Living in Surrender, Not Chaos

Recently, I signed up for inner healing. In just two weeks, I completed three sessions, and a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. I took notes along the way, and I now prayerfully share them, hoping that together we can help moms live a life of surrender rather than chaos.

Action Steps: Living in Surrender, Not Chaos (adapted from Joon Shortell, Orbis Ministry)

1. Start Each Day in Surrender

  • Begin with: “Lord, today is Yours—Your mercies are new.”
  • Ask: “How do I walk with You today, not by myself?”
  • Choose trust over fear: fully rely on Jesus, not your own strength.

2. Establish Daily Worship

  • Worship shifts the atmosphere—chaos loses power in God’s presence.
  • Create a rhythm: morning and night worship.

3. Build Your Prayer Altar (Daily Habit)

  • Set aside intentional time with God every day.
  • This is your personal “altar” (inspired by the teaching of John Mulinde).
  • At your altar:
    • Pray
    • Listen
    • Receive wisdom and strategy
  • Over time, your home becomes a place of God’s presence.

4. Invite the Holy Spirit Into Every Situation

  • When chaos comes, pause and ask:
    • “God, what is this? Give me wisdom.”
  • Even when life feels overwhelming, declare:
    • “This is not from God.”
    • “God is a God of order, not chaos.”
  • Expect Him to answer.
  • With the Holy Spirit present, chaos becomes clarity.

5. Recognize Spiritual Battles (Not Just Natural Ones)

  • Rooted in the Epistle to the Ephesians (chapter 6):
    • We don’t fight what we see—but what is unseen.
    • Ask:
      • “Is there a spiritual blockage?”
      • “What is preventing connection, peace, or breakthrough?”

6. Pray Specifically for Breakthrough

  • Ask God:
    • “What is the root?”
    • “What spirit is influencing this situation?”
  • Then pray directly against it.

7. Pray With Authority in Jesus‘ Name

  • Don’t just observe problems—speak against them.
  • Pray:
    • Against fear, trauma, grief, confusion
    • Against anything blocking unity or healing
  • Declare:
    • “I break this in the name of Jesus.”
  • Example areas:
    • Trauma → pray healing
    • Division → pray unity
    • Legal/custody issues → pray favor and justice

8. Take Authority Over Your Home

  • Your home is your God-given territory.
  • You are spiritually responsible for its atmosphere.
  • Practical steps:
    • Pray over each room
    • Dedicate your home to God
    • Declare: “Any darkness is not welcome here.”

9. Bless Your Children Daily

  • Speak life over them every morning.
  • Especially important for children carrying wounds (trauma, adoption, etc.).
  • Use the Priestly Blessing from Book of Numbers 6:
    “The Lord bless you and keep you…”
  • Call them by name and bless:
    • Identity
    • Peace
    • Future
    • Healing

10. Prepare Spiritually Before Situations

  • Pray before people enter your home.
  • Set the atmosphere in advance.
  • Expect God to move.

11. Live With Expectation and Hope

  • Expect God to act.
  • When disappointment comes:
    • Reject the enemy’s lies
    • Return to worship
  • Remember: God turns things around—this is how you experience Him.

12. End Each Day in Gratitude

  • Thank God for what He did.
  • Thank Him in advance for what He will do.
  • Declare:
    • “I am weak, but He makes me strong.”

Today, no matter what you are facing, take a moment to pause and pray, “Lord, today is yours – Your mercies are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I choose a life of surrender over a life of chaos. In Jesus name, Amen.”

The Lord will meet you and bring peace to the chaos you are facing. He is faithful.

Mama, you are seen! You are loved. You are not alone. Here are some resources for your inner healing: Orbis Ministry and Wellspring of Freedom International

There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering you, and so am I!

Cheering you on,

Jocelyn Williams,
NDM
Consultant, Mental Health Coach, Developmental Therapist

What about you? As a mom to a child with unique needs, how do you live in surrender rather than chaos? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below:

Just Love on Me: Navigating Anger and Emotions as a Mom

I was so angry on Tuesday. Really angry, red-hot angry. It was a righteous anger. I knew I was justified in feeling angry. I have learned that when I get angry, I need to run straight to Jesus. I needed to ask Him to help me cry. So, I did.

The tears wouldn’t come. More anger. I kept asking Him to help me cry. My body’s emotional stress signal is backaches. My back was now hurting. Some experience stomach pain. I experience backaches.

I wanted to let this anger go quickly. I wanted to enjoy precious time with my loved one. I did not want this underlying tension of anger to pervade our time together! I didn’t want to ruin her day with my stuff.

A brand new friend introduced me to Dr. Anita Philips. Dr. Philips is a trauma therapist, life coach, and a minister. I listened to one of her YouTube videos and recently began to listen to her audiobook, The Garden Within. I highly recommend it.

One idea in her teachings caught my attention – Fear is a Feeling. Anger is a feeling. Feelings are not sins. Yes, I know they are feelings, and feelings are not sin. My question has always been, “What do I do with these feelings? How do I process them so that I can feel anger and not sin? “

Thankfully, I was able to enjoy the evening with my loved one.

When I was alone later that evening, the anger was festering. Early the next morning, I headed to our morning prayer at church. If you can believe it, High School and Junior kids show up in droves for Wednesday morning prayer. They so inspire me!

During our individual prayer time, I reflected on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. I simply asked, “Lord, just love on me, right here in my anger.” And He did. Then the tears flowed. As I poured out my heart to Him, He refilled it with His love. The tension dissipated. I was now capable of moving on in love, not in anger.

I wish I had known this 25 years ago, as a young mom of five kids!

As a mom, this tension sometimes hindered my ability to be a loving presence with my kids. These moments occurred more times than I would like to admit. Kids don’t care if you are doing the right things. They see right through that. They too sense the tension!

Please know that you are not alone. Emotions are not sins; you are not wrong. Loving a child who has unique needs or who has been hurt is hard. If you are struggling like I was, know that you, too, can find freedom. You can become a loving presence for your kids.

Today, no matter what you are facing, take a moment to pause. Whisper or even yell, “Lord, just Love on me, right here in my __________.” He will meet you. He is faithful.

Mama, you are seen! You are loved.

There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering you, and so am I!

Cheering you on,

Jocelyn Williams,
NDM
Consultant, Mental Health Coach, Developmental Therapist

What about you? As a mom of a child with unique needs, how do you manage your emotions? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below.