In Him You Win Formatted Paperback Interior

In HIM,
You Win!

HIS BELOVED

Matrina F. Matthews

Copyright © Matrina F. Matthews 2020

Forward

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity and pleasure to
read your book. With each paragraph read, the book was
found to be very uplifting in so many ways. I was able to bond
with you the author and the difficulties in marriage, mother, and
pain of a woman. The book opened my eyes as it also helped me
understand prayer and the power of God. I was going through a
few things as I remembered your words give it to God. As a
woman we go through things in life, not allowing one’s self to let
go. More often than not, it’s much too large for us as a woman to
handle. With the motivation, you shared in your book, that helped
a great deal, prayer, and give it to Jesus.

- Tina Butler

I started reading this book and didn’t know what to expect.
However, after I begin reading, I was enlightened and, uplifted by
each word, page, and chapter. I felt the author’s pain, joy, and
revelation. You could almost relive everything she was feeling
and going through. Turning your cares, worries, and pain over to

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In Him You Win!

God isn’t always easy, but it’s the only way to experience God’s
true peace. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read your
book, and look deeper inside your heart. Love you girl, keep
inspiring those around you and spreading God’s love.

- Cleo White

After reading In Him, You Win, I'm happy and excited as to what
the LORD has done and is doing in you, Matrina. As children of
God, life happens and can occasionally throw us the unexpected.
Although the unexpected trials come In Him,You Win. This book
gives Matrina’s real-life experiences and lessons and shows how
God graciously led her through every trial and tribulation with His
Word and promises, which has equipped her to become stronger
in her faith, go to another level in self-confidence, self loved and
obtain inner peace. This book shall do the same for you as it has
for me, because of our LORD Jesus Christ, In Him You Win. Be
blessed with the word of His promises.

- Aunt An-g Bennett-Lipford

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Dedication

In Him, You Win!

This book is dedicated to every King and Queen who is going
through trials and tribulations. Know that your situation
neither defines nor dictates your outcome. That storm was meant
to take you out, but in Him He will bring you out. It is the tears
from your pain, frustration, and the uncertainty of your situation
that will propel you into seeking Him. In seeking Him through the
Word of God, you will be able to walk in the power, freedom, and
unity in Him. That will position you to win.

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In Him You Win!
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Contents

Forward .......................................................................................iii
Dedication .................................................................................... v
Contents......................................................................................vii
Revelation.................................................................................... ix
Introduction .................................................................................. 1
The Finch: The Sovereignty of God............................................. 5
The Black Birds: Change Your Mindset .................................... 11
The Fox: Be Still ........................................................................ 19
The Butterflies: The Peace of God............................................. 23
Accepting God’s Plan: Unmovable Faith .................................. 29
In Him, You Win........................................................................ 35
Declaration ................................................................................. 49
About the Author........................................................................ 53

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In Him You Win!
viii

Revelation

As we go through trials and tribulations, God will expose the
enemy and all of his tactics. It is imperative that we do not
focus on the plots, plans, schemes, spoken and written words the
enemy throws our way. The Word of God reminds us in 1 Peter
5:8 (New Living Translation), “Stay alert! Watch out for your
great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.”

You see, the enemy knows that he cannot stop what God is going
to do in our lives, but if he can distract us, throw us off focus and
the plan He has for us, or have us doubt what God has done for
our present and future, he knows that he can delay our process of
receiving and seeing the manifestation of God’s promises and
plans in our lives. The devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy
the lives of believers, but God’s purpose is that we may experience
abundant life. The Word of God reminds us in John 10:10 (New
International Version), “The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the
full.”

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As I was going through many trials and tribulations from 2017 –
2020, the Holy Spirit consistently drew me to the following
scriptures in the Bible. I medicated (to spiritually consume 3 times
a day for 30 days in order to change the way you think and what
you know) and meditated (to read, declare, think and/or not think
on a specific scripture in and over your life with thanksgiving for
knowledge, wisdom, and understanding) on these scriptures until
my mind, soul, and spirit were in alignment with the Word of God.

Ephesians 5:8 (NLT), “For once you were full of darkness, but
now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light!”

