other things. Dwelling means taking a permanent and protected place in God’s household. Beholding His beauty means gaining a deep revelation of His love and favor. Inquiring in the temple means gaining a deep knowledge of His attributes, and instructions for whatever we need. Then verse 5 describes the protection that follows. (See more details in the references below).

These verses and others like it offer us the chance to live on another level, much less affected by the instability and dangers around us. David knew God closely because he was a king, but Jesus opened direct and intimate direct access to God for everyone. And for us, dwelling with God happens through the Holy Spirit, as we activate the Word of God, through Jesus. We also obviously experience God through the church. But deep consistent dwelling in God’s household happens by knowing Him and His Word, and living it out, internally and externally. In Psalm 27:4, dwelling and beholding are tied together and the security comes from gaining a deep revelation of God’s love and direction.

(1-C) The relationship through the Word and the Spirit

But, you might be thinking, “how exactly will I be protected, just because I believe these deep words in Psalm 27? David was actually a king who inquired of God through an official prophet, and was surrounded with the resources that helped him know God well. And his descriptions were figurative as well as real, such as physical temple or tent where God resided. We live and work in the midst of a complex modern world. Our household and work realities don’t resemble a temple where you can just enter and get answers.

For us, it’s about living in God’s house in the spiritual realm, and then carrying our spiritual reality into the natural. David lived in the Old Covenant, where God resided in an actual tabernacle, whereas God now resides inside us, and we are the #tabernacle. Also, the Israelite interaction with God largely took the form of a collective experience. We have constant personal and individual access to the HolySpirt. Jesus came and, transformed the whole picture, shocked many, and gave us direct access to God’s household. (See last week’s post for more on life through the Spirit.)

So for us, “dwelling in the house of the LORD” means talking with God as our actual Father, being secure in our standing, while living by the “house rules” rules of His Word. The security comes through our righteousness, or full acceptance, through of Jesus. The “house rules” isn’t just a long list of rules, but a relational obedience, through which we constantly try to grow into what He wants, like with an early father. Then “inquiring in His temple” means knowing that we can get the best direction for whatever we’re going through. And out of all this comes the protection that’s spoken of in Psalm 27:5 and beyond.

(2) Experience

(2-A) The pull of both “worlds”

The experience of knowing God as Father in a deep way can be thought of as constantly drawing from God’s favor, provision, and protection and on our behalf. The lesser version of this relationship is to know the principle of Him as Father and kind of talk to Him when we need to. Again, that dwell word in Psalm 27:4 means to sit down, remain, inhabit, and that house word also means household. The more we enter into that household, through the Word, the more detailed revelation we’ll get about God’s love, grace, and favor.

The challenge is that we tend to dwell in both “worlds,” with the natural on one side and the spiritual on the other. The natural things are the temporary things that we see with our senses. They change from day to day and are just a part of what’s really going on. But when we connect with God, through Jesus, we tap into God’s power on our behalf. And, as Psalm 27:4 says, we can learn more about how He works and experience His goodness.

(2-B) Choosing the spiritual truths

So then it’s about the dwelling or inhabiting God’s house in the spiritual realm, and have it constantly flow into the natural realm, for our benefit. This applies to any issue or situation, from relationships, to finances, to moral or cultural pressures. If we use the example of dealing with cultural pressures, someone who dwells with God as Father, can stand up for God’s values and maybe upset people, but not be burdened by the “what if” thoughts. God already knows what will happen, and has arranged things according to what’s best.

This kind of peace, stability, and even comfort, to some degree, can come when we understand and believe that God will indeed use the spiritual realm to change the natural for our benefit. We can operate in just the fleeting natural realm or in the dominant spiritual. God is Spirit and He operates from the spiritual realm. And if we know Him and hear from the Holy Spirit, we can get insight into any situation, do what’s necessary, and be protected.

(2-C) And succeeding in both “worlds”

Of course, this doesn’t mean some perfect life with perfect faith and perfect peace. We obviously still have to do everything in the natural, and success depends on getting the regular natural things right. In the case of bucking culture, someone who dwells with God will probably sill have some worry or anxiety about upsetting people. And we’ll have to walk through risky situations that feel uncomfortable.

But it’s about being grounded in the insights of the spiritual realm, as we operate in the natural. There are still hard natural things that happen, but we can believe the Word of God about how they will turn out. In the example of standing up and upsetting people, the Spirit can give us revelation from Psalm 27:5 about how God will protect us in that pavilion, in the midst of a battle. And meditating on that creates builds faith and enables us to dwell with God more.

(3) Application

Experience more of God the Father by applying this to your life and answering these questions. Or, you can answer these questions more generally as part of the options below, if that’s how you’re more comfortable in a group. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) How much do you want to God as Father?

How to Walk by the Spirit and Experience More Abundant Life

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:01:42 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

This week is a deeper dive into last week’s post, where we looked at the promise of more abundant life, when we’re less taken in by worldly thinking. Here, I explain more about how to do that. This topic is central to the Christian walk. However, like many, it’s not obvious or simple.

As a repeated side-note, exciting developments continue towards the new site. To stay updated about the upcoming coaching site and transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh [sarx: human activity operating apart from God] profits nothing. The words [rhema: a spoken word / utterance from God] that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (NKJV) (my added Greek notes)

The key point here is that all this happens as part of a relationship, and that the Word is alive in the midst of that relationship. And the relationship is between us and God, which includes the three Persons of the Trinity.

(1) Overview

(1-A) More clarity about the Spirit and the flesh

Let’s take life to another level by gaining a clearer understanding of what it means to walk by the Spirit as opposed to the flesh, and experience more of the Spirit. Walking by the Spirit is a central requirement in the New Covenant, but many people miss its details, and then miss out on abundance. At the heart of it, it means to walk according to the Word, as it is written, and as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. There is complexity here because it means knowing the Word, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Many people think of walking by the Spirit as simply following the Holy Spirit, and of the flesh as simply doing or thinking something morally bad. From Galatians 5, we might often associate the Spirit with love, joy, and peace, while we associate the flesh with lust, greed, or envy. Another central Scripture here is Romans 8, which describes how the Spirit leads to life and flesh to death. However these are the fruits and works of each “side,” not the core “how-to.” So how do we actually walk by the Spirit and avoid walking by the flesh? In other words, the fruits and works speak of results, but what is at the core of actually doing it well?

(1-B) It’s about the Word inside of us

Jesus gave crucial insight into walking by the Spirit and not by the flesh in John’s Gospel, when explaining how His words are spirit, and they are what give life. At the time, and now, living by and activating a spoken word from God meant activating real creative, life-giving power. Living by the flesh meant living independent from God, with one’s own capability. His John 6:63 quote is: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” For us now, the Spirit point here is to live according to God’s Word, as it is activated in us, through the Holy Spirit. The opposite flesh way is living by our own way of thinking, that’s contrary to the Word.

In practice, this means getting more and more of the Word in us, as we learn it and get revelation about it. Then we can think according to it, and not by merely how the world thinks. And it’s not meant to be a type of striving whereby we avoid thinking bad things and doing bad things. When we get enough of the Word in us, we’ll have more of the Spirit in us, and we’ll have less flesh. Then the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5 will be easier to realize, and we will be less affected by the works of the flesh. It’s not so much about “self-effort” as it is about having the Word transform us.

(1-C) And it’s about a dynamic relationship

This might sound a bit impractical, and maybe not conducive with everyday life. We have lives with 21st century demands and realities that are maybe hard to “connect” with Scripture. How do we always “live by the Word,” when we’re also living by all our daily modern thoughts? For example, and to include the Old Testament here, how does one truly live by “God is my Shepherd and I do not lack,” when the finances don’t look like they will make it, and lack is what we see with our eyes.

The key point here is that all this happens as part of a relationship, and that the Word is alive in the midst of that relationship. And the relationship is between us and God, which includes the three Persons of the Trinity. It’s actually stunning. God has essentially given us Scripture as an extension of Himself, Jesus is revealed in Scripture, and the Holy Spirit activates and reveals Scripture to us. And the Greek has two words for the Word: logos as essentially what’s written, and rhema as what is revealed and made alive in us by the Holy Spirit. The John 6:63 “words that are Spirit” are rhema.