Isaiah 54:1-17 (NLT), “Sing, O childless woman, you who have
never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now
has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the LORD. “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread
out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be
bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities. “Fear not; you will no longer live in
shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You
will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows
of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD
of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you

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Revelation

back from your grief—as though you were a young wife
abandoned by her husband,” says your God. “For a brief moment
I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back.
In a burst of anger, I turned my face away for a little while. But
with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the
LORD, your Redeemer. “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I
would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that
I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may
move and the hills disappear, but even then, my faithful love for
you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the LORD, who has mercy on you. “O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and
make your foundations from lapis lazuli. I will make your towers
of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of
precious stones. I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy
great peace. You will be secure under a government that is just
and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near. If any nation comes to fight you, it
is not because I sent them. Whoever attacks you will go down in
defeat. “I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath
the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have
created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day no weapon
turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants

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In Him You Win!

of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD,
have spoken!”

James 1:2-4 (The Passion Translation), “My fellow believers,
when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see
it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that
you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up
power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance
grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of
your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

Nehemiah 8:10 (The Message),“He continued, ‘Go home and
prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those
who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad.
The joy of God is your strength!’”

Joel 2:21 (MSG), “Fear not, Earth! Be glad and
celebrate! GOD has done great things.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT), “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,”
says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could
imagine.”

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Revelation

Romans 8:28 (NIV), “And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.”

John 16:33 (New Revised Standard Version), “Here on earth you
will have many trial and sorrows. But take heart, because I have
overcome the world.”

James 1:2-4 (NIV), “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that
the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not joy
lacking anything.”

Psalm 27:14 (KJV), “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and
he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Matthew 7:5 (NLT),“Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your
own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in

your friend’s eye.”

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT), “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy,
the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for
someone to devour.”

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In Him You Win!

Psalm 23 (NLT), “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful
streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest
valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod
and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my
head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your
goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

Psalm 27 (NLT), “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so
why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me
from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to
devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will
stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart
will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most—is to live
in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the
LORD’S perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will
conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his
sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I
will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At
his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and

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Revelation

praising the LORD with music. Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be
merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and
talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Do
not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You
have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon
me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon
me, the LORD will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.
Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things
I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.
Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here
in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and
courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”

Jeremiah 1:19 (NLT), “They will fight you, but they will fail. For
I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have
spoken!”

Psalm 91 (NLT), “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about
the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my
God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and
protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his
feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises
are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of

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In Him You Win!

the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the
disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at
midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand
are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open
your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the
LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil
will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he
will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will
hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on
a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush
fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will
rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my
name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in
trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a
long life and give them my salvation.”

These scriptures helped me to keep my mind on the things above.
Those things that the Word of God promised, commanded,
decreed and declared over my life because I am a child of the Most
High. I realized that my trials and tribulations were created to
establish and elevate me. They were not there to stop me, although
at times I saw no improvements and felt stagnate. I knew without
a doubt that God was Sovereign. He would never leave me nor
forsake me. I knew He loved me from the inside out and that in

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Revelation

spite and in light of what I was seeing, feeling, and sometimes
thinking, I knew all was well because I was His daughter.
Thank you, Heavenly Father for investing in me and providing me
with insight and intuition. Thank you, Father, for the process that
allowed me to experience Your unexplainable peace that
surpasses all understanding. This process also consisted of Your
pruning and preparing me to walk into the plans, promises, and
provisions You had designed specifically for me. Placing me in
the right position to produce and be creative. And most of all
walking boldly in the authorized power, freedom and unity with
Your protection daily so that I may see and experience the
manifestation of Your Word. Father, I give You all the glory and
honor as it all belongs to You.

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In Him You Win!
xviii

Introduction

It is my prayer that as you read this book my experience will
ignite the Holy Spirit within you. That there will be a heavenly
transfer of God’s anointing on your life that will cause you to be
edified, motivated, strengthened and set free in your mind, soul,
and spirit. You will be able to fully experience the plans that God
has for your life. You will be able to walk in the freedom of God.
This freedom is the ability to live life limitlessly without restraints.
Everything that happened one second ago and beyond is
considered to be your past. The only thing you can do about your
past is forgive yourself and others and cultivate the lessons that
were learned. Outside of that, there is nothing else you can do.
However, there is a lot you can do about the outcome of your
present and future. Psalm 30:5 tells us, “For his anger endureth
but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

You see, it is okay to cry. Crying is what you will do as you
continue to live and go through the process of many trials and

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In Him You Win!

tribulations. Crying is part of the process. Crying is the releasing
cycle of your emotions from the hurt, betrayal, lies, pain,
frustration, disappointments, failure and not having the ability to
be able to fix it now. Most people cry because they are unable to
see past their circumstance and the uncertainty of their future and
situation. It is okay to get knocked down, but you cannot stay
down. It is imperative that you grab hold of the Word of God and
saturate your mind with the good news and get back up, standing
flat footed on the foundation of the Word. As you do so, you will
see that the tears from the pain, frustration, and uncertainty of your
situation has now pushed you into the authorized power, freedom,
and unity in Him. This position puts you in alignment with His
will and plans for your life that give you access to win. The Word
reminds us in 1 John 4:4 (NLT), “But you belong to God, my dear
children. You have already won a victory over those people,
because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who
lives in the world.”

Kings and Queens, you must know that when your faith is tried, it
pushes you to a place where you will employ patience. Why? In
order for you to be in Him to win, you must surrender your will to
His. Again, in Isaiah 55:8 (NLT) God reminds us, “My thoughts
are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are
far beyond anything you could imagine.” Therefore, you must

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Introduction

recognize that in order to overcome these trials, tribulations,
physical and spiritual battles you are going to have to humble
yourself and bring your fighting to an end in order for Him to
begin. It is only in Him that you will be equipped for battle to win.

What does it mean to surrender to God? To surrender to God is to
die daily to His will and way of living life. To wake up every day
and immediately with a heart of thanksgiving and a submissive
attitude toward the Father, release your thoughts, will, and plans
for the day. What does it mean to have a submissive attitude? 1
Peter 2:19-23 (TPT) states, “You find God’s favor by deciding to
please God even when you endure hardships because of unjust
suffering. For what merit is it to endure mistreatment for
wrongdoing? Yet, if you are mistreated when you do what is right,
and you faithfully endure it, this is commendable before God. In
fact, you were called to live this way, because Christ also suffered
in your place, leaving you his example to follow. He never sinned
and he never spoke deceitfully. When he was verbally abused, he
did not return with an insult; when he suffered, he would not
threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted Himself into the
hands of God, who judges righteously.”

1 Peter 19-25 (MSG), “What counts is that you put up with it for
God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s
no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve.

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In Him You Win!

But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite
of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. This is the
kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived.
He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that
it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. They
called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back. He
suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used His
servant body to carry our sins to the cross so we could be rid of
sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.
You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were
going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of
your souls.” Are you ready to submit to the Father? That is the
only way you will win.

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The Finch:
The Sovereignty of God

On the morning of July 11, 2017 at 6:15 a.m. in Southeast,
Washington, DC, I was walking my dog K.C. on a path
surrounded with trees. A small yellow bird with black wings
caught my eye as it flew into a tall tree. My eyes immediately
followed the bird as it landed on the branch. My first thought was,
someone’s pet bird flew away. I had walked this path for over 12
years and had never seen this type of bird. I went on about my
day, dropped my son off at before care and headed to work. As the
day went on, I received a call from my husband letting me know
we were going out for dinner around 6 o’clock that evening. I was
thankful because that meant I did not have to cook dinner. My
husband would select a date two or three times out of the month
to eat out with the kids.

After work, while the kids were doing their homework, I took K.C.
for her afternoon walk. Yet again, I saw the yellow bird with black
wings fly into the trees in the same spot. I looked up to heaven and

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In Him You Win!

said, “Okay, God, you have my attention. I am going to study what
this means.” My husband took us to dinner and we enjoyed our
family time.

The very next morning as I was walking K.C. on the same path,
what do I see? Yes, the small yellow bird with black wings.
Fascinated and curious, I said, “Okay, God, what are you telling
me?” By nature, I analyze things to get a better understanding of
what is being said or what is happening.

So, I started my research. What kind of bird was this? What does
it mean from a spiritual perspective? In my research, I found that
yellow birds symbolize joy and happiness. The bird that God
allowed to come across my path was the Finch. The Finch
symbolizes peaceful days on the horizon.