So walking by the Spirit, means taking in God’s words, getting revelation about them through the Holy Spirit, and connecting to Jesus through them as we walk out each day. It’s a dynamic interaction with the Word of God, that forms the foundation for how we think, and that connects to what we need. And our job is to learn the Word it and get it in us with Biblical meditation and relational obedience. The more we do that, the more we can live by the Spirit, and not be burdened by the flesh. Out of this flows faith, which is ultimately a trust that comes from relationship.

(2) Experience

(2-A) An example of financial stress

Let’s see what it looks like when someone is trying to get better at walking by the Spirit, while putting aside the flesh. This could apply to any situation in life, but it’s probably best seen when we’re under pressure and need to choose the Word instead of our own thinking. So let’s use one of the most common pressured situations—financial stress.

Remembering the “two sides” again, we have the Word on one hand, and our own way of thinking on the other. With finances, one Word principle might be that God is our Shepherd and we do not lack, and other parts of Psalm 23. Our own thinking might include “how will I will ever pay these bills on time?” or “What am I going to do in the future?” But the more that we can think according to Psalm 23, the more we will walk in the Spirit and tap into life with Jesus.

(2-B) Working to win the battle

In the middle of it, it’s about learning to believe and trust the Word of God over what we see in the natural. The pressure of the situation is pulling on us from one side, and the knowledge of the Word is there on the other side. And walking in the Spirit includes meditating on and speaking “I do not lack,” or a related rhema Word—so that this reality becomes more and more powerful and extinguishes the worries and anxieties.

Then the life that Jesus is talking about can come as the fruits of the Spirit, while the works of the flesh get cut off. Truly knowing that we don’t lack because God has our back produces peace, and other fruits. And that gets rid of potential works of the flesh such as envy, because we’re not angry about what others have. All this happens as the by-product of activating the Word of God in our spirit, which is a by-product of our meditation.

(2-C) Doing it through relationship

This might sound kind of robotic or impersonal, and not characteristic of the close spiritual experience with the Holy Spirit or with Jesus. After all, the repetitive discipline of Biblical meditation is a big part of it, as is simply reading and studying the Bible. It might even sound like the practice of manifesting, where people focus their thoughts on a desired reality. Manifestation is not Biblical meditation and it is not of God.

But, as previously mentioned, all this is about relationship, not just repetition. Being able to believe that “I do not lack because God is my Shepherd” can only come through a revelation and experience with the Scripture, which comes through the Holy Spirit. And it’s not just about believing some reality or some words, but about trusting God, which again, depends on a relationship. The rhema Word here isn’t that “I do not lack anything, period,” it’s that “God is helping me and I trust Him as I walk this out with Him”. And that can only happen if we’ve actually made Him our Shepherd. So all of it is part of a dynamic relationship with God, through His Word.

(3) Application

Walk more by the Spirit and experience greater life with this Application. These questions connect this content to our life and make it stick. Or, you can answer these questions more generally as it explains below, if that’s how you’re more comfortable in a group.

And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) Visualizing the increase

Don't Put Up with the Lies of This World

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:00:48 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

The Crucial “Let It Go” Principle that Enables Faith

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

Are you following along with America’s 250th Anniversary? I recently saw Hillsdale College’s Revolutionary America documentary. It was a beautiful retelling of the Revolution and the events that led up to it. At this time, 250 years ago, the war had been going on for over a year and they were a month away from finalizing the Declaration of Independence. But the principles and faith that refused to put up with the oppression were being forged for decades during the First Great Awakening, with the preaching of George Whitefield and others.

There was oppression then, clear and visible to the colonists, taking the form of excessive taxation and condescension. They stood up to it with the revolutionary truth of Scripture, that says that our rights come from God, Who is our first ruler and authority. But there is a broader invisible constant oppression that we have to battle against daily—the oppression of worldly thinking in general. So, as you go through this, you can think of yourself as one of those revolutionary heroes, saying no to oppression and fighting for more freedom.

As a repeated side-note, exciting developments continue towards the new site. To stay updated about the upcoming coaching site and transition, make sure you’re actively subscribed here.

As usual, see the Scripture References & Commentary at the bottom.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved [sozo: includes eternal salvation, and present wholeness and deliverance], and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life [zoe: includes the transformed life experienced through intimacy with God], and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:9-10 (NKJV) (my added Greek notes)

Those oppressing thoughts of “how will this ever work out” and “what if?” come in like a thief, stealing our peace, well-being, and time. With it might come the conscious or subconscious lies that we’re bad to have allowed this to happen, and that we need to grab hold of everything tightly, putting God to the side. But, instead, we must say, “stop—I will not live by lies, but by the Word of God”. And the Word says that I am righteous because of Jesus, and that God Himself helps the righteous (when I believe and let Him).

(1) Overview

(1-A) The danger of current “oppression”

Put off more of the lies of this world by gaining a greater revelation of what Jesus offers His followers, and what needs to be rejected to get it. Christians typically know that they can have a greater life with Jesus, but we can miss out on much of it when we let worldly thinking steal parts of our inheritance. Here, take in the deep meanings of what Jesus said in John 10:9-10, and other places, and see what stepping into more freedom means for you.

We live in a constant danger of “oppression” from lies because we operate in a world manipulated by the Enemy, who is hostile to God and to the Word of God. As such, we might be affected by lies and not even know it, making freedom that much harder to achieve. But even thought we live in this world, but are not supposed to be of this world. So when the world tells us things like, “this is just the way things are,” let’s check it with the Word of God, and reject whatever isn’t true.

(1-B) Jesus is the salvation and life

Jesus came to free us from the oppression of this world. He tells us that we can have abundant incredible life—through Him, and not through anyone else. In John 10, He uses the analogy of the shepherd, while in other places He uses living water, a vine branch, a sharing of the yoke, and others. In John 10:9-10, He says “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,” and “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The word saved here is the Greek word sozo, which includes deliverance from sin, as well as wholeness—mentally and physically. The word life is the Geek word zoe, which includes life in the broad sense, with the spiritual driving the natural.

What if more Christians paid more attention to what Jesus said here and in other places, and less to what the world tells them is common or logical? I realize that many people balk at the mention of success, healing and prosperity through Jesus, but Scripture says otherwise. However, these things only come after making the choice to believe Jesus, and through the very real fight of faith. Practically, this means giving more time, attention, and devotion to God and His Word than to the world.

(1-C) The details of realizing the freedom

Realizing this freedom means understanding and implementing the details in the Word. When Jesus spoke to the Jewish audience in John 10, and the other Gospels, they understood that salvation meant a comprehensive wholistic type of salvation, which came after salvation from sin. It wasn’t just about getting into heaven. What exactly does salvation and abundant life mean for us now? And what exactly does it mean to live by the Spirit, when we live in this world, with the responsibilities and connections of this world?

Living by the Spirit

The way to have the greater saved abundant life through Jesus is to indeed live by the Spirit, versus by what the world around us says. And that is about having a mind that is led by the Spirit, and not the world. And that is accomplished by knowing the Word and being transformed enough by it so that it drives our life.

Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Spirit here refers to the Holy Spirit, Who is activated by rhema, or words from Jesus, which give zoe life. Flesh refers to mere physical understanding or reliance on human strength. So we see that getting abundant life is done by living based on the activated teachings of Jesus, that are made alive in us, and not by what the world says.

Rejecting the thieves, robbers, and hirelings

Now let’s go back to the oppression point. You might think, “ok, I follow Jesus, read the Bible, and believe in what it says, so where is the oppression?” Well, in John 10:10, and in the surrounding verses, Jesus warns us about the thieves, robbers, and hirelings who mistreat the sheep. He was referring to corrupt religious and spiritual authorities who were just in it for personal gain, and who plundered the people spiritually and financially. For us, it can be anyone who the Enemy is using to perpetuate lies that keep us ignorant of what we can have with Him.