According to https://www.sunsigns.org/finch-bird-totem-
symbolism-meanings/ “The finch is known for being unafraid to
express what makes its heart sing. It is an outwardly jolly and
bubbly bird with many lessons to teach us. We often find ourselves
overwhelmed by negativity in our lives and thus find it difficult to
be truly and simply happy. This is where the finch comes in as the
dutiful master does for its student. The Finches as bird totems [a
symbol with spiritual significance] that reminds us of the
important attributes of joy, appreciation, high energy, positivity

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The Finch: The Sovereignty of God

and optimism, and simplicity. They also implore us to be mindful
of the Earth’s resources, careful and responsible with our diets,
and to add some variety to the monotony of daily life. Life is a
journey, and we should enjoy all the milestones along the way
instead of solely focusing on the end result.

These birds were known for being free, happy and unconcerned
with what is considered the acceptable norm. When one comes
across a finch it symbolizes a time of excitement and joyous times
on the horizon. Therefore, one could just take the time to relax a
little and be open to the great times to be had.”

Around 3:50 p.m. my daughter called me, “Mommy, what’s going
on? All of Daddy’s stuff is gone.” Yes, once the kids and I were
gone to work and school, my husband packed all of his belongings
and left. I tried calling my husband for days but got no answer. I
stayed strong in front of the kids, but once they were asleep or not
in my presence, I cried and began questioning God and myself.
No, our marriage was not perfect. We had had our great, good,
okay and yes, difficult days. We had agreed that separation and
divorce was not an option for us.

There was pain and a lack of understanding. My emotions were
running high. What I was experiencing as the woman, wife,
mother and leader devasted me physically, mentally, emotionally

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In Him You Win!

and spiritually. There was no joy and happiness in this situation.
My husband left. Would there be peaceful days on the horizon?
What were the lessons I needed to learn? The things I knew were
that my husband had been taking care of his dad in our home for
over a year, and it was as if he was losing control. His patience
had shortened and verbal tone had become unpleasant. We lost
my father-in-law that May and things got worse.

The next day at work, I prayed and worshiped to stop my mind
from racing with so many negative thoughts. I began to analyze;
okay, I saw the finch birds three times in a row while walking my
dog. What does the number three mean? During my studies, I
found that the number three pointed me to God’s sovereignty.
When I saw the word sovereignty, I got out of my chair, closed
my office door, and began to weep and thank God. I know you
may be thinking, Why? Well, sovereignty had been my password
to access all my devices and social media apps for over a year.
You see, God had spoken the word sovereignty to me an entire
year ago while I was in Wednesday night Bible Study.

If you were to look up the word sovereign in the dictionary, you
would find words and phrases like “superior,” “greatest,”
“supreme in power” and “authority,” “ruler,” and “independent of
all others.” But the way I like to explain God’s sovereignty best
is simply to say, “God is in control.” In Revelation 21:6 (NLT)

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The Finch: The Sovereignty of God

you will find, “And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha
and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty
I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” In Romans
11:33 (Easy-to-Read version), it says, “Yes, God’s riches are very
great! His wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can
explain what God decides. No one can understand his ways.”
In spite of what was going on in my life with my marriage, my
emotions, my children’s emotions, the pain, the betrayal,
frustrations, and feelings of uncertainty, I cried out to God and
made a decision to stand on the Word of God and I began to
surrender my cares to Him that His will would be done for my life.

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10

The Black Birds:
Change Your Mindset

A week or so later as I was walking my dog, I saw several
huge black birds flying high above the trees. In my studies,
I found that birds are symbolic of life in the heavens (higher path
of knowing, higher thoughts and higher intelligence), and the
color black is symbolic of pure potential. Between the two I found
that there were no limits to human transformation.

I continued to go to church as normal and on October 1st, my
spiritual Mom, Pastor Cynthia Brazelton preached a Word from
heaven, “Rekindling Your Passion for God” that instantly healed
me from emotional hurt, pain and turmoil. I felt a release in my
spirit, body and soul. It was as if the heaviness of my burdens and
cares had been released from my shoulders. I surrendered all of
my cares at the feet of God: my marriage, husband, bills, children,
and my way of thinking. I had decided that I would trust in the
Lord with all of my heart, and not lean on my own understanding.

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In all of my ways I would acknowledge Him, and I knew He would
make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Knowing that God was sovereign eased my emotions. Knowing
that He was the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
brought a peace upon my life that was and is unexplainable.
Knowing that He is immortal, and He is present everywhere so
that everyone can know Him (Revelation 21:6), brought a sense
of rest to my life. The Holy Spirit reminded me that God created
all things and holds all things together, both in heaven and on
earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).

God knows all things past, present, and future. There is no limit to
His knowledge, for God knows everything completely before it
even happens (Romans 11:33).

It was at that point I began to feed my spirit non-stop with the
Word of God, praise and worship. I spoke to God. I didn’t want
my emotions to control me, but I wanted to be in control of my
emotions. I did not want to become bitter and angry. So, for 30
days I fed my mind, soul, and spirit consistently with Bible-based
and spirit-led sermons on “Not walking in Bitterness,”
“Overcoming Anger” and “How to Overcome the Spirit of
Bitterness and Anger.” I proclaimed that as I went through this
process, I wouldn’t become bitter or angry. I would pray to God

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The Black Birds: Change Your Mindset

that His will for my life would be done. I professed the full armor
of God over my life daily.

I began to read Knowing GOD by J. I. Packer because I wanted to
know more about God. The more I drew closer to God, the more
the peace of God saturated and rested on my life. God began to
strip friends and family members from my life. I chose not to
question Him because I knew it was for my good.

During this process I asked God to help me through several things:

First, I asked God to help me to forgive my husband. I prayed and
fasted for 30 days specifically for my husband. Praying for my
husband was something I always did, but this time it was on
another level. I studied by reading books, meditating and
medicating on scriptures and listened to sermons that specifically
focused on understanding the position of a man and how men
communicate. I found that there was some untold truths about
men. I discovered that there is a clear difference between a man
vs. a male. Yes, males communicate differently from females as
they are also different biologically, psychologically, and
emotionally. I found that unlike most females, fewer males have
fathers, fewer positive voices and guidance, fewer teachers, fewer
leaders to speak to them when they are going through situations
and when they are hurting. Because of that lack of positive

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In Him You Win!

guidance and leadership, some men get lost in the process of
learning how to effectively make it out of their trials or tribulations
successfully. They are not able to see that the gift God has given
them is not their enemy but their helpmate. They do not have to
speak negative words and rip their gift apart but stand up in their
rightful position and speak life to their gift.

What does God’s Word say about the husband? Ephesians 5:25
(English Standard Version) states, “Husbands, love your wives as
Christ loved the church and gave His life for it.” I asked God to
show me and tell me about my husband’s imperfections. It was
never my responsibility to fix him but instead pray for him, love
him and respect him. I was able to see that my husband was
burdened with the task of taking care of his father and he took that
frustration out on those in our house. Once my father-in-law
transitioned, the spirit of grief took over and he decided to isolate
himself from those who had been there to support him. As God
began to show me his imperfections, I began to decree and declare
the Word of God over my husband. I denounced what I saw and
pronounced only the Word of God over my husband.

I could not let my pain distract me from the purpose that God had
on my life. I knew that God was working behind the scenes to
fulfill His plan and purpose for my life. No one is perfect. I

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The Black Birds: Change Your Mindset

forgave myself and my husband. I was now able to see my
husband from God’s perspective and give him the grace as God
had and continued to give me grace. I understood that a grown
male looks to be servered while and man looks to be of service.
Manhood and Womanhood were not based on age but a mature
mind and skill set. It was clear that I could only take ownership
of my life, but I would not take the responsibility for other
people’s decisions.

Secondly, in my studies God began to show me, me. What does
that mean? I asked God to forgive me for the known and unknown
things that I did, said and actions I took that did not line up with
His will and plans for my life as a great woman, wife, mother,
daughter, sister, leader, and friend. I came to the understanding
that I could not control what others did and said in situations; I
could only control myself and my responses to situations. I chose
to do everything in my power to fight for my marriage, family and
just be who God called me to be. I confronted my situation with
truth and love. I learned that anything you cannot confront, you
will not conquer; you have to face it, if you want God to fix It; and
what God reveals, He has given you the grace to heal. The Word
reminded me in Romans 8:37 that even in the midst of all I was
going through, God was bigger than my situations. I would
triumph over them all, for God had made me to be more than a

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In Him You Win!

conqueror and His demonstrated love was my glorious victory
over everything! Once I understood this, I began my walk as a
victor and not a victim. In Him, I was healed, made whole and
complete. Walking in and out of every situation, resting in His
peace and not being moved by what people said, thought, or tried
to do towards me and my family. Knowning who I am in Him and
how much He loves so much allowed me to come to myself and
walk in my greatest daily unapologetally. I just continued to speak
the Word and literally saw the Word manifested in my life.