(2) Experience

(2-A) The example of worry, anxiety, or fear

Maybe the most common example of living by the lies of this world versus by the Word of God, is the combined issue of worry, anxiety, or fear. Some secular experts might teach about how worry or fear doesn’t help, and provide guidance on how to not listen to it, while some teach that anxiety should just be thought of as normal part of life. But treating various forms of fear as normal, or putting anxiety aside temporarily is not the abundant life that Jesus offers. Healthy fear is wise, but it depends on the details.

We might know all this on the surface, but how often do we outright reject any guidance about anxiety or fear that conflicts with the Word of God? Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples how He gives us His peace, and that we should let ourselves be troubled. This peace here is the Hebrew word shalom, which means wholeness, well-being, and prosperity, with a right relationship with God. And this is not mere worldly peace that someone has when things are going well— it’s peace that’s internal, supernatural, and independent of circumstances.

(2-B) Saying no to the thief of worldly worry

Let’s think about what this looks like in practice, when the expenses or debt are larger than the income, and the Word can very easily get pushed aside by worldly thinking. Those oppressing thoughts of “how will this ever work out” and “what if?” come in like a thief, stealing our peace, well-being, and time. With it might come the conscious or subconscious lies that we’re bad to have allowed this to happen, and that we need to grab hold of everything tightly, putting God to the side. But, instead, we must say, “stop—I will not live by lies, but by the Word of God”. And the Word says that I am righteous because of Jesus, and that God Himself helps the righteous (when I believe and let Him).

It might be hard to see in the moment, but do you noice the oppression here coming from the worldly way of thinking, and the freedom that’s being offered by Jesus? It’s not natural or easy to let God help us, especially when we’re the ones that caused the problem. The battle might be between “this situation looks impossible to fix,” and “I am truly saved by Jesus and entitled to His shalom.” And our ability to fend off the lies depends on all the previous time we’ve spent with God.

(2-C) Saying yes to the “secret” of abundance

We obviously won’t be perfect in handling any of this, and things probably won’t happen as we wish. God is the authority, and He is not just helping us in the moment, but sovereign, and considering our future and the lives of everyone else in the world. There is also the Enemy who is working against us and who we must pushed back and defended against. So even when we grow in faith and gain more peace, the challenges might continue, for a variety of reasons. And something else will probably come up after a present challenge is resolves.

But the salvation and life that Jesus talks about is greater than any one situation or resolution. It’s about the experience of walking life through with Him, and experiencing His love and power, as He helps us get through things and we go “from strength to strength”. It’s about going from “this looks impossible” to “this is impossible for me, but God will help me, and it will turn out great.” And it’s about experiencing that thrill of seeing Him help us and expecting the help the come—so much that this is a normal part of life. That’s some of the sozo salvation and abundant zoe life that Jesus was talking about. And that’s when we truly live free from worldly thinking.

(3) Application

Reject worldly lies and claim more of what’s yours through Jesus, with this Application. These questions connect this content to your life and make it stick. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) The decision towards more abundance

Build Up Your Mind with Biblical Meditation

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 30 May 2026 09:01:37 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

This week we’re going back to the incredibly important topic of biblical meditation. Last week we looked at how us “letting go” of God’s job increases our faith and life. This week is about grabbing hold of things in a crucial and transformative way—the development of our minds (and faith). I’ve written about meditation before, but this presents things from another angle, and with an improved structure.

And, I often link a Plesson to some current events, but meditation applies to everything you might be dealing with. On the flip side, it’s about putting peripheral events to the side, and building up our life.

(Finally, the new website development continues. More on that later.)

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates (hagah: to mutter, speak, study, talk) day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:2-3 (NKJV) (my added Hebrew notes)

It’s like free “mind surgery,” with God, and with time and effort being the main costs. What if we thought of transforming our minds like we think of transforming our bodies or our finances, with planned goals, routines, and tracking? We prioritize many parts of our life, but how do we manage our minds?

(1) Overview

(1-A) The mind can be worked out also

Do you read the Bible, listen to teachings, and read books, but still have substantial negative thoughts and feelings? People are very familiar with the principle of working out our bodies, but how often do you think of this practice as it pertains to your mind and spirit? And isn’t the mind even more important than the body, because it drives everything? Here, take a step towards a mind transformation that can positively impact everything in your life.

The practice of meditation could be given much more emphasis in teachings, and in the church in general. We know about it, and many people refer to it as foundational part of the faith walk as something important we do while reading and studying the Bible. But there could be more detailed and even quantified instruction about meditation, and about the importance of speaking the Word more broadly.

(1-B) The non-invasive “surgery” of hagah

Meditation is a central biblical practice that enables people to think and live according to the Word, and stay close to God. Hagah is a well-known word and teaching in the Old Testament, and it means to get God’s Word in you by speaking it on repeat, like in a mutter, as you declare it and believe it. In Psalm 1, we see how meditating (hagah) “day and night,” on God’s law, leads to good success in everything. The “day and night” is a poetic way to say continually or constantly, and law, for us, can be thought of as instruction or ways. In the New Testament, hagah has been supplanted by other Greek words for mind renewal, and the New Covenant emphasizes renewal through relationship. But we are meant to be constantly renewing and guarding our minds, with the help of the Holy Spirit. (See the Bible commentary at the bottom for more on the New Testament meditation words.)

Let me suggest that if the church was more aware and intentional about practicing hagah meditation, we would see a widespread transformation and a substantial decrease in all sorts of negative psychological issues. I speak from the experience of having overcome almost half a lifetime of deep anxiety, with the Word of God, revelation from God, and a speaking routine. It’s like free “mind surgery,” with God, and with time and effort being the main costs. What if we thought of transforming our minds like we think of transforming our bodies or our finances, with planned goals, routines, and tracking? We prioritize many parts of our life, but how do we manage our minds?

(1-C) Taking the next step intentionally

You might read all this and think, “Ok, but where do I start?”. Psalm 1 speaks in generalities, and the Bible doesn’t speak directly into my situation and my specific negative thoughts? You might have many of issues to deal with, like many people do, and not know how to apply Scripture to precisely what you need. For example, you might need to fully let go of something in the past that keeps pulling on you, or believe for a certain business success, or help your child tackle this crazy world with wisdom. How can we align the many complex modern needs to a regular constant meditation practice?

Well, there is a lot to getting biblical meditation right, but my goal here is to help you take a step towards being more intentional about it. Success with biblical meditation depends on knowing what you need in the Word, having an understanding and even revelation about it, spending enough time with it, making the choice to truly believe it, following the Holy Spirit, and then walking out what you’re speaking. But here, in this Plesson, try taking a step with the following:

Identify the key mind transformation you would like. Pray and try to get guidance or confirmation from God, as necessary.
Research which Scripture applies to it, and learn about those Scriptures. Pray and get revelation. This is a crucial part that comes from God and our relationship with Him.
Set aside ample time each day to speak those Scriptures, and do it for at least a week. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is the bare minimum.
As you speak, listen to the Holy Spirit, see what resonates, and focus on that.
Remember the meditation throughout the day, and speak or “whisper it” whenever you can, especially during situations that need it.

(2) Experience

(2-A) Imagine the possibilities

Let me again suggest that if more people understood how biblical meditation could transform their mind, and did it well, they could take a great deal more territory in life. It is emphasized by teachers, ministers, and prophets to some degree, but it’s often a simple, “meditate on the Word” instruction, with little else about the how. I’ve heard about a number of high-profile and amazing people of God who, for example, still struggle with depression. But I’m here to tell you that this depression and much more can be removed by effectively “rewiring” the mind with biblical meditation.

Meditating on the Word transforms life, because the Word transforms life. It changes our mind “back” to what God says about us, and about what is true, period. And it changes us so that we can interact with God more, receive more from Him, and do more for Him. Psychology has shown how effective Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is, and modern studies in neuroplasticity are amazing. But the Bible has taught this for millennia. And biblical meditation doesn’t just marginally improve life, like CBT, but heals thoroughly, and connects us to God.

(2-B) Considering what we consume

Maybe you’re a person who reads the Bible regularly, listens to it in an app, watches teaching videos, or reads Christian books. You care deeply about God, the Kingdom of God, and your life success. But within all that, how much do you devote to speaking the Scriptures you need on repeat, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for an extended period of time, daily? Have you considered the results of shifting some of the time spent learning knowledge, to speaking the knowledge so that it gets deep into your soul and spirit?

Think about the basic experience of listening to a teaching video, reading a book, or even simply reading the Bible, versus the practice of actually getting a cruicial piece of truth deep into yourself. We are constantly consuming knowledge, whether it be for work, on social media, or in conversations. But how often do we direct the best knowledge to actually get into us for the long term. And how often do we seek out and prioritize that knowledge intentionally?

(2-C) Choosing the right knowledge

We still obviously need a lot of knowledge from all these sources. Professional and personal success depends on it. And “underneath” that is the biblical knowledge, understanding and wisdom that determines how we select and process the secular. All that feeds into the many Scriptures we’re living by and meditating on. So knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are very important, with wisdom at the top.

But, that being said, let’s be judicious with our time, and with what enters and becomes a part of us. How much of our daily diet is composed of knowledge and chatter that doesn’t have much benefit, or even harms us? Conversely, what content is actually benefiting us, and are we activelly getting it into our minds, so that it stays there long-term? We are what we eat. That applies to the mind and spirit, as well as the body.

(3) Application

Work out your mind with the these questions and connect all this to your life. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What’s your desire?

The Crucial "Let It Go" Principle that Enables Faith

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 23 May 2026 09:01:05 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

Hear More of God’s Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

Have you seen this story this week about how Gen Z is booing AI talk at graduations and other places? Does it surprise you? The AI disruption continues to unsettle many people, but we can navigate it like any uncertainty, with faith. And it’s a great lens through which to see what faith looks like.

On another note, Plaitra’s new site development continues. It’s a huge undertaking with a site that will revolutionize how Bible study and application is done. For another brief preview, imagine going from reading and listening to applying more of it in detail, and then connecting what you do to your results.

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

For we walk by faith (pistis: relational trust, in the character and promises of God), not by sight (eidos: outward, visible appearance of things). 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) (my added Greek notes)

However, faith is there on the other side of analysis, and someone who is skilled at walking with God knows what to analyze, and what to “let go” of. Interestingly, this has become visible in various ways as people grapple with AI, needing faith about their future on one hand, and not wanting AI to replace their analytical skills on the other.

(1) Overview

(1-A) “Let go” when necessary

Take a step towards greater faith by letting go of the “how” of things turning out well—and just believing that they will. Faith is the currency of our relationship with God, but it can be difficult to realize in our highly analytical, secular, and complex world. Nevertheless, Jesus calls us to live in a way that’s more connected to Him, than to all the analysis and logic. See how this comes to life in the midst of the current AI challenges, and get a new faith revelation for your life.

Analysis, knowledge and understanding are important, necessary, and good parts of everyone’s life. The Bible tells us to seek knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. However, faith is there on the other side of analysis, and someone who is skilled at walking with God knows what to analyze, and what to “let go” of. Interestingly, this has become visible in various ways as people grapple with AI, needing faith about their future on one hand, and not wanting AI to replace their analytical skills on the other.

(1-B) It’s walking by faith, not sight

But this can be corrected when we take in and apply a key quality of faith—the part that requires us to be more connected to God, than to the details of the results. Biblical faith is a quality defined by leaning our full weight on God’s character (wrt the Hebrew aman), or a radical, relational trust in the character and promises of God (wrt the Greek pistis). And God knows the how of the result, not us. This is shown in many Scriptures, including 2 Corinthians 5:7 where Paul writes “For we walk by faith (pistis: relational trust, in the character and promises of God), not by sight (eidos: outward, visible appearance of things).” In other places, Jesus explains how results are like plants that just grow, if the soil is good—and we are the soil.

How might this look like if we apply it to the whole AI disruption, in the case of someone who is afraid about job replacement? It’s a good example because walking through AI’s societal changes with peace requires the faith that God will align circumstances for our good, while still needing to do a lot of career analyis. At the heart of it, it simply means believing that things will work out for our good, even though we might not see how. This includes gaining knowledge and doing what we can to align our work to thrive alongside the AI. But the key is to keep the details of the results “at a distance” in our minds—while staying close to God.

(1-C) Navigating the complexities

But practically, the challenge often comes in as we’re the middle of the work and the planning. Paul wrote to walk by faith to a church in 1st century Corinth, within the broad theological context of life, death. How does one lean on and trust in God’s character when it comes to the work we’re responsible here, right now? It’s easier to just believe a seed will produce a plant, than to just simply believe a career shift will work out well—as we’re in the middle of analyzing it all.

There is a lot that can be said here, but let me highlight the one central principles that makes the faith hold up through complexity—a relationship with God that is rooted in and fortified by the Word. If we have enough of the Word in us, and if we have constant access to the Holy Spirit, work stresses will only get so far in our minds. The Word and the presence of God needs to be put in there ahead of time, and then it becomes like a foundation on which all other thoughts operate. That relational trust in God needs to be stronger than the “how will this work our” thoughts. The how is up to God. It’s up to us to keep our soil filed with the Word.

It’s still hard, and people ask, “what exactly do I let go of,” or “what exactly is my part, and God’s part?” That can follow with “I am the steward of my life, and responsible for my actions and decisions.” These things get revealed with the walk, but let me suggest some guardrails and tips:

If there is worry, we’re probably trying to do God’s job.
If there is carelessness, we might be thinking God will do our job.
The more time we spend in study, meditation, and prayer, the easier all this gets.

(2) Experience

(2-A) Seeing our part and God’s part

Let’s see what some of this AI career uncertainty might look like, as someone tries to have greater faith in the midst of this potential incoming disruption. On one hand, we know we need to trust God and stay calm, and on the other we’re faced with the reality of what’s in the news. We need to believe that God will align things so that we will continue well in our career, while doing what we can to align our work with the AI realities.

Again, part of the faith success depends on letting go of exactly how things will turn out. And with that, it helps to see what we need to do and what we need to rely on God for. In the background, it’s good to remember that God knows everything that’s going on with AI, is not bound by time, and has already gone ahead of us to make a way. He also has every angel at His disposal to move things for our benefit, according to His Word, as we believe and pray. On the other side of things, He wants us to do our part, in peace. And there is the Enemy, who will try to make us afraid for our economic future, and it’s our job to manage our mind.

(2-B) Taking it day by day

So let’s say someone hears about a new round of layoffs in their industry, because of the AI job displacement, as they’re trying to provide for their family and realize the faith that should be bringing peace. On one hand is the need to learn about what’s coming and figure out the path that will keep them valuable, and on the other hand is the need to believe that God is arranging their path. The person can see how AI is now starting to do much of what they spent 10 years learning, and it’s hard to imagine what they can do to maintain the same career or standard of living. But Bible reading and meditation gets more of the “it will all come together” thoughts in there, as the Holy Spirit also guides the planning with various ideas and realizations.

The key thing to attain here, is to do our part of the career development, day by day, while kind of letting go of the broader picture. It’s the skill of taking things one day at a time. God knows all the details and we learn to trust Him. So on any one day, this person works on something towards the career advancement, but then lets it go and spends time with God. That time with God puts in more of the “things will work out” thoughts, through a variety of Scriptures. This in turn reduces the anxiety of the situation, making the work more effective.

(2-C) While leaning on God

And, again, when in the middle of it, it can be hard to control the thoughts and figure out what’s work and what needs to be left to faith. The act of doing our part gets all those “how-to” details into our mind, as we wrestle with it and try to figure it out. For example, trying to figure out a somewhat different future career approach involves studying the “how” of the results. But then, in faith, we’re not supposed to be concerned with the “how” of the results.

The “secret” to all this is that the Bible study, meditation, and prayer, creates a mind that can handle working on that analytical task, by doesn’t really get too affected by it. It’s like a tree that’s deeply rooted in a particular set of beliefs and a wind of stress isn’t going to do much to it. The deeper the roots, the less effect the wind has on it. The Hebrew aman word for faith means we’re doing whatever task, while already leaning on God. So, in this case, the faith of things working out work-wise is the foundation or starting point in our mind. The details of the AI related task are important to our success, but they shouldn’t determine our confidence in our success. The success needs to be a sure thing, come from God, and not be determined by any one task.