What does God say about a wife? I studied Ephesians 5:22-24 that
states, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For
the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of
the church, His body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to
their husbands.” When most people hear or see the word submit,
they think about having to bow down to, or not being able to have
a voice in a situation. God creatively allowed me to see and gain
the understanding that the one instruction He gave the wife was to
submit to her husband. Not love him or find him a job.

When a wife submits to her husband, she is allowing her husband
to take the lead in family situations and the relationship.
Submission does not mean that you are weak. It is a voluntary act

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The Black Birds: Change Your Mindset

with the understanding that as you submit to your husband, he has
your best interest in mind because he submits and is seeking the
will of God for his family in every situation. Note: The ability to
submit is received and shared in a great marriage. In a great
marriage there is oneness and where there is oneness there is
equality. In other words, marriage consists of two imperfect
people committed to doing life together with love, respect, and
submission for one another and God.

Finally, I asked, “Who am I in you, God?”

In doing all of this I was able to experience the excitement of the
Holy Spirit within and received a heavenly transfer of God’s
anointing on my life that caused me to be edified, motivated,
strengthened in my mind, soul, and spirit. I found that God was in
the business of multiplying; therefore, He had to subtract some
things and people from my life. In this process God had to isolate
me before He could elevate me. Because I desired to walk in the
authorized power, love, and a sound mind, I was now able to see
things from God’s perspective. This allowed me to forgive
myself, my husband, and everyone else the enemy was using to
keep me distracted from experiencing the plans that God had for
my life.

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In Him You Win!

I am not perfect and I do not try to be. As there is no perfection
in the flesh. I am a work of art and His masterpiece, uniquely
handpicked and formed by Him. As long as He breathes the breath
of life in me, I will continue to grow daily.

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The Fox:
Be Still

On September 11, 2017, after having a conversation with my
sister, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me and directed me to
humble myself and be quiet. I was determined to humble myself
and not interject my opinion for thirty days. In spite of what I was
feeling and seeing, I chose to hold my peace and be quiet. God
had given me a glimpse of so many things. I was at a point in the
process where I did not know what needed to be done, what He
was doing, and what ought to be said. Therefore, I needed to be
quiet and let God be God. Letting God accomplish what He
wanted to do without my help.

On September 13, 2017, a young fox caught my eye as I was
walking my dog on the trail. It came out from the woods, stood in
the middle of the path, looked toward us, then ran back into the
woods. Without hesitation, I said, “Okay, God, what are you
telling me?” I found in my studies that if a fox made its
appearance in your life, the solution to a problem was at hand. The

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In Him You Win!

fox’s spirit was the grand problem solver. It would guide you to
solitude and silence until the way out was shown. A healthy
combination of persistence and patience would strike a balance
that picked apart a problem until it was solved.

This experience caused me to be still and develop a sharpness of
my mental skills. The analytical intelligence, power of deduction,
and observation all came into play more powerfully. It provided
me with the ability to now deal with daily matters or bigger
projects from God’s perspective.

Let God accomplish what He wanted to do in my situation.
Worship Him and allow Him to reveal the solutions and do what
He wanted to do in me. The battle was not mine; it was the Lord’s
to handle. Where He was taking me—God wanted me to shut my
mouth. God had called me to an isolated place in the process so I
could develop and mature.

In Psalm 46:10, God reminds us to “Be still, and know that I am
God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the
earth.” So, to be still means to stop striving, stop trying to resolve
the problem, stop trying to prove you are right, stop fighting and
just relax. It literally means to take a deep breath, exhale and speak
to the Father, “Lord, I choose to give you everything known and
unknown that is weighing me down; not my will, but your will be

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The Fox: Be Still

done.” Begin to meditate and medicate on the Word of God.
Praying and humbling yourself allows you to come to the end of
yourself (let go), so that God Almighty can begin a new thing in
you (take over). You cannot hold on to a situation that you want
God to handle. In other words, let God be God all by Himself.