(3) Application

Take your faith to the next level with the help of these questions, that connect all this to your life. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) Your next level of faith

Reframe These Trials and Hardships as a Step-Up

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 16 May 2026 09:01:17 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some other recent posts:

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

The world continues to be on edge, and the reports are that many people are feeling weariness, anxiety, and even torment about their lives. That’s what various pastors are saying. But when we walk with God, fight, and try to do the right things, we actually gain much more than the pain of the hardship. The more we realize this, the more strength and joy we’ll have, on our way to the victory.

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agapaó: love in its highest form) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileó: friendly / brotherly love) You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agapaó) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileó) You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (phileó) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileó) You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17 (NKJV) (my added Greek notes)

Maybe you made a mistake like Peter, and didn’t live up to who you thought you were. Or maybe you faced an unexpected crisis or closed door, after which there doesn’t seem to be a way out, like when the authorities came to take Jesus. Or maybe you have to deal with accusatory or critical people, like Jesus’ accusers that night.

(1) Overview

(1-A) Defying convention

Let’s shift the mindset we often have about our trials from common discouragement and frustration, to an uncommon encouragement and strength. And by the way, I’m speaking to myself also. We often understand that the trials we go through when fighting develop us, but it’s sure hard to think that way in the moment. Here, lets take in the maybe familiar story of how Peter got restored after his famous failure, and apply it to what might be going on now.

There is a common tendency to think that when something isn’t going according to plan, it’s fundamentally a bad thing. This is especially true in our feel good culture that desires instant gratification, and often misses the deeper meaning of things. To give a specific and interesting example, it’s conventional wisdom to think that the extended Iran conflict is a bad thing, because it’s causing economic hardship. But how many times have you thought about the good that might be going on under the surface, as our leadership deals with this?

(1-B) God transforms and redeems

Let’s learn from Peter, and how his trials and oppositions were a step-up for his future, by examining his moment of restoration. Peter was one of the closest and devoted disciples, but failed in faith, faced harsh rebuke, and painfully denied knowing Jesus. But it was all to raise him up for ministry. And at the famous beach scene Jesus carefully restored him by asking if he loved Jesus and telling him to take care of his church. When Jesus asked about Peter’s previously confident love (using agape), Peter now replies humbly and realistically with a lower love (philia). It’s then Jesus gives him his assignment, to take care of and administer his church.

What if we looked at our painful moments more as just a step-up towards our future, despite our failures or hardships? Peter didn’t know his future when he ran away in pain after He denied Jesus. And he probably focused on how bad his denial was. What is going on in your life now, that you might see as a hardship, but that is just a part of your preparation journey? And maybe you see people that are struggling, that you see as a fundamentally negative thing, when it could be just God raising them up? To return to the example above, I myself wonder about how God is transforming various people in the administration as they navigate this whole Iran situation.

(1-C) Looking at what we get

We might have to think about things a bit if we’re to apply Peter’s trials and restoration to our lives. He was a 1st century fisherman and apostle who was trained directly by Jesus; we’re living in a complex and fast-paced modern era with hardships all around. You might look at Peter’s restoration and wonder what it has to do the trials of a challenging client or distant child. Peter’s denial of Jesus was a glaring failure with a clear restoration; you might be handling many challenges where it’s hard to see what’s really going on.

But more takeaways can get revealed if we strip away the complexities around us, and dare to look at the “inside” of what God does. There might be huge differences between a 1st century fisherman and a 21st business person or parent. But many of the core inside qualities that God needs from us are constant across millennia. Peter’s trials gave him humility, wisdom, faith, as well as the ability to not lean on his own understanding. That’s some of what God needs from everyone he promotes.

And I realize these might be conventional points that are not exciting or easy to take in. That’s because they’re not easy to get. And that’s why they’re so valuable, and often rare. The way to get stronger through the pain or frustration, is to think about what you’re getting, not loosing. And the way to get there is to meditate on the reality of what God is doing, joining the Word with your situation. Here are some options:

Everything that happens is for my good, or a variation of this. (Romans 8:28)
I get double for my trouble. Thank you God. (Isaiah 61:7)
These are just the verses that these phrases come from. Overall, this is a large theme in the Bible and part of God’s loving and redemptive nature.
(These also assume you’re ultimately walking with God / seeking Him for your life.)

(2) Experience

(2-A) The trouble of limited vision

It can be easy to think about hard experiences in a negative way, especially when we’re in the middle of them. A lot of that probably has to do with things not going our way. We also typically want comfort, at least according to plan. So, in the middle of trials and hardship, it’s often the pain or frustration that takes center stage. Logic about the bigger picture is harder to hold on to.

And a main reason for the tunnel vision is that we don’t look at the bigger picture. And we can’t see much of it even if we tried. Life is hard, and we’re the ones walking through it, dealing with the now. And the Enemy is very good at manipulating our thoughts and emotions inside a bubble, and towards what we want. You probably already know Peter’s story, but how often to do you reflect on it, or a similar one, to think about why your trials have been good?

(2-B) Mistakes, crises, or criticisms

What’s a common situation where you get pressed by the Enemy? It could be something that happens often. Maybe you made a mistake like Peter, and didn’t live up to who you thought you were. Or maybe you faced an unexpected crisis or closed door, after which there doesn’t seem to be a way out, like when the authorities came to take Jesus. Or maybe you have to deal with accusatory or critical people, like Jesus’ accusers that night.

In that moment, and probably afterwards, the frustration, fear, or panic sets in, and that’s most of what you’re feeling. You might have been trained to stop, pray, meditate, and get some insight into the bigger picture. If you’re walking with God, He’s right there with you, even if you can’t see it. To you, this hardship might feel like a step down. To God, it’s a necessary learning step on your journey. You’re feeling the emotions of the moment, and you can’t see your new greater self yet.

(2-C) And emotions take over

Logically, you might know that you’re getting developed through your trials. It might be something that’s happened before, or even many times. You might have gotten mentored about it, and you see some of what God is doing in you. And you probably know that you’re going to learn some things from this experience. And you probably believe you can move past all this.

But that’s mostly logic. In the moment, when life is hard, you’re feeling the heat and probably wish you weren’t. That can easily just label the hard times as bad in your mind, and there is little bandwidth to think otherwise. That mistake is easily seen with high regret, that closed door as the wrong outcome, and that critical person’s behavior as just a painful part of life. And all this can drag you down a lot more than it should. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

(3) Application

Experience more joy and strength through the hard times with the help of these questions, that connect all this to your life. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) Reframing the situation

Hear More of God's Voice, Despite This Noisy and Deceptive World

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:19 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some recent posts:

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

This week we go from battling and protecting ourselves from nefarious spiritual forces—to hearing the voice of God. We do live in a battlefield and have to defend against what comes against us. And the foundation of that is our closeness to God.

I also thought I would do this topic amidst all the disclosure and deception news this week. Good pastors are on top of this, warning Christians about what’s coming in the disclosure space. Just as a side note, apparently 90% of UAPs are government / tech of various sorts, and 10% is demonic activity. It’s important to just be aware of what’s going on. But what’s most important is to hear and follow God in the middle of everything.

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

My sheep hear (akouō: a continual, habitual response, implying action) My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (NKJV) (my added Greek notes)

Just like us, sheep had to deal with harshness, dangers, and sickness, as they followed the shepherd. But they were kept safe and provided for—depending on who their shepherd was, and how well they listened.

(1) The Overview

(1-A) Know more, hear more, have more

This Plesson can help you hear more of God’s voice, so you can understand things better, and get more needed guidance for your life. God speaks to us in a lot of ways, including through the Word, internally, the church, nature, providence, and supernaturally. Here we’ll focus on how to hear His quiet voice amidst this noisy, deceptive, and often cruel world. See what Jesus meant by “My sheep hear my voice,” in the 1st century, and as He says it to us now. I hope you love seeing why He referred to us as sheep, and why He called Himself the good shepherd.

Noise and false voices are all around us. Dealing with deception is a top issue for Christians and frequently addressed by experts. Some of the reasons for false voices include a fractured church, a world system that pulls on us, and corruption in many spheres of society. I recently heard a famous Christian commentator I deeply admire say how he doesn’t really hear much from God on a regular basis, but desires it greatly. I was surprised and burdened about how this person loves God deeply, fights for God in the public square, but is limited in hearing from God.

(1-B) It’s about the Shepherd’s care

But let’s leave this noisy world behind for a bit, and see what Jesus said about the sheep that know His voice. This is a beautiful and fitting metaphor for how we can better hear God’s voice. Jesus spoke about this during the 1st century, to people who knew that a sheep can distinguish its shepherd’s voice among many others because of a deep relationship rooted in time, repetition, and provision. In John 10:27, Jesus says “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me,” with other deep messages about how He provides for them and gives them eternal life. This Greek word for hear is akouō, which implies a continual, habitual response, and linked with action. And it would have been understood that they follow Him because they learned it through being cared for, with consistency, and often from birth.

Does this help you see how to better hear the voice of God? How does this beautiful picture of a shepherd and his sheep compare with the many distractions and lies that we encounter on a daily basis? On one side of it, we have a cruel world with the noise of many people who don’t care about us, and on the other side, a loving Shepherd who cares deeply, and builds a relationship through repetition and faithfulness. Maybe you’re not a famous commentator, but a serious professional who also wants to hear more from God. What can you do to give more attention to the Shepherd, as He repeatedly calls to you in a soft voice?

(1-C) And the more we learn, the more we can hear

Both paths walk through the hard

But, maybe you’re thinking that we’re not sheep being led around by a shepherd, as he takes care of our every need. This metaphor can make us think of a comfortable, idyllic life, with little pain and lots of shelter. Instead, you’re probably working around the clock, whether in public or at home, and there are lot of voices you have to listen to as you do your job. You have a lot more to do than just follow a shepherd. Your life is much harder and complex than a sheep’s life.

Well, that’s partially true. A sheep’s life was also hard. Just like us, sheep had to deal with harshness, dangers, and sickness, as they followed the shepherd. But they were kept safe and provided for—depending on who their shepherd was, and how well they listened.

When Jesus said “my sheep hear my voice,” it was about normal sheep who often had to walk far through harsh terrain and weather, obey through scary narrow valleys, be protected from danger, and be cleaned from parasites. And there was the stressful shearing process once a year, after which they felt relief from the weight and the heat. A good shepherd got them through all this, and that’s how they came to trust his voice. He planned the trip, cleared weeds from patches, fought off enemies, and took extra time to care for the weak, sick, or injured ones. And the closer they were to him, the more they thrived.

The sheep have terrain, we have the Word

But, you might still wonder, how exactly can I hear God more clearly and more often? We’re not sheep that are trained with an audible voice. The Holy Spirit speaks in nudges and as an inner guiding voice. Hearing the audible voice of God is very rare.

Well, it’s interesting how the sheep metaphor seems to hold up here also. Sheep had to know the shepherd’s voice, as the terrain the shepherd led them through. They learned good terrain and bad terrain and they learned the path of the landscape to some extent. If a voice started leading them in a bad direction, they would know something is wrong. They aligned the shepherd with the right direction. For us, the right direction is the Word of God. And the more that we know and believe the Word, the more we can learn, discern, and hear the voice of the Shepherd.

(2) The Experience

(2-A) The battle for your mind

We all need to discern what’s true amidst the noise, complexity, and deception of this world. There’s all sorts of global, professional, and personal issues that try to occupy our mind. It could be the economy and how AI will affect the future, or what will become of this country, or the state of our professional and personal lives. At the heart of it, it’s about whether we listen to the voices of this world, or the voice of the Shepherd who wants to navigate us safely through it all.

And it’s a constant battle for your mind, with God’s leading on one side, and the Enemy on the other. We have the Word that tells us the truth of who God is and what He will do, and then the Enemy doing what he can to affect everyone’s mind. God wants to fill you with the faith and reason that He will provide, while the Enemy wants to make you worry or fear about whatever challenge you’re facing. You try to believe God, think according to the Word, but it’s hard to fully control your thoughts when the challenges come.

(2-B) The journey with the Shepherd

The need to hear God’s voice feels greater when you need help with something specific, or when the challenges go past a certain threshold. Maybe you’re taking a new step in life, or need help with a situation, or just want more peace. For many people, the biggest challenge is finances. If so, you might want to know what you can do to bring in more funds, or stop something that’s draining you. You might ask, “how will I make it through this God?” or “what should I do here?” Then you maybe just hope He answers as you continue charging through life.

And victory depends on whose voice you will follow. It’s like a sheep who hears and feels all the other sheep in the pen, or the strange noises in the valley, or the thunder of the sky. If the sheep is new, the shepherd guides it with treats, the tapping of the staff, or pressure from other sheep. You might hear that “how will I make it through this” voice, which then makes you spend more time meditating on the Word. What will win in this battle of the mind and heart, and how fast?

(2-C) The adversity creates the bond

And sometimes it might get very scary. Some sheep have a really hard time, especially if they joined the flock late in life and experienced bad shepherding in the past. Some people don’t have experiences with things working out, and aren’t used to hearing good voices. For example, someone who is shaken and finds it hard to trust, might cry out “how will I make it through this,” but then go on to the next thing right away. And God might have replied right away, but they can’t hear it.

But a good shepherd will give special attention to the ones who are hurt. They’ll get direct feedings, stay close to the shepherd, and get the chance to bond with him. He’ll carry them if necessary, and mend wounds with oil. He’ll meet that financial hardship in extraordinary ways, and He’ll speak to them powerfully through other people. The additional attention and provision leads to trust and obedience. Then when they ask questions, they’ll learn to listen more and more. And many of these become the leaders of the flock, that help everyone else follow. The closest bonds are built when we are saved and redeemed through adversity.

(3) The Application

Hear from God more with the help of these questions that connect all this to your life. I hope you take the next step and answer these questions for yourself. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What are you listening to?

How to Win Against the Destructive Spiritual Realm

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 02 May 2026 09:01:32 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some recent posts:

More Favor for that Challenging Situation (A free post)

We’ve seen a lot happen this week, as the world continues to shake and discourage many. There was another assassination attempt, done by someone who earlier looked like a normal and smart guy, while many Americans cheered. How could this happen? You might be sensing an underlying invisible instability to everything, as people often act like everything is ok, when it’s often just words.

Here’s a Plesson that reveals some central things about the unseen spiritual realm, and why we can get control over it. I mention the extreme current events that just happened to bring attention to what’s going on, but the focus here is to defeat whatever negative forces are interfering in our everyday lives.

I’m also making a lot of this post free for now. Again, Substack is a transitional place for Plaitra, before the comprehensive website. The focus here has been on creating the content for wide-scale coaching results, that empowers many to thrive with God. The interactive functionality and marketing is coming.

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:18-19 (NKJV)

Those thoughts were the natural reaction to the pain, and they kind of became a part of you. But there was probably a lot more happening inside your mind than just your thoughts. You might have become anxious in life in general, and assumed that’s how it will be for you. But Jesus came so you can fix all this.

(1) The Overview

(1-A) We can have more power over our lives

This Plesson is about gaining a greater realization of how your spiritual enemies are hurting your life, and how you can defeat them, through Jesus. Many Christians are taught about the spiritual realm, but often not with the details that enable the victory. Here, I hope you gain a greater understanding of why many negative things are happening in your life, and then resolve to get them out, through the authority of Jesus Christ.

It might be unpleasant to hear, but the world is essentially full of demonic forces, and most people are unaware of how they can defeat what’s trying to hurt them. Since The Fall, and especially since The Flood, various principalities roam wherever they are allowed, because the authority of this world was given over to Satan. And there is battle there between good and evil. In an extreme recent example, we just witnessed another presidential assassination attempt, by someone who’s been described as very smart, and a Christian, while many Americans cheered. Do you wonder what happened in the invisible ream, in the midst of all this?