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In Him You Win!
22

The Butterflies:
The Peace of God

During this journey God allowed me to encounter an unusual
number of butterflies for a long period of time. In my
studies, I found that butterflies are deep and powerful
representations of life. Many cultures associate the butterfly with
our souls. Some say that seeing butterflies is a symbol of
resurrection. Around the world, people view the butterfly as
representing endurance, change, hope, and life.

I remember on many occasions while driving on the highway,
butterflies would fly directly across my front window. It was as if
they were saying, “We are here.” I would literally see them come
and go until I reached my destination. These butterflies were
always large in size and most often yellow with black trim on the
edges of the wings and black spots or black and brown. Every
time butterflies would come around me, I would encounter a
heavy presence of God’s peace. I would see butterflies on a daily

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In Him You Win!

basis, especially on the path where I walked my dog and around
my house.

On Sunday, September 22, 2019 at around 5:15 p.m., I was
cooking dinner and I heard my two youngest children scream,
“Mommy, come here, come here! God is speaking. Hurry up.
Come.” I ran up the stairs to see what the children were talking
about. As I walked into my bedroom where the children were,
they pointed out a huge black butterfly with yellow spots and a
broken wing on my window screen. We all were excited and
admired the details of the butterfly. I prayed to God, “Speak Lord,
your servants are listening.”

I went on to finish preparing dinner. After eating and preparing
for school and work the next day, my son said, “Mommy, it’s dark
and the butterfly is still on the screen, but it closed its wings.” At
10:00 p.m. the butterfly was still there. When we woke up at 5:00
a.m., the butterfly was still there. When my son and I left out at
6:30 a.m., the butterfly was still hanging on. When my daughter
left out for school around 8:00 a.m., the butterfly was still hanging
on the screen. When we returned from work and school that
evening the butterfly was gone.

There is nothing like the peace of God. As I surrendered my life,
marriage, husband, children and will to God and began to glorify

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The Fox: Be Still

Him, it caused me to say, “Father God, You will be glorified. You
will be lifted high. Father, we know that Your pleasure and peace
rest upon those who receive Your Son by faith (John 1:12). Since
we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Peace with God means that
our great sin debt has been paid and God sees us as righteous
(Colossians 2:14; Romans 3:22). We are no longer enemies, but
His beloved children (1 John 3:2). His holy nature can have
fellowship with us because He sees us “in Christ.” In Philippians
4:7 (NIV) it says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.” Colossians 3:15 states, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.”

You see… while going through trials and tribulations, God our
Father will give you the peace that exceeds all understanding in
every known and unknown situation and battle that you face
physically and spiritually. The Holy Spirit within you will guard
your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Desire to have the mind
of Christ and daily put on the helmet of salvation.

Because you have the mind of Christ, you will begin to see people
and your circumstance from God’s perspective. In doing so, you
won’t see sickness and disease, you will see the blood of Jesus that

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In Him You Win!

has healed. You won’t see lack. You will see prosperity. You
won’t see hate. You will see love. You won’t see defeat. You will
see victory. You will see life more abundantly. Remember, you
are a child of the Most High God and because of that you are not
a victim; you are a victor in every situation.

Do you want to experience the peace of God? Bow before God
daily in honor of Him and all that He has done. Submit yourself
to Him and let the peace of Christ Jesus rule in your hearts because
you have been counted as a member of the body of Christ. Christ
has called us to peace and we must be forever thankful.

His Word is called the Gospel of Peace. In Proverbs 3:2 it reminds
us that God will give us a long and good life and it will give us
peace. God is so good that He took the initiative in pursuing peace
with us by sending His Son to Earth. Jesus lived a perfect life.
His crucifixion paid for the sins of all who would trust in Him
(Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21). His resurrection guaranteed
our justification before God (Romans 4:25). Thank you, Jesus for
being the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the One who gives us
peace with God.

Having peace with God means our consciences are clear (Hebrews
10:22; Titus 3:5). The overwhelming weight of guilt that plagued
us all is gone and placed on Jesus on the cross (Colossians 2:14; 1

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The Fox: Be Still

Peter 2:24). The shame that we rightly felt for the wicked deeds
we had done were carried by Jesus. God our Father chose to adopt
us as His own children and invited us to “come boldly before the
throne of grace” to commune with Him and we can ask for what
we stand in need of (Hebrews 4:16). I encourage you to live in an
ongoing attitude of repentance so that no sin will take root to defile
you again (John 3:3; Romans 6:1–4).

His peace allows us to live without fear of death or eternity. Our
hope is secure in the knowledge that Jesus has done all that was
necessary to make us right with God (Matthew 5:17; John 3:16–
18). God’s peace gives us the assurance that those friends and
family members who have taken their last breath on Earth, have
also taken their first breath in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Luke
16:22). The Holy Spirit has been given to us like a promise ring.
A certainty that a greater event will surely take place (2
Corinthians 1:22; 5:5). Right now, the Holy Spirit lives within us
to guide, convict, comfort and remind us of Jesus’ completed
sacrifice on our behalf (John 14:16–17; 16:8–11; 1 Corinthians
3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 1:13–14).

God created us to live in peace with Him. We do not worry about
anything. Instead, we pray to God about everything. Know that
God hears our prayers and helps us. God’s Word reminds us that
He will give us peace in our minds. That peace is so great that no

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In Him You Win!

one can completely understand it. If you have any kind of trouble
in your mind, give it to God. God has promised to take care of
you. 1 Peter 5:7 (TPT) reminds us to, “Pour out all your worries
and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly
cares for you.”

As we go through these times of trials, tribulations and
uncertainty, we trust You, God. We rely only on your Word and
we shall continue to look unto the hills, from whence cometh our
help for we know that our help comes from you. Looking unto
you puts us in a posture of reverence to you. That we may
experience the manifestation of your indescribable, heavenly
anointing and God-given peace.

Because God is Almighty, we will never be defeated. Even when
the enemy uses your family, friends and others to plot your demise
because you know who you are and whose you are, you can now
walk in your authorized God-given power, freedom and unity in
Him, speaking only the Word. Firmly standing flat footed on the
Word, not being moved or shaken in your mind, emotions or heart
but giving God praise and worship that you win.

28

Accepting God’s Plan:
Unmovable Faith

In order to live out a life of no regrets we must accept God’s
plan for our lives. God is a good Father, and He reminds us
that in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for
you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.”
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew
16:18 EVS)
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will
never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 EVS)
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot
be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with
reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28 EVS)

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In Him You Win!

Jesus lived a perfect life. His crucifixion paid for the sins of all
who would trust in Him (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and
His resurrection guarantees our justification before God (Romans
4:25). Our hope is secure in the knowledge that Jesus has done all
that was necessary to make us right with God (Matthew 5:17; John
3:16–18).
Because we have accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
we must live out what we know with the God-given authority that
we have as children of the Most High God. We have to know that
we are blessed and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with
Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

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Accepting God’s Plan: Unmovable Faith

Say this prayer with me:

Father, I agree and stand unmovable in faith, and I thank
you, that I am a child of the Most High, and on this rock,
the Rock being my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God, you
have built your church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.

Jeremiah 1:19 reminds us, “And they shall fight against
thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with
thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee.”

Jeremiah 1:19, (NIV) states, “They will fight against you
but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will
rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:19, (NLT) says, “They will fight you, but they
will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I,
the LORD, have spoken!”

Therefore, no matter what battle you face physically or
spiritually, the Word of God reminds you to put on the full
armor of God, so that you can stand against all the
strategies of the devil. I decree and declare the Word of
God in Ephesians 6:12 (NIV), “For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

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In Him You Win!

authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Romans 8:38 (NIV) states, “I am convinced that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature… How then could evil
prevail against me or disease infect me? Nothing can ever
separate me from God’s love.”

Lord, thank you for Psalm 91:11-14 (TPT). God sent
angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap,
they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling.
You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of
darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
For here is what the Lord has spoken to you: Because you
have delighted in Him as your great lover, He will greatly
protect you. Therefore, absolutely nothing shall prevail
against you, it will not overcome you, it will not conquer
you and it cannot overpower you.

So, stand flat footed on the Word of God and trust Him
only. Your unmovable faith totally rests in knowing that
the Almighty God is with you. He is forever present, and

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