(1-B) Jesus changed the whole game

When Jesus came, His followers were given power over demons and other principalities, and were told that this demonstrated power should be a central part of their lives. At that time, and all throughout Israelite history, guarding against demonic activity was a normal part of life. The activity then drastically flared up when Jesus arrived on the scene, because demons fight the Kingdom of God. But He started casting it all out, and said, among other things, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Jesus’ authority was a history changing event, wowing His disciples, and offering anyone who follows Him the power to do this.

If we realize what’s been given to us, and learn how it works, we can transform our lives, and be free of much of what ails us—things that we maybe think are just a regular part of life. If someone finds out about a disease, and has the means to get rid of it, they’ll probably do it, right? Well, demons are kind of like invisible diseases that many people don’t see, and do nothing about. But with Jesus, you can cast out much of that anxiety, or fear, or worry, or apathy, or unhealthy ties, or many types of sicknesses. There is a lot to learn about how to do all this, but the first step is the decision to go after it in a greater way.

(1-C) We can clean out our whole life

As you read this and hopefully consider it seriously, you might wonder, “ok, but how?” and “where do I start?” Maybe you’re aware of the realities of the spiritual realm to some degree, but haven’t heard of the people in the Christian deliverance space and the results they have. You might read how Jesus said to heal the sick and cast out demons in Luke 10, or Matthew 10, or during The Great Commission, but wonder how that applies to you now.

Well, a good place to start, is by learning why you have the power to do this, and why you don’t have to live with many of the things that cause you pain. Imagine if you understood a lot more about where that anxiety is coming from—and that it’s really not coming from you. And then imagine that you had the power to make it leave.

So here is the main point about that power. There is an invisible realm all around us, and it operates according to the authority it’s been given. The Fall gave Satan power over this world, and Jesus came and got it back. But to have Jesus’ power, you have to align your life with Him and His Word, and then you can effectively command the evil to flee.

It won’t happen overnight, because there is probably a lot that has to be corrected. For example, you must forgive others before you can command an anxiety related demon to leave. It has authority to be there unless you shift your life under God’s authority. Doing that might sound overwhelming, but when you get it into it, you might realize it’s actually not that hard. That’s because, just using the forgiveness example, Jesus will give you so much more in life than that person took from you. That’s part of learning how to live under Jesus’ amazing authority.

(2) The Experience

(2-A) It can start with mistreatment

One example of how bad spiritual forces damage our lives is through the experience of being hurt or mistreated. You can call these forces bad or evil, and I know this can be a sensitive subject. I suppose mistreatment is a part of everyone’s life so it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But, here’s what happens. Spiritual forces are allowed to enter because mistreatment is against the will of God. Then they produce all sorts of thoughts and emotions that are not of God, and we probably think it’s us.

Meanwhile, what’s actually going on is that our minds are being affected by the Enemy’s schemes, as he and his many subordinates manipulate us into thinking and believing lies. It happens through the mind, because that is the source for whatever we do, and that’s also how we connect with God. St. Augustine discussed how the “Divine Mind” is where we interact with God, and so, that’s what Satan goes after. People tend to think that they have all this control over their thinking and their lives, but that depends on whether they can reject the Enemy’s lies.

(2-B) It can turn into the trap of “it’s me”

So let’s see what happens with the example of being hurt, especially by someone close to you. The mistreatment might have happened in the past, recently, or over a long period of time. What’s most important is how it changed your mind, and spirit, making you anxious, afraid, or just expecting bad outcomes in life. Those thoughts were the natural reaction to the pain, and they kind of became a part of you. But there was probably a lot more happening inside your mind than just your thoughts. You might have become anxious in life in general, and assumed that’s how it will be for you. But Jesus came so you can fix all this.

That mistreatment didn’t come from God, nor did all the negative thoughts you’re used to. The Enemy probably orchestrated the mistreatment of the person who mistreated you, and they’re probably also operating under all sorts of lies. That doesn’t excuse things, just helps us understand. The key thing here is that your bad thoughts are not of God, so you’re not fully living under His authority when you think them. You don’t want to, and you probably don’t realize it, but your negative thoughts give authority to the Enemy. They must be stopped, and replaced by the Word of God. Then you can take authority over the spirit of anxiety that adds to your thoughts, and command it to leave.

(2-C) But Jesus came so you can have freedom

You’re probably already aware of parts of this, knowing that anxiety is not of God, and that you need to renew your mind. And you might even realize that anxiety is linked to unforgiveness, because being angry at someone is like putting that person inside you, along with all the pain and fear. So you try to have better thoughts, and you limit interaction with people who mistreat you, and there is some improvement.

But “some improvement” is not why Jesus came, and it’s not why Jesus died for you. Those thoughts you have are partially yours and partially from the Enemy, and both need to be removed from your life. Your thoughts can be changed with effective Biblical meditation. It’s like brain surgery, if you put in the work. And as you do this, you shift from living under the Enemy’s authority to under God’s authority. And that gives you the authority to cast all the evil spirits out.

(3) The Application

The Plaitra Application can help you advance in this area through a set of questions that connect this topic to your actual life. I hope you take the next step and answer these questions for yourself. Then please email plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What moves you here?

More Favor for That Challenging Situation

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:01:45 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some recent posts:

Getting More Power and Results from Meditation

Hi Everyone. This week’s post is different. It’s a more complete Plesson (A Plaitra lesson) that’s used for coaching, complete with the Application questions. This is post is also free for everyone. I hope you enjoy it.

And here’s just a note on where Plaitra is going. Imagine a site where you can go and get efficient, results-oriented, customized guidance on the Biblical knowledge and application you need. It will also be a place you can connect with others who have gone through things, and incorporate their input. Books and talks provide knowledge and direction. Plaitra connects the knowledge to your life.

(By the way, it looks like there is a different structure in this post, but it’s actually the same conceptual structure, with additional content, and edited for easier reading.)

As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.

For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 (NKJV)

There is a difference between hearing a sermon on God’s favor, and being told you have it, versus actually believing and expecting it will come through in the midst of a challenging time—with peace.

(1) The Overview

(1-A) Receiving favor in greater detail

This Plesson (a Plaitra lesson) is about getting better at receiving God’s help, in the middle of difficult situations, versus just believing in it and hoping that it will happen. Christians know they should rely on God’s favor, but then challenges come, and there is a tendency to kind of put God to the side in the midst of the shaking. Here, we address what tends to happen during hard times, and how to apply Psalm 5:12 or similar Scriptures to see things improve in greater ways.

There is a difference between hearing a sermon on God’s favor, and being told you have it, versus actually believing and expecting it will come through in the midst of a challenging time—with peace. Situations here could include staking out new business ground with uncertainty, surprise health issues, or family instability. The worldly way is to walk through challenges “in our own strength” but Christians should be good at drawing on supernatural help.

(1-B) A large shield of protection

Getting more favor comes from understanding what it is, believing that God wants to give it to us, and aligning ourselves to actively receive it. Scripture tells us how God constantly blesses the righteous, and we have been made righteous to God through Jesus. One of the ways to renew our mind accordingly, is to meditate on Psalm 5:12 by speaking, on repeat, “You, O LORD, will bless me and surround me with favor as with a shield.” To the Israelites this was a large shield of favor that provided beneficial interactions with whoever they had to deal with, economic provision, and the “breathing room” for a peaceful atmosphere despite whatever battles they were facing.

For us, this means walking through challenges, knowing that God is providing what we need in for our modern problems. The “shield” of an Israelites might have included the goodwill of a tribesman or the rain that came at the right time. For us it could mean meeting the right people at the right time or getting that financial provision on time. Christians that are good at receiving favor, shouldn’t be stressed much in the middle of hard times. They have a deep trust that they will make it through, and expect to be in a better state than before. And it’s not about perfect faith, but a close relationship.

(1-C) Seeing more of the details

The hard parts of getting this Word into our mind and spirit deal with knowing how to connect it to what is going on in our lives, especially since we also have to walk through trials and opposition. God won’t just remove issues that we have to learn to overcome. So, for example, we might wonder why things aren’t going better overall, if we’re supposed to be living with a shield of favor.

But favor from God works alongside our development, not as some panacea that removes all difficulties. God doesn’t remove consequences, but aligns them for our good, according to our ultimate alignment with Him. So a shield of favor might include a trial period through which we learn what we need to for our future. And the closer we are to Him, the more we’ll see what we need to learn, and what we should expect as part of that shield.

And it can be hard to see the favor in the midst of a trial, through pain or uncertainty. That’s when knowing and standing on the Word comes in. For example, the word for favor in Psalm 5:12 is ratson, which is closely related to other favor words, but is especially based on God’s delight in us. The theology here can be complicated, but the ratson is ultimately based on a relationship, and a large part of that is knowing God’s incredible goodness.

(2) The Experience

(2-A) Believing, through knowledge and experience

The experience of receiving favor under pressure involves walking through the challenge, and having the knowledge and faith to trust in God for His help, in the midst of the details. It’s the practice of attending to our responsibilities, while truly believing that God will align the rest for our good. We take things one step at a time, taking care of the current step as best we can, and having a deep trust that it will all work out.

Our ability to do this depends on how much knowledge we have about God’s favor and how much we’ve experienced His goodness, or even other people’s goodness. Favor is a central part of who God is, in how He blesses people who are in a covenant with Him. It’s a central teaching in the Old Testament, carried into the New Testament, and made available to us in incredible ways through Jesus. Receiving more favor comes from things like understanding its Hebrew meanings, and how Jesus made it available to anyone who draws from Him.

(2-B) It will work out, and for our good

In the example of financial difficulty, believing in favor means believing that God is aligning circumstances and people for our provision and ultimate prosperity. He’s not distant, but watching over us and our details. Believing it could mean trusting that those expenses will be paid, because God will shield us from the effects of whatever attack, even though we see the attack going on. It’s like living with a constant “spiritual cover” as the uncertainty or instability of the world gets aligned for our benefit.

And the evidence of our ability to expect favor is peace amidst uncertainty. Peace is the evidence of faith. That comes from the ability to hold on to the Word of God in the midst of a difficult situation. And a big part of it comes from having experienced God’s help with detailed timing before. The active faith comes from knowledge and relationship. So if unexpected costs come, you don’t really start worrying about how it will get paid. God knew it would happen and He has already put a solution in place.

(2-C) The choice of those moments

There will probably still be stress, even with people who are really good at this. We’re obviously not God, so we typically don’t know how the favor will come. If that surprise expense or revenue drop comes, it feels uncomfortable and maybe even scary. We want to know where the money will come from, but the details of the help are up to God.

But scary situations don’t have to turn into fear or anxiety. There is a choice to make in the moment when we get the news and when we’re dealing with it. Our minds are for us to control. Someone who is good at expecting favor, rejects the “what-ifs,” and chooses the “God will help here, His favor surrounds me like a shield” thoughts, or another variation. Then it’s about knowing the problem will be solved, while doing what we can to solve it.

(3) The Application

The Plaitra Application helps people advance in this area through a set of questions that connect the topic to actual life. I hope you take the next step and answer these questions for yourself. Then consider emailing plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).

(3-A) What do you need right now?

(3.1) What type of favor from God do you need more of in life? How much would you like to increase in your ability to believe in, expect, and receive that favor?

(3.2) Describe the situation behind why you need the favor from 3.1. Provide the relevant details of the key things that are going on here.

(3-B) What are you willing to do for it?

(3.3) What would be one or more steps you can take to increase in favor, as related to question 3.1? Be as specific as you can. Options here can include meditation on a verse or verses, learning more about it, and/or committing to changing how you about a situation.

(3.4) How do you think that your efforts in 3.3 might change the situation described in 3.2? You can include what you hope or think God might do, or not do. And try to include your well-being as a result of what might happen, or just as a result of changing your thoughts.

(3-C) How can you overcome the potential hard?

(3.5) What are some hard parts to consider here, particularly about your step in 3.3? This could include not knowing various things or the hard part of getting something done.

(3.6) What can you do to overcome the hard in 3.5? This can include taking steps to learn more about something, or making some life change, small or big.

Bible References & Commentary

This Psalm 5:21 verse is a powerful Scripture on favor, but the Bible is full of declarations and stories about it. It’s part of who God is and how He treats His people. And it’s what Jesus gives us through Him. Here are some major ones (in the NKJV):

Psalm 5:12: For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 30:7: LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

Psalm 84:11: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 139:5: You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

Proverbs 8:35: For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord.

Romans 5:17: For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

One of the ways to receive more favor is to look up the commentaries on these Scriptures, including the meaning of the words and the surrounding content. Or you can encourage yourself with Bible stories. The key is to get this Word into your mind and heart, with meditation, and then by walking it out.

Thank you for reading and using Plaitra. I invite you to engage with the content here on Substack, or email me at plaitra@substack.com.

- Anna Blaszczyk

Protection from the Invisible Enemy

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:01:51 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some recent posts:

Getting More Power and Results from Meditation

How to Keep the Mind on God, and Stay in Peace

You can also see one of my past posts about Iran here:

Encouragement for Adversity, from Iran and Beyond

This week’s post comes amidst the increased pressures of current events. I’ve heard some level headed commentators getting very nervous about the Iran conflict, and various other issues. So I wanted to address this topic of protection from worry and anxiety.

And now we see that the Iran situation might be getting resolved, at least as far as the nuclear issue goes. That gives us a chance to learn from what many people just went through. But this post isn’t about Iran. Current event here are used to explain how to keep our minds protected with the Word.

Here is an overview of the sections below:

Section 1: A greater awareness of our surroundings
Section 2: Some of the things that we worry about
Section 3: Choosing and meditating on the good
Section 4: What it looks like to get good results
Section 5: Connecting the meditation to our lives
Section 6: How Jesus is at the center of it all
Section 7: Imagining a more peaceful life

As usual, see the Bible References & Further Commentary after Section 7. Putting all that at the end makes for easier reading or listening in the Substack app. Ok, let’s get into it.

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)

And it’s the “through Christ” or “in Christ” part of Philippians 4:7 that the results here are largely based on. God’s blessings flow to us because of Christ, and the righteousness we have in Him. Faith and peace then flow out of believing this.

(1) A greater awareness of our surroundings

Lets be more aware of how opening the door to worry or anxiety can open the door to spiritual attacks—and guard our thoughts and minds accordingly. Many of us know of how various types of sin lets in spiritual opposition, but it’s easy to loose sight of how this happens in the psychological realm.

Here, we look at the case against anxiety through the lens of current events, and go through a meditation option that protects us from the invisible enemy that’s close by. Then I hope you’ll engage with the results section, where I discuss what to look for, depending on your experiences with current events and with Biblical meditation.

You might think that certain fearful thoughts or extended social media scrolls aren’t much of an issue. But just because we don’t see the things coming against us doesn’t mean they’re not there.

(2) Some of the things that we worry about

If you work or fight for the future of this country, and track the news, you’re hopefully on guard against worry or frustration. It could come from the Iran war, economic strain, cultural degradation, institutional corruption, or the growing disclosure narrative.

For example, you might have looked at these daily Iran developments, felt a constant concern about the outcome, and gotten dragged down emotionally little by little. You might have wondered how long this conflict will go on, what it will do to the economy, and what kind of difference it will actually make in Iran.

For most of us, this isn’t top of mind, especially if you’re doing fine financially and don’t have any family or friends serving in the Middle East. But it’s dangerous because the steady thoughts of concern can build up and become habitual. And, to put it plainly, demons gain authority into our minds through bad habits, and then keeping anxiety at bay isn’t so simple.

(3) Choosing and meditating on the good

There are many ways to meditate and protect ourselves from the onset of worry and anxiety. At the core, it’s about getting the right reality into our mind, and keeping the wrong things out. The example below is from Philippians 4:4-8. It’s necessary because invisible spiritual demonic activity is a regular part of life, and they can gain authority over our minds when we think contrary to God’s will.

Believing More, Receiving More

Anna Blaszczyk — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:01:51 GMT

Read this post on plaitra.substack.com or with the Substack app. To learn about Plaitra, please see the About page. To reach out, please email plaitra@substack.com, or comment on this post below.

Here are some recent posts